How Excessive Speed Increases The Risk of Fatal Injuries in Atlanta Car Accidents
It’s a scene many Atlanta drivers are familiar with: you’re merging onto I-285 or other busy highways and interstates, when the car behind you closes the gap in seconds. As you hold your breath, they ride your bumper, forcing you to go faster.
Unfortunately, this scenario occurs regularly throughout the city and dramatically increases not only the risk of car accidents in Atlanta, but also the severity of injuries. Our experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers explain the risks and your options for holding those at fault liable.
Speeding Remains a Common Cause of Life-Threatening Car Accidents in Atlanta
Speeding is a common problem throughout the state and increases the risk of car accidents in Atlanta. Unfortunately, the faster a driver is going, the greater the likelihood of life-threatening harm.
Georgia’s Super Speeder Law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-189) adds a mandatory $200 penalty for any driver convicted of traveling 85 mph or over. Despite that law, the number of people injured or killed in speed-related crashes continues to climb.
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reports that nearly 400 fatal speed-related car accidents happen each year. Factors that increase the risks:
- Increased vehicle velocity: A car traveling at 80 mph carries four times the destructive force of one traveling at 40 mph.
- Decreased time for sudden stops: Stopping distances at highway speeds exceed 300 feet, longer than a football field.
- Rollover crash risks: The likelihood of a rollover crash climbs sharply at high speeds, especially in SUVs and pickup trucks.
- Ineffective safety features: Airbags, crumple zones, and seatbelt systems may not withstand excessive speeds.
Speeding not only increases the likelihood of car accidents in Atlanta. It also increases the likelihood of severe and potentially fatal harm. With the number of high-speed highways and interstates throughout our area, local drivers need to be aware of the risks.
Your Rights To Compensation For Speed-Related Car Accidents in Atlanta
Speed-related car accidents in Atlanta can cause devastating harm, impacting victims and their families for long after. Under the Georgia Code, you have the right to hold those at fault accountable. Your options in filing a claim include:
- Seek compensation through your own or the other driver’s insurance.
- File an Atlanta car accident lawsuit against them, which can provide additional compensation, including pain and suffering.
- In the event of a fatal crash, spouses, parents, children, and other family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Regardless of whether a speeding driver faces criminal charges, you can hold them liable in an Atlanta car accident claim.
Injured in a Speed-Related Crash? Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers
Speed-related car accidents in Atlanta can cause severe, potentially fatal injuries. Shiver Hamilton Campbell provides the comprehensive legal service you need to get justice and hold those at fault accountable.
To learn how our experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers can help, call or contact us online to request a consultation today. We serve families across the metro area, including Roswell, Sandy Springs, Decatur, and throughout DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties.
Source:
gahighwaysafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2021-Risky-Driving-Georgia-Traffic-Safety-Facts-updated.pdf
