Stephen Hasner | Car Accidents | May 2, 2018
Recent reports ranked Atlanta as one of the worst cities for traffic in the world. Yes, you read that right—in the world. Atlanta ranked next to cities like Los Angeles, New York City, London, Moscow, and Sao Paolo for bad traffic because of the overall number of hours drivers spend in traffic per year. The studies show that drivers in Atlanta may spend an average of 70 hours annually in traffic, which ranked eighth highest of the 1,360 cities studied.
We all know that traffic is frustrating. Worse, traffic is dangerous, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. Heavy traffic during commuting hours contributes to increased collisions and injuries for many different reasons in Atlanta.
Aggressive driving – Some drivers frustrated by heavy traffic allow their impatience to escalate significantly into aggressive driving. Aggressive driving behaviors may involve following other cars too closely, weaving in and out of traffic lanes, cutting off other drivers, and more. Aggressive drivers may also try to intimidate other drivers or express their anger by honking excessively, yelling obscenities or making gestures, or even threatening harm to other drivers. Some aggressive driving incidents lead not only to crashes, but to physical altercations outside the vehicles involved.
Distracted driving – When you’re stopped in traffic, what better time to catch up on those emails, right? However, using electronic devices significantly distracts you and can cause accidents. Whether you are sending a quick text or browsing through your Instagram feed, looking away from the road for even a few seconds is enough to cause a crash. Traffic could suddenly halt in front of you, or you may not be paying adequate attention to notice a vehicle coming from another direction to avoid a crash. Remember, any of the drivers around you in traffic may also be distracted, texting or otherwise not paying attention—so it is imperative for you to stay aware.
Violating traffic rules – When people get impatient, some ignore or try to “bend” the rules of the road. People speed through red lights, skip stop signs, fail to merge or yield properly, drive on the shoulder to get around stop-and-go traffic, and block intersections. Although a driver may think cutting corners on traffic laws will get them to their destination faster, travel time may actually increase. That type of driving often causes accidents, as well as causing gridlock.
These examples show only a few of the ways Atlanta traffic may lead to a crash. If you are in an accident, get medical help and discuss your rights with a car accident lawyer who understands how these different types of accident happen. A knowledgeable attorney can help you recover full compensation for your injuries and losses from a traffic accident as quickly as possible.
Find Out How an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Hasner Law represents clients who have suffered injuries in all kinds of traffic accidents. Consultations are always free and we can help you successfully recover compensation, while you focus on your recovery. Please do not hesitate to call 678-888-4878 or contact us online today.
