Disability Law

Head-On Collision in Atlanta, Georgia Reminds Drivers of the Dangers of Road Debris and How to Avoid an Injury Crash

By Jack E. Clay

Yesterday on Holcomb Bridge Road in Atlanta, Georgia, a man was killed in a head-on collision after his car crossed the center line and struck another vehicle. A mother and four small children in the other vehicle were also injured and a third car was struck by debris from the initial wreck. While the owner of the vehicle struck by debris in the road was not hurt in the accident, it does bring up an interesting statistic.

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed in 2004 that 25,000 accidents and nearly 100 deaths each year are caused by vehicle-related road debris. In the case above, the debris was likely pieces of the cars that wrecked. Sometimes, however, debris can be caused by objects falling off of vehicles and striking others on the road, as was the case for a 24-year-old woman in New York in 2004. She was driving late one night and a piece of furniture fell from the truck in front of her, crashed onto her windshield, and "shot like a missile" into her car. She was badly injured and required facial reconstruction and brain surgery, followed by occupational therapy and physical therapy. Sadly, she is now permanently blind and has lost her sense of taste and smell.

The dangers of improperly secured loads in a car or truck can be severe. However, there are ways to prevent such an accident just by being careful. Operators of those vehicles must learn how to properly secure their loads and to drive slowly. Other drivers should choose to "hang back" and help to avoid an unnecessary accident.

If you or someone you know has been hurt in a wreck that was caused by someone else, contact my Douglasville law firm for a free consultation. We specialize in personal injury cases and workers' compensation.

Full post as published by Georgia Law Blog on November 20, 2009 (boomark / email).