According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there has been a “relatively large increase” in car accidents and traffic fatalities in 2021 compared to 2020. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) were the second leading cause of injury deaths and the second leading cause of hospitalizations and ER visits in Georgia in 2020.
Most of these car accidents were caused by distracted drivers. Every day, about nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Today, drivers face more distractions than ever before. From cell phones to speeding, these distractions put drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists at higher risk of becoming involved in an accident. If you were in a car accident in Georgia, the attorneys at Virguez Law can help. In the meantime, educating yourself on the seven major causes of car accidents in Georgia will help you become more aware of the distractions drivers face. Always being aware of other vehicles and road conditions and staying alert can help prevent dangerous car accidents. Share this article with your loved ones to keep them safe.
1. Texting
Using a mobile device to read, create, and send text messages, social media posts, or emails creates a significant risk of being in a car accident. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention have researched why texting and driving are so dangerous. The findings conclude that distractions, like texting, fall into three categories.
Manual Distractions – Taking your hands off the steering wheel to do something else while driving.
Visual Distractions – Taking your eyes off the road.
Cognitive Distractions – Taking your mind and thoughts away from driving. Even if your hands and eyes are on the wheel, your mind is elsewhere.
2. Failing to Yield
Many times distracted driving in Georgia means that an at-fault driver:
- Fails to yield to other drivers when entering a highway.
- Doesn’t stop at a stop sign.
- Goes through a traffic signal without stopping.
Failing to yield to the right of way can lead to liability for a resulting accident. When a driver fails to yield to the vehicle with the right of way, it almost always results in a collision.
3. Speed
Speed limits are set to keep drivers and pedestrians safe. Driving faster than the designated speed increases the chance of getting into a car accident and increases the severity of the accident.
4. Inexperience
Inexperienced drivers are drivers who are new to driving or are not comfortable behind the wheel. Lack of skills and experience put drivers at greater risk of becoming involved in a car accident in Georgia. Teen drivers are especially at risk. If you are a parent of a teenager, it is important to educate your teen on safe driving, follow the imposed curfews, and limit your teen’s driving in unsafe conditions.
5. Distractions
Distracted driving occurs when a driver’s attention is taken from the road. This makes it difficult to react to road conditions, other vehicles, and hazards. Car accidents caused by distracted drivers may include:
- A driver swerving into another lane or even oncoming traffic
- Failing to yield at a light or traffic signal
- Not seeing pedestrians
- Rear-ending another vehicle (or tailgating)
6. Driving Under the Influence
Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 45 minutes. In 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2019. These deaths were all preventable.
7. Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a moving violation in which a driver disregards the rules of the road, putting themselves and others at risk. Just a few examples of reckless driving include:
- Speeding
- Failing to obey traffic signals
- Passing outside of normal lanes
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Failing to yield right away
- Failing to signal
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Other actions that can cause harm to people or property.
If you have been a victim of a car accident in Georgia, call the attorneys at Virguez Law at 678-300-0000. Our accident attorneys are experts in handling car accidents that result from distracted drivers.
