Articles Posted in Car Accident Injuries

A car with a damaged front endFew things are scarier than a head-on collision. When traveling at high speeds, two vehicles colliding head-on can produce a tremendous amount of force, resulting in very serious injuries and even death. According to the Institute for Highway Safety, head-on collisions accounted for 56% of all car accident fatalities in 2017. 

The lawyers at Slappey & Sadd have been representing car accident victims in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia since 1992. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should talk with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. We know how to get results and we know how to get you the compensation you deserve so that you can put your life back together. Call us today at 404-255-6677 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation to discuss your case.  

Common Causes of Head-On Collisions

A black van with read end damageIf you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be wondering whether you need to hire a lawyer or when is the right time to hire one. The good news is that any time is the right time, even if you’re not sure you need one, but wait too long, and you may lose your rights.

The Georgia personal injury attorneys at Slappey & Sadd help people in the Atlanta area and across the state of Georgia get the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and don’t know what to do, call us at 888-474-9616 or visit us online to schedule a free consultation.  

Go See a Doctor

Red car with dented door and front fenderA report released in March of this year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) paints a startling picture –  traffic fatalities among people 65 and older have increased by 22% from 2008 to 2017. The NHTSA reported last October that over 37,000 people were killed in car accidents in 2017, and the most recent report indicates that people 65 and older accounted for 18% of those fatalities. Clearly, older people are facing an increasing risk of serious injury and death on our nation’s roadways.  

Other Troubling Statistics

In addition to the raw numbers, the NHTSA’s recent report contains some other alarming statistics for older drivers:

Red car with dented door and front fenderBecause driving is so commonplace, we tend to overlook the inherent danger that we face every time we get behind the wheel. In addition, most car accidents are caused by surprisingly common behaviors and ordinary events. If you’ve been in a car accident, chances are that one of the issues below is to blame.

  1. Distracted driving. Even though we hear about the dangers of distracted driving every day, it continues to be a leading cause of car accidents in the United States. The most well-known distraction is the ubiquitous smartphone, but remember that distractions can come in many forms – eating while driving, dealing with young children, and talking with your passengers.
  1. Speeding. When you speed, it reduces the amount of time you have to react to road hazards and avoid possible accidents. In addition, it changes how your vehicle handles and increased the distance you need to stop safely.

The aftermath of a 3-car accidentModern safety features do a tremendous job of keeping us safe, but car accidents can still result in serious injuries. Some of the most serious injuries you can suffer are to your head, neck, or back. The most important thing you can do is get a thorough medical examination, even if you declined treatment at the scene. Nevertheless, you may want to consider contacting a personal injury attorney if you’re injured and in pain to at least understand your options.

Head Injuries

We’ve come to understand that even minor head injuries can be much more serious than we previously thought with the potential for long-term and even permanent damage. Here are some common head injuries that can result from a car accident:

A silhouette on a man bending over holding his back.It’s quite common to hurt your back in an accident. Unfortunately, unless they experience a back injury that requires hospitalization, too many people ignore their back injury and assume that it will get better over time. They subsequently discover, often too late, that their injury is more serious than they thought and will require extensive medical treatment in order to make a full recovery.

Common Causes of Back Injuries

Back injuries can be caused in many different ways and sometimes in ways you wouldn’t expect. We’ve helped thousands of clients recover compensation from back injuries caused by the following accidents:

Time-lapse photo of street at night showing streaks of headlights and taillightsFalling asleep behind the wheel is obviously dangerous – nodding off for just a moment can result in a catastrophic car accident. Unfortunately, simply driving while drowsy presents a bigger danger than you may think. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 795 people were killed in car accidents that involved drowsy driver in 2017 alone. In a recent study, AAA reported that approximately one third of drivers admit to driving while almost unable to keep their eyes open within the last 30 days. It is estimated that drowsy driving contributes to around 90,000 crashes per year, although precise numbers are extremely difficult to pin down.  

Why Drowsy Driving is a Problem

Even if you don’t fall asleep, driving while drowsy can affect your ability to drive safely. Studies have show that drowsiness can affect your driving in the following ways:

A police carThe Atlanta Police Department has just suspended one of its officers as a result of being indicted in connection with a car accident that occurred back in February of 2018. The officer, Dejoira Phillips, was responding to a 911 call when she collided with another driver, Lisa Williams of Atlanta. Ms. Williams lost her left arm when it was severed in the accident.

The car accident is not only a startling reminder of the severe injuries that can occur, but it also raises a number of questions that should be asked in any car accident case.

Who is at Fault?

An illustration of two cars collidingIntersections can be dangerous places – traffic entering from different directions, vehicles stopping and going and making turns, often without looking. Then there are pedestrians and cyclists also entering the intersection, and sometimes in unpredictable ways. It’s no wonder, therefore, that so many car accidents occur at intersections.

When there is an accident, a dispute often arises over who had the right-of-way. The reason is simple: determining who had the right-of-way often determines who was at fault in the accident. If you were injured in a car accident while you had the right-of-way, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the other driver for your injuries and other losses.  In this post, we hope to clarify some common right-of-way scenarios that may be helpful to you if you’ve been in an accident.

Four-way intersection with stop signs for all drivers:

The aftermath of a 3-car accidentCar accidents can be traumatic events that result in very serious injuries such as broken bones, organ damage, whiplash, and brain injuries. Unfortunately, many people tend to overlook the psychological trauma, which can be every bit as serious as a physical injury and often harder to treat.  

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may already be experiencing some of the issues we’ll discuss below. However, it’s important to keep in mind the psychological effects of a car accident may not be immediately obvious. In any event, don’t ignore the symptoms – talk to your doctor, seek counseling, or confide in a loved one. And keep in mind that you may be entitled to compensation for damage to your mental health, just like you may be entitled to compensation for your physical injuries.  

Depression

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