Atlanta Fatal Car Accident Lawyers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents are one of the top ten causes of death for all Americans, but the number one cause of death for children, teens and young adults, ages 5 through 34 years-old. Regarding the number of years of life lost, motor vehicle accidents come in third, behind cancer and heart disease. However, most fatal motor vehicle accidents are preventable.
Causes of Fatal Auto Accidents
The types of collisions that often result in fatal injuries include rollovers, head-on collisions and collisions with fixed objects, although any type of accident can result in fatalities under certain circumstances. Car accidents may be caused by a variety of circumstances, however, those that usually cause fatal injuries usually include:
- Alcohol or drug-impaired driving;
- Speeding; and
- Distracted driving.
All of these causes involve negligence, recklessness and/or wrongdoing on the part of the driver. These causes make the driver at-fault for the fatal accident, which in turn gives the victim's family the right to pursue compensation for the losses they have suffered. Until drivers choose to always stay sober behind the wheel, focus on the road and obey speed limits and traffic laws, many more families will lose their loved ones in traffic accidents.
Georgia Car Crash Fatality Statistics
According to the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), there were 337,834 statewide vehicle crashes in 2007 and 306,367 in 2008, resulting in 1,648 and 1,508 fatalities, respectively. Additionally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,284 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Georgia in 2009. Although the number of fatalities resulting from car crashes has been declining, the lives of many are still cut short every year through the negligent and reckless actions of others.
Effects of Fatal Car Crash Injuries
Fatal auto accidents do not always claim their victims right away. Oftentimes, a person may be hospitalized, undergo multiple medical treatments, be released and then readmitted to the hospital, and may even be given rehabilitative services or home care for days, weeks, months and even years before their injuries take their life. This causes pain and suffering, generates substantial medical costs and creates financial and emotional hardship for the victim's family.
Obtaining Justice
Losing a loved one in a fatal auto accident is both emotionally traumatic and financially burdensome. Fortunately, the families of fatal car accident victims have the right to hold the at-fault party responsible for what they have done through a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit by which the family of a person killed through an act of negligence can pursue compensation for their losses from the at-fault party. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our compassionate Atlanta fatal accident lawyers are committed to helping grieving families obtain closure in such a difficult time. Only by holding the at-fault party responsible, and finding closure, can a family truly begin to recover from their loss. If your loved one was killed in an auto accident in Georgia, we may be able to help. To learn more about your legal rights and to ask any questions you may have, please contact us today at 866-249-5513 or 404-995-3955.
