Study Finds Young Females at Higher Risk of Car Accident Fatalities

The world has been made better through smartphones and other communication devices. It is also important to note that they are also a major cause of road accident. Research has shown that the young females have 26% more chances of getting involved in an accident as a result of texting and or calling while driving. This research was done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Why Young Women?

It is assumed that the female teens have larger social circle and are usually more active on social media than any other group. This implies that they are often tempted to pick up their phone to text, or call a friend, or colleague while driving.

Who Else is at Risk?

As far as texting accidents are concerned, no one is exempted. People of all ages and sex can fall victim. A quick peek at your phone may cause accident. So many people are used to texting already and as such they believe they can comfortably juggle texting and driving. This is extremely difficult especially if you get easily distracted while driving or if you are an inexperienced driver.

The Consequences of Texting and Driving

Driving and texting may lead to emotional and physical injuries, ranging depression, bruises and bumps to internal injuries and in severe cases coma and death. It is logical to assume that a person that is texting while driving will be distracted and will not have quick reaction of a driver who is completely focused on driving. Easy things such as applying breaks can effectively minimize the possible effect of the accident. However, this is difficult for drivers who are distracted and as a result, they may hit other vehicles or pedestrians and this can cause severe injuries to all parties.

If You’ve Been Injured

You are advised to contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible if you have been hit by a driver who was texting while driving. You might have a case that is worthy of significant compensation and if this is the case, the attorney can help you file your case. This attorney can also spell out the laws pertaining to the case and can also represent you in court to get you the appropriate compensation.

Texting and Driving Car Accident Statistics in Atlanta Georgia

Georgia is fast developing and as such, its roads are getting really busier by the day. This is good because it leads to economic growth and more investment opportunities; however, it also leads to more frequent road accidents. Recently, a research by the NHTSA shows that more avoidable accidents are recorded periodically and most of which are as a result of driving and texting.

Why is Texting a Problem?

It is a major form of distraction. Taking one’s eyes off the road can have severe consequences irrespective of whether it to read or to type a message. Even if you think reading short texts are harmless while driving, bear in mind that from there you will also assume that it is also harmless to type and send short text too. The texts will continue to get longer with time and this will continue to diminish your concentration on the road. This then puts everybody around you in danger including other motorists and pedestrians.

Who is Most at Risk?

a report by the NHTSA suggests that this texting and driving menace is common among teens and young adults, particularly the inexperienced female drivers. More so, men below 5 years of age are not likely to sustain sever injuries. As people grow older, gender plays a vital role. Notwithstanding, anyone in or around a driver who is driving and texting is at risk of being involved in an accident.

What to Do After an Accident Involving Texting

Receiving proper medical attention before any other thing is vital, not minding if the accident was caused by a driver that was texting behind the wheels. This is because serious injuries may be incurred as a result of the accident. Employing the services of an expert accident attorney is recommended. Their job is to get out the deserved compensation for all emotional, mental as well as physical injury. The attorney has the responsibility of filing the case and in most cases, you may not have to be present in the courtroom for you to be adequately compensated. All questions and clarifications should be directed to your attorney.

Damages in a Personal Injury Law Suit

When I was kid, I had my first experience with the American Tort System.  I was in a car accident. I knew at that moment that I wanted to dedicate my life to the pursuit of civil justice for those wronged by the actions of another as a civil tort lawyer.

The word tort comes from the French word for “injury” or “wrong.”  For centuries, civilizations have struggled to create the best system for civil justice.  In ancient times, civil law required “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.”  In other words, if your actions caused another person to lose their leg, then the authorities would cut off your leg too.  Luckily, the courts no longer apply this concept.  Today, justice in the American Tort System is given in the form of money damages.

No system is perfect.  Nothing will bring back the lost family member, restore the paraplegic’s ability to walk after a bad car accident, or take away a parent’s emotional pain of seeing their child suffer, but in the United States, the civil justice system aims to provide justice and compensation for individuals in their time of greatest need by awarding money damages.

Damages come in two distinctly different types.  First, damages can be used to compensate a person for their loss – these are called compensatory damages. Second, damages can also be used to punish and deter those individuals who have a complete disregard for the consequences of their actions.  These damages are called punitive damages.  Although rare, a court can award punitive damages when the responsible party’s actions are intentional or wantonness.

Given the nature of the America Tort System, the insurance system naturally developed in response.  Insurance allows individuals and companies to minimize their risk by pooling themselves with others.  Understand that when settling a case for their insured, the insurance company may not have the injured party’s best interests at heart.  Instead, the insurance company could be looking to pay the least amount possible.  Generally, a person only receives all the compensation he or she deserves through an effective attorney who knows the value of the case and the appropriate strategies for negotiation with the insurance company.

In our firm, we have dedicated our practice to helping those individuals get the compensation they deserve from the American Tort System.  Juries have given our clients record verdicts of both compensatory and punitive damages.  Since the day I was in my accident, nothing has given me greater personal satisfaction than getting a client a great settlement or jury verdict.  I know that I am making that client’s life a little better by helping them cope during the most difficult time of their life.

DISCLAIMER:  The above article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered, legal advice.  Legal advice can only be given by a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction following an individualized consultation.  If you are seeking legal advice, please contact an attorney in your area.

Statistics for Main Causes of Car Accidents in Georgia

A vehicle accident can be a traumatic event that can result in severe injury and even death for its victims. Because of that, it is important for drivers and passengers alike to understand what the statistics for main causes of car accidents in Georgia indicate about safe driving practices. In addition, it is important to note that very few accidents are actually blameless. In most cases, one or more of the drivers involved in the accident were driving in a way that either helped create the accident or resulted in the accident being more severe than it would have otherwise been.

Distracted Driving

One of the most common causes of accidents of all types is when one or more of the drivers are distracted while operating the vehicle. In addition to the traditional causes of distraction, such as talking with a passenger or looking inside the vehicle, the explosion in cell phones and text messaging system have resulted in many drivers, especially younger ones, using these devices when they should be concentrating on their driving. Georgia has enacted laws forbidding the use of cell phones by teenage drivers and forbidding texting while driving for all drivers. However, distracted driving remains a severe problem in the state.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Drunk drivers remain a serious threat to other drivers in Georgia, and according to the Georgia Department of Transportation, alcohol and drug impairment is the second highest contributing factor to crashes that have resulted in a fatality. In addition, when considering statistics for main causes of car accidents in Georgia, it is important to note that individuals who are not legally intoxicated can still demonstrate impaired driving skills even after ingesting even a small amount of alcohol.

Teenage Drivers

Teenaged drivers are more likely than any other group to be involved in a serious traffic accident. In 2003, 18-year-old drivers received the highest rate of traffic citations of any group, and had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes of any age group. The reasons for this were bound up in the fact that younger drivers were both less experienced than other drivers and more likely to engage in unsafe driving practices, such as speeding or driving while intoxicated.

Speeding

Unsafe driving speeds are also a major factor in serious and fatal vehicular accidents in Georgia. In this case, speeding is not simply defined as exceeding posted speed limits, but driving faster than is safe given the current road conditions. Many speeding related accidents occur because the driver failed to adapt his or her driving speed in the face of fog, road ice, or other factors. In 2006, at least 5.3 percent of all accidents were at least partially caused by speeding on the part of one or more drivers.

Evaluating the Risks of Driving

While the statistics for main causes of car accidents in Georgia show that many accidents are caused by a combination of factors, such as younger drivers who are speeding or driving while distracted, it also shows that safe driving practices can dramatically reduce the chance of a vehicular accident. If a driver is involved in an accident involving a careless, distracted or intoxicated driver, he or she can obtain compensation for any injuries or damages suffered in the accident.

Those who have suffered from a car accident should contact the attorneys of Haug Law Group for an immediate consultation to understand what their legal options are.

Haug Law Group, LLC

1-844-428-4529