Atlanta Distracted Driving Car Accident Attorneys
File an Atlanta Car Accident Claim If You Were Injured by a Distracted Driver
When a driver allows himself to become distracted, he isn’t just breaking the law – he is also placing everyone on the road around him at great risk. Victims of distracted drivers are routinely left with debilitating injuries, or lose their lives altogether, leaving behind grieving families. Recovering from an Atlanta distracted driver accident, whether you were injured by a negligent driver or lost a loved one to one, requires the help of experienced and compassionate attorneys.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Grant Law Office understand that the aftermath of a vehicle crash can be difficult, especially when the collision was caused by a distracted driver. We are dedicated to helping injured victims and family members of those killed in crashes obtain the compensation they deserve from negligent parties. Contact one of our lawyers today by calling (404) 995-3955 to learn more about how we can protect your rights.
Types of Driving Distractions in Georgia
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three kinds of distractions that a driver can deal with while on the road: visual, manual, or cognitive. All are incredibly dangerous; all can lead to the driver causing a serious accident.
Visual Distractions: When a driver is visually distracted, it means her eyes are not physically on the road. Even looking away for a couple of seconds can cause a serious accident. Common kinds of visual distractions include rubbernecking, looking down at the radio while changing the station, and looking at a GPS device.
Manual Distractions: To be manually distracted, a driver must take one or both hands off the steering wheel. This leaves the driver in a position where she could suddenly lose control over her vehicle. A driver can become visually distracted when she eats, adjust the radio, or takes off her jacket.
Cognitive Distractions: It isn’t enough to keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. A driver must also be concentrating on driving safely. If a driver is not concentrating properly, then he is cognitively distracted. Forms of cognitive distraction include having a conversation using a hands-free device, talking with passengers, and daydreaming.
While there have been increased efforts to decrease distracted driving, such as the State of Georgia banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving, these efforts are not perfect. The NHTSA notes that using hands-free devices while driving does not cut down on cognitive or mental distractions because the driver's brain will still be focused on the conversation. When a driver pays less attention to the road, no matter what they are doing, they increase the chances of causing a serious collision.
Cell Phone Accidents
Distracted driving causes thousands of collisions in Georgia and throughout the United States each year. Many of these collisions are caused by drivers who are too busy talking or texting on their cell phones to pay proper attention to the road. In fact, using a cell phone can be a visual, manual, and cognitive distraction at the same time, making it particularly dangerous. If someone you love has been injured or killed in a crash caused by a driver on a cell phone, please don't hesitate to call the experienced Atlanta injury attorneys at Grant Law Office to discuss your legal rights and options. We are committed to helping our clients hold negligent individuals responsible so they can focus on getting their life back on track.
What Makes Distracted Drivers Dangerous?
When you are coming to an intersection and have a yellow or red light, you slow down because that is the legal and responsible thing to do. However, you are only able to slow down because you have your eyes and mind on the road. Otherwise, you would have missed the light and continued forward into the intersection, potentially causing a serious accident. That is precisely why distracted drivers are so dangerous.
When a driver is distracted, he cannot make snap decisions. This means he won’t maneuver out of the way of another vehicle; slow down, stop, or react at all to sudden stops in traffic, pedestrians crossing the street, or objects in the road. On top of that, since distracted drivers don’t react to their surroundings, most distracted driver accidents will be high-speed collisions. The faster a vehicle travels, the more force is built up. When the vehicle comes to a sudden stop, that force has to go somewhere. Most often, it is transferred to the driver and passengers in the other car, resulting in devastating injuries. The human body can only take so much force, which means that a high-speed collision can lead to broken bones, brain damage, and even paralysis.
Injuries Caused by Distracted Drivers
Any car accident has the potential to devastate the victims. The average passenger vehicle weighs around 4,000 pounds, and when two sedans collide, the size, weight, and force behind the impact can lead to catastrophic injuries, such as:
- Broken bones
- Brain damage
- Crush injuries
- Severe burns
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Organ damage
- Loss of limb
- Internal bleeding
Recovering from these injuries is no easy task. You’ll have to take time away from work, go to the hospital for surgeries, and visit a physical therapist to try and get back on your feet. However, even with such a long and difficult process, the victims who suffer injuries are the lucky ones.
Countless people lose their lives to distracted drivers every year, leaving behind devastated families. If you have a lost a loved one to a distracted driver, you can file a wrongful death claim to hold the at-fault driver responsible and recover compensation for medical bills, funeral expenses, and loss of benefits. Filing a successful claim, however, whether it be a personal injury or wrongful death, will require an experienced attorney who can offer you the support that you need.
Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers Provide Solid Communication, Efficient Legal Strategies
When a car crash occurs, it's not only the at-fault driver who pays. Passengers in the driver's car and those in other vehicles involved in the crash may also suffer severe injuries or even lose their lives. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to driver negligence, please contact the Atlanta, GA distracted driving car accident lawyers at Grant Law Office. As experienced personal injury attorneys, we will work with you to help you obtain the compensation you deserve to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, as well as pain and suffering. Call us at (404) 995-3955 for a free legal evaluation of your case.
Additional Information
- How Modern Cars Reduce Distracted Driving Risk
- The Danger of Distracted Driving in Georgia
- Why is Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
- Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Offers Tips to Prevent Distracted Driving Crashes
- Distracted Driving - NHTSA
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