Do You Need An Auto Accident Attorney In Acworth?
The causes of auto accidents in Georgia are diverse. They include irresponsible driving, complicated navigation systems, and the distractions of modern technology. Whatever the cause of your auto accident, you need an experienced auto accident lawyer to handle your case, fight for your rights, and ensure that you receive adequate compensation. Even if you think that your injuries are minor, or if you don’t notice any injuries at all following an accident, you may have injuries that will surface with symptoms at a later date. This is why it’s important to contact a good auto accident attorney early on and to follow the appropriate steps to ensure that your rights are protected. This means that you’ve got to make your report, get adequate medical treatment, and file a claim with the help of your attorney.
Depending on the severity of the injuries that you sustain from your car crash, you may require surgery or rehabilitation. You may face an extended period of recovery, lose your source of income, and face major medical expenses following an accident. Meanwhile, you have to face the insurance claims adjusters with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. All they want to do is settle your case quickly for the lowest amount possible. You do not have to face them alone if you find a good attorney to represent you. Don’t make mistakes now that you will regret later.
For a free legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Acworth, call (770) 792-1000
The Statistics Of Auto Accidents – Acworth
Every year, over 60,000 years of life are lost to fatal auto accidents in around 1200 car crashes per year in Georgia. The average cost per injured person in an auto accident is over $1,000. Most of these accidents occur in rural areas, though urban areas see their share of collisions too.
The most common causes of accidents in Georgia are related to distractions and irresponsible driving, and they include loss of control of the vehicle, following too closely, and failure to yield. Hundreds of accidents and thousands of injuries are sustained through these car crashes in a single day. The impact of these collisions can be truly devastating to yourself and your family. You may lose loved ones or face a long recovery process from various injuries.
Acworth Car Accident Lawyer Near Me (770) 792-1000
Most Common Auto Accident Injuries In Acworth
Many different injuries can be sustained from auto accidents in Acworth. These include injuries that can result in serious disability and long term recovery and rehabilitation. When another vehicle collides with yours, the sudden stop at a high speed puts tremendous pressure on the bodies of the passengers and drivers of both vehicles. What are the most common injuries that you may face?
Head Injury
Head injuries range from mild concussions to life threatening traumatic brain injuries. These are caused by the sudden impact that can cause the head to collide with part of the vehicle and/or can cause the brain to be jostled inside the skull. This can result in a fractured skull or bruising and/or bleeding in the brain. You may not even know that you’ve sustained a head injury when it happens. If you black out or miss the signs in the confusion of the accidents, you might not notice your symptoms or remember the impact. You may have nothing more than a mild headache to begin with.
The mistake that most victims of auto accidents in Georgia make is not seeking treatment for injuries that they are not aware of. People typically check their bodies after an accident for broken bones, bleeding, and pain in the neck and spine. If you have injuries in these areas, they can take up all of your focus, and you may not even consider the potential injuries sustained in the head and brain. If you find that everything is in its proper place without injury, you may think that you’re in the clear.
People often also mistake their symptoms of head and brain injuries for the natural response to the shock of the accident. For example, you may not find it strange that you feel dazed and confused or that you have a headache. You’ve just been in an accident! Of course, you’re going to feel a little strange. You can also end up too dazed and confused from a head injury to think clearly enough to assess your situation. Sometimes, head and brain injury symptoms do not become apparent until days after the collision. Georgians frequently regret their decision to settle early on without the aid of an auto accident attorney, as they end up facing their medical expenses alone.
Back and Neck Injury
When an auto accident causes your head to snap in any direction, you can end up with whiplash. This is an injury to the neck caused by this sudden motion, and it is one of the more common injuries sustained in Georgia car accidents. Other common injuries to the back and neck include muscle damage, nervous system damage, and spine damage, like crushed and broken vertebrae.
Much like head injuries, the symptoms of back and neck injuries can either be severe and obvious or mild/moderate, and easy to miss in the confusion of the moment. You may find yourself in significant pain days later from an injury that you were initially unaware of. Do not settle your case right away without a medical evaluation and the guidance of an auto accident attorney, or you might end up facing these medical expenses without an appropriate settlement.
Facial Injury
Many people in auto accidents will sustain injuries to the face. Facial injuries include bruising, lacerations, burns, or broken bones and teeth. They are most often caused by the face coming into contact with broken glass from windows, mirrors, and eyeglasses, though they can also be caused by an impact with the dashboard, the steering wheel, or contact with heated objects and open flame.
Facial injuries are usually quite apparent following an auto accident, though their severity may not be. For example, you may experience burns that you don’t realize at the time are going to take months of painful healing to recover from. You may have broken teeth that you certainly notice but don’t anticipate the high cost of treatment. You might have lacerations on your face that simply don’t seem as important as your other injuries in the moment.
Chest Injury
An injury to the chest, like many other injuries, can be mild, moderate, or severe; and the severity of your injury will affect your perception of that injury in the shocking minutes and days that follow the auto accident. Chest injuries include fractured ribs, lung damage, and other internal injuries. You may be injured in the chest area by your seatbelt, by your steering wheel, or by being thrown from the vehicle.
Click to contact our Acworth Personal Injury Lawyers today
Auto Accident Attorneys Help With The Claims Process
It is important to follow the appropriate steps in the claims process when you’ve been in an auto accident. A good attorney in Acworth can help with this. You will benefit from understanding what you need to do before and after contacting an attorney.
Step One: File A Report
Before you even look into contacting an auto accident lawyer in Acworth, you need to file a report for the collision. In Georgia, this is your legal obligation whenever an accident occurs. This means that you need to contact the police, who will then arrive to help you file your report. Your report will include the details of the accident. You’ll mention the cause of the accident, the way that it happened, and the positioning of the vehicles before and after the collision.
You will want to be careful about what you say after an auto accident. You may want to apologize to the people in the other vehicle who are injured, but this can be used against you to indicate fault later on. Don’t discuss anything other than the specific facts of the accident and how and why it occurred. Don’t do or say anything that can be used against you later an implication that you were at fault. The other driver and his or her attorney will seek to prove that they were not at fault, and you don’t want to give them any ammunition to do this.
If you are physically able to exchange information with the other driver, do so. Get their name, contact information, insurance information, etc. Give them your information as well. Make detailed notes about the accident and get the information of any witnesses who may need to be contacted later to testify in your case. Do not skip any of these steps, because they can make all the difference.
Step Two: Get A Medical Examination
Ensure that you get a thorough medical examination, no matter what you think the extent of your injuries may be. As discussed above, many injuries seem milder than they are or are not noticeable at all in the confusion that follows an auto accident. You need this evaluation, not only for legal purposes, but to ensure that you do not have injuries that may threaten your life or become worse without appropriate and speedy treatment.
When it comes to your case, not knowing the actual extent of your injuries right away can hurt you in the settlement process. Your Acworth auto accident attorney needs to be able to combine your current medical expenses with your anticipated medical expenses to get the settlement that you deserve to handle all of your current and future costs for treatment. You also want to protect yourself from future accusations that your injuries did not occur or that they were caused by something else. Go to the emergency room or regular doctor for this evaluation.
Step Three: Establish Fault
The next step in your case will be to establish fault, and this is where the importance of step one comes into play. Your initial report is going to have an important impact on the determination of who was at fault for the collision. This is why it is so important to take notes about the negligence or reckless driving of the other driver and the positioning of the vehicles prior to the accident and after the accident.
Step Four: Gather Evidence
In addition to your initial report, there will be other evidence to gather, including witness statements, and evidence of the medical treatment that you received. Your auto accident lawyer will be able to assist with this process, but you will need to keep track of your doctors, hospitalization, rehabilitation, chiropractic care, radiologist expenses, etc. Your attorney may also work with an accident reconstructionist to help in proving your case.
Step Five: File A Demand Letter
With all of your evidence in hand, your auto accident attorney is going to be able to file a demand letter with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. It can take time for your case to be resolved, but it is better to be patient and get the settlement that you deserve than to settle quickly for an amount that is too low. The evidence gathered in step four is going to be the backbone of the demand letter, which will initiate the negotiation process.
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Settlement Process – Auto Accident Attorney In Acworth
After an auto accident, the settlement process can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. You’ve got a lot of things to handle with your recovery and losses, but a qualified auto accident attorney in Acworth can make it much simpler and take some of this stress off of you.
You should never settle your case early, and you should always obtain the advice and representation of an auto accident lawyer. You may be facing substantial injuries and extensive recovery and rehabilitation, and this is not the time to make a mistake that you can end up regretting for years.
Take the following example: A person gets into an auto accident and sustains broken bones that must be treated right away. He doesn’t realize that he’s also got whiplash and a head injury. He is naturally focused on the devastation of his broken bones. Once the dust has settled and the bones are set, he starts to really notice the limited range of motion in his neck, the significant and increasing pain, and an ongoing dazed and confused feeling. He returns to the doctor to discover the whiplash and head injury that are causing these symptoms. Unfortunately, he has already settled his case, and he must now pay for the medical expenses of these injuries without the benefit of an adequate settlement.
Call (770) 792-1000 to speak with an experienced auto accident lawyer in Acworth. You’ll get a free consultation and advice about your specific case.
Roger Ghai is a qualified attorney with experience in representing people just like you who need to receive compensation for their injuries and lost wages following an auto accident, so call today to learn more about how you can get the settlement that you deserve.
The Tiger Woods Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Tiger Woods appeared as a named defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit involving one of his employees. According to the lawsuit, the restaurant the Woods operated in Jupiter, Florida fostered a culture of drinking and carousing at the bar. The family of Nicholas Immesberger claims that the restaurant knew that Immesberger had a serious drinking problem and still let him get wasted at the bar. When he left, he drove home, crashing and dying in a one-car accident along the way.
Recently, Tiger Woods’ name has been dismissed from the lawsuit, but his restaurant is still the target of the wrongful death. Immesberger’s family blames management at the restaurant, including Woods’ current girlfriend Erica Herman, for allowing Immesberger to leave the premises and get into a vehicle.
The Details
Nicholas Immesberger worked as a bartender at Woods’ restaurant in Jupiter. His shift finished at 3 PM and afterward, he drank at the bar till 6 PM. According to the lawsuit, Immesberger had a blood alcohol concentration of .256 which is more than three times the legal limit. Immesberger was going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone when his car crashed into a tree.
According to the civil complaint, the defendants knew that Immesberger attended alcoholics anonymous meetings. It further claims that management fostered a culture of drinking and encouraged employees to drink at the bar.
The Law Involving This Case
Florida laws differ from Georgia laws when it comes to proprietor liability in alcohol-related accidents. Florida laws give broad immunity to proprietors who have customers that go off and harm someone else after coming from their establishment. There is, however, one notable exception. That’s when the individual is known to have an alcohol problem or a history of alcohol abuse. The plaintiff must be able to prove, however, what the proprietor did or did not know about the plaintiff. This can be a very high standard to overcome.
Georgia Dram Shop Liability Laws
Most civil laws differ from state to state. In Georgia, if someone gets into a car after being served an absurd amount of alcohol at the bar, the drunk person is responsible for the accident. In addition, the bar or restaurant that served that individual alcohol may also be held liable. Georgia is one of 30 states with such laws on the books. In each state, the criteria for a successful action against a named defendant is different. In Florida, the standard is very high in these cases and most actions against a “dram shop” (a place that serves alcohol) are dismissed before they see a jury. This is especially true in cases where the only person injured or killed is the plaintiff.
In Georgia, a plaintiff need only prove that the establishment served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or the individual to whom the establishment served alcohol was under the age of 21. In these cases, the plaintiff must also show that the individual who went out and injured the plaintiff while drunk was consuming alcohol that the dram shop was serving. In other words, the dram shop can claim that they brought their own alcohol to the establishment and thus the dram shop is not liable for their actions.
Social Host Liability
Georgia’s dram shop laws don’t just apply to bars and restaurants. They also apply to individuals who are hosting parties where alcohol is made available to guests. If the social host makes alcohol available to anyone under the age of 21 and they go out and injure someone else (or themselves) then the social host may be liable for damages related to their injuries.
If the host provides alcohol to someone who is over the age of 21, and this individual causes someone else injuries, the social host may be partly liable for their damages. A plaintiff would be required to prove that the social host knew that the individual intended on driving and allowed them to do so in a state of inebriation.
So let’s take a look at one scenario. A social host provides alcohol at a party and one of their guests is visibly intoxicated. The social host tells the guest that they should not go out onto the road in their current state, but the guest demands to be allowed to leave. In this case, the social host expressed concerns about the guest’s present state of inebriation but is not expected to hold the guest down or otherwise incapacitate them. Since the host made the effort, the host would not be liable.
Back to the Tiger Woods Lawsuit
If this incident had occurred in Georgia, the Woods’ establishment may very well be liable for their employee’s death. There are two major reasons for this. Firstly, they served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person. Secondly, they knew this individual was going to drive home. In the case of an employee, management should have been aware that the individual they were serving alcohol to commuted by car on their way to and from work.
Secondly, it would be hard to convince a jury that an individual with a blood alcohol concentration of .256 was not visibly inebriated while they were serving him alcohol.
Complicating the matter, however, is the fact that Immesberger didn’t go out and injure or kill another person; he killed himself. In these cases, the dram shop is assigned a part of the blame, but the individual driving the car is assigned the majority of the blame. In Georgia, that means Immesberger’s family would be barred from filing a lawsuit because Immesberger was more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. In Florida, however, you can file a lawsuit even if you are 99 percent responsible for an accident.
Car Accident Attorney Acworth
If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver in Georgia, you are entitled to recover damages related to your medical expenses, missed time from work, and pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one, you can recover damages related to the lost income, your own grief, and the loss of companionship. Talk to the Roger Ghai Law Offices today to set up a free consultation.
What to Do After Your Acworth, Georgia Car Accident
Each year, thousands of people are injured or tragically killed on our nation’s roads. According to data released by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the state recorded more than 385,000 car accidents in 2015 resulting in over 1,400 deaths. When compared to the prior year, 2015 had a 22.8 percent increase in roadway fatalities. Only eight counties in the Peach state experienced no fatal car accidents that year. The top ten Georgia counties with the highest number of car accident-related deaths are, in order: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Chatham, Cobb, Hall, Bartow, Henry, Carroll, and Richmond.
Common Car Accident Injuries
There is a broad range of the types of injuries a car accident victim may suffer. These can be as minimal as minor bumps and bruises or as serious as death. Moreover, injuries suffered by those involved in an Acworth car crash may be temporary or permanent. Beyond physical damage to the person as a result of the impact, car accident victims may also suffer from mental health issues due to the accident. Some common car accident injuries include damage to the:
- Head and brain – commonly referred to as a “traumatic brain injury” (TBI), this type of injury occurs when a car accident victim’s head violently hits (or is hit by) an object. The resulting symptoms of a TBI can be mild or severe, depending on the extent of damage that was done to brain as a result of the impact. It is not uncommon for a victim of a TBI to have no visible signs of trauma. That being said, the victim’s brain may have been bruised, swollen or bled as a result of the injury causing symptoms to appear days or months later;
- Neck – a car accident can result in serious injuries to the neck, which is referred to as the cervical spine, and may include dislocation and/or disc injury. Mild forms of neck injuries include whiplash or neck strain, both of which can adversely affect someone’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis;
- Back – perhaps the most common part of the body that is injured in a car accident, injuries to the lower back may include sprains, strains, fractured vertebrae and herniated discs that may result in the need of a brace, pain medications (including block injections) or even the use of a cane to ambulate;
- Spinal cord – a bruise or tear in the spinal cord tissue nerves may occur in a car accident due to disc material, displaced bone fragments, or ligaments being injured as a result of the impact. Because these types of injuries typically affect the signals that are sent between the brain and the spine to the rest of the body, common symptoms include loss of function or feeling in the upper and/or lower extremities.
- Internal organs – damage to internal organs can be serious and should be treated immediately. Because internal organ damage is typically not visible to the naked eye, bleeding or bruising that affects the kidneys, liver, bowels, lungs, spleen, heart or aorta can be serious and requires immediate medical attention and possibly surgical intervention;
- Face – another very common injury due to a car accident, facial damage is likely due to the fact that on impact a driver’s face may hit the steering wheel. Likewise, a driver or passengers alike may suffer physical damage to their faces due to hitting the airbag upon deployment, smashing into the windshield or side windows or being cut by shattered glass.
What To Do After An Acworth Car Accident
If you or someone you care about is involved in an Acworth car accident there are a few things that should be done right away, if possible, but always after ensuring everyone involved is alright:
- Immediately seek professional medical attention – it is not uncommon for it to take hours – or even days – to feel the symptoms and effects of a car accident. If you are found to be seriously injured at the scene of the accident, you will likely be transported to a local hospital by medical first responders. If you are not seriously injured, you should still see a doctor within a few days of the accident to assess your medical status;
- Get the information of all parties involved – exchange of personal information should occur among all the parties involved in a car accident before anyone leaves the scene. Important information that should be obtained includes complete names, addresses, phone numbers, the accident case/report number, law enforcement’s name and badge number, as well as all parties’ insurance information.
- Try to say as little as possible – it is essential (although difficult) to not discuss details of the accident, argue with anyone, or admit fault at the scene of the accident. This is because any or all of these statements may be used against you by the other side during a trial proceeding on the personal injury lawsuit;
- Retain a Car Accident Attorney – if the car accident resulted in extensive physical injuries or property damage, you should immediately search for an Acworth car accident attorney to help you understand your rights and obligations under state law and pursue monetary damages to which you may be entitled.
The Importance of Proving Fault
Georgia is an at-fault state. This means that, unlike other states where laws mandate each party’s insurance company pay for its own policy holder’s damages to person and property incurred in an auto accident no matter who was at fault, establishing fault in Georgia is necessary to determine who will be financially responsible for damages resulting in an Acworth car accident.
In personal injury cases, fault is typically established one of two ways: through proving (1) negligence or (2) recklessness. Negligence is generally defined as the failure of a party to take reasonable care. Reasonable care is the same degree of care that a reasonably prudent person would have taken in the same circumstances. To successfully prove negligence, an injured victim must establish that the other party (1) owed a legal duty, (2) breached this duty owed, (3) the breach was the actual and legal cause of the injury, and (4) the injury resulted in damages. Recklessness, on the other hand, occurs when a party knew – or should have known – that his or her behavior were likely to cause harm. While fault can sometimes be obvious in a car accident (such as a rear-end or left-turn crash), often it is not so clear.
Car Accident Help in Acworth
If you are in need of a dedicated and aggressive car accident attorney Acworth, or anywhere else in the state of Georgia, contact the Roger Ghai Law Offices today. With years of experience representing injured victims, Mr. Ghai will fight diligently to obtain the monetary compensation you deserve and push for the best possible settlement. Click here today to schedule your initial case evaluation.
Top Tips for Choosing a Car Accident Attorney in Acworth
No car accident victim wants to battle it out with insurance companies that just don’t want to “pay up.” But unfortunately, if you’ve been in an accident and you have medical costs and other accident-related damages, chances are very good the insurance company isn’t going to just hand over the money you’re due without a fight. That’s when it’s vitally important to make sure you have a skilled Acworth car accident attorney to help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have a lot of experience working with a car accident lawyer in Acworth, and that can make it difficult to know what to look for. To help you make the best choice for your needs, here are some tips and questions to consider to make sure your Acworth car accident lawyer is a “good fit” for your needs:
· How much experience does the lawyer have in pursuing car accident claims?
· How will my case be handled? Will it be handled by the primary lawyer, or will it be passed to another attorney?
· What steps will be taken to build my case? How much involvement and participation will I have in developing the case?
· Will I need to see medical specialists aside from my own doctor?
· If I’m facing ongoing medical costs related to the accident, can the lawyer help me get a letter of protection so I don’t experience financial hardship while my case is being settled?
· How often will I be able to talk to my lawyer about the progress of my case?
· How much success has the lawyer had helping clients settle favorably without going to court?
· How is payment made? Will the lawyer charge a retainer or will fees be paid from the settlement?
· Before meeting with the attorney, gather any accident-related medical bills, police reports, insurance documents and any other materials relating to the accident for the lawyer to review, and of course, be prepared to discuss the accident in detail so the attorney can make a fair evaluation of your case.
Once your meeting is over and you have time to review the attorney’s answers to your questions, there’s one more thing you need to do: Ask yourself this important question – How comfortable do I feel working with this attorney? After all, to get the best possible outcome, you’ll need to be able to work closely with your lawyer and feel confident your case is getting the attention it deserves to ensure the best outcome for you.
At the Law Offices of Roger Ghai, we work hard to help our clients get the representation they need so they feel confident their rights are being protected. As a leading car accident attorney in Acworth GA, we believe in open and ongoing communication with our clients and we make sure every case gets the individual attention it needs to get the best results. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you need an attorney who’s on your side and ready to do battle for you and for justice. To schedule your consultation, call us today at (770) 792-1000.
Top Tips for Choosing a Car Accident Attorney in Acworth
No car accident victim wants to battle it out with insurance companies that just don’t want to “pay up.” But unfortunately, if you’ve been in an accident and you have medical costs and other accident-related damages, chances are very good the insurance company isn’t going to just hand over the money you’re due without a fight. That’s when it’s vitally important to make sure you have a skilled Acworth car accident attorney to help you protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve.
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have a lot of experience working with a car accident lawyer in Acworth, and that can make it difficult to know what to look for. To help you make the best choice for your needs, here are some tips and questions to consider to make sure your Acworth car accident lawyer is a “good fit” for your needs:
· How much experience does the lawyer have in pursuing car accident claims?
· How will my case be handled? Will it be handled by the primary lawyer, or will it be passed to another attorney?
· What steps will be taken to build my case? How much involvement and participation will I have in developing the case?
· Will I need to see medical specialists aside from my own doctor?
· If I’m facing ongoing medical costs related to the accident, can the lawyer help me get a letter of protection so I don’t experience financial hardship while my case is being settled?
· How often will I be able to talk to my lawyer about the progress of my case?
· How much success has the lawyer had helping clients settle favorably without going to court?
· How is payment made? Will the lawyer charge a retainer or will fees be paid from the settlement?
· Before meeting with the attorney, gather any accident-related medical bills, police reports, insurance documents and any other materials relating to the accident for the lawyer to review, and of course, be prepared to discuss the accident in detail so the attorney can make a fair evaluation of your case.
Once your meeting is over and you have time to review the attorney’s answers to your questions, there’s one more thing you need to do: Ask yourself this important question – How comfortable do I feel working with this attorney? After all, to get the best possible outcome, you’ll need to be able to work closely with your lawyer and feel confident your case is getting the attention it deserves to ensure the best outcome for you.
At the Law Offices of Roger Ghai, we work hard to help our clients get the representation they need so they feel confident their rights are being protected. As a leading car accident attorney in Acworth, we believe in open and ongoing communication with our clients and we make sure every case gets the individual attention it needs to get the best results. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you need an attorney who’s on your side and ready to do battle for you and for justice. To schedule your consultation, call us today at (770) 792-1000.
Vacation Travel Safety Tips From Our Car Accident Attorney in Acworth
Summer is the ideal time to plan a road trip with your family, but whether you travel across the state or across country, it is important to be prepared. Car accidents and injuries happen suddenly and when you least expect them, but the following safety tips from our car accident attorney in Acworth can help reduce your risks.
Preparing For Your Trip
The Travel Channel provides guides to some of the most scenic road trips in the country, but before heading out, they urge you to be prepared. Research the best routes to take, plan to avoid areas under construction, figure out the best times to avoid traffic tie ups, and calculate your gas mileage before you go. Additional ways to prepare for your trip include:
- Take your vehicle to a mechanic for a check-up: Have them give your engine and transmission a good once over, make sure your brakes are in good working order, your battery is charging property, and tighten all loose belts. Get an oil change while you are at it.
- Perform do-it-yourself routine maintenance tasks: Change your windshield wipers and make sure you have enough wiper fluid, gauge your tire condition and pressure, and make sure head and tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals are all clean and in good working order.
- Have what you need in case of a mechanical problem: Make sure you have jumper cables, a spare tire and jack, flares to alert other drivers, and a kit with some rags and basic tools.
- Pack an emergency safety kit: Just in case of a breakdown, make sure you have the adequate supplies. Pack a flashlight, extra batteries, a blanket, bottled water, and a few snacks. Make sure your phone is fully charged before you go, and take a car charger with you.
- Let someone know your itinerary: Alert a friend or family member as to where you are going, what time you are leaving, and when you plan on returning home.
If you do experience car problems while on the road, the Insurance Information Institute advises not to get out of your car in an intersection or on a busy highway. Either get someplace safe, such as a parking lot or a breakdown lane, or remain in your vehicle until help arrives. Standing outside your vehicle or attempting to fix problems such as a spare tire or a dead battery on the side of the road increases your risk for accidents and injuries.
Safety On The Road
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 1.7 million people were injured in car accidents throughout the U.S. In Georgia alone, nearly 2,000 drivers and passengers are killed in traffic accidents each year. The summer months in particular see an overall surge in car accidents compared to other times of the year, making it even more important to keep safety a priority when planning your vacation. Tips to protect you and your loved ones include:
- Refrain from speeding: Going over posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions is one of the most common reasons for car accidents and injuries to occur. While you may be in a hurry to get to your destination or to see as many sights as you can while you are there, take the time needed to get safely where you are going.
- If you are drinking, do not get behind the wheel: While it is natural to want to enjoy a few drinks while you are away, be mindful that drunk driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Use caution with any prescription or over the counter medications you may be taking as well. Even something as simple as an antihistamine can cause dangerous side effects that impair your driving ability.
- Keep calm: While going into road rage and cutting other drivers off is something you obviously want to avoid, beware of aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating and failing to yield that could endanger you and your passengers as well.
- Keep your eyes on the road: In addition to talking on cellphones, checking emails, or texting, engaging in any activity that distracts your attention from the road could put the lives of your loved ones in jeopardy. Taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel for even a few seconds increases your accident risk, so avoid eating, drinking, reaching for objects, or changing radio stations and GPS settings until you are safely pulled over and out of traffic.
- Stay rested: Drowsy driving includes falling asleep behind the wheel as well as driving while excessively fatigued. Being tired can reduce your reaction times and cause you to make errors in judgement. If you plan on driving a long distance, divide the time between other licensed drivers, or break up the trip by getting a hotel room so you can get the rest you need.
In addition to the above, be mindful of making wrong turns or going the wrong direction down one way streets, which can happen when traveling in unfamiliar surroundings. Take your time getting where you are going, and do not hesitate to ask for directions when needed.
In An Accident? Contact Our Car Accident Attorney In Acworth
Despite your best efforts to avoid the above dangerous driving behaviors, you cannot control the reckless actions of other drivers on the road. In the event a car accident does occur, follow these steps:
- Notify state highway patrol or local law enforcement;
- Exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers;
- Get medical care, even if you think your injuries are minor.
While the other driver is liable for damages through their insurer, these companies are generally more concerned with their own bottom line then making sure you get the compensation you need. Before making any statements that could be used against or accepting a settlement amount that is less than you deserve, contact the Law Offices of Roger Ghai. We provide aggressive legal representation to protect your interests, while holding negligent drivers accountable. With five offices to serve you in Acworth and the surrounding Georgia area, call or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.
Car Accidents Are Increasing, and Affect Individuals of All Age Groups in Acworth
Most people do not believe that they will be in a serious, life-threatening car crash in their lifetime. Yet the statistics indicate that many of us are going to experience a car accident at one point or another, especially now that traffic accidents and the number of people injured in them have skyrocketed in recent years (especially in southern states like Georgia). Nationally, more than 40,000 people died on the road last year—the sharpest rise in 53 years—and officials report that they are seeing more and more serious injuries every day.
Authorities cite distracted driving—including drowsy driving (sleep deprivation) and people texting and using apps on their phones—as the culprit. And, sadly, along with increased car accidents, also comes more pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Reportedly, 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while they are behind the wheel of their cars. While many millennial drivers (between ages 19 to 31) are engaging in other activities while driving, these statistics apply to older drivers as well.
The best way to prevent a car accident is to behave cautiously. This not only means driving defensively and keeping emergency tools in your vehicle in case you need to—for example, break a window or cut a passenger out of a seat belt—but knowing what you need in order to be an aware, responsible driver on the road.
Alarming Results on Drowsy Driving In Recent Study
A recent study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety highlights to what extent acute sleep deprivation is specifically linked to a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents. Specifically, while previous studies have examined the link between driver drowsiness and hospital admissions, this study focused on very specific measures and assessment of drivers’ recent sleep and accidents that involved emergency medical services, vehicles towed due to damage, and multidisciplinary investigations.
While common sense dictates that too little sleep can (of course) become dangerous on the road, what many people likely do not realize (and what this study brings attention to) is that getting fewer than four hours of sleep within a 24-hour period can lead to a state which is similar to being intoxicated beyond the legal limit. In other words, as demonstrated by the study, drivers who get less than four hours of sleep in a night had an estimated 11.5 times the crash rate of drivers who had slept for seven hours or more.
But what is perhaps the most alarming result of the study is that even getting five to six hours of sleep still almost doubles the crash risk, where 35 percent of adults sleep less than seven hours per day. The study indicates that even getting one hour less of sleep per night than you’re used to can result in significantly elevated crash rates.
This has especially important implications for truck drivers, who are not only driving vehicles that can cause significantly more damage and injury if they become involved in an accident, but who are often driving at night, and sometimes in back-to-back shifts without taking necessary breaks.
A Generational Concern?
As recently quoted by USA Today, 88 percent of drivers between the ages of 19 and 24 acknowledged engaging in risky behavior—such as texting while driving, running red lights, speeding, and engaging in similar, dangerous behavior. This age group—coined “millennials” by some—were found to engage in distracted driving activities at twice the rate of other drivers, and nearly half surveyed reported running a red light. Perhaps most alarming, a significant percentage felt that driving at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit—and engaging in other dangerous driving behavior—was completely acceptable.
Driving Impairment Affects the Young and Old
In addition to drowsy driving, drugged driving can also lurk as an unknown threat on the roads. The law makes it illegal for anyone who is impaired to drive; that includes not only alcohol intoxication, but impairment due to prescription and other drugs.
The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration recently put together a report on the risk of driving impairment amongst older drivers, as motor vehicle injuries continue to be the leading cause of injury-related deaths amongst 65- to 74-year-olds and remain high, even in spite of traffic safety programs aimed at reducing crash rates.
Medical Conditions & Medications
For many older adults, driving is the preferred and/or only means of transportation, and yet most older adults have at least one chronic medical condition—some have several—and some of these conditions have been associated with driving impairment by virtue of the medications prescribed for them and the side effects of those medications. These side effects can include confusion, dizziness, nausea, or drowsiness, as well as difficulty concentrating and driving safely. Some of the general categories for those medications include:
- Anticonvulsants;
- Antidepressants;
- Antihistamines;
- Antipsychotics;
- Sedatives and muscle relaxants;
- Stimulants; and
- Hypnotics and other agents.
Indeed, with some older adults, medical professionals treating them and prescribing medication for any medical condition can sometimes fail to advise these older patients about the adverse effects associated with some medications. In some instances, this can be considered negligent behavior which places the patients—and others, especially those on the road—in danger. In some instances, physicians have been found directly liable for third-party injuries after failing to advise their patients about their particular medical conditions, the adverse side effects of medication, and/or medical devices that could impair the older patient’s driving.
Car Accident Attorney in Acworth
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident in Georgia, it is essential that you work with the very best auto accident attorney in order to ensure that you are protected. Contact our office for a free legal consultation and learn how we can best help you heal and recover so that you can get back on your feet again.
Acworth, GA Car Accident Attorney
The vast majority of individuals who have
been in a car accident can benefit from having a car accident attorney litigate
their case. For those who have been in a serious car accident where they
sustained injuries that required medical attention, it is imperative.
Each year, there are over 130,000 car
accidents in the State of Georgia. Each of these requires insurance claims be
filed. Insurance companies are among the most lucrative industries in the U.S.,
and not because they make a habit out of paying out the maximum value for every
claim that’s filed with them. The Acworth, Georgia car accident lawyers at the
Roger Ghai Law Offices help injured drivers file their claims and receive fair
settlements that compensate them for all their injuries.
Understanding the Insurance Claims Process
When you file a claim with an allegedly
at-fault driver’s insurance policy, you are making an argument that the driver
who they insure was negligent and caused the accident. This is a legal
argument. It requires that you show that the at-fault driver violated their
duty of care. In these cases, it is assumed that any driver who takes to the
road owes all other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists a duty of care to ensure
their safety. If they violate the rules of traffic, drive recklessly, drive
distractedly, or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are in
violation of that duty of care. When someone is injured because of that
violation, they must compensate the injured party for damages.
However, insurance companies don’t make
money by satisfying the maximum value of claims against their drivers. They
make money by lowballing claimants, outright denying valid claims, or accusing
you of being the one who was negligent. Those who want to get a fair settlement
that compensates them for all their damages are in for a fight.
How Can Acworth, GA Car Accident Attorneys Help?
The Roger Ghai Law Offices will first
begin by thoroughly investigating the accident. If you have pictures of the
scene, we can use those to bolster your case. In some cases, there will be
surveillance footage that caught the accident. If there’s no surveillance
footage and you were too injured to worry about snapping photos yourself, we
can hire accident reconstruction experts to formulate an idea of how the
accident happened.
During your recovery, the other driver’s
insurance company will likely attempt to make contact with you. You should not
speak to them. They are not “just trying to help you get your money faster.”
They’re trying to dredge up ways to reduce the overall value of your case. Our
job as your car accident attorney is to maximize your settlement offer. This
means showing a clear picture of how the other driver is responsible for the
accident and using your own medical records to calculate damages.
Understanding Damages in a Car Accident Lawsuit
Damages refer to any injuries or losses
you sustained as a result of the other driver’s negligence. They can be divided
into two different types. These are economic and noneconomic damages. Economic
damages refer to any financial losses you sustained as a result of the other
driver’s negligence. These include things like medical expenses, out-of-pocket
expenses related to the accident, and lost wages.
Noneconomic damages are more difficult to
calculate. They include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, loss of
enjoyment, and more. Essentially, they are injuries that you suffered that
cannot be easily quantified. For instance, let’s say that you suffered whiplash
as a result of your accident. Your neck hurts for up to two months afterward.
You can no longer enjoy playing tennis. You have difficulty sleeping at night.
These are all damages that you deserve to be compensated for.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Generally speaking, car accidents occur
when one or the other driver violates some traffic rule. This could mean they
were speeding, went through a red light, rolled through a stop sign, didn’t
check their blind spots before making a lane change, or were tailgating another
vehicle.
Additionally, one of the most common
reasons for car accidents is distracted driving. Today, some motorists think
it’s okay to talk on their cell phones, send text messages, and fiddle with
their entertainment systems instead of keeping their attention on the road. It
isn’t. Each of these behaviors puts other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists
at risk.
When Both Drivers are Partly at Fault
Georgia allows a driver to file a claim
against another driver if the driver filing the claim is less than 50 percent
responsible for the accident. During negotiations or a jury trial, a
determination will be made as to what percentage of fault each driver should be
assigned. If each driver is assigned 50 percent of the blame, then neither
driver may recover damages. However, if one driver is assigned 25 percent of
the blame, then that driver is entitled to recover 75 percent of their damages.
In other words, a driver’s total damages
would be reduced by their share of the blame. A driver who is awarded $10,000
in damages and is 25 percent to blame for an accident would be entitled to
recover $7,500.
When the At-Fault Driver Flees the Scene of the Accident
If a driver doesn’t have insurance or
flees the scene of the accident, you are entitled to file a claim on your own
uninsured driver’s insurance (provided that you elected to pay for it). In the
event that your total damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limit, you
can also file a claim on your underinsured driver’s insurance. In some cases,
insurance companies can be prickly about paying out on these claims. In these
cases, it helps to have an attorney litigate the claim for you.
Talk to an Acworth, GA Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured in a car accident,
the stakes are high. You will only get one chance to negotiate a settlement for
your damages. Once you sign off on an offer, that’s it. Don’t be pressured into
taking a quick settlement. Let the attorneys at the Roger Ghai Law Offices help.
Our Car Accident Attorney In Acworth Advises How To Keep Your Teen Driver Safe
If you are a parent, helping your teenager get their driver’s license is an important rite of passage. While you may appreciate the freedom that comes with having another driver in the family and not having to act as chauffeur for your child’s school and social events, it is natural to have concerns about your teen’s safety behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, the fact is that driver immaturity makes teens car accidents and injuries a common occurrence. To help protect your child on the road, our car accident attorney in Acworth has collected the following information on how teen driving accidents commonly occur, and the steps you can take to help prevent them.
Teen Car Accidents and Injuries
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that motor vehicle accidents are a serious risk for young people aged 16 to 19. More than 220,000 teenagers end up requiring emergency medical care as the result of car accidents and injuries each year in the U.S., while these injuries prove fatal for more than 2,333 others. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens on this country’s roads and highways, killing as many as six young people a day.
Experience counts behind the wheel, and newly licensed drivers are among those most at risk, with a crash rate three times higher than others in their age group. Lack of driving experience can lead them to underestimate potentially dangerous situations, and to make critical decision errors in response to common hazards, such as changes in road, traffic, or weather conditions. Additional factors the CDC lists that could put your child at risk behind the wheel include:
- Driving at night and on weekends: The risk of car accidents increases for all drivers at nights and on Fridays and Saturday, and these times are when over half of all teen traffic deaths occur.
- Driving under the influence: Nearly 20 percent of all teens involved in fatal motor vehicle collisions had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, which is over the legal limit for adults.
- Speeding and going too fast for conditions: The CDC states that teens are more likely to engage in speeding and to allow shorter headways between them and other drivers.
- Not wearing a seat belt: Teens have the lowest rate for seat belt usage of all drivers, and roughly half fail to use seat belts regularly. This puts them at risk when they are the driver, as well as when traveling as a passenger in another teen’s vehicle.
Distracted Driving and Teens
In addition to lack of experience and reckless driving behaviors such as speeding and driving under the influence, distracted driving is one of the most common causes of car accidents and injuries among teens. In a comprehensive study conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) of teen driving accidents, researchers reviewed in-vehicle recorders to analyze the seconds leading up to when a crash occurred. They found that distractions were a factor in roughly six out of 10 cases, more than four times the incidence rate on police reports.
Distracted driving may involve complex visual, manual, and cognitive tasks such as sending texts or taking pictures behind the wheel, or it may be something as simple as changing a radio station or reaching for something beside you on the passenger seat. AAA reports that the most common types of driving distractions and the percentage of fatal teen car accidents they were responsible for include:
- Interacting with other passengers: 15 percent;
- Using cell phones behind the wheel: 12 percent;
- Looking at something in the vehicle: 10 percent;
- Looking at something outside the vehicle: nine percent;
- Singing along with and ‘dancing’ to music: eight percent;
- Personal grooming, such as adjusting hair or applying makeup: six percent.
AAA accident research shows that driver distractions diverted attention from the road for roughly four of the six seconds prior to crashes. As a result, the driver involved had little time to slam on their brakes or slow their speed, a factor which contributed to the fatal nature of these collisions.
Protecting Your Teen Against Car Accidents and Injuries
SaferCar.gov, a website operated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help raise awareness and decrease the likelihood of car accidents and injuries, recommends parents talk to their teens about the dangers of distracted driving and other reckless behaviors before their child gets their license.
In addition to giving them the facts on teen driving accidents, parents should model responsible driving behavior themselves, such as insisting seat belts be worn at all times, refraining from using cellphones, and obeying all traffic rules and regulations. Parents should also spell out the rules they want their child to obey, which include:
- No cell phones;
- No speeding;
- No alcohol; and
- Always buckle up.
The NHTSA recommends closely monitoring young drivers, limiting their passengers, and drafting a contract outlining the above road rules and the consequences if they are not obeyed. Consumer Reports advises that parents can also opt to have a tracking device installed on their vehicle, which uses GPS to monitor location, speed, and brake time when their teen is behind the wheel. In addition, there are also cellphone apps which allow you to temporarily disable functions that are likely to tempt your teen driver, such as texting or receiving emails.
Accident-Induced Brain Injuries: What Are the Symptoms
Traumatic brain injury is a common effect of car accidents – even minor ones – and it’s an injury that can have long-lasting implications, sometimes affecting the rest of an accident victim’s life as well as having a significant impact on their loved ones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to about a third of all injury-related deaths; about 140 deaths each day in the U.S. are attributed to TBI. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of TBI-related death in people from five to 24 years of age, and the second leading cause of TBI-related deaths overall.
Even those who survive a TBI can face effects that can persist for a lifetime, including symptoms that can affect every aspect of life, from physical impairment to significant changes in cognitive ability and emotional health and wellness. Some TBIs can cause changes in personality that can affect the victim’s ability to work and have an impact in personal relationships.
TBI is not always obvious.
While some TBIs can cause obvious physical injury, others can occur even when major injuries are absent. Bumps or blows to the head that cause “little” bumps or “sore spots” may not be considered serious physical injuries because they lack the physical characteristics typically associated with head injuries, such as lacerations, punctures, fractures or external bleeding. Some TBIs can occur from whiplash injuries that force the brain to slam into the sides of the skull, but cause no external signs of injury at all.
And that’s the problem: TBI is, by its very definition, a brain injury, which means severe symptoms can still occur inside the skull even when external signs of injury are absent. As a result, symptoms often remain unnoticed, undiagnosed and untreated, allowing them to develop over time into permanent changes and lifelong disability.
If you’ve been involved in an accident that resulted in a blow or bump to your head or an injury like whiplash that caused your head to snap back and forth suddenly, here are some symptoms to watch out for:
· headaches
· dizziness
· fainting
· balance issues
· unusual fatigue or sleepiness
· vision problems
· loss of taste or smell
· memory loss or memory problems
· difficulty thinking, processing information or concentrating
· slow or slurred speech
· seizures
· increased anxiety, irritability, agitation or impulsiveness
· mood disorders including depression
Get the compensation you need for acute and long-term TBI damage.
Roger Ghai is a leading car accident attorney in Acworth, helping accident victims understand and protect their rights so they can get the compensation they need, not just for their immediate expenses, but for the long-term costs that are often associated with traumatic brain injury. As a top Acworth car accident attorney, Ghai works with leading medical professionals to help patients get the medical evaluations they need to identify symptoms and diagnose hidden injuries that can cause lifelong medical problems and long-term effects on quality of life issues.
Even minor car accidents can cause brain injuries. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to explore all your options for legal compensation for your injuries. Schedule a consultation today by calling 770-792-1000 or use our online contact form to learn more.
The Most Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents generally occur suddenly and with little advance warning, and can happen to even the safest and most cautious of drivers. Our car accident attorney in Acworth understands the serious impact these accidents can have on your health and financial security, and while you cannot always prevent an accident from occurring, it helps to be prepared. Understanding the common types and causes of most car accidents that occur can help you take the necessary precautions to keep both you and your loved ones safe when on the road.
Common Types of Car Accidents
Highway safety studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate more than six million car accidents occur in the U.S. each year. Based on traffic accident reports filed by law enforcement officials and the insurance industry, the NHTSA aims at identifying not only what causes car accidents, but exactly how they occur. While some collisions involve cars and fixed objects, such as guardrails, telephone poles, or parked cars, the most frequent accidents involve collisions between two moving vehicles. These accidents result in serious injuries for close to two million people each year, and common types of collisions include the following:
- Rear end collisions: Accidents in which one driver slams into another are the most common type of accident, injuring more than 550,000 people each year. They generally occur when one driver is stopped or has slammed on their brakes, and can happen at stop signs and traffic lights, in heavy traffic conditions, and in places where roadway construction results in delays.
- Angle accidents: These accidents involve one driver hitting head first into either the driver or passenger front, back, or side of another vehicle, and often occur in intersections or when making turns. Angle accidents are the second most common type of collision, and result in more than 450,000 injuries each year.
- Sideswipe accidents: These generally occur when one vehicle attempts to pass another, cutting too close and hitting either the passenger or driver side. Resulting in more than 100,000 injuries each year, these accidents can occur on local roads and highways, as well as on interstates.
- Head-on collisions: While these are the least common type of motor vehicle accident, they are also the type that results in the most deaths. Head-on collisions can occur when a vehicle is traveling the wrong way on a one-way road or on highway entrance and exit ramps, or when a driver veers from their own lane and into oncoming traffic.
Drunk Driving Accidents In Georgia
The latest statistics from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety indicate that more than 112,000 drivers and passengers are injured each year as the result of traffic accidents in our state, while as many as 2,000 others die as the result of their injuries. Sadly, alcohol use is a contributing factor in roughly 23 percent of these fatalities. This rate has dropped by nearly five percent over the last 10 years, thanks largely to the efforts of law enforcement and public awareness campaigns. Georgia DUI laws address not only alcohol but other substances which can impair a driver’s reflexes, reasoning, and judgment, making car accidents more likely to occur. Among the penalties drivers face for being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain prescription medications in Georgia include:
- Fines and court costs;
- Suspension of driver’s license;
- Mandatory minimum sentencing;
- Drug and alcohol counseling;
- Community service requirements
While the rate for drunk driving accidents in Georgia is significantly lower than in the surrounding states of South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee, these accidents continue to be a serious concern, claiming as many as 500 lives each year.
Additional Causes Of Car Accidents and Injuries
NHTSA highway safety reports indicate that road construction, heavy traffic, and weather conditions such as rain, fog, or ice are common contributing factors in car accidents, but the most common causes are the negligent and often illegal actions on the part of other drivers. In addition to driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances, the NHTSA reports that the following are among the most dangerous driving behaviors:
- Speeding and driving too fast for conditions: As one of the leading causes of car accidents and injuries, speed related accidents account for close to 20 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities.
- Reckless driving: Weaving between lanes, running red lights, and engaging in other reckless behaviors are responsible for roughly 11 percent of all motor vehicle accidents.
- Aggressive driving: Driving behaviors such as failing to yield, improper passing, and tailgating are responsible for nearly 10 of all car accident deaths.
- Distracted driving: While many states now have hands free or ‘no texting’ laws, using cellphones, texting behind the wheel, and other types of distracted driving behaviors account for roughly seven percent of all accidents.
- Drowsy driving: Drowsy driving is reported to be responsible for roughly three percent of all traffic fatalities, but the actual number of injuries or property damages caused by drivers who fall asleep behind the wheel or driving while excessively fatigued is thought to be much higher.
If you are on the road and encounter someone driving in an erratic, reckless, or aggressive manner, it is important to protect yourself by putting plenty of space between you and them. Slow your own speed and allow them to pass if possible, take the nearest exit, or pull over to a safe location, such as a parking lot or gas station. Be careful not to engage with the other driver as this will likely only escalate the situation and make a car accident more likely to occur.
How Our Car Accident Attorney In Acworth Can Help
If you suffer serious injuries due to the reckless or negligent actions of other drivers, get the professional legal representation you need and contact the Law Offices of Roger Ghai. Our car accident attorney in Acworth understands how your injuries can impact you now and in the years to come, and can advise you on how to get the compensation you need to recover. We have five offices to serve you, in Acworth and the surrounding Georgia area. Before you accept an insurance settlement that may be lower than what you deserve, call or contact our office online to request a free consultation.
Call or text (770) 792-1000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form