According to reports, the rate of fatal car accidents in the U.S. increased by more than 10 percent in 2021, resulting in 42,915 car accident-related deaths. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, car accidents are a leading cause of hospitalization. You can visit the website for more information on car accidents in Georgia. Losing someone in an accident can be devastating, but you can pursue litigation to get justice for your loved one with the help of a car attorney from the Pendergrass Law Firm.
Source: Ride Safe Georgia
What Is the Deadliest Car Crash In U.S. History?
The deadliest single-vehicle accident occurred 8 miles south of Whitesburg, Kentucky, on Pine Mountain, in July 1954. This fatal single-car accident involved a 1941 Buick. There were 12 passengers in the single car, three adults, a teenage girl, and seven small children.
The accident resulted from a brake failure just when the vehicle reached the top of Pine Mountain. When the brakes failed, the car overturned and crashed into the cliff, catching on fire. The accident killed 11 people, with only one survivor who sustained severe burns from the explosion. There are far more fatalities in vehicle pile-up accidents compared to a fatal single-car accident.
What are the Leading Causes of Fatalities on Georgia Roads?
Georgia’s rural roads are as dangerous as the interstate highways. A significant number of fatalities occur on rural roadways in Georgia. The state is also one of the many states in the U.S. with the most dangerous roads because they are typically very narrow, lack shoulders, have a lot of blind spots, and have inadequate lighting. In some cases, the only thing separating traffic on the roadway is a painted line in the center.
Any driver can make mistakes that lead to an accident, but if they do not take proper safety measures, the risk of an accident increases. In Georgia, one significant factor contributing to fatal accidents is the lack of seatbelt use. The leading causes of fatalities on Georgia roads are the following:
- Driver Distraction: When drivers are distracted, their reaction time is significantly reduced. Accidents that result from distracted driving often result in severe injuries or fatalities.
- Exceeding the Speed Limit: In 2020, 29% of traffic fatalities were caused by speeding motorists in the U.S.
- Driving While Intoxicated: According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, approximately 24% of all fatal car accidents throughout the state are caused by alcohol-impaired motorists.
What Causes Immediate Death In a Car Accident?
The injuries that can cause immediate death in a vehicle accident include the following:
Internal Bleeding
Car accidents can lead to internal bleeding. A victim of serious internal injuries requires immediate medical attention, or it could result in death. In some cases, internal bleeding has no apparent symptoms, such as lacerations or bruises. In car accidents, internal bleeding in the lungs, chest cavity, stomach, or heart is most dangerous for the injured.
Spinal Cord Damage
In fatal crashes, the victim can suffer spinal cord damage that causes complete severing of the nerve tissue in the spinal cord. This can paralyze the person at the time of the injury and make it difficult for them to breathe. Severe damage to the spine can lead to death immediately after an accident.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
One kind of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is closed traumatic brain injury, such as concussion, that can have delayed symptoms after an accident. The other kind of TBI is caused when a sharp object penetrates the skull. These are also known as open traumatic brain injuries. These are often more dangerous and can lead to death immediately after the accident.
Broken Bones
Broken bones can be treated after the accident, but if a bone is completely crushed, a small fragment of it can enter the bloodstream and cause organ damage. Similarly, if the ribs are crushed due to the impact of the collision, they can puncture the lungs. Locating and identifying this kind of internal injury can be very complicated, and it can be one of the causes of death in serious car accidents.
Can You Survive a 65 mph Crash?
A fatal car accident is more likely when you drive at 65mph or higher. In rural areas, a vehicle driving above 55 mph is considered at risk of a deadly collision. While the chances of surviving an accident caused by speeding when the vehicle speed was above 65mph can be low, a person can survive the crash. Fatalities in car accidents depend on several factors, such as the impact angle, the individual’s health, the speed of the other vehicle, and whether they wore a seatbelt when the collision occurred.
You can do several things to maximize your safety while driving on high-speed roads, such as checking your mirrors frequently to be aware of the surroundings, reducing speed in work zones and on poorly maintained roads, wearing a seatbelt at all times, and avoiding cellphone use behind the wheel.
What Damages are Available In a Fatal Car Accident Claim in Georgia?
Wrongful death damages can be claimed by the immediate family members of the victim of the fatal car accident. The damages that are available in fatal accidents can include:
- Compensation for the mental and emotional distress caused by losing a loved one
- Financial support for the deceased’s family
- Loss of companionship
- Funeral and burial bills
- Additional expenses the family members had incurred in the accident.
Contact an Attorney to Secure Wrongful Death Compensation
Every state has specific laws regarding wrongful death in a car accident. For example, only a close family member or the state executor in Georgia can sue the liable party for wrongful death compensation. Losing a loved one in a fatal car accident is a traumatic and life-altering experience, but hiring an attorney from the Pendergrass Law Firm after the accident can help.
Your attorney can handle all communications with the liable driver’s insurance company and ensure you can secure a fair settlement for your losses. They can also help you take your case to court if there is no deal on a settlement offer. Of course, no amount of compensation will fill the void left by the deceased, but at least you can get them the justice they deserve and get the at-fault person to pay for their negligence or wrongdoing.
