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Atlanta simplifies crosswalks for pedestrians, unclear whether stupid drivers will obey.

The City of Atlanta has recently installed a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk, also known as a HAWK Beacon (picture below). The $120,000 system was installed on Buford Highway, an stretch of road known for pedestrian accidents.

Unlike an ordinary traffic signal, the HAWK beacon only lights up when activated by a pedestrian who wishes to cross. Generally, activation is by a push-button. The HAWK beacon first flashes yellow, then goes to steady yellow, and finally red over a period of several seconds. Conventional pedestrian signal heads at either end of the crosswalk are in “don’t walk” mode when the HAWK beacon is activated, going to “walk” mode when the HAWK beacon goes to steady red.

Buford Highway is shown on the map below:

Mark McKinnona DOT spokesman, says another device is planned for Candler Road in two weeks.

Pedestrian accidents happen all too frequently in Georgia. We are an Atlanta personal injury law firm and have represented clients who have been injured in pedestrain accidents. According to a recent CDC Motor Vehicle Injury study over $10 Billion per year is spent on injuries to pedestrians involved in accidents. Pedestrians have no protection when they are hit by vehicles. Often they are severely injured and make up 5 percent of all injuries but 10 percent of total costs of all injuries combined. The Georgia Department Of Transportation is hoping the new HAWK Beacons will help to reduce the number of pedestrian related incidents.

The total cost [of all accidents] exceeds $99 Billion dollars a year in medical care and productivity loss. Those two areas of account for the largest percentage of loss.

Pedestrian accients happen like this one in Porterdale, Georgia:

Teen injured when struck by pickup

A 14-year-old Covington boy sustained a head injury Friday evening after being struck by a vehicle as he jogged along Highway 81 south of Porterdale near Livingston Elementary School.

If you or someone you know is injured or killed in a pedestrian accident it is important to consider the expertise of an Atlanta personal injury lawyer. Get accident help in Atlanta, Georgia.

For a FREE consultation with our attorneys concerning your accident, call 1-888-315-8840

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We are a personal injury law firm in Atlanta who specializes in litigation of wrongful death cases such as the one shown below. Atlanta personal injury law is a complicated and ever changing field of specialty.

via Metro news Widower seeks judgment in wife’s fatal accident.

Patricia Heller was on her way to a new job in Atlanta, Georgia. She flew into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Jan. 29, 2003. And like thousands of others she chose to ride in a taxi cab to reach her destination. But, the 51 year-old consultant was killed instantly when the cab driver hydroplaned, lost control and drove into a line of tree’s. Here husband, Ed Heller, later found out the cab had balding tires, had passed a recent city “cab inspection” and the driver was speeding at the time of the accident. Mr. Heller claims the accident was preventable and is holding the Georgia Department of transportation liable for not cutting down the trees, the City of Atlanta for passing the inspection on the cab and the cab company. You can view the legal documents on the case here.

Heller is seeking damages for her pain and suffering and his wife’s lost wages. His attorney has stated Mr. Heller wants to make sure this does not happen again. Mrs. Heller was recently hired and working for Bearing Point. Her annual income was $500,000.The claim against the city was dropped.

Greg Shepard, the inspector who approved the cab the day before the accident, no longer works for the city, his lawyer, Joshua Millican, said. According to court records, Shepard wrote “pass” on the inspection form but did not check “yes” or “no” on any of the boxes, including the one marked “tires,” to indicate whether they were in proper condition.

The suit also accuses United Express Cab Co. of failing to inspect its own taxi cab, as required by city ordinance, before presenting it to the city for inspection. Earlier this month the Georgia Department of Transportation issued a formal apology to the Heller family and paid a $600,000 out of court settlement.

Judge declares mistrial in widower’s case

A Fulton County judge has declared a mistrial in a case brought by a man whose wife died in a 2003 taxi cab accident on I-85. State Court Judge Susan Edlein did not immediately set a new trial date for Ed Heller…

The City of Atlanta has been dismissed from the lawsuit. The estate of the Taxi driver, now deceased, the taxi cab company and the former inspector for the city of Atlanta remain named in the lawsuit. Atlanta personal injury lawyers are trained to handle such cases.

For a FREE consultation with our attorneys concerning your accident, call 1-888-315-8840

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