First settled as a religious camp in the early 19th century, the city of Smyrna later became one of Georgia’s fastest-growing cities at the turn of the new millennium. That population growth has put tons of new vehicles on the road every single year, which has in turn led to a rise in dangerous car accidents.
According to data from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Cobb County where Smyrna is located saw a total of 35,140 accidents in 2017, which caused 12,496 injuries and 53 fatalities. Most frustrating of all, a fair portion of these accidents were caused by careless driver decisions, including 15 that involved excess alcohol intoxication and 13 where at least one driver was speeding.
When drivers make bad decisions that directly cause a car crash, anyone who is injured could be entitled to a car accident settlement. Their car accident injury claim can include compensation for the medical costs of their injury as well as related expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other damages directly caused by the accident.
If you or a family member have been hurt in a car accident, you have the right to pursue such a claim against any potentially at-fault parties. You can give your claim a higher chance of success and project an accurate estimate of your total likely expenses, past and future, when you work with a car accident lawyer in Smyrna.
By working with a Smyrna car accident lawyer, you can create a strategy to build a strong personal injury case based on past rulings, expert testimony, and extensive evidence. Your attorney will fight for your legal rights, including the possibility of filing a lawsuit in some cases.
Remember that you don’t have to bear the costs of your injury if the accident that caused it was someone else’s fault. Contact us now to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with experienced Smyrna accident lawyers ready to stand up for you.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Smyrna
While some Smyrna car accidents are unavoidable, others are directly caused by negligent drivers. The following are some of the most common reasons for a car accident in the city that stem from careless or reckless driving:
1. Distracted Driving
Any task that takes the driver’s eyes or focus off the road can instantly put everyone else in danger. Research conducted by the Georgia House found that up to 15% of all injury-causing crashes and 10% of fatal crashes involve distracted drivers. One of the most notorious culprits for driver distraction are cell phones. Even though Georgia has banned most cell phone use while driving, drivers continue to talk, text, or browse online while driving. Other distractions include adjusting the radio, reading, applying makeup, eating, daydreaming, and talking to other passengers.
2. Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Driving after drinking lowers your reaction time, inhibits decision-making and destroys your sense of coordination. Many drugs can have the same effect, especially opioids and other narcotics. Statistics show that nearly a quarter of fatal accidents in Georgia involved drunk drivers over the legal BAC limit.
3. Speeding and Ignoring Other Driving Laws
Aggressive drivers dramatically raise the risk of car accidents, and they also cause crashes to be more severe. When traveling at higher speeds, vehicles have less time to react, less maneuverability, more force and less control of what happens once the incident begins. Other dangerous driving actions, such as changing lanes too often or purposefully driving close to other vehicles, can similarly raise the chances of an accident happening.
4. Poor Vehicle Maintenance
Drivers are expected to maintain their own vehicle and to ensure that any vehicle they operate is in proper working order before going on public roads. Yet, all too often, car accidents that could have been avoided instead happen because someone’s brakes didn’t work, their tire blew out, or their vehicle otherwise functioned as it shouldn’t because of poor maintenance.
Work with a Smyrna Car Accident Lawyer to Build a Strong Injury Claim
A Smyrna car accident lawyer is ready to potentially take your case and assemble all of the documents and evidence you need to file a claim that has a high chance of succeeding. Their expertise will help you counter common strategies insurers and defendants use to avoid fault, and your lawyer can also speak with insurers on your behalf in most instances.
You can start the process of filing a claim with the help of a car accident attorney in Smyrna by scheduling a free case review right now. A licensed, experienced attorney will reach out to you promptly to discuss your possible case and lay out the next steps you can take.
Ready to get started? Contact us now.