Car accidents are one of the leading causes of the personal injury cases that we see in our practice. As the population in the metro Atlanta area has grown, the number of vehicles crowding onto the highway systems and secondary roads has increased. In 2008, there were 1,493 fatal traffic accidents in Georgia. The number of vehicle accidents was highest in Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.*
While not all accidents can be prevented, here are some tips that may help you avoid being involved in a car accident:
- Keep your vehicle in good working order – have a basic safety check done by a mechanic when you have the oil changed (brakes, tires, lights, horn).
- Never drive when you are impaired! This includes alcohol, drugs (illegal OR prescription drugs that cause drowsiness or lethargy), or just being too tired.
- Avoid activities that cause you to become distracted: talking on the phone, texting, reading, shaving, putting on makeup, eating, or focusing on your passengers and not the road!
- Do not tailgate other vehicles. It is especially important to stay well back of trucks – if you cannot see the truck’s mirrors, the trucker cannot see your vehicle.
- Obey the posted speed limits; slow down further if weather or road conditions warrant. Speed is frequently cited as the cause of accidents.
- ALWAYS wear your seatbelt and require that your passengers do so as well.
- Drive with your lights on when it’s raining or dark. Even if you can see, ask yourself how easily other drivers can see you at dusk or dawn.
- Secure children in a properly installed approved car seat. Local police agencies will frequently offer clinics on how to properly install child seats or will help you if you ask.
- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! Be aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open for other drivers. DO NOT expect them to be paying attention or to stop or yield to you!
The team at Cochran & Edwards hopes that you will never be involved in a serious car accident, but if you are injured in a car accident that was the result of another person’s negligence, or if a loved one died in a fatal car accident caused by another (wrongful death), we offer a free case review. Contact us today at (770) 435-2131 or complete the form below.
*http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/13_GA/2008/13_GA_2008.htm