Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Many people believe that driving while using electronic devices is safe as long as voice control is enabled. Voice-controlled infotainment and navigation systems have become increasingly common in vehicles, with drivers able to do everything from change the radio station to make a telephone call and send a text message to entering a location into a navigation system. These systems are legal to use when driving, unlike handheld phones, and motorists often believe that they are not taking any risk because their hands are still on the wheel.

Unfortunately, the use of handheld devices does not prevent Atlanta distracted driving accidents. In fact, recent research from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has revealed that it can sometimes actually be more dangerous to use hands-free controls than it would be if a driver simply used a handheld device while driving.

Motorists need to be aware of the substantial risks that come with using any electronic devices while driving and they must ensure that they are making smart choices to protect themselves so they do not become responsible for causing injury. If a driver does cause harm, a car accident lawyer in Atlanta can provide assistance to victims and their families in pursuing a damage claim.

Atlanta accidents can happen any time of the year, but there are certain days that are much more dangerous for motorists than others. Yahoo News has listed 10 days of the year when there is a significantly greater chance of becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident. Most of the days on this list are holidays or special occasions during which people significantly increase their road travel and there are many more people on the roads. The high-risk days also include times of the year when people are significantly more likely to consume alcohol and then drive their vehicles.

Motorists need to refrain from drinking and driving and exercise care at all times while operating their vehicles, especially if there are more people on the roads. If a driver is careless, an Atlanta car accident lawyer can help victims of any crashes resulting from the driver’s negligence. Crash victims or their surviving family members may be entitled to compensation for all losses caused by a motorist who is behaving in an unsafe way.

When are Atlanta Car Accidents Most Likely to Occur?

In Georgia, failure to stop after causing a collision is a crime. This offense is a serious one if a driver does not stop for an accident that causes injury or death. Victims hurt by a hit-and-run driver face the serious potential for uncompensated losses. If you are hurt in a crash with a driver who leaves the accident scene, you need to understand what your options are.

An Atlanta car accident lawyer will provide you with assistance and advice on what to do after a hit-and-run happens. Give us a call to learn about the different alternatives to consider for seeking compensation when you are hurt by a driver who does not stay at the scene of the car crash.

Options After an Atlanta Hit-and-Run Accident

The prevention of pedestrian collisions has become a top priority as data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continually shows an increase in the number of walkers killed in accidents. Even as other types of crash deaths decline, pedestrians are dying in ever-larger numbers with increases in the death toll almost every year. NHTSA data from 2012, for example, showed a six percent increase in pedestrian fatalities from the prior year and there were more pedestrians killed over the course of that year than in the five years before.

There are many factors explaining why pedestrians are becoming more likely to die in accidents even as drivers are less likely to be killed. One issue is that infrastructure is still generally designed to accommodate vehicles rather than to prioritize pedestrian safety. Driver negligence is also another big factor leading to pedestrian deaths, especially when drivers operate their vehicles in a manner unsafe for the conditions of the road.

After a collision, an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer can provide assistance to victims in determining if road design was the crash cause or if driver carelessness was to blame. Determining who was responsible is essential for recovery of compensation for collision losses.

Every pedestrian is vulnerable on the road because drivers may not pay enough attention and may be unaware of how to safely share the roads with walkers. When a car strikes a pedestrian, the walker isn’t protected by any safety equipment. As a result, a pedestrian faces a much more significant risk of serious or fatal injuries as compared with people who are involved in car crashes as either drivers or passengers.

While any pedestrian could be hurt, recent research shows that wheelchair users are more likely to be killed in pedestrian auto accidents. When a pedestrian is injured or killed, whether the pedestrian is in a wheelchair or not, it is important to determine whether the driver was negligent or careless and whether the driver’s actions led to the crash occurring.

If the driver was responsible for the accident, an attorney in Atlanta with experience in pedestrian crash cases can help victims to pursue a case for compensation for losses. When the crash is fatal, surviving family members of the deceased pedestrian can also make a case.

Drunk driving is illegal, and has serious consequences. A driver who is drunk could cause accidents to happen, injuring or killing himself or other innocent motorists on the road. If you are involved in an accident with a drunk driver, you need to know what happens in the crash aftermath. An Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer can provide you with assistance in pursuing legal action to hold the intoxicated motorist responsible for the harm you have experienced.

What Happens After an Atlanta DUI Accident?

After an Atlanta DUI accident, the police should be called. A law enforcement officer can come to the scene of the collision. If the police believe that intoxication played a role in causing the collision to happen, or if the accident was a serious or fatal one, toxicology testing may be performed on the involved drivers. Police will follow Georgia laws on when a breathalyzer or other blood alcohol concentration test can be administered on motorists, so police may need to get a warrant depending upon the circumstances.

Many consumers throughout Georgia purchase used vehicles when it comes time to buy a car. Purchasing a used vehicle can be a smart financial choice because you do not have to pay a new car premium and used cars often allow you to get far more bang for your buck. However, when you are buying a used car, you need to be very careful to avoid potential pitfalls that could affect your safety. Just recently, the Huffington Post published an article warning about some of the dangers of used cars and alerting motorists to the fact that they could be at increased risk of accident from certain used vehicles.

Whether you buy a new or used car, it is important to understand what your rights are if a problem with a vehicle causes an accident to happen. Collision victims should be entitled to compensation from a car manufacturer if a defect in the vehicle is the direct cause of a collision or if a defect in a vehicle makes the injuries which are sustained in a collision more serious than they would have been had the car performed as expected. An Atlanta Atlanta defective product attorney can provide assistance in pursuing a defective product case if there was a problem with a new or used vehicle.

Risks of Atlanta Accidents from Used Cars