Georgia fatalities

Published on: March 19, 2010

Georgia Roads Are Both Deadly and Desirable

Georgia Has Best and Deadliest Roads in the US

A study published in Reader’s Digest magazine indicates dichotomies in Georgia’s road safety. The state’s roads are some of the best in the country indicated by their position at number 13 on the list. However oddly enough, Georgia’s roads are also mentioned as some of the deadliest in the country, placed at number 20 on a different list.

So, how could our roads be safe and a pleasure to drive on, and still be linked to an inordinate number of accidents and fatalities?

Published on: February 15, 2010

Killer Roads Report: Georgia Highways Dangerous

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Killer Roads Report: Georgia Highways More Dangerous Because of Negligent Motorists

A report based on auto accident statistics by the Department of Transportation between 1994 and 2008 lists the most dangerous roads in the country by the number of fatalities that have occurred here. The top 20 is made up in a large part by cities in heavily populated states, like Texas and California.

According to the data, 23,640 people died on Georgia highways in auto accidents between 1994 and 2008.

Published on: November 23, 2009

Multi Vehicle Auto Accident in Atlanta Kills One, Injures Five

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Multi Vehicle Auto Accident in Atlanta Kills One, Injures Five

A multi vehicle accident on Holcomb Bridge Road has left one man dead and five people, including a mother and four children, injured. The accident occurred on Thursday morning.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, a pickup truck crossed a centerline, and struck a mini van and another car. The woman driving the minivan suffered serious injuries.The children in the van, aged between 10 months and 7 months, also suffered injuries although these were not serious. It’s not confirmed if the woman was the mother of the four children.

Published on: October 23, 2009

Fatal Accidents on the Rise in Rural Georgia

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As Georgia car accident lawyers, we represent victims of automobile accidents, not just in the metro Atlanta area, but across the state. This includes rural areas in Georgia. That is why it‘s deeply concerning to us to see that rural Georgians continue to be at a higher risk of fatal accidents, than their city counterparts.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more fatal accidents on back roads on rural areas in 2008, than in the urban areas. In 2008, there were 700 fatal crashes in rural areas in Georgia, compared to 687 on urban roads or main highways.

According to law enforcement officers, a large number of accidents on back roads seem to involve speeding. These narrow back roads in the country are not meant for high speeds. Rural roads also may come with dangerously sharp curves and road signs that are old and worn out. When you add to that a driver who may be distracted talking on the cell phone or driving at high speeds, an accident is almost expected.

Published on: September 23, 2009

Most of Georgia’s Fatalities from Flooding-related Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Most of Georgia’s Fatalities From Flooding-Related Accidents

Nine people have been confirmed dead in flash floods that swept through much of north Georgia, including the metro Atlanta area. Most of these deaths occurred when cars were swept away.

After severe flooding on Monday, the Georgia Department of Transportation closed down several bridges, roads and highways across the state. Many of these have now been reopened, and the weather is expected to clear soon.Several roads across the state in Bartow, Douglas, Paulding, Catoosa, Walker and Dooly Counties were closed down, and these have since been reopened.Schools were closed on Tuesday in several school districts, including Atlanta, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Fulton.

Published on: August 5, 2009

Hart County Officials to Study Site of Fatal Car Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Officials from the Georgia Department of Transportation will be looking at an intersection at Hart County which was the scene of a fatal car accident last month. An 81-year-old man was struck and killed as he was trying to cross the SR77 from the Lavonia connector in his vehicle. The intersection since then has been the focus of much scrutiny.

After the crash, State Rep Allen Powell requested the Department of Transportation to take a look at the intersection, and see how what kind of road safety enhancements can be made. DOT officials have confirmed that they will be looking at a number of factors, including the daily traffic at the intersection, the spots that see the maximum number of vehicles, and the accident history of the intersection over the past year. They will also look specifically into the fatal accident, including the cause as well as the type of the crash. DOT representatives will also be looking at traffic counts, but that will be done after summer has been ended, because traffic counts are typically lower during the summer.

That means that whatever the DOT decides, and any recommendations it makes, will only come after fall. Even then, it may be weeks and months before any steps are taken to enhance the safety of the intersection.

Published on: July 3, 2009

Four Dead in Lowndes County Car- Truck Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

News coming in has confirmed a deadly truck accident this morning in Valdosta in Lowndes County. Apparently, four people have died in the accident that involved a car and a rental truck on I-75. The crash happened early this morning at about 2:30.

It’s a tragic start to the four-day long Georgia Highway Patrol crackdown that will last over the Fourth of July weekend. The crackdown begins at 6 pm today. Georgia Highway Patrol is expecting that there will be 22 fatalities in accidents over the weekend, which will end on July fifth. Law enforcement officers are gearing up for special anti drunk driving and speeding crackdowns to keep drunk drivers and dangerous speeders off the road. This will include special checkpoints around the state and additional patrolling.

The Fourth of July holiday sees the largest number of accident-related fatalities for a single day each year, and Georgia Highway Patrol, in spite of the crackdown, will be expecting no different this year. With the holiday traveling set to begin in full earnest on Thursday evening, Georgia car accident lawyers would encourage motorists to be careful out there.

Published on: June 25, 2009

Fatal Motorcycle Accident in Forsyth County Traced to Motorist’s Illegal U-Turn

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A motorcycle rider who was critically injured in an accident in Forsyth County over the weekend has succumbed to his injuries at an Atlanta Hospital.

The victim 49-year-old Terry Hitt was riding a motorcycle which collided with a Suzuki SUV when the motorist tried to make an illegal U turn. The motorcycle collided with the driver’s side door of the car. Hitt sustained critical injuries and was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.He died on Sunday afternoon. Hitt is survived by his two children, mother and brother.

The motorist Marian Anwar was initially charged with making an improper left turn, and now faces second degree vehicular homicide charges in connection with the motorcycle accident.

Published on: May 22, 2009

Georgia State Patrol Expects Increase in Fatal Memorial Day Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia State Patrol is expecting an increase of 29 percent in the number of fatal accidents over the Memorial Day weekend. Troopers are expecting 2,725 accidents over the weekend, which begins from 6 pm Friday and runs through midnight on Monday. These crashes are expected to result in eighteen deaths, while 875 people will be injured. In 2008, fourteen people had died, and 721 had suffered injuries in 2,480 Memorial Day holiday accidents.

Law enforcement officers are gearing up to handle the increased volumes of traffic starting from Thursday. Additional police officers will be patrolling the streets to crackdown on motorists for speeding, and conducting sobriety checkpoints to keep drunk drivers off the roads. Additionally, there will be other safety campaigns, including the “Click It or Ticket” campaign to enforce seat belt use, as well as the 100 Days of Summer HEAT campaign that kicked off earlier this month. HEAT or Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic will crack down on dangerous drivers across the state. The HEAT campaign is a comprehensive drunk driving, speeding and aggressive driving campaign that involves all law enforcement agencies.

Holiday weekends are unfortunately more at risk for a greater number of automobile crashes including drunk driving accidents, and speeding-related crashes. With lower gas prices this year, it won’t be too surprising to find more numbers of Georgians on the streets. Initiatives like the one the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is implementing are necessary to ensure that a joyous time isn’t marred by accidents and injuries. This year, Georgia State Patrol expects the same risk factors in a majority of serious or fatal accidents – alcohol use and failure to wear seat belts.

Published on: April 4, 2009

Families Mark Second Anniversary of Bryan County Car Accident Deaths

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

March 21^st marked two years since the car accident that killed three Bryan County high school students. Melissa and Heather Arthur and Laura Cobb were killed in an accident just two miles from their school.

On the day of the accident, the three girls were passengers in a Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Tam Duc Le. As the car turned a curve on highway 119, it collided with a pickup truck. Tam Duc Le was charged with felony counts of first degree vehicular homicide and charges of reckless driving and several other traffic violations, including failure to maintain lanes and driving too fast for conditions.

The accident also brought into focus the dangerous highway curve where the accident occurred. Before the accident that killed the three high school students, there had been several other accidents on the curve caused by speeding drivers. At the accident scene, there is still a sign asking motorists to drive at 40 miles per hour. However, families in the area say that motorists frequently drive at far higher speeds.