Common Causes of Car Accidents Attorney in Georgia

Georgia car accidents may have a variety of causes, many of which stem from drivers’ carelessness or recklessness. If you suffered injuries in a car accident someone else caused, understanding their actions (or lack of actions) preceding the collision can help determine whether they may owe you compensation for your resulting injuries and other losses.

An experienced car accident attorney from Bayuk Pratt can investigate the accident and help you hold those at fault for the crash responsible. With over 50 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have proven themselves in accident cases by recovering over $300 million for clients.

We know what it takes to succeed in high-stakes injury cases. As former senior partners in top defense law firms, our founders have significant experience crafting defenses for insurance companies and corporations. Today, they use their keen insight and insider knowledge to develop legal strategies to overcome insurers’ tactics and get clients the compensation they need and deserve.

When someone else’s carelessness caused a car accident that injured you, get the legal help you need to pursue financial recovery. Contact Bayuk Pratt for a free initial case review with a Georgia car accident attorney to discuss your legal options for recovering compensation.

Benefits of Hiring an Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim

When you’re dealing with car accident injuries, you deserve to focus your attention on your medical treatment and rehabilitation. An attorney can manage the tasks associated with pursuing compensation from the driver or other parties at fault for the car crash. When you hire an attorney from Bayuk Pratt for your car accident claim, you’ll benefit from a dedicated legal advocate who can handle the details of your case so you can devote yourself to healing.

Let our car accident law firm pursue the financial resources you need for your recovery by:

• Thoroughly investigating the crash to recover evidence needed to build your case, such as police accident reports, eyewitness testimony, accident scene photos and videos, surveillance and traffic camera footage, and accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony
• Determining the cause of the accident and identifying the party or parties at fault
• Documenting your injuries and disabilities and calculating your ongoing and future financial and personal losses
• Evaluating your options for financial recovery, including insurance coverage
• Filing your claims and dealing with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys
• Aggressively negotiating for a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your losses
• Taking your case to court when litigation becomes necessary to demand a favorable result for you

What Compensation Could I Be Entitled to in an Auto Accident?

After a car accident, you can pursue a legal claim to recover compensation for ongoing and future losses you incur. Your financial recovery can provide you with money for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, medical and orthopedic equipment, pain management, and physical or occupational therapy
• Long-term disability care and replacement services, such as home health care, housekeeping, or childcare
• Loss of income from missed work or reduced earnings in a modified-duty position required by your medical restrictions
• Loss of future earning potential and employment benefits caused by permanent disability from work
• Physical pain and emotional trauma
• Reduced quality of life due to disabilities or permanent disfigurement/scarring
• Car repair bills or reimbursement for the value of your totaled vehicle

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?

The statute of limitations in Georgia typically requires you to file a car accident lawsuit within two years of a crash. However, some accident circumstances may extend or shorten the deadline. For example, if you get into a car accident with a state government vehicle, Georgia law requires you to submit a claim notice to the government within 12 months of the crash.

Because you have limited time to pursue your compensation claims, talk to a car accident lawyer from Bayuk Pratt as soon as possible. Doing so will give you the best chance to file your claims on time.

What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents in Georgia?

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Georgia include:

• Distracted Driving – Common distracted driving behaviors include using a cell phone, eating and drinking, grooming and applying makeup, reaching around the passenger cabin, or interacting with other vehicle occupants. Distracted driving can take a motorist’s attention off the road, which may result in them not noticing a hazardous situation and causing a crash.
• Driving Under the Influence – Drunk driving can lead to car accidents because alcohol or drug intoxication can slow a driver’s reaction times, alter their perception, and impair their judgment. Drug and alcohol intoxication can also lower a person’s inhibitions, with some intoxicated drivers more likely to engage in risky behavior while driving. Intoxicated driving may also increase the risk of falling asleep behind the wheel.
• Reckless Driving – A motorist engages in reckless driving when they drive a vehicle with a conscious disregard for the safety of other people or property. Common examples of reckless driving behaviors include excessive speeding, street racing, and swerving through traffic. Reckless driving increases the risk that a driver may lose control of their vehicle or collide with another motorist obeying traffic laws.
• Road Rage/Aggressive Driving – Common examples of road rage behavior include tailgating, brake checking, cutting off other vehicles, honking, running other drivers out of a lane or off the road, and bumping other vehicles. Aggressive driving significantly increases the risk of a collision or crash.
• Fatigued or Drowsy Driving – Drivers have an increased risk of drowsy or fatigued driving by driving for long periods without a break, driving without restful sleep, or driving during late night and early morning hours. Drowsy driving can impair a motorist’s ability to drive safely in a similar manner as drunk or drugged driving.
• Speeding – Speeding increases the risk of a driver losing control of their vehicle, leaving motorists less time to react to emergencies. Speeding also increases the forces involved in a collision, potentially leading to more severe injuries.
• Elderly Drivers – Older drivers may experience slower reaction times and worsening vision. They may also suffer cognitive or memory problems that can cause them to crash if they become confused while behind the wheel.
• Teen or New Drivers – Teen drivers get into motor vehicle accidents more frequently than any other age group, with a fatal crash rate approximately three times higher than drivers 20 and older, according to the CDC. New drivers lack experience with road rules and how to react in emergencies. Teen drivers may also overestimate their driving skills or engage in risk-taking behaviors.
• Tailgating or Following Too Closely – Motorists should leave a three-second distance between themselves and the vehicle ahead and increase their following distance in poor weather. Tailgating another vehicle increases the chances of a rear-end accident by leaving less distance to slow down and stop if the vehicle ahead applies the brakes.
• Poor Weather – Adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, sleet, and fog can make driving more challenging and increase the risk of collisions or loss of control.
• Poor Road Conditions – Common poor road conditions like potholes, slippery road surfaces, or debris can adversely affect a driver’s ability to control their vehicle or may damage a car’s tires and wheels, potentially leading to a crash.
• Failure to Yield – Drivers who disregard right-of-way rules may cause a crash by making a maneuver that another driver following traffic rules does not expect, such as turning left in front of an oncoming vehicle or suddenly pulling into a traffic circle or freeway.
• Failure to Stop – Drivers who fail to stop at a stop sign or red light may cause an intersection accident, such as a T-bone collision.
• Inexperienced Drivers – Inexperienced drivers may lack familiarity with traffic rules and may get stressed or panicked when facing a hazardous situation, potentially causing a crash.
• Unsafe Lane Changes – Failing to signal or check mirrors or attempting a lane change close to another vehicle in the other lane may cause a crash, especially if the other vehicle does not expect the driver to change into their lane. Drivers can also cause head-on collisions when they attempt illegal or unsafe passes in the opposing traffic lane.
• Dangerous Turns – Drivers may cause accidents by taking dangerous turns, such as turning in front of a bicycle coming from behind or turning with pedestrians in the crosswalk. Other dangerous turns include turning left without yielding the right of way to oncoming traffic or making an illegal turn, such as a U-turn or right turn on red where prohibited.
• Vehicle Defects – Design or manufacturing defects in a car can lead to a mechanical failure that causes a driver to lose control of their vehicle and crash.