Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Information Center Published Sammons & Carpenter, P.C.

Our Atlanta car accident attorneys noticed a scary story in the news this week about a 12-year-old boy on a skateboard who was hit by a car.

On Monday evening the 12-year-old, his brother, and friends were fooling around. The boy was on a skateboard on his stomach, with the others pushing him near the Pebble Point subdivision in Loganville. Then, as Loganville police Lt. John Fain said,  ”The vehicle was passing them and somehow he was run over.” The boy was flown to the hospital by Life Flight from Bay Creek Elementary School. His condition is unclear, but police expected him to live.

Lt. Fain called it a “freak accident” and said the driver did not intend to hit the boy, but the incident is still under investigation. The accident prompted those concerned in the neighborhood to initiate a discussion about pedestrian and driver safety in their area though – a healthy dialogue for any community. One concerned neighbor, Daisy Duck, said the accident did not surprise her and that “The kids play in the street and the cars fly by.”  Another concerned neighbor said, “I live on Pebble Point and people speed down the road as if there were a fire to get to!  I wouldn’t ever bought a house on Pebble Point if I knew the cops could not pull you over for speeding. Speed bumps should be put on the street so our kids can play outside safely!” A third called for a safety inspection by the civil engineering department of the city.

This is an especially important conversation for Georgians to have, given that a report last year showed that Georgia had a 25 percent higher pedestrian death rate than the United States average. This rate continued rising in recent years, as well. In 2001, the pedestrian death rate comprised nine percent of Georgia’s roadway deaths. By 2010, this was 13.5 percent. Even while overall road accident deaths are dropping, pedestrian deaths are still on the rise, making the percentage seem even larger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides this data, and it is important for towns and communities to be knowledgeable. And for drivers to understand that they need to be especially careful driving in neighborhoods and areas with pedestrian and bike traffic, and near where children often play. Find out more about pedestrian safety and what you should be doing at the NHTSA’s website here, especially as we get closer to the summer months.

Atlanta Car Accident Attorneys

If you or a family member have been injured by a negligent driver, whether you were in another vehicle or a pedestrian, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Sammons & Carpenter may be able to help you get the compensation you need and deserve. Contact the Law Office of Sammons & Carpenter as soon as possible at 404-814-8948, or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form for a free consultation.

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Last week, one bad driver following too closely to other cars caused a car accident. Our Atlanta car accident attorneys noticed the story and found it to be a cautionary tale about tailgating and other dangerous driving behaviors.

During evening rush hour on April 11, three cars were headed northbound on GA 400, two in the left lane and one in the right. The evening traffic forced all of the cars to slow down, but the behind car in the left lane had been following too closely the car in front of it. That car rear ended the car in front of it, pushing that car into the right lane and hitting the third car. The first two vehicles ended up in the median barrier before coming to a stop. The result was a three-vehicle accident during rush hour because of tailgating, showing how serious a problem these bad driving habits remain.

And they can cause injuries too. The tailgating driver in the car that started it all, 23-year-old Emily Thomas of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was driving a 2004 Acura Integra and was taken to North Fulton Hospital with injuries. Three others involved in the accident Ms. Thomas caused were also injured. Three members of the Moore family, Goodman, 65, and his wife, Nancy, 66, from Gainesville, as well as 39-year-old Connie from Dahlonega were also injured in their 2010 Ford Fusion. The person in the third car, a 2008 Mazda 3, 23-year-old Mallory Walden from Soperton, was fortunately not injured.

Ms. Thomas was cited for following too closely. It seems like a simple bad driving habit, and many of us are guilty of tailgating on occasion- when we are late or in a rush to get somewhere and get impatient with traffic or the car in front of us. But that simple bad driving habit, like speeding or running red lights, can cause a lot of damage and can injure both yourself and innocent people in other vehicles. Tailgating is actually a leading cause of accidents, contributing to as many as one third of road accidents, and the National Highway Safety Administration includes it as aggressive driving, which also includes improper passing, lane changes, and speeding. And tailgating is another cause of accidents that is 100 percent avoidable if drivers are careful and avoid bad driving habits. That is something to remember next time you are frustrated behind the wheel and notice yourself tailgating another car.

Atlanta Car Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one have been hurt in a vehicle accident with a dangerous driver, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Sammons & Carpenter may be able to help you get the compensation you need and deserve. These car and truck accidents can cause injuries that are expensive, and medical bills can pile up especially if the injury causes chronic pain or damage.  Contact the Law Office of Sammons & Carpenter  as soon as possible at 404-814-8948, or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form for a free consultation.

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