Car accidents in Georgia are on the rise over the past decade. The latest available numbers according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) show that deaths in Georgia car accidents amounted to over 1,500 fatalities in 2018. That’s 300 more traffic deaths from car accidents from 1,226 total fatalities in 2011.
Georgia has also seen more deaths of pedestrians in car accidents as well. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in Georgia, over 260 persons lost their lives in pedestrian accidents in 2018, an increase of 60 percent over the last five years.
These accidents come at a time when the state continues to grow its population. Persons calling Georgia home grew by 100,000 people to 10,617,423, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With more people comes more car traffic. And sadly, more car traffic brings more accidents.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Georgia automobile or truck accident, contact a Georgia car accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Our 30-plus years of experience in fighting personal injury cases for people is the reason we win financial settlements for those who suffer through the aftermath of car accidents.
Call us today at (800) 794-0444 for a free consultation. Tell us about the recent auto accident in your life. We will look at the details of the case, develop a strategy, and work on your behalf to seek fair financial compensation for you.
Common Car Accidents in Georgia
Car rollovers are one of the deadliest types of car accidents in the entire nation. They account for about a third of all traffic deaths that occur each year. Drivers who end up in rollover accidents can run into other cars and cause multi-car crashes. According to the NHTSA, 95% of single-vehicle rollovers are caused by tripping, which is when a car leaves the highway and strikes a curb or guardrail.
Another common car accident includes side-impact accidents. These types of crashes happen when one car or vehicle collides with another car or truck at close to a 90-degree angle. People who are hit by an oncoming driver in a T-bone accident only have a side door to protect them, and sadly, that is often not enough to prevent very serious injuries and even death.
A T-bone accident can happen when a driver runs a red light or did not yield properly, although these are not the only reasons for this type of accident. A driver’s negligence can contribute to this type of accident and physical pain, medical bills, emotional trauma, and other economic and noneconomic damages.
Multiple cars may also get hit, as the car that gets slammed in a 90-degree angle may spin or get pushed into other cars, which damages them and possibly the passengers too. In these accidents, distracted driving is one potential cause. This distraction can take one’s life in an instant.
Driving Responsibility
Driving is a privilege, and the responsibility of driving is very real. When a driver is fiddling with a phone or in-car entertainment system, the focus is not on the other cars. That in itself is a breach of duty of having appropriate care for other drivers in the area. Even if a driver only takes a few seconds to check or respond to a text message, someone taking their eyes off the road can still cause an accident and serious harm. Those seconds could cost someone’s life.
If some other driver has smashed into your car and injured you and possibly others, you have a legal right to bring a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. When you contact a Georgia car accident lawyer, your case becomes our priority. We will help you understand the law in Georgia, gather up the right evidence, and work with you to achieve a financial settlement that can help pay off some of the crushing costs of a serious car wreck.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 794-0444
Comparative Negligence Laws in Georgia
In most personal injury cases, you or your legal representative must prove negligence and cause. The other two factors of a personal injury case are proving a breach of duty and having suffered personal damages.
After your car accident, your attorney will talk to you about proving negligence of the other driver. This means that your team will try to show that the other driver did not take reasonable care owed to other drivers on the road. Showing cause in the accident means that this lack of care is what caused the accident. And both of those together are usually enough to prove that one party was liable for the injuries of the other person.
There are also instances when the fault of an accident may be shared by two or more drivers. In these cases in Georgia, the law of comparative negligence takes hold, as per Georgia Code § 51-12-33. It says that injured persons from car accidents in Georgia can recover compensation even if they are somewhat at fault for the accident. However, the more a driver is found at fault for the accident, then the level of compensation drops accordingly.
Work with a Personal Injury Lawyer
Having experience on your side in a personal injury claim means having support in gathering the right evidence in a car accident. That is where we come in. Our team wants to help you recover damages for the losses you or a loved one has suffered.
Your Georgia car accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will be able to help you understand all this. We will support you like we have with many of our Georgia clients over the years. Our approach is sensible, human, and disciplined to take on even the most aggressive insurance companies.
Call us today at (800) 794-0444 for an initial consultation, free of charge. We do not ask for any upfront fees until we decide to fight for you in your case. If you win, we do too. Our fee will come from a percentage of the settlement. We look forward to hearing from you.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form