Distracted Driving Accidents Atlanta, GA

At Council & Associates, LLC, we understand how easy it is to be distracted on the Atlanta roads. Long commutes and slow traffic – it’s easy to let your mind wander or be tempted to play on your phone. Unfortunately, distracted driving is the leading cause of car collisions, from pile-ups that result in catastrophic injury to a fender-bender that gives you whiplash and a gnarly bumper.

Despite the efforts of Georgia lawmakers and police, distracted drivers continue to be a menace on Atlanta roads. If you’ve been hurt in an Atlanta, GA distracted driving accident, you have legal options, including filing a suit for compensatory damages against the distracted driver. The legal team at Council & Associates, LLC, can evaluate your situation and advise you on the next steps to get the money you need to fix your car, pay your medical bills, and move forward with your life. Call us today for a free consultation.

How Common Are Atlanta Distracted Driving Accidents?

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) noted in a recent report that 2023 saw a 10% increase in distracted driving actions. This isn’t unusual. Since 2019, the USAA has noted a 14% increase in traffic fatalities caused by distracted driving accidents.

These statistics are alarming, but what’s worse is that Georgia is one of the top states in the nation for distracted driving. In the first part of 2023, the state rated a distraction rate of more than 15%, higher than the national average of 12.1%.

This makes Atlanta roads more perilous than surrounding states.

What Are Common Types Of Driving Distractions?

Any activity that takes your attention away from the road and other cars can be a distraction. The U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) separates distractions into three categories (each of which poses a different type of danger to people around the distracted driver):

• Visual distractions, taking your eyes off the road
• Manual distractions, taking your hands off the wheel
• Cognitive distractions are when your mind wanders, and you’re not paying attention to the road

Although there are three main categories of distractions, many common driving behaviors combine one or more. Texting and driving, for example, could combine all three. The driver looks at their phone, thinks about the message or reply, and then uses their hand or their hands to send the message.

So what happens when a driver is distracted:

• They lose focus, so they’re less likely to notice road hazards or traffic slowing down around them
• Slowed reaction times, so you may not have time to hit the brakes or swerve to avoid a crash
• Reduced awareness of what’s going on around you, so you may not be able to anticipate moves drivers on the road are making

Were You Hurt In A Distracted Driving Accident?

Even with strict laws against texting and driving and a redoubled effort on the part of Atlanta police and the Georgia Highway Patrol, distracted driving accidents still happen almost every day. If you’ve been hurt in one of these Atlanta distracted driving accidents, you have the right to demand that the at-fault driver compensate you for your damages. Contact Council & Associates, LLC, today for a free consultation with our Atlanta, GA car accident lawyer.