Deadly pedestrian accident causes major traffic on I-285 in Cobb County. In the early hours of Thursday morning (October 17th, 2019), a pedestrian was struck and killed on the southbound lanes of I-285 in Cobb County, Georgia. The crash shut down the main lanes of the interstate at about 5 AM and this caused major delays through the north-western suburban areas. The interstate was opened at around 9.30 AM, but the traffic cleared up a few hours later.
The ramps from 1-75 to I-285W were also closed while the police investigated the scene of the accident. This resulted in a jammed Perimeter for the better part of the morning rush. The lockdown prompted drivers to avoid Atlanta’s busiest interstate.
The identity of the victim is still unknown and there is no word on whether the driver will face charges. The police are still investigating the matter.
Pedestrian accidents are a huge menace in the state of Georgia. In fact, there are more than 200 pedestrians struck and killed by a vehicle every year. Both pedestrians and drivers should exercise extreme caution to minimize liability and fault.
According to the law in Georgia, if a pedestrian is using a crosswalk, has the traffic signal in their favor, or is lawfully on the road and visible to the driver, the driver should always give way to the pedestrian. But pedestrians do not always have the right of way in Georgia. For example, it is illegal for the pedestrian to suddenly step into the roadway such that an oncoming driver has no time to yield.
Thus, if the driver or insurance company can prove that the pedestrian darted out into oncoming traffic, they may not be held liable. However, a thorough investigation of the crash may also argue that a reasonably careful driver should have seen and even tried to avoid hitting the pedestrian.
If you or loved one has been in an accident, contact our lawyers for help today.
