Georgia Car Accident Statistics 2024 – Traffic Fatalities

Car accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths in Georgia each year, and various government agencies and nongovernment organizations collect vehicle accident data, releasing reports of Georgia car accident statistics each year. It’s important for drivers to know these statistics and understand the risks they face on the road. They must also know what to do when accidents happen unexpectedly.

The attorneys at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm have years of professional experience helping car accident victims recover throughout the state, and we believe that the latest Georgia car accident statistics can provide valuable insight to all drivers, potentially helping them limit their risks of causing accidents and incurring liability for others’ damages. However, knowing these statistics cannot entirely prevent an accident, and it’s vital to know what to do when an accident happens.

Understanding Georgia Car Accident Statistics

It takes time for accident data from across the state to be collected, analyzed, and published in a cohesive report. As such, the most recent complete accident report is for 2021, and only preliminary data is available for 2022 and 2023. According to the 2021 report, there were 1,797 total traffic fatalities for the year, 391 of which were the result of alcohol-impaired driving. This resulted in a fatal accident rate of 16.64 fatalities per 100,000 residents for 2021.

It is vital for drivers to understand that while state car accident statistics report that speeding, distracted driving, and intoxicated driving consistently ranks as the leading contributing factors to the number of serious and fatal accidents reported each year, simply knowing these risk factors is not enough to prevent an accident entirely. All drivers of all experience levels must know what to do when another driver has caused an accident with them.

Recovering From a Car Accident in Georgia

Georgia’s fault rule dictates that the driver at fault for causing an accident absorbs liability for the resulting damages. This means that before an injured driver may claim any compensation for their damages, they will need to prove fault, identify the driver responsible for causing the accident, and prove exactly how they caused it. State law requires every driver to have auto insurance that covers damages a policyholder causes in an accident.

There are limits to what insurance will cover, and it is also possible for an uninsured driver to cause an accident. It may be necessary for you to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver to recover the losses that the insurance won’t cover. In any case, having an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer on your side can dramatically improve your chances of reaching a positive outcome to your impending case.

The first steps you take following an accident are crucial. It is vital that you connect with an experienced, trustworthy attorney as quickly as possible so they can help gather the evidence you may need to prove fault and recover compensation for your damages.

Georgia Car Accident Statistics FAQs

Q: What Is the Chance of Having a Car Accident?

A: It is impossible to assign an exact chance of having a car accident in Georgia. However, knowing the state car accident statistics can inform a driver of the risk factors that can increase their likelihood of having an accident, hopefully encouraging them to be a more cautious and defensive driver. Speeding, driving while intoxicated, and disregarding traffic signs and signals are a few of the most common ways that accidents happen throughout the state each year.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Car Accident?

A: The amount of compensation you can claim for a car accident depends on the severity of your losses. Under Georgia’s fault rule, the at-fault driver is liable for all the damages you suffered in the accident, including vehicle repair costs, medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. An experienced attorney can help accurately calculate the total damages you may be able to recover through an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit.

Q: Why Are There So Many Car Accidents in the Atlanta Area?

A: There are so many car accidents in the Atlanta area due to multiple factors. Dense urban areas have more cars and more traffic, more stop-and-go traffic, more aggressive drivers, and more fatigued drivers than in many other areas. While it is possible for serious accidents to happen on any road, and many crashes occur on rural roads, more traffic congestion generally leads to higher accident rates in the more metropolitan areas of Georgia, especially Atlanta.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer?

A: You should hire a Georgia car accident lawyer because you are more likely to succeed with your case and more likely to maximize your total compensation with their assistance. Your attorney can guide you through the auto insurance claim filing process and help you maximize your total recovery because they will know how to accurately assess all your damages. They can also reduce the time it takes for you to complete your recovery efforts.

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

A: The time you have to file a car accident claim is known as the statute of limitations. If you intend to file a personal injury suit for your recent accident, the standard statute of limitations that applies to most personal injuries in Georgia is two years, and this time limit starts on the date the injury occurred. You face a shorter time limit for an auto insurance claim, so it is important to start working on your insurance claim as quickly as possible after the accident.

The team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has years of professional experience handling a wide range of complex cases on behalf of clients throughout the state, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you in your impending accident case. Georgia car accident statistics may inform you of the risks you face on the road, but an attorney can advise you as to how you can recover after an accident happens. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team.