Drivers put themselves and others in danger when they violate traffic laws.
Police officers in Atlanta and other communities throughout Georgia issue hundreds of thousands of traffic tickets each year. On average, local police officers and state troopers from the Georgia State Patrol issue more than 800,000 traffic citations each year for three particular violations, according to Ride Safe Georgia. Those three specific violations include speeding, impaired driving, and seatbelt violations.
The experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., know all about these situations because we have recovered more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for families in Georgia since our law firm was founded in 1993. If you were injured in a car accident, contact us today to review your legal rights and options.
Which traffic violations often cause car accidents?
Five specific violations are regularly cited as the main contributing factor in many car accidents, including:
Speeding
Law enforcement officials in Georgia issue more than 600,000 traffic citations each year for speeding, according to Ride Safe Georgia. In many cases, these drivers cause serious high-speed collisions.
Speeding often results in serious car accidents because:
- Speeders have less time and space to slow down to avoid collisions.
- The impact of a speeding car is significantly greater than a vehicle traveling at or below the posted speed limit.
- Speeding drivers often cause multi-car, chain-reaction car accidents, especially when traveling at high speeds on highways.
Drunk driving
Law enforcement officials in Georgia issue an estimated 50,000 traffic violations each year for impaired driving, according to Ride Safe Georgia. Even so, drunk drivers still cause serious or fatal car accidents every year throughout the state.
Each year, an estimated 400 people die in drunk driving accidents in Georgia involving an impaired driver, according to statistics compiled by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). In addition, thousands more people are also injured in drunk driving accidents throughout the state each year.
Disobeying traffic signs
Car accidents often occur because one driver disregards traffic signs posted on the road. This can include:
- Not stopping at a stop sign.
- Running a red light and crashing into another car at an intersection.
- Failure to yield.
- Ignoring the posted speed limit on a road or highway.
Distracted driving
Texting while driving is against the law in Georgia. Even so, many drivers still text behind the wheel and cause serious collisions. But texting isn't the only form of distracted driving that often results in accidents. Other examples of distracted driving that frequently result in serious crashes include:
- Talking on a phone while driving.
- Looking up directions.
- Eating while driving.
- Adjusting the radio.
Even talking with fellow passengers can be distracting, especially if teenage drivers are traveling with other teenagers in the car. If there are two or more teenage passengers in a vehicle and a teenager is driving, they are three times more likely to be involved in a distracted driving car accident, according to an NHTSA study.
Aggressive driving
Reckless or aggressive drivers put everyone on the road at risk. Aggressive driving behaviors can include:
- Weaving in and out of traffic, especially at highway speeds.
- Tailgating and following other cars too closely, resulting in a rear-end accident.
- Road rage, including running other cars off the road or even intentionally hitting another vehicle.
Contact an Atlanta car accident lawyer from Georgia's Power Law Firm.
You might think you don't need an attorney to recover compensation for your losses if another driver broke a traffic law and injured you in an accident. Unfortunately, these types of claims often turn into complicated legal cases.
Remember, the insurance company has a financial incentive to pay you as little as possible. If you're not careful, you could lose out on the compensation you're entitled to under Georgia law.
This is why you should have an experienced lawyer in your corner, protecting your rights and looking out for your best interests.
At the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., we can be your voice for justice throughout the entire process. We know the law and understand how the legal system works in Georgia. That's why we consistently obtain sizable settlements and verdicts for injury victims and their families. Results matter here.
Learn more about your legal rights. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation to see how an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer can help you. We have six offices conveniently located throughout Georgia and would be honored to talk to you about your potential legal case.
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