Automobile Accidents

Inexperience, Recklessness, Distractions, Impairment

Our roads and highways are teeming with traffic, making it no surprise that car accidents are among the most common personal injury cases we represent. Motor Vehicle Accidents account for 24% of all “preventable deaths” in the United States.

Common Causes

There are many reports with statistics from a variety of sources, examining the most common causes of auto accidents. However, for the most part, they agree that inexperienced driving, reckless driving, distracted driving, and impaired driving are among their top causes.

Inexperienced Driving

Passing driver education tests to get a license is only a small part of learning and preparing to drive – practice time behind the wheel is crucial in building the skills, confidence and competence for safe driving. New drivers – teens in particular – often lack the experience to effectively scan their surroundings to identify and avoid hazards. They also may drive too fast for road conditions, without the experience to know just how quickly a hazardous situation can present itself. Distractions inside and outside their vehicle also contribute to driving errors.

Reckless Driving

Reckless Driving is particularly egregious because it involves willfully operating a vehicle without considering the safety of others. Georgia code (O.C.G.A. §40-6-390) says a Reckless Driving offense is “any person who drives any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Excessive speeding, tailgating, and weaving in-and-out of lanes in heavy traffic are examples of Reckless Driving, however, the code intentionally does not list specific offenses, allowing for application to many types of dangerous driving.

Distracted Driving

Another form of Reckless Driving is Distracted Driving, although in Georgia, Distracted Driving has its own laws. The dangers of Distracted Driving stem from the lack of focus on the task at hand – driving. The things that distract drivers can be visual, manual, or cognitive.

Visual distractions are anything that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road, such as looking at the scenery around them or looking for something in the car. Manual distractions are anything that causes drivers to take their hands off the wheel. In addition to texting or using your navigation or entertainment system, distractions that take hands off the wheel also include changing the radio station, eating, drinking, and grooming (brushing your hair, applying makeup or shaving). Cognitive distractions are those that cause drivers to take their minds off of the responsibility of driving such as talking to passengers, listening to a conference call or talking on a hands-free device. Read More 

Drunk/Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol isn’t only reckless, it is criminal and it takes more than 10,000 lives each year. Whatever the substance of choice, the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving are all extremely dangerous, reducing the ability to judge time and distance, slowing reflexes and increasing aggression, and recklessness. Impaired drivers can drift in and out of lanes or off the road, drive too fast or too slow, cross into head-on traffic, and more. Even the best, most experienced drivers cannot outmaneuver the physiological impairments while intoxicated behind the wheel. Victims of drunk or impaired drivers and their families will always carry the knowledge that their lives have been forever changed by the careless, negligent actions of a single impaired driver. Read More

Arrive Alive: Drive Responsibly

Each of the causes discussed above have one thing in common: they are preventable. The National Safety Council says, “For too long, preventable deaths and injuries have been called “accidents,” implying unavoidable acts of nature or fate that we are powerless to stop. This is simply not true.” The power to avoid most car accidents is in each and every driver’s hands:

Don’t drive alone until you’re ready with experience; don’t give-in to distractions; don’t drive recklessly; and don’t drive impaired.

Auto Accident Victims

The truth is, every accident has a cause and no matter how careful we may be behind the wheel, we can’t control the actions of others on the road.

If you or a loved one have been injured by the irresponsible or unlawful actions of another driver, give our office a call. We won’t hesitate to do what it takes to hold negligent drivers accountable. You deserve an attorney who has focused his entire career on personal injury law and auto accident injuries. We welcome your call or email today for a free case evaluation.

Inexperience, Recklessness, Distractions, Impairment

Our roads and highways are teeming with traffic, making it no surprise that car accidents are among the most common personal injury cases we represent. Motor Vehicle Accidents account for 24% of all “preventable deaths” in the United States.

Common Causes

There are many reports with statistics from a variety of sources, examining the most common causes of auto accidents. However, for the most part, they agree that inexperienced driving, reckless driving, distracted driving, and impaired driving are among their top causes.

Inexperienced Driving

Passing driver education tests to get a license is only a small part of learning and preparing to drive – practice time behind the wheel is crucial in building the skills, confidence and competence for safe driving. New drivers – teens in particular – often lack the experience to effectively scan their surroundings to identify and avoid hazards. They also may drive too fast for road conditions, without the experience to know just how quickly a hazardous situation can present itself. Distractions inside and outside their vehicle also contribute to driving errors.

Reckless Driving

Reckless Driving is particularly egregious because it involves willfully operating a vehicle without considering the safety of others. Georgia code (O.C.G.A. §40-6-390) says a Reckless Driving offense is “any person who drives any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Excessive speeding, tailgating, and weaving in-and-out of lanes in heavy traffic are examples of Reckless Driving, however, the code intentionally does not list specific offenses, allowing for application to many types of dangerous driving.

Distracted Driving

Another form of Reckless Driving is Distracted Driving, although in Georgia, Distracted Driving has its own laws. The dangers of Distracted Driving stem from the lack of focus on the task at hand – driving. The things that distract drivers can be visual, manual, or cognitive.

Visual distractions are anything that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road, such as looking at the scenery around them, or looking for something in the car. Manual distractions are anything that causes drivers to take their hands off the wheel. In addition to texting or using your navigation or entertainment system, distractions that take hands off the wheel also include changing the radio station, eating, drinking, and grooming (brushing your hair, applying makeup or shaving). Cognitive distractions are those that cause drivers to take their minds off of the responsibility of driving such as talking to passengers, listening to a conference call or talking on a hands-free device. Read More 

Drunk/Impaired Driving

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol isn’t only reckless, it is criminal, and it takes more than 10,000 lives each year. Whatever the substance of choice, the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving are all extremely dangerous, reducing the ability to judge time and distance, slowing reflexes, and increasing aggression, and recklessness. Impaired drivers can drift in and out of lanes or off the road, drive too fast or too slow, cross into head-on traffic, and more. Even the best, most experienced drivers cannot outmaneuver the physiological impairments while intoxicated behind the wheel. Victims of drunk or impaired drivers and their families will always carry the knowledge that their lives have been forever changed by the careless, negligent actions of a single impaired driver. Read More

Arrive Alive: Drive Responsibly

Each of the causes discussed above have one thing in common: they are preventable. The National Safety Council says, “For too long, preventable deaths and injuries have been called “accidents,” implying unavoidable acts of nature or fate that we are powerless to stop. This is simply not true.” The power to avoid most car accidents is in each and every driver’s hands:

Don’t drive alone until you’re ready with experience; don’t give-in to distractions; don’t drive recklessly; and don’t drive impaired

Auto Accident Victims

The truth is, every accident has a cause and no matter how careful we may be behind the wheel, we can’t control the actions of others on the road.

If you or a loved one have been injured by the irresponsible or unlawful actions of another driver, give our office a call. We won’t hesitate to do what it takes to hold negligent drivers accountable. You deserve an attorney who has focused his entire career on personal injury law and auto accident injuries. We welcome your call or email today for a free case evaluation.