Decatur Car Accident Statistics 2024 – Traffic Fatalities

Every year, various government agencies and nongovernment organizations collect and report Decatur car accident statistics for public view. It’s a good idea for all drivers in the area to read these reports so they can understand the accident trends in their area, hopefully reducing their chances of causing accidents themselves. However, it is still crucial for all drivers to know what to do if they experience an unexpected accident caused by another driver.

Important Decatur Car Accident Statistics

DeKalb County data from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety provides some important year-to-year data up to 2021. It takes time for accident reports to be reviewed, approved, and collated into publicly accessible formats, so 2024 data will not be available for some time. The most recent reports from various sources all indicate that crashes are growing increasingly common throughout Georgia, and they are having more damaging effects.

Based on the most recently available report, there were more than 30,000 crashes in DeKalb County in 2021, which is about average for a yearly crash rate in the county. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s crash report from 2018 to 2022, nearly 3,300 car accidents occurred in Decatur during this period, resulting in six fatalities and nearly 1,000 injuries.

Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths throughout the Decatur area each year. Accidents can easily cause a host of serious injuries, some of which may result in permanent disabilities and diminished quality of life. If a vehicle accident results in a fatality, the surviving family of the victim may have grounds for a wrongful death suit against whoever is responsible for causing the accident.

Crash fatality rates have steadily increased throughout Georgia over the past several years. Decatur car accident statistics show that intoxicated driving, speeding, and distracted driving continue to be leading causes of accidents throughout the area each year. While knowing the latest statistics may help drivers be more aware of their own actions behind the wheel, they must still know what to do if someone else causes an accident with them.

Recovering From a Car Accident in Decatur, GA

If you believe that any other driver is liable for causing your recent car accident in Decatur, proving fault for the accident will be an essential first step toward recovery. You must accurately identify the driver who caused your accident, prove how they caused it, and assess the full scope of the resulting damages you intend to claim. Recovery will typically begin with an auto insurance claim, but a personal injury suit in Decatur may be necessary in some cases.

The Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has extensive professional experience representing injured clients in Decatur who are seeking compensation for the losses they have suffered in accidents caused by other drivers. If you believe you have grounds for legal action against any other driver in Decatur, our team can help you prove liability for your accident and guide you through the process of recovering compensation for your damages.

Decatur Car Accident Statistics FAQs

Q: What Is the Leading Cause of Car Accidents in Decatur?

A: The leading cause of car accidents in Decatur is “driver negligence,” a broad term that can describe any incident in which a driver fails to use reasonable care behind the wheel. Distracted driving, speeding, and traffic violations are a few of the most common forms of driver negligence reported throughout the Decatur area. Proving negligence in a car accident case typically requires multiple forms of evidence, along with witness testimony.

Q: What Are the Most Common Traffic Violations in Decatur?

A: The most commonly reported traffic violations in Decatur include speeding, driving too fast for conditions, performing illegal turns and U-turns, failure to signal for turns, running red lights and stop signs, and failure to yield the right-of-way. The traffic signals on the road exist to enable drivers to anticipate the actions of other drivers around them, and unexpected traffic violations can easily result in serious accidents.

Q: Do I Need to Prove Fault for a Car Accident in Decatur?

A: Yes, you will need to prove fault for a car accident in Decatur if you intend to pursue any type of legal recourse for your damages. Georgia enforces the fault rule for all vehicle accidents. This means that you must prove fault before you can claim compensation with an auto insurance claim or a civil suit against another driver. The at-fault party absorbs liability for the damages they inflicted on others in the accident in question.

Q: Can a Driver Go to Jail for Causing a Car Accident?

A: Yes, a driver could go to jail for causing a car accident based on how they caused it. If they caused the accident because they broke the law in any way, they not only face criminal charges for their actions but also increased penalties if they caused great bodily harm or death to anyone else. Intoxicated driving and reckless driving are the most common ways for drivers to face criminal charges for causing accidents in Decatur.

Q: Should I Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident in Decatur?

A: Hiring an attorney after a car accident in Decatur will significantly improve your overall experience in your recovery efforts. Your Decatur car accident lawyer can help you gather the proof you need to assert fault for the accident, guide you through the auto insurance claim filing process, and help you maximize any compensation you are able to claim with a personal injury suit. It is always worth having legal counsel you can trust in a car accident case.

The Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has years of professional experience representing injured clients in Decatur in their car accident cases. Knowing the latest Decatur car accident statistics is a good way to reduce your own risk of causing an accident, but you must still know what to do and where to turn for help after someone else has caused an accident with you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team to learn how we can help you recover.