Dawson High School soccer coach Jed Lacey was killed in a four-vehicle crash on Ga. 400 in Forsyth County on the morning of August 12th, 2017. According to news reports, the crash happened just north of Exit 15 on the southbound lane of Ga. 400. The freeway was closed for about four hours after the crash. The cause of the crash has not yet been disclosed and an investigation is ongoing.
Fatal Auto Accidents on the Rise in Georgia
Unfortunately, fatal auto accidents are on the rise in Georgia. According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there have been about 1,300 traffic fatalities annually on Georgia roadways in the past several years. There were 1,430 traffic fatalities in 2015, which is the most recent year for which data is available. Fatalities were highest in the Atlanta metro area and other urban areas. The counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Chatham, and Cobb had the most fatalities. However, rural areas actually have a higher fatality rate. From 2014 to 2015, the fatality rate in rural areas increased by 10% and the fatality rate in urban areas increased by 18%.
More accidents are expected to occur in coming years, largely due to the fact that more people than ever are expected to be driving on Georgia’s roads. Traffic is already congested in Atlanta and throughout Georgia, and experts anticipate that it will only become worse in coming years. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety keeps track of the total vehicle miles traveled on Georgia roadways each year. It found that a new record was set in 2015, with an estimated 118,107 million vehicle miles traveled. Simply put, more drivers on the road means more accidents are likely to occur.
Although traffic fatalities have been rising in recent years and are expected to rise further still, things are better now than they were in the 1990s. The highest fatality rate in Georgia’s history occurred in 1996. In that year, there were 1,573 total fatalities.
The car accident attorneys at Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, help auto accident victims get the compensation they deserve !
When auto accidents occur, it is imperative that victims of harm understand their legal rights and options. All drivers have a duty to operate their vehicle with reasonable care and to obey traffic laws. When a driver fails to meet this standard and causes an accident, any victims of harm are entitled to compensation. In car accidents where a victim dies, surviving family members may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.
Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, is dedicated to helping auto accident victims get the compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Williams Elleby Howard & Easter can investigate the facts of your case, help you understand your legal rights and options, and work to maximize your recovery.
If you would like more information or would like to discuss your case, call Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, to schedule a free consultation today at 833-LEGALGA.
