In Midtown, a crash doesn't always involve two cars. It might be a driver turning through a crosswalk on 10th Street, a scooter rider clipped on Peachtree Street, or a rideshare passenger hurt in a collision outside the Fox Theatre. At Huggins Accident Injury Lawyer, Gary Huggins handles all of these claims as a Midtown personal injury lawyer based at our Perimeter Center office.
How Midtown crashes are different
Midtown has heavy pedestrian, scooter and rideshare traffic, and that changes who gets hurt and how.
- Injuries tend to be worse. Someone on foot or on a scooter has no seat belt, airbag or steel frame, so head injuries, broken bones and spinal injuries are more likely.
- More insurers may be involved. The driver's liability policy, a rideshare company's coverage and your own UM coverage can all come into play.
- Fault gets disputed. Insurers may claim you stepped out against the signal or rode where you shouldn't have.
Evidence gathered in the first days often settles the fault argument: video from nearby buildings, witnesses who saw the light, and photos of the crosswalk or bike lane.
Corridors to know: Peachtree, 10th and 14th, and the Connector
Peachtree Street, West Peachtree Street and Spring Street carry north–south traffic past office towers, hotels and the Arts Center, Midtown and North Avenue MARTA stations. 10th and 14th Streets cross the Downtown Connector and carry traffic toward Piedmont Park and Georgia Tech, so drivers coming off the interstate meet crowded crosswalks within a few blocks.
Show nights at the Fox Theatre, crowds at the High Museum and the shops and garages at Atlantic Station put even more people and cars on the same few blocks.
North Avenue marks Midtown's southern edge by Georgia Tech. The Downtown Connector itself, where I-75 and I-85 run together, is one of the busiest stretches of interstate in the country, and constant merging at the Midtown exits sets up rear-end and sideswipe collisions.
Piedmont Park, the BeltLine and Georgia Tech
Crowds around Piedmont Park, the Atlanta BeltLine's Eastside Trail, nearby Ponce City Market and the Georgia Tech campus mean drivers have to watch for people everywhere.
Georgia law backs up the person on foot or on a bike. Drivers must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk on their half of the road (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91), and they must leave at least three feet when passing a cyclist (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-56).
Not every Midtown injury involves a car. If a cyclist or scooter rider hit you on the trail, you may have a claim against that person, and Gary will look at whether any insurance covers them.
Hit on foot, on a bike or on a scooter? Call (240) 421-5511 and walk Gary through what happened.
APD Zone 5 and the agencies on the Connector
Atlanta Police Zone 5 patrols Midtown. On the Downtown Connector, Atlanta Police or the Georgia State Patrol may work the crash.
Get the agency name and report number from the officer before you leave. BuyCrash.com usually has the report within a few days (for a small fee), and the agency's records unit can also provide it. If the crash happened on a campus street, confirm which agency is writing the report.
Emory Midtown and Grady
Emory University Hospital Midtown on Peachtree Street is in the neighborhood. Grady Memorial Hospital, a Level I trauma center, is just south in downtown Atlanta and treats the most serious injuries.
If you felt shaken but fine at the scene, see a doctor anyway. Concussion symptoms often surface a day or two later, and early records connect your injuries to the crash.
Georgia rules for Midtown injury claims
Under Georgia's at-fault system, the person who caused the crash is responsible for the harm, and their liability insurer usually pays. The required minimum is low: $25,000 for each injured person ($50,000 per crash) and $25,000 for property, and one hospital stay can use that up.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage can add more. In Georgia it is added-on to the other driver's limits by default unless you chose reduced-by coverage in writing, and it can apply to a hit-and-run you report promptly to police.
Fault can be shared. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, a pedestrian found 30% at fault would see the award cut by 30%; at 50% or more, there is no recovery.
Deadlines are strict. A lawsuit generally has to be filed within two years of the injury, or of the death in a wrongful death case (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Claims against the City of Atlanta, such as a crash with a city truck or police car, require written notice within six months (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5); Fulton County and the state, including GDOT, need notice within 12 months. MARTA buses and trains come with special notice rules and possibly shorter deadlines.
Rode in an Uber or Lyft? Georgia law sets a floor of $1 million in liability coverage once the driver accepts your ride (O.C.G.A. § 33-1-24).
If a lawsuit is needed
Midtown is in Fulton County. A lawsuit against a Fulton driver or business would typically be filed downtown in the State Court of Fulton County or the Superior Court. A defendant from another county may have to be sued where they live.
Gary's first week on a Midtown case
In the first few days, Gary requests the police report, whether APD or the State Patrol wrote it, and tracks down witnesses, since busy sidewalks mean there often are some. He sends letters asking nearby buildings, shops and restaurants to save camera footage before it's recorded over.
If a rental scooter was involved, he asks the scooter company to keep the trip and device data. If you were riding in an Uber or Lyft, he puts the company's insurer on notice.
He also takes over the calls from adjusters, helps you line up medical care and starts tracking your bills, lost pay and other losses. Want him to start this week? Call (240) 421-5511.
Practice areas for Midtown injuries
- Midtown car accident lawyer: crashes on Peachtree Street, 10th and 14th Streets and the Connector
- Pedestrian accidents: crosswalk and sidewalk injuries
- Bicycle accidents: bike lanes, the BeltLine and city streets
- Uber and Lyft accidents: riders, other drivers and people on foot
- Bus accidents: MARTA buses, shuttles and tour buses
- Brain injuries: concussions and more serious head trauma
From Midtown to Perimeter Center
We're at 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30338. Take the Downtown Connector north, stay on I-85 when it splits from I-75, then follow GA-400 north to I-285. It's about 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour.
Without a car, catch a northbound Red Line train at the Arts Center, Midtown or North Avenue station and ride to the Dunwoody station near our office. Or let Gary come to you in Midtown, at home or at the hospital.
Get a Midtown personal injury lawyer on the phone today
Call (240) 421-5511 day or night; the phone is answered 24/7, and your first consultation with Gary is free. If you hire him, there is no attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Gary works from our office near Perimeter Mall and meets Midtown clients wherever they are.
Free consultation. Gary meets Midtown clients at our Perimeter Center office, by video, or at home or in the hospital. (240) 421-5511
Cases we handle in Midtown
Pages for the most common claims we see in Midtown:
Questions people ask about midtown personal injury
Who pays if a car hits me while I'm riding a scooter in Midtown?
Usually the at-fault driver's liability insurer. If that driver has little or no coverage, your own uninsured motorist coverage may help in some situations. Expect the insurer to argue you were partly at fault, for example for riding against traffic. Under Georgia's 50% rule, you can still recover if you were less than half responsible, reduced by your share.
What should I do if a driver hit me in a Midtown crosswalk?
Call 911 and get medical care first. If you can, photograph the crosswalk, the signal and the car, and get names and numbers from witnesses before they walk away. A driver who didn't stop for you in a crosswalk may have violated O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91, and that helps show fault. Then get the Atlanta Police report and avoid giving a recorded statement to the driver's insurer.
Can I make a claim against MARTA or the City of Atlanta?
Possibly, but act fast. Claims against a city require written notice within six months of the injury (O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5), and governments are immune from many claims unless the law waives that protection. MARTA, as a public transit authority, may be covered by special notice rules and shorter deadlines. If a city vehicle or a MARTA bus or train played a part, call right away.
I was hurt on the BeltLine by a cyclist. Do I have a claim?
You might. Anyone who rides carelessly and injures someone can be responsible for the harm, whether they were on a bike, a scooter or another device. The questions are who caused the collision, whether witnesses or video back up your account, and whether any insurance covers the rider. Report it, get medical care and write down everything you remember while it's fresh.
Do I need a lawyer for a minor scooter or bike crash in Midtown?
Not always. If your injuries are minor and heal quickly, you may be able to handle a small claim yourself. Talk to a lawyer if you broke a bone, hit your head, missed work, need ongoing treatment, or the insurer is blaming you. A free consultation can help you decide, and Gary will tell you honestly if you don't need him.