Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and Georgia is no exception. Thousands of victims lose their lives every year with even more left with life-altering injuries and insurmountable medical bills.
Unfortunately, dangerous driving increased in 2020. With proper legal representation from a car accident lawyer in Gainesville, GA, you can start to recover your losses and begin healing. It is important to know that you are not alone—not in the courtroom and not as an accident victim. To illustrate this, here are a few key Georgia car accident statistics from 2020.
Key Statistics About Recent Car Accidents in Georgia
Fewer Daily Drivers Does Not Significantly Reduce Accidents
Due to the pandemic and many places of employment switching to a home office model, fewer cars were on the road each day in 2020. Even when people did drive, they tended to travel shorter distances. While one might think this would result in significantly fewer auto accidents, there was only a 19 percent reduction in total crashes. On average, there were over 900 auto accidents every day in 2020.
Open Roads Encourage Deadly Driving
2020 saw a significant increase in fatal auto accidents. That year, 289 more people died in auto accidents than did in 2019, despite fewer drivers on the road. In total, 1,588 people died on Georgia roads in 2020, which averages out to more than four deaths every day. This was the highest total number in Georgia dating back to 2016. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, speeding, texting behind the wheel, and impairment were large contributors to the spike in deaths.
People Still Are Not Wearing Their Seatbelts
Nearly half of all roadway fatalities involved a driver or passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts save lives. A less known fact, seatbelts help protect those with whom you share the car. When an unrestrained individual is thrown from their seat, they can often strike and injure others in the car. To protect yourself and to protect others, it is important to always wear your seatbelt.
What to Do If You Are in a Car Accident in Georgia
The first thing you need to do is call for emergency services – if you are able. Your health and the health of the others involved in the accident are most important. The second thing to do is to contact a Georgia car accident attorney. They will be able to help you stand up to the insurance companies attempting to avoid responsibility and paying you what you need.
For more information, read When to Get an Attorney for a Car Accident. For assistance with a case, contact the Trial Team of Stewart, Melvin & Frost.