Car accidents occur every day in the United States, and no one is ever fully prepared for such an event. Picture it: You are driving to work and you are in a hurry, you hit the coffee shop and get your usual. You pull out of the parking lot and turn right down a busy road in the middle of rush hour. You are listening to your favorite podcast and bam! Another car slams into you. You are in complete shock, and you find yourself not thinking very clearly. Atlanta car accidents are scary and can rattle us even when they are minor. Having a general idea of the best steps to take after being in a car accident can help those of us who ever have to go through one.
How Common are Car Accidents in the United States?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that over 32,000 people are killed and 2 million Americans are injured from car accidents each year. One-third of deaths from car accidents occurred due to drunk driving. Another one-third occurred due to speeding. Every day, approximately 90 people die from car accidents in the United States. When compared to other developed nations, the United States has the highest death rate from car accidents.
What can We do to Prevent Deaths From Car Accidents?
The CDC notes the following risk factors for car accident deaths in the United States:
- Over 10,000 deaths occurred due to drunk driving.
- Over 9,500 deaths occurred from children not using booster seats, seat belts, or car seats.
- A contributing cause of over 9,500 car accident deaths was speeding.
Placing children in the correct size car seats and strapping kids into them correctly would save many lives. The CDC recommends using booster seats for children up to age 8. Avoiding drunk driving and speeding would also cut the number of fatalities significantly. States should actively enforce drunk driving laws that prohibit driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or higher.
Police officers should use known sobriety checkpoints and enforce the legal drinking age. Finally, the easiest way to prevent fatalities from car accidents is to simply make sure that you and your passengers are wearing seatbelts. Before you start the car, check in and make sure all passengers have fastened their belts.
How Many People are Involved in Car Accidents in Georgia?
In 2017, 1,549 people died as a result of car accidents in Georgia. Scarily, 55% of non-pedestrian fatalities that occurred when a driver veered out of their lane. Georgia has also seen a spike in deaths caused by a vehicle striking a pedestrian which rose 11% from 2016 to 2017. State Traffic Engineer Andrew Heath stated that about 70% of those deaths were caused by poor behavior on the part of drivers. Driving impairment by drugs, speeding, and driver distraction caused the majority of Georgia car accident deaths. Georgia Department of Transportation recently re-launched its Drive Alert Arrive Alive campaign. This campaign hopes to convince Georgia drivers to wear a seat belt, put down distractions and drive the speed limit. The best way to deal with car accidents is to prevent them from happening if at all possible.
I Have Been in a Car Accident in Atlanta, What Should I Do?
If you have been in a car accident in Atlanta, you are probably feeling overwhelmed. The best thing to do immediately after a car accident is to call 911. Stay in your vehicle so that you don’t make your injuries worse by moving around too much. When the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) arrive, they will examine you to determine whether or not you need to visit the hospital. If they suggest you go to the hospital, go to the hospital.
If you can do so, ask the police officers at the scene for your Georgia Uniform Motor Vehicle Accident Report report case number. You can look up any updates on the accident using this number. If you have been injured, follow up with your own doctor if you need to. Keep all of your visit summary documents in paper form or online. Do not sign a waiver, accept payment from your insurance company, or admit fault in any way. It is wise to have a comprehensive examination to attempt to make the best determination of how much your injuries will cost you.
What Damages are Available to Georgia Residents Who are Injured in Car Accidents?
Successful plaintiffs in personal injury car accident lawsuits are entitled to several different types of damages. They are entitled to special costs like hospital bills, medical expenses, ambulance bills, doctor’s bills, physical therapist bills, lost income or earnings, and property damage. They are also entitled to general damages for mental and physical pain and suffering, diminished ability to work, and emotional distress caused by the accident.
If You Have Been in an Atlanta Car Accident, We are Here to Help
In Georgia, you have two years from the date of your car accident to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your personal injuries. You have four years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit relating to damages to your car or other property. If you do not file by that time, you will waive the right to bring a lawsuit. That is why it is essential to contact an attorney soon after your accident to get the ball rolling. We conduct thorough investigations, interview witnesses, and attempt to reconstruct the accident scene. The more time our attorneys have to investigate your case, the better.
The attorneys at Cambre & Associates represent clients in Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding area. We are highly experienced in Atlanta car accident personal injury law and look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us or call us at (770) 769-5964 to set up a consultation today.