Tucker, GA Car Accident Lawyer
Being injured in a car accident can mark the beginning of a challenging period in your life. It can set you back financially in ways you did not plan for, and recovering compensation from insurance companies is rarely an easy task.
Fortunately, you do not need to attempt to cover your losses alone. Our attorneys can collect evidence of the other person’s negligence and assess your damages for your lawsuit. Determining how your car accident occurred will be of primary importance. While you know the other driver was negligent, you might not know how. We will gather evidence from you, the defendant, and anyone else possessing relevant information to show whether the driver violated a traffic law or acted unreasonably in the situation. Our team can also help with more challenging causes to discover, like when a defect with your car or poor road conditions injure you.
Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a private and free case review with our car accident lawyers.
How Car Accidents Commonly Happen in Tucker, GA
In many cases, injury victims know why they were in a car accident, as negligent drivers cause a majority of the crashes in Tucker. Still, you might not know specifically how the other driver was careless. Fortunately, our car accident lawyers can gather evidence to prove the defendant’s negligence and whether other parties should be sued in your lawsuit. Traffic violations account for many accidents, but vehicle defects and poor road conditions can also cause injuries deserving of compensation. Some accidents are caused by such reckless conduct, like DUI, that victims can recover punitive damages.
Traffic Violations
Traffic laws are in place for several reasons, primarily for people’s safety. Violating traffic laws increases the chances of a devastating accident occurring. When a driver violates one and causes an accident, the violation can be used as evidence of negligence.
Speeding drivers will not have as much time to react to changing road conditions or will need to swerve into another lane to avoid a collision. Drivers should also use their turn signals and check their blind spots before turning or changing lanes.
O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241(c) also prohibits driving while using a “wireless telecommunications device,” including cellphones, laptops, or any other device that can send and receive messages. If the other driver was texting or talking on their phone without hands-free technology, we can use the violation against them in your case.
Unreasonable Conduct
Drivers can still be held accountable even if they do not violate a traffic law. The privilege of driving includes a duty to drive with reasonable care under the circumstances. A negligent driver might not necessarily be breaking a traffic law at the time of the crash, but their conduct would be considered unreasonable if other reasonable drivers would not have acted that way in that situation.
For instance, driving the speed limit is fine on a sunny day. However, driving at the speed limit during a severe thunderstorm might be unreasonably fast if the other cars on the road slow down. Many other drivers will weave through traffic, waiting just long enough to give a flicker from their signal and check before changing lanes. Erratic driving like this is often found unreasonable in court despite a ticket not being issued.
The distracted driving law above does not prohibit using a GPS while driving, so the driver who hit you might claim they were using that and not texting. Even so, drivers are expected to use reasonable care while checking their GPS. Checking the GPS during heavy traffic or moving at high speeds would likely be considered negligent behavior.
Vehicle Defects
Some car accidents do not involve other drivers but are caused by a defect with a part or the vehicle as a whole. Perhaps your power steering failed, sending you into a barrier when you tried to turn. Or, your brakes did not respond when you tried to stop. Complex systems like these usually fail because of a design or manufacturing issue. The car company could have designed the car negligently, or the manufacturer negligently produced it with poor materials. Our team has the resources and skills to investigate these challenging cases.
Other vehicle defects might point to other defendants, like the dealership that sold your car or a mechanic shop. For example, if a tire suddenly came off the axle not too long after getting your tires rotated, we will likely sue whoever made the negligent repairs.
Poor Road Conditions
Poor road conditions on Tucker’s roads and highways could also have contributed to your accident. You might have been injured because a construction zone was negligently organized. In other situations, accidents occur because road debris is not cleaned in a reasonable amount of time.
The issue in these cases is identifying who is liable for the dangerous condition. Generally, state and local government agencies are responsible for maintaining the roads. While we can file a lawsuit against a municipality, we typically have less time to do it, so start your case quickly.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a serious problem in Tucker and throughout Georgia. DUI accidents are responsible for some of the most devastating injuries, with many causing the victim’s death. DUI is a crime, and the state will prosecute a driver for it, but you can also sue in civil court for the damages they caused. If a drunk driver took a loved one from you, we can help you file a wrongful death claim.
We can argue with clear and convincing evidence, like sobriety and blood tests, that driving under the influence showed the defendant’s willful misconduct and wantonness under § 51-12-5.1(b). The court will likely agree and award punitive damages in addition to your compensatory damages.
Get in Touch with Our Tucker, GA Car Accident Attorneys Today for Help with Your Claim
Contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras for a free case review from our car accident lawyers by calling (410) 694-7291.