A car accident can cause a jarring disruption in your life and cost you dearly, regardless of whether those costs are financial, physical, or emotional. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers understand your pain – after all, no one expects a routine drive to take a dramatic, distressing turn.

In our tireless pursuit of safeguarding Georgia’s drivers, we’ve analyzed some common threads that lead to these heartbreaking incidents. This blog delves into the top five causes of car accidents in Atlanta, offering insights to help you navigate our city’s roads with increased caution and understanding. Keep reading to find out more.

How Common Are Car Accidents in Atlanta?

According to data from the Georgia Department of Transportation, there were 27,588 accidents in Atlanta during one recent year. These crashes led to 12,483 injuries and 77 deaths. Unfortunately, these records do not include in-depth data on the causes of these accidents. To find that information, we have to turn to a different source.

Most Common Causes of Atlanta Car Accidents

Researchers with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety compiled an overview of accident trends statewide for one recent year, and their findings are well worth reading, even if they don’t directly pertain to accidents in Atlanta. Based on this research, the most common causes of Georgia, and by extension, Atlanta, car accidents include:

Alcohol and drug use

Researchers found that drivers involved in fatal crashes who had a positive blood alcohol concentration (BAC) were 2.3 times more likely to speed and 4.3 times more likely to not wear their seatbelts compared to other drivers with no alcohol in their bodies. Speeding significantly increases the likelihood of a crash, and failing to wear a seatbelt puts drivers and passengers in increased danger of injury or death in a collision.

Distracted driving

When drivers are too busy messing with their phones, fussing with the music in their car, talking to passengers, or otherwise distracted, they put themselves and everyone around them in danger. In one recent year, 47 percent of all crashes statewide had at least one confirmed or suspected distracted driver.

Drivers failing to stay in their lane

Drivers who drift out of their lane because they are impaired, distracted, or otherwise negligent are a severe hazard to everyone else on the road. Researchers found that in one recent year, 31 percent of all fatal crashes happened because a vehicle departed the roadway by crossing an edge line or center line.

Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way

Drivers must obey right-of-way laws to keep traffic flowing smoothly and reduce the chances of a crash. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, about 23 percent of all fatal crashes in one recent year occurred at an intersection or within 50 feet of an intersection’s perimeter.

Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors

When drivers speed, make aggressive turns or lane changes, follow too closely, or otherwise break the rules, they significantly increase their chances of causing a crash. Speeding-related crash fatalities in the Atlanta region increased by 37 percent during one recent year.

How We Can Help After an Accident

Hiring a car accident attorney in Atlanta is a significant step toward reclaiming control over your life post-accident. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers thoroughly understand Georgia’s complex traffic laws and the intricacies of insurance companies’ tactics. We can help evaluate your claim’s worth, negotiate with insurance firms, and even take your case to court if necessary. Our priority is to ensure you receive full compensation for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and emotional distress after someone else’s negligence harmed you.

Amid the chaos following a car accident, having a dedicated professional fighting for your rights can provide much-needed peace of mind. Call the W. Winston Briggs Law Firm today at (404) 522-1500 for a free consultation, or you can reach out to us online.