Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that car crash-related deaths dropped throughout the United States last year. Sadly, improving road safety did not apply to the Peach State. In Georgia, fatal crashes increased slightly in 2019, and the NHTSA reports that the southeast overall saw a two percent rise in traffic-related deaths. Most car crashes are entirely preventable tragedies. When it comes to avoiding collisions, many common-sense factors play an important role. Unfortunately, not all drivers manage to use the appropriate level of caution behind the wheel. Some drivers are downright reckless. If you are injured due to a negligent driver, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At The Moses Firm, our lawyers are dedicated to representing injury victims and helping them and their families recover compensation from negligent parties. Call us today at 404-721-1050.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Car crashes are typically caused by one or more drivers who failed to use the appropriate level of care. Although every driver on the road is likely aware of the risks presented by drunk driving, impaired motorists still cause more than 10,000 fatalities in the United States every year. Drunk driving is just one of the many mistakes that motorists make behind the wheel, though, and others that may seem less dangerous frequently prove deadly. In recent years, distracted driving, especially cell phone use, has become one of the most common causes of collisions. Smartphones are a particular hazard because nearly every driver has them in their car. It can be tempting to look at a text message or other notification or send a quick note. On average, drivers who are sending or reading a text are not looking at the road for about five seconds at a time. When traveling at high speeds, this can mean covering a lot of ground without paying attention to roadway hazards. Other common accident causes include speeding, following another vehicle too closely, and driving too fast for the road conditions. Although the weather may factor into many crashes, even when a collision occurs during a rainstorm or other bad weather, drivers are likely at least partially at fault.
Negligence in Car Crashes in Georgia
Drivers are considered negligent when they fail to exercise the appropriate standard of care under the given circumstances. When a driver’s negligence causes an injury to another person, the negligent driver will often owe compensation to the injured individual or individuals. When it comes to car accidents, though, crashes are often the result of more than one driver making a mistake. Many victims of collisions have questions regarding how their role in the cause of the incident might impact their ability to recover damages. In Georgia, the state follows a form of comparative negligence that will often permit a driver who is liable for a crash to collect compensation.
The comparative negligence policy in Georgia only applies when the plaintiff is less than 50 percent at fault. A plaintiff who shares in the blame for a crash will see his or her damages reduced, but the court will not prevent recovery. So in a case where a plaintiff shares twenty percent of the fault, the defendant is 80 percent to blame, and the damages are $100,000, the plaintiff could recover 80 percent, or $80,000, rather than the full sum. This is important because car crashes can be a messy business, and it is not uncommon for one driver to be speeding when another motorist makes an improper turn into the speeding car’s path. To learn more about recovering damages following a car crash in Atlanta, contact a personal injury attorney at The Moses Firm.
Damages from a Car Crash in Atlanta, Georgia
Car crash-related damages will cover both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses typically refer to medical bills, property damage, and lost wages or earnings from the victim’s job. The injuries caused by a car accident can quickly mount to tens of thousands of dollars. Add missed time at work into the mix, and the results of a car accident can be financially devastating for the victim and their family. Of course, the financial losses often pale in comparison to the pain and emotional toll taken by severe collision-related injuries. Damages also allow crash victims to recover for their pain and suffering. Although it is more difficult to calculate the damages related to pain and suffering and non-economic harm, it is not uncommon for these damages to amount to larger sums than the economic damages.
Call the Atlanta Car Crash Attorneys at The Moses Firm Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash, you could be entitled to compensation that will help cover the costs related to your injuries and help you focus on recovering. Call The Moses Firm today at 404-721-1050 to learn how our dedicated and experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers can help you.
