Stephen Hasner | Car Accidents | July 29, 2020
A single-car crash on Old Coffee Bluff Road on Monday, July 13, shut the road down for several hours. The Savannah Police Department continues to investigate how the crash occurred.
At around 7:00 on Monday evening, police officers responded to a call about a vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole. Police officers arrived at the accident scene at Old Coffee Bluff Road and Coffee Bluff Road to find a Toyota Camry crashed into a utility pole.
Investigators believe that the driver, Delaion Woodbury, had been traveling northbound when he tried to navigate the curve while driving too fast. Woodbury overcorrected, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into the utility pole.
Mr. Woodbury died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Potential Causes of Single Car Accidents
Many factors can contribute to the cause of a single-car accident. Many of the factors can be attributed to human mistakes and errors.
Common causes of car accidents in Savannah include:
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Distracted driving
- Poor weather conditions
- Drowsy driving
- Road debris and hazardous road conditions
- Defective tires
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Inexperienced drivers
Alcohol remains to be one of the most common causes of traffic fatalities in Chatham County. However, distracted driving is another common cause of traffic deaths and injuries. Sadly, lives could be saved if drivers would pay more attention to the road, slow down, and avoid other dangerous driving behaviors.
Injuries and Damages in a Savannah Car Accident
Car accident injuries can be devastating. Injuries from a car crash can range from minor scrapes and bruises to life-threatening conditions.
Common car accident injuries in Savannah car crashes include:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue damage
- Chest injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Skull fractures
- Paralysis
- Burns and scarring
- Catastrophic injuries
- Death
If another driver or party is responsible for the cause of your car crash, you could receive compensation for your injuries and damages. The amount of compensation varies depending on the facts of the case. However, some damages are included in most car accident claims.
You might be entitled to compensation for your:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of wages, income, and benefits
- Decreases in earning potential
- Therapy and counseling
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Loss of quality of life
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
The amount of money you might receive for your car accident claim depends on several factors. Your actions after the crash can impact some of those factors.
Factors That Impact a Car Accident Settlement
Comparative Fault
Allegations of comparative fault can impact the value of a car accident claim. If the other party alleges that you were partially to blame for the accident, your compensation could be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you for the cause of the accident. Sharing most of the blame for a crash in Savannah can bar a financial recovery altogether.
Severity of Injuries
The type and severity of your injuries also impact the value of your personal injury claim. Traumatic injuries that result in permanent disabilities increase the value of an accident claim. The cost of treatment and the loss of income is more substantial with catastrophic injuries.
Liability Insurance Coverage
Another factor that impacts the value of a car crash claim is the availability of insurance coverage. Georgia requires drivers to carry at least $25,000 in liability car insurance per person ($50,000 per crash).
If a driver carries minimum liability insurance coverage, $25,000 might be the most money you can receive from the at-fault driver. You can sue the driver, but if the driver does not have any assets to pay the claim, the judgment may not be worth anything.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
You may have another source of compensation for damages caused by a car wreck. If you have underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, you might receive additional compensation from your insurance provider.
UIM coverage compensates you for damages above the amount of a driver’s liability insurance coverage. Your insurance provider compensates you up to your policy limits. If your claim is worth $50,000 and the at-fault driver has minimum insurance coverage, your UIM policy should pay you the remaining $25,000.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer
In some cases, hiring an attorney to handle your car accident claim can improve your chance of receiving maximum compensation for your claim. You are not required to hire an attorney to handle your claim, but it may be in your best interest to talk to an attorney. Once you settle the accident claim, you cannot pursue legal actions to recover more money.
Before you settle your claim, you may want to talk to a lawyer to make sure that you are receiving a fair amount for your car accident claim.
Contact the Savannah Car Accident Lawyers at Hasner Law PC For Help
For more information, please contact the Savannah car accident law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878
Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334
