People in a hurry to reach their destination often tend to run red traffic lights leading to serious car accidents in Georgia. Some drivers try to beat a yellow light, which can lead to running a red light and causing serious accidents.
Sometimes people do not wait until their traffic light turns green. Especially at an intersection, if you run a red light you may face serious consequences causing a collision with another vehicle. Such accidents result in physical injuries, mental trauma, and mounting medical bills and medical expenses due to the other driver’s negligence.
Traumatic injuries could be suffered by the passengers and the driver in an intersection accident. Serious injuries may include back and spinal injuries, paralysis, disability, traumatic brain injury, fractures, or loss of any function of the body. In more serious accidents of running a red light, a person may lose their precious life. In 2019, around 1,537 people died only in Georgia due to motor-vehicle accidents. After serious injuries, your professional and personal life won’t be the same as it was before your accident.
Hiring a professional attorney will assist in building your case and achieving successful outcomes. Your attorney will be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to recover compensation for your damages. If the insurance company does not provide you fair and rightful compensation, your attorney will litigate your case in court.
Immediate Actions Post-Accident
If someone runs a red light and hits you in Georgia, the immediate steps you take are crucial. First and foremost, ensure your safety and the safety of any passengers. Call 911 to report the accident and request medical assistance if anyone is injured.
Even if injuries seem minor, it’s advisable to seek medical attention since some symptoms may not appear immediately. While waiting for authorities, gather as much evidence as possible. This includes taking photographs of the accident scene, damages to all vehicles involved, and any visible injuries. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver and collect contact details of any witnesses.
Car Accidents in Georgia: Cost of Running a Red Light:
Car accidents in Georgia can happen due to multiple reasons. Usually, when an over-enthusiastic driver negligently speeds through a red light it may cause a rare-end accident. If the front of a vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle, it means both the vehicles were on two different roads and one of them ran through a red light colliding with the oncoming traffic that has a green light. Depending upon the speed, these accidents often result in major injuries.
Mental, economical, and physical costs are associated with car accidents in Georgia. If you fail to stop at a red light, you may have to give the additional cost of compensating the victim. The other driver’s negligence in running a red light can lead to severe consequences and liability for the damages caused. At the point of impact, people suffer from injuries due to sudden hits with the steering wheel, console, windshield, or window of the vehicle. Your body may twist or turn suddenly at the time of the impact, thus leading to serious injuries.
The medical procedures, treatment, surgeries, physical therapies, and follow-up becomes necessary if you sustain injuries. Healing and recovery from injuries require time. You may have to miss your work, losing considerable income. Whereas the cost associated with a permanent injury is huge. You may require work adjustments, home modification, or medical care for the condition.
The cost of failing to stop at a red light can be extreme for the victims. A car accident attorney will help you in putting forward the claim for your compensation. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize payouts, so seeking legal advice before interacting with them is crucial.
Many attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss your case and provide legal guidance.
The Burden of Proof in a Georgia Car Accident:
The burden of proof in a red light traffic accident lies on the victim. They have to prove the negligence claim. It is essential to prove that the at-fault driver negligently violated the traffic law by running a red light or stop sign.
Understanding and obeying traffic signals is crucial to avoid accidents. In certain situations, fault becomes very clear if the police officer issues a citation for a traffic violation. In such circumstances, the at-fault driver’s insurance provider is liable to compensate you. In other cases, you can call a police officer to authenticate the report and obtain the burden of proof.
It is also essential to establish that the accident was caused due to the other driver’s negligence which resulted in the injuries and damages suffered by the plaintiff. An experienced Georgia car accident attorney can help you prove the claim and recover monetary damages from the other driver.
Potential Damages That Can Be Recovered:
Personal injury cases often involve significant damages sustained by the victim in car accidents in Georgia due to another driver’s negligence. The accident victim can potentially recover the following damages:
- Lost wages
- Medical treatment expenses
- Emotional distress, pain & suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of spousal support
- Loss of companionship and intimacy
- Loss of a body function
Impact on Traffic Violations and Liability
Running a red light is a traffic violation in Georgia and can lead to fines, points on the driver’s license, and increased insurance premiums for the at-fault driver. If the other driver is cited for running the red light, it will further support your case. However, Georgia’s comparative negligence law means that if you are found partially at fault (for example, if you were speeding), your compensation may be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Get in Touch with a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer:
Car accidents in Georgia can have a devastating impact on your life. The attorney client relationship is crucial in seeking legal advice and guidance during such times. While you need time to recover from the injuries, you will require the expertise of a skilled Georgia car accident attorney to obtain compensation for a car wreck. Our car accident attorneys have years of experience dealing with similar cases.
We ensure that all aspects of your claim are covered. Our attorney will assist in gathering evidence, documentation, creating a settlement demand package, and negotiating the settlement.
If you or your loved ones have suffered such a tragic accident, our team can help you in obtaining the rightful compensation for your damages. Red light runners are often liable in causing accidents, and we offer legal assistance to those injured in such incidents.