Common Causes of Car Accidents in Georgia
In its report on the disturbing rise in deaths due to motor vehicle crashes from 2014-2016, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed the leading car accident causes in Georgia. Some factors will sound familiar to you. Others may surprise you. Although you can avoid many of the dangerous behaviors that frequently cause car accidents, there are many other careless drivers on the road that may endanger you and your passengers.
Every one of us is capable of causing a car accident if we don’t obey the rules of the road. However, certain groups of people and specific behaviors contribute to a greater proportion of car collisions. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you may feel devastated. Expensive medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress are just a few of the harms victims endure. Georgia law authorizes you to recover compensation after your car accident, but it’s wise to retain a skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer to assist with the complicated claims process. Our attorneys at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers have the experience and dedication necessary to protect your interests, so please contact us at (404) 939-9470 or online to schedule a free consultation.
1. Excessive Speed
Motorists who speed have less time to react to external factors and the actions of other drivers, making it difficult to avoid a crash. That is true whether they’re exceeding the posted limit, or if they’re simply traveling too fast for road or weather conditions. Victims often suffer serious injuries because of the stronger collision impact at excessive speeds.
2. Alcohol and Controlled Substances
Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal, but many individuals still drink and drive. Alcohol and drugs impair drivers’ physical capabilities, mental awareness, focus, and reaction time; plus, the euphoric effects of alcohol and drugs inspire bad judgment and erratic traffic maneuvers. If you were hit by a drunk driver, contact a drunk driving accident lawyer today.
3. Distraction
Distracted driving has recently emerged as one of the leading causes of car accidents in Georgia. Deaths due to cell phone usage, grooming, operating the radio, and other unsafe conduct rose by a third from 2014-2016 in Georgia.
Texting while driving is an especially shocking trend, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) demonstrates. Creating or reviewing a message takes a driver’s eyes off of the road for five seconds. Traveling at a speed of 55 miles per hour, that’s the equivalent of driving the length of a football field while blindfolded.
4. Fatigue
Falling asleep behind the wheel is dangerous. But, even drowsy driving diminishes a motorist’s capabilities. Drivers are less able to focus on the road, their reaction time is greatly diminished, and drivers who are tired are generally less likely to make responsible decisions. The NHTSA estimates that fatigue is a factor in around 72,000 crashes and 44,000 deaths annually, though other sources believe the impact of fatigue is far worse.
5. Inexperience
Driving is a skill that improves with practice and exposure to unexpected conditions. Motorists who have not had as much time to develop good driving habits may not recognize conditions that could lead to accidents. Teens and other young drivers are inexperienced and potential collision threats.
Schedule Your Free Consultation6. Driver Demographics
Older Drivers Are Safer Than You Might Expect
Many people believe that seniors cause a disproportionate share of car accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, seniors (age 70 and older) do cause more accidents than middle-aged drivers. However, they do not cause as many accidents as young drivers.
There is also some evidence that seniors are driving more safely now than they used to. For instance, even though seniors make up a greater proportion of the population now than before, they are involved in fewer fatal car collisions. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a total of 4,792 people ages 70 and older died in crashes in 2016, which is 18% lower than in 1997.
Other factors that might contribute to the decreasing vehicular fatality rate of seniors include:
- Safer vehicle technology
- Use of ride share vehicles
- Seniors’ increasing life expectancy due to healthier lifestyles
Also, some states now require older drivers to renew their driver’s licenses in person. That way, a state representative can evaluate whether the senior is fit to drive.
Younger Drivers Are Still The Most Unsafe Drivers
Teens continue to cause the most collisions among any age group. Indeed, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teen drivers have crash rates 3 times those of drivers age 20 and older.
Although teens are required to graduate from driver’s education programs, many still drive carelessly once they earn their licenses. Peer pressure induces many teens to drive unsafely, which typically leads to disaster. Other teens simply don’t have enough experience driving in hazardous conditions. As a result, they may make mental errors that lead to collisions.
Fortunately, teens are increasingly relying upon ride-sharing services in lieu of driving their own vehicles. For instance, according to a PBS news article that pulled statistics from Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Ascendant Research also found that the share of high school seniors across the country who have a driver’s license dropped from 85.3 percent in 1996 to a record low 71.5 percent in 2015. The drop has been sharpest in the South, where the share of high school seniors with a driver’s license fell from 88.6 percent in 1996 to 71.2 percent in 2015.
Women Are Safer Drivers Than Men
Men claim to be more knowledgeable about automotive technology than women. But that perceived knowledge doesn’t translate to safer driving behaviors. In fact, according to a CBS news report, men are 3.4 times more likely than women to get a ticket for reckless driving and 3.1 times more likely to be cited for drunk driving.
Men are also more likely than women to die in U.S. traffic accidents. According to the CBS news report, in 2009, men died at a rate of 2.5 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, versus 1.7 deaths per 100 million miles traveled for women. That difference becomes particularly stark when one compares male teenage driver deaths to female teenage driver deaths. In 2009, male teenage drivers died at a rate of 9.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, versus 5.3 deaths for females of the same age.
All Of Us Should Drive Safer
Demographics give us a general understanding of the driving behavior of particular population groups. But, there is a great deal of variation among individual drivers. All of us can be safe drivers if we obey the rules of the road. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind next time you’re behind the wheel:
- Don’t use your smartphone while driving. If you have to use it for GPS directions, make sure that you input the address before you put your vehicle into gear.
- Drive at or slightly below the speed limit.
- Consistently check your mirrors and blind spots, especially if you’re on the highway.
- Yield to all oncoming traffic whenever you’re attempting a left turn.
- Don’t tailgate vehicles in front of you.
Contact a Knowledgeable Car Accident Lawyer
Whether your injuries were due to one of the leading causes of car accidents in Georgia or some other factor, the law provides you with rights. If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you should immediately contact an Atlanta car crash lawyer. The lawyers at Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers have helped their clients recover millions of dollars in car and truck accident cases. We’re glad to help you, as well.
To hear more about your rights, please call (404) 939-9470 or via our online form to reach the Atlanta, GA offices of Graham Scofield Injury Lawyers. We can schedule a free consultation to review your case and discuss your legal options.