Traffic Deaths Due to Road Type & Operating Speed are Magnified by Distracted Drivers
Fatal Buford auto accidents and those all over Georgia are sad fact of life in our State. Whether an at-fault driver is under the influence of alcohol or not, if a driver has caused an accident because they have breached their duty of care to keep their vehicle in their lane and under control, they may be guilty of causing a car accident.
According to statistics from U.S. federal government’s Census Bureau, 2009 was a very dangerous year for Georgia motorists. Based on their statistics there is a direct correlation between speeding and auto accidents throughout the nation including Georgia. When looking at speeding related fatalities, not including drunk drivers, there were nearly 34,000 fatalities due to negligent and reckless people speeding. This figure includes 1,284 fatal Georgia and Gwinnett County auto accidents.
If you have been involved in a Buford auto accident due to a distracted, drunk or simply negligent driver and have suffered any type of injuries and damages, you may be able to recover. Speak with a Georgia car accident attorney at Shane Smith Law to make sure you are aware of all of your legal rights. Call (980) 246-2656 to schedule a free consultation today!
A Closer Look at the Figures
The study looked at accidents based on the type of road (Interstate versus non-Interstate) and different driving speeds (above and at or below 55 mph for Interstate and 35 to 55 mph speeds, at 5 mph increments for non-Interstate travel). What is not surprising is that there were more accidents on a national basis and at the State level for Interstate travel and both speeds. Figures of 964 and 287 for federal statistics and 17 and 13 for Georgia auto accidents, including Buford auto accidents, were reported for above and at or below 55 mph operating speeds respectively.
However, when looking at the Non-interstate figures, increased speed does not necessarily correlate to increased accidents. For example, looking at speeds of 55 mph to 50 mph, national statistics show 2,701 and 465 fatalities and Georgia statistics show 54 and 10 fatalities. However, looking at 45 mph speeds for both federal and state statistics, 1,508 and 42 fatalities were reported. This shows that while speed may be a factor in causing Georgia auto accidents, this is not always the case. Negligent or reckless drivers may also be to blame whether they are drunk or not.
How Do Distracted Drivers Impact Auto Accident Injuries & Deaths?
National statistics for 2005 to 2009 show that distracted driving is another factor that contributes to Georgia auto accidents. While the number of crashes that have caused fatalities and injuries have fallen by about 10,000, the number of distracted drivers contributing to auto accidents that have caused injuries and deaths have actually increased. In 2005 the number of crashes attributable to distracted drivers rose from 10 percent in 2005 to 16 percent in 2008 and 2009. During the same time, the number of those killed in auto accident involving distracted drivers has proportionately gone up from 10 in 2005 to 16 percent in 2008 and 2009.
As these statistics show, the roads in Georgia and all over America are becoming more dangerous because more drivers are not taking their duty of care with their privilege of driving seriously. If you have been injured or have had a family member killed in a Gwinnett County auto accident, call a Buford Accident Attorney at Shane Smith Law. The Georgia car accident attorney you speak with during your free consultation will evaluate your circumstances and inform you of the options you have to obtain justice!