Atlanta pedestrians

Published on: May 19, 2010

Atlanta Continues to Be Dangerous for Pedestrians

Last year, Transportation for America named the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta area as the 10th deadliest area for pedestrians in the country. A new report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows that these dangerous conditions are increasing, because of the lack of sufficient crosswalks for pedestrians. Further, according to the report, pedestrians may be at a greater danger in the suburban metro Atlanta area where motorists may not expect pedestrians and where there are few strategically placed crosswalks, than on city streets.

This month, a mother who lost a child in a pedestrian accident will face trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. In 2008, Raquel Nelson was walking with her four children outside the crosswalk in Cobb County, when one of the children was struck and killed by a motorist. The loss of a child was a tragedy too much for a mother’s heart to bear, but there was more cruelty in store for Nelson. She was immediately charged, and found that public opinion was strongly against her. No one found it fit to pursue the fact that there were few crosswalks at the area where the accident took place.

Last month, a similar accident killed a four-year-old boy. The mother had been crossing the street outside the crosswalk with the boy and her other children, when he was killed by a motorist. The nearest crosswalk was at least 3/10^th of a mile in the either direction. It was late, and the family was in a hurry to get into a bus that had just stopped at a bus stop on the other side of the street.

Published on: May 18, 2010

Woman in Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Had Prior Hit and Run Conviction

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

It wasn’t the first time that Cynthia Parham had knocked over a person and fled the scene of the accident. She had a prior hit-and-run conviction back in 1983, and is now accused of another hit-and-run in Atlanta, that seriously injured an eight-year-old boy.

The most recent accident occurred on 10 May, when the victim was walking with his mother on a crosswalk at an intersection near interstate 285. Parham’s car struck the boy, and dragged him approximately 150 feet. He sustained serious life threatening injuries. Parham left the scene of the accident. Fortunately, witnesses at the scene were able to testify to police, and officers located the car at her home a short while later.

It now turns out that Parham has had several brushes with the law. She was convicted for hit-and-run back in 1983. She also served six months in prison on charges of burglary in 1982. She has also been involved in a whole bunch of other cases involving criminal trespass, forgery and simple assault. In 1995, she faced misdemeanor charges of being party to a crime, but that charge was later dismissed.

Published on: February 5, 2010

Spate of Manhole Cover Thefts in Atlanta Place Pedestrians at Risk

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Atlanta’s pedestrians, who have only recently managed to avoid accidents walking on slippery ice and trudging through heavy rains, are likely to face more dangers even as the weather clears. The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting on a sudden outbreak of thefts in the Atlanta metro area. The thieves seem to be targeting grates and manhole covers across the city.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, as many as 645 grates and 20 manhole covers have been stolen around the city. The rash of thefts apparently began last spring. While the GDOT has tried to use its investigators to catch these thieves, it has had limited success because the stolen grates and covers are scattered all around the Metro Atlanta Area. It’s very likely that these people are recycling the steel. Investigators have checked with recycling centers across the city, and have come up with zilch. This means that the covers are being disposed of outside the Metro Atlanta Area.

The DOT is welding down the grates and new manhole covers. Uncovered holes are being marked with cones and yellow tape. These thefts couldn’t be coming at a worse time for the Georgia DOT. The agency is grappling with a tight budget, and it is estimated that replacing these grates and covers may cost more than $500,000.

Published on: November 12, 2009

Atlanta Ranks Among Top Ten Most Dangerous Metro Areas for Pedestrians

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers, we haven’t been blind to the lack of proper infrastructure that makes Atlanta such a dangerous place for pedestrians. Now comes a new study that confirms the Atlanta metropolitan area as one of the most treacherous places for pedestrians in the US.

The rankings have been developed by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, which recently released a report on the state of pedestrian safety in the country. The picture is bleak. According to the report, approximately 5,000 pedestrians die every year in traffic accidents.

The list of 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas has Florida occupying the first four spots making it a nightmare destination for pedestrians. Memphis is at number 5, followed by Raleigh –Cary, North Carolina, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, Houston-Sugarland- Bay Town, TX, Birmingham-Hoover, AL, with Atlanta- Sandy Springs- Marietta occupying the 10^th spot. To generate accurate rankings, the researchers developed a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) to clearly and correctly compare metropolitan areas based on actual danger to pedestrians.