Articles Posted in Car Accidents

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.

Multi-vehicle crash casesAny 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.
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How to help your teen become a safe driverGetting 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:

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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 drivingTexting 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.

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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
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GPS related accidentsAs 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.

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recorded statement for insuranceAfter 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.

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In the early morning of March 5, Leon Thurman, a 70 year old well-known and respected Cohutta man, was delivering newspapers for The Daily Citizen. He had been delivering newspapers for more than 15 years and had a particular route, never letting anyone take his night shift. He worked through the night, seven days a week, for years, the only exception being Christmas Day. At about 1:30am, Mr. Thurman crossed four lanes on Cleveland Highway trying to get to a side road. Varnell police officer James Smith was also on the highway at the time, driving from Dalton to Varnell with a 19 year old male participating in a citizen ride along. That area of the highway has a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. The latest news indicates that Officer Smith’s blue lights were not on and he was not responding to a 911 call at the time. It was believed that Officer Smith was returning from Dalton with office supplies after apparently having stopped at Wal-Mart. The patrol car driven by Smith slammed into Mr. Thurman’s Dodge Neon, then swerved and hit the Neon again. Mr. Thurman was thrown from the car as the car shot forward and burst into flames in the middle of the road. Officer Smith’s car jumped the curb and went down an embankment.

Mr. Thurman died at the scene. Officer Smith was treated for minor injuries and released from Hamilton Medical Center. The 19 year old accompanying Smith, Cody Coker, was unharmed. Officer Smith has been on administrative leave since the crash pending a Georgia State Patrol investigation according to Varnell police chief Lyle Grant.

The initial police report said that Mr. Thurman failed to yield, but did not indicate the speeds of the two cars at the time of the crash. The Georgia State Patrol is still doing a reconstruction of the crash, and asserts that the relative speeds will not be released until the investigation is finished.

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Self-driving vehicles are becoming increasingly common and Uber has been testing the use of these vehicles. However, a recent fatal accident is a major setback €” although police and experts are saying the accident was 100 percent preventable if the safety driver who was in the vehicle had been paying attention as she was supposed to have been. atlanta personal injury lawyer Van Sant

When an accident happens, whether it’s because a driver isn’t paying attention or because of an issue with a self-driving vehicle, it is important for victims to understand who is to blame and for those who have been harmed to take appropriate legal action for their losses.

An Atlanta car accident attorney can help those who have sustained an injury as a result of negligence or because of a product defect to take appropriate legal action.

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Silver car with front end damage from car wreck Van Sant LawSeven Things To Do If You’ve Been Involved In An Accident

Stop your vehicle. Do not drive away!

Under Georgia law, it is illegal for a driver to fail to stop if he or she is involved in an accident that results in damage to a vehicle or death or injury of an individual. If your damaged vehicle is impeding traffic, take proper precautions. Turn on the car’s hazard lights and, if they are available, set out cones, flares or warning triangles.

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