Car Accidents

Van Sant Law Vigorously Pursuing Justice Representing the Family of Tarik Kindell After His Tragic Death by a Wrong-way Driver on GA- 400

Published on: June 3, 2021 | By Van Sant Law

Following the tragic events that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, May 31, 2021, the Georgia law firm of Van Sant Law, chosen to represent the victim, is committed to vigorously pursuing justice. At Van Sant Law, we take our responsibilities as attorneys very seriously. We know our clients come to us during some of the most difficult times in their lives. We are honored to represent the family of Tarik Kindell, who was the victim of a deadly wrong-way collision on GA-400, and pursue justice on his behalf. Although no verdict can mend the loss, we are committed to doing everything the civil justice system will allow to right this wrong and leave a positive long-lasting legacy in Tarik’s honor.

Attorney David Van Sant stated that “the community has suffered the loss of a bright young man and our sympathy and prayers go out to the family.” Van Sant added that “our firm’s top priority right now is to allow the family time to grieve and process this tragedy while we work behind the scenes to make sure justice is served.” The team at Van Sant Law urges everyone to be safe out there and please be extra vigilant on our roads and highways.

What You Should Know About Multi-Vehicle Accident Cases

Published on: September 5, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Any car accident has the potential to cause injury or death, but crashes involving three or more vehicles can be particularly devastating.

Known as multi-vehicle accidents or pile-ups, these dangerous collisions are often the result of a chain reaction, such as:

A rear-end accident that pushes a car forward, causing it to crash into the vehicle ahead of it.

How to Help Your Teen Driver Stay Safe on the Road

Published on: August 13, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

How to help your teen become a safe driver Getting a driver’s license may be a rite of passage for teenagers but for parents, it’s often a major cause for concern—and for good reason. Not only are teen drivers less experienced than other motorists, but they’re also more likely to text behind the wheel or engage in other distracted driving behaviors that can result in devastating crashes.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.

Though statistics like these can be chilling, if your teen is approaching driving age, you can take comfort in the fact that Georgia’s Teenage & Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA) graduated licensing system provides plenty of time for them to hone their safe driving skills. Under TADRA, teens must complete an intensive, three-step process to receive an unrestricted license. The steps are as follows:

Cell Phone Use While Driving: Understanding Georgia's Laws

Published on: July 16, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Distracted driving is a leading cause of motor vehicle-related accidents, injuries, and deaths in Georgia and throughout the United States. While any activity that takes your attention away from the road can be dangerous, few distractions are as hazardous as using a cell phone behind the wheel.

GA cell phone laws while driving Texting is considered particularly risky, as it combines manual, cognitive, and visual distractions. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, texting or talking on a cell phone leads to as many as 1.6 million car accidents and more than 4,600 deaths each year.

Georgia is one of several states with a legislature that’s stepped up to combat cell phone-related distracted driving accidents, injuries, and deaths. The state banned texting while driving in 2010 and the legislature passed the Hands-Free Georgia Act in 2018. The law makes it illegal for drivers to hold their cell phone or use any body part to support it while piloting the vehicle.

Texting and Driving Can Lead to Catastrophic Accidents

Published on: June 11, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Distracted driving endangers everyone on the road and, while all behind-the-wheel distractions are risky, texting while driving takes the cake for being the most dangerous. Why? Because it combines the three main types of driver distractions:

Taking your eyes off the road
Having at least one hand off the wheel

Drivers—Not GPS Manufacturers—Are Responsible When Bad Directions Lead to Accidents and Injuries

Published on: May 15, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

As more people rely on GPS navigation while driving, accidents and injuries involving this technology are becoming common.

Though GPS often helps drivers successfully find their way from Point A to Point B, these popular devices and apps are dangerous distractions—especially when the driver disables navigational voice commands or attempts to input information without pulling over.

In some cases, outdated maps may cause GPS programs to direct drivers to unsafe or otherwise unsuitable roads and terrain. Motorists who place their trust entirely in a GPS device or app—regardless of what common sense or current road and weather conditions dictate—can cause serious car accidents and injuries.

A Recorded Statement to an Insurance Adjuster Can Hurt Your Car Accident Case

Published on: May 14, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

After a car crash, it’s standard practice for an adjuster from the

at-fault party’s insurance company to contact victims to ask for a recorded statement.

Insurance adjusters often request these question-and-answer sessions just days after the accident, usually under the guise of expediting the victim’s claim or giving them an opportunity to tell their side of the story.

Atlanta Automobile Accident Lawyers – Common Highway Auto Accident Scenarios

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

If you live or work in Atlanta, GA or the surrounding area then you likely spend a lot of time driving on the freeway. I-20, I-75, I-85, I-285 and Georgia 400 are some of the most heavily-traveled interstates and highways in Georgia. As Atlanta automobile accident lawyers, we also know that they are the location for many serious auto accidents which result in catastrophic injuries. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) there are an estimated 763 serious injuries and 208 fatalities caused by Georgia freeway collisions each year.

Most highway wrecks are the result of some form of reckless driving such as speeding, distracted driving or driving while intoxicated. Here is a breakdown of some of the most common highway car crash scenarios we have handled as Atlanta automobile accident lawyers:

Speeding

Five Things to Do After an Atlanta Car Accident

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

After an Atlanta car accident, collision victims may face serious injuries or family members may be left coping with unspeakable loss if someone they love was killed. Knowing what to do in the aftermath of a crash can be very difficult, as you struggle to cope with getting medical help, adjusting to life with injuries, and getting costs covered.

Five things to do after an Atlanta car accident Van Sant Law

During this difficult time after an Atlanta car accident, there are some key things that you need to do in order to preserve your right to get compensation for a car accident. While the legal technicalities behind an injury claim may not be the main thing on your mind, you don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize your right to compensation for car accident damages.

You should contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer right away following the collision to make sure you take care of everything you need to in order to protect your right to compensation.

Car Accidents Resulting From Road Debris

Published on: March 20, 2019 | By Van Sant Law

Car accidents resulting from road debris are becoming more common. Road debris can make its way to the roads for lots of different reasons. One common cause of road debris is when drivers have items fly out of their vehicles or off their vehicles. Road debris and flying object should be a concern for every motorist, especially in light of new reports revealing thousands of accidents happen as a result of items that fall onto the road.

When a collision occurs due to road debris or flying objects, determining the crash cause becomes very important. A person who is responsible for causing an accident to happen can be held liable for losses, even if that person caused the crash because something flew off his car. An Atlanta car accident lawyer can provide help in determining the cause of a collision and in pursuing a claim for compensation against the driver who was responsible.

Road Debris and the Risk of Atlanta Car Accidents