Drivers across Atlanta generally do not expect that a drive home from work or a quick trip to the grocery store could end with a serious accident. But many motorists in the area were caught off guard recently when snow and ice turned some Georgia roads into skating rinks. Drivers in many southern states are not accustomed to driving in these types of conditions, so it is not all that surprising that a number of people were involved in serious car accidents recently.
In many cases, cars slipped into ditches or rear-ended each other. Other cars were simply trapped in a gridlock that made it impossible for vehicles to move. This resulted in many motorists exiting their vehicles and trying to walk to a safe place. These motorists were among those who were in serious danger of being injured in an accident. But while many of the crashes reported were due to weather conditions, there were some car accidents that could likely have been prevented.
Reports indicate that the winter weather contributed to two fatalities and 130 injured parties in the more than 1,250 accidents that occurred in the state of Georgia. But there is a very important distinction to be made between accidents caused by unavoidably dangerous roads and those caused by dangerous drivers.
Drivers are expected to operate their vehicles safely, whether the roads are covered in ice or not. This means staying under the speed limit and not following other vehicles too closely. It also means that drivers should be focused on driving and not on their cellphones or GPS devices. These are avoidable behaviors that can contribute to an accident, and it is very possible that a number of the recent accidents reported in Atlanta involved a driver who was engaged in reckless or negligent behaviors at the time.
Victims who were injured in an accident recently may want to consider speaking with an attorney to determine if they could be eligible to receive compensation. There may be factors outside of the weather that contributed to an accident for which a negligent driver can be held responsible.
Source: CNN, “Georgia, Alabama clear vehicle-littered roads as deep freeze settles in,” Chelsea J. Carter and Dana Ford, Jan. 30, 2014
