Cartersville Personal Injury Law Blog

In Georgia, as in other states, commercial trucks are all too frequently colliding with passenger vehicles. These accidents often result in death, and in 97 percent of such fatal crashes, it is the occupant of the passenger vehicle who dies. When accidents are non-fatal, they can still leave victims with catastrophic injuries and even psychological issues.

Spinal cord conditions can be among the most severe types of physical injuries. When vertebrae have been fractured or crushed in a collision, temporary or permanent paralysis could result. This often means lifelong treatment and high medical expenses. By being thrown against the window, steering wheel or airbag, victims could also suffer from broken bones, especially broken arms, legs, hips and skulls.

There is no good way to get into a car accident. No matter what happens, there are potential injuries and damages that will result, as well as the aftermath of recuperating physically and resuming your life. Some accidents are certainly more dangerous than others, though, and it surprises many people to learn that SUVs can be uniquely dangerous when it comes to getting in collisions. 

There are many reasons for this. Just as an 18-wheeler is likely more dangerous to collide with than a sedan, an SUV's size and dynamics make it potentially more dangerous, too. The following are three contributing factors that every driver on the road should be aware of. 

Many drivers in Georgia would probably admit to driving drowsy at least once; according to some studies, 60 percent of adults in the U.S. have done it, and a third of them even claim to have fallen asleep behind the wheel. Drowsy driving is more dangerous than some people think as its effects resemble those of drunk driving.

After a person is awake for 18 consecutive hours, their driving performance is comparable to that of someone with a .05 blood alcohol content. After 24 consecutive hours, it will be comparable to that of someone with a .10 BAC, which is .02 more than the legal limit. While both drivers suffer from inattention and impaired decision-making abilities, they do not necessarily drive the same. Drunk drivers often travel slowly while drowsy drivers may nod off while going fast. A drunk driver may try to brake or swerve away from dangers while a driver who's asleep may not.

A coalition managed by the National Safety Council is working to cut down on the number of traffic deaths in Georgia and across the country. Called the Road to Zero Coalition, the group has the lofty goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by the year 2050. In April 2018, the coalition released a report that points out that 100 Americans are killed every day in car accidents. In 2016, there were 37,461 fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes. This number reflects a 5.6 percent increase over the number of deaths in 2015.

One major concern for driving safety advocates is the danger and prevalence of trucking accidents. Because of the size and mass of large trucks, these accidents can cause devastating injuries and fatalities. In 2016, 4,317 people lost their lives due to truck crashes, a 5.4 percent increase over 2015 figures. Roughly 80 percent of the trucks in fatal accidents were large vehicles that weighed 26,000 pounds or more. Most of the coalition's advocacy could apply equally to cars and trucks; for example, they seek to encourage greater prevalence of integrated vehicle safety technologies and seat belt usage.