Atlanta is an incredibly vibrant city that offers residents and visitors everything you would expect from a metropolitan area of more than 5 million people. Unfortunately, this includes all the risks associated with urban living, including dangerous roadways and intersections. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, these were the most dangerous intersection in the city based on 2015 data:
- Memorial Drive and North Hairston Road, Stone Mountain
- East Park Place and Stone Mountain Hwy, Stone Mountain
- Covington Highway and Panola Road, Lithonia
- Cobb Place Boulevard and Earnest Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
- Jimmy Carter Blvd. and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross
What Causes Intersection Accidents?
By definition, traffic crosses paths at intersections, often perpendicularly. This makes them much more dangerous than other parts of the road where traffic is moving in the same direction and at similar speeds. For this reason, the flow of traffic is regulated at most intersections by stoplights, stop signs, or signs directing traffic to yield. Not surprisingly, when people don’t follow the law at intersections, serious accidents can occur as a result. Some of the more common causes of intersection accidents include the following:
- Running stop signs
- Ignoring stop lights
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Driving without headlights
- Failure to yield the right of way
What to Do After an Accident at an Intersection
If you suffered an injury in an intersection accident, you can maximize the chances that you will get the compensation to which Georgia law entitles you. These steps include:
- Gather information – Try to collect as much information as you can after an accident. Of course, if you need medical attention, skip this step and proceed directly to the hospital. Examples of the information you should gather include the names of the other driver involved in the accident, their insurance information, and the license plate numbers of the vehicles involved. Make note of whether there are traffic monitoring cameras at the intersection.
- Undergo a thorough medical evaluation – You should request a comprehensive medical evaluation after an accident, even if you paramedics evaluated you and cleared you to go home. It’s important to have an official medical record detailing your injuries when making an insurance claim.
- Do not accept a settlement offer – If the other driver or his or her insurance company makes a settlement offer, do not accept it. Once you accept a settlement, it’s almost impossible to recover more compensation for the same accident. Consequently, you should always speak to a lawyer before taking a settlement offer.
- Call a lawyer as soon as you can – You should always call a lawyer as soon as you can after an intersection accident. Waiting to start investigating your crash can risk the loss or destruction of evidence essential to your case.
Injured in a Crash? Call Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC Today to Speak to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer
If another driver injured you in an accident at one of Atlanta’s most dangerous intersections or anywhere else, you may be entitled to significant compensation under Georgia law. To schedule a free case evaluation with a car accident attorney in Atlanta, call Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC today at 404-418-8244 or contact us online.
