Common Causes of Atlanta Car Accidents: Understanding Your Legal Rights After a Collision

Atlanta's bustling highways and city streets see thousands of preventable car accidents each year, with leading causes including distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive driving behaviors. These accidents frequently occur on major thoroughfares like I-285, I-75, and I-20, particularly during the city's extended rush hours. The aftermath of these collisions often involves complex legal considerations, as victims may face severe injuries, substantial medical bills, lost wages, and long-term rehabilitation needs. Understanding how different accident causes affect liability is crucial for injury claims, as factors like texting while driving or failure to maintain safe following distance can significantly impact compensation. Insurance companies carefully evaluate these causation factors when assessing claims, making it essential for accident victims to document all evidence of negligent behavior that contributed to their collision.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence system, where accident victims can recover damages if they are less than 50% at fault for the collision. The state's at-fault insurance system requires drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Victims have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Georgia's statute of limitations (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Compensation may include economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress). In cases involving gross negligence, such as drunk driving, punitive damages may be available under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1. A good Atlanta car accident lawyer will handle all aspects of an injury claim.

If you've been injured in an accident, click the links below to get help from an attorney who specializes in your type of accident or injury:

• Atlanta drunk driving accident lawyer;
• Atlanta distracted driving accident law firm;
• Atlanta rear-end accident law office;
• Atlanta Uber and Lyft accident attorney;
• Atlanta head-on accident law firm;
• Atlanta hit-and-run accident lawyer;
• Atlanta wrongful death lawyer.

Common causes of serious injury crashes in Atlanta include:

• Distracted Driving: The use of mobile phones for texting, calling, or GPS navigation is particularly dangerous on Atlanta's busy streets and highways, often leading to sudden stops or lane drifts that result in collisions.
• Excessive Speed: Despite heavy traffic on I-85 and I-285, many drivers exceed speed limits significantly, reducing their reaction time and increasing the severity of potential accidents.
• Aggressive Driving and Road Rage: Atlanta's notorious rush hour traffic often triggers aggressive behaviors like tailgating, dangerous lane cutting, and confrontational driving patterns.
• Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol and drug impairment remains a serious concern, especially during weekends and after major events in the city.
• Weather-Related Accidents: Atlanta drivers often struggle to adjust their driving during frequent rain showers, leading to hydroplaning and reduced visibility accidents.
• Running Red Lights: The city's numerous intersections see frequent accidents from drivers attempting to beat red lights or misjudging yellow light timing.
• Following Too Closely: In stop-and-go traffic, many drivers maintain insufficient following distance, leading to rear-end collisions when traffic suddenly halts.
• Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Neglected maintenance issues like worn brakes, bald tires, or faulty lights contribute to mechanical failure accidents.
• Driver Fatigue: Long commutes and extensive driving times in Atlanta's sprawling metro area lead to decreased alertness and slower reaction times.
• Improper Lane Changes: Sudden, unsignaled lane changes during highway merges or exits often result in sideswipe collisions or multi-car accidents.
• Failure to Yield: Many accidents occur when drivers don't properly yield right of way at intersections or while merging onto highways.
• Drowsy Driving: Early morning and late-night accidents often involve drivers who are operating vehicles while sleep-deprived, particularly during long commutes.

How do you deal with an insurance claim after an Atlanta accident?

Regardless of how severe an accident is, almost everyone involved has to deal with insurance companies and claims. For crashes involving more serious injuries, or when a fatal crash occurs, an Atlanta personal injury attorney is needed to manage the insurance claim. 

Return to the Atlanta accident information page

Related Resources

Local Courts

• Fulton County State Court
• DeKalb County State Court
• Gwinnett County State Court
• Atlanta Municipal Court

Support Services

• Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund
• Shepherd Center (Rehabilitation Services)
• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program
• MADD Georgia Chapter (For DUI Victim Support)

Legal and Regulatory Resources

• Georgia Department of Driver Services
• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety
• Georgia Code Title 40 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic)
• Georgia Department of Transportation Crash Data
• Georgia State Patrol Accident Reports

Return to the Atlanta accident information page