Other Types of Atlanta Car Accidents

Railroad Crossing Accidents

The Federal Railway Administration records thousands of railroad crossing accidents yearly. These fatal accidents tend to occur in clusters centered in communities like Atlanta that have a high number of highway-railroad grade crossings. Common causes of these accidents include the following:

Defective warning equipment
Driver or train operator fatigue
Driver or train operator distraction
Intoxicated driver or train operator

Our experienced attorneys have the resources to fully investigate the matter. We can check cell phone usage records to determine if negligent conduct played a role. If you were a passenger in a car being driven by a drunk driver at the time of the accident, we may pursue a claim against the driver.

Pedestrians in Georgia have just as much right to use the road as cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Unfortunately, drivers don't seem to pay as much attention to people walking alongside the road or lawfully crossing the street at a crosswalk. That's why there are so many car accidents involving pedestrians injured while crossing the street or walking alongside one.

A common excuse that drivers give when they cause such accidents is that they "failed to see" the pedestrian. Sometimes the driver - or the insurance company - might even try to claim the pedestrian did something to cause the accident. However, most pedestrian accidents are preventable and happen as a result of negligent drivers who might be speeding, distracted by their cell phone, or driving drunk. When you've done nothing to cause your accident, you shouldn't have to pay for somebody else's mistakes.

Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers who know how to protect your rights

Driver negligence, from drunk driving to distractions such as text messaging, entitles those hurt in a pedestrian accident to pursue compensation. In some cases, you may also be entitled to compensation from the uninsured / under-insured motorist provisions of auto insurance policies held by members of your household.

Pedestrian deaths rank second only to occupant deaths in car and truck accidents nationwide. Every year, thousands of fatal pedestrian accidents occur in the United States. Injuries common in pedestrian accidents include:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Spinal cord injuries
Back and neck injuries
Bone fractures

If you were injured in a commercial vehicle accident, you may need to sort out complex ownership issues and insurance coverage matters. At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we are ready to listen to your side of the story. If you are our client, we will put our experience to work on your commercial vehicle accident case.

Common commercial vehicle accidents in Georgia involve:

Trucks
Buses
Delivery Vans
Other vehicles used for commercial purposes

If you were injured in a work-related car accident, in a commercial vehicle or your own vehicle, you might be eligible for claims in addition to workers' compensation. With fatal car accidents involving a commercial vehicle, you may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim against the operator or other responsible party.

Our attorneys work closely with medical and economic experts to ensure that victims of catastrophic injury receive the help needed to get the best treatment possible.

Passenger Van Accidents

The design of 15-passenger vans is so inherently dangerous that federal law prohibits schools from kindergarten through high school to transport students in them. They pose a significant risk of a vehicle rollover accident due to the unsafe distribution of weight if fully occupied. No commercial driver's license is required to operate them. Fifteen passenger van drivers are almost always inexperienced.

Risks of accident in passenger vans

As with the risk of rollover in an over-weighted truck, a fully occupied passenger van has such an unstable center of gravity that it is much more likely to roll over. Research has found that a roof-top load on a 15-passenger van further increases the likelihood of a rollover accident.

While grade schools are barred from using passenger vans, they remain in use with community groups, YMCAs, daycare centers, senior centers and airport shuttles. Any of these vans can put passengers as well as other motorists at risk.

Bus Accidents

One of the most common causes of bus accidents is poorly maintained or out-of-adjustment brakes. As with an accident involving trucking equipment maintenance, a bus accident may include multiple parties responsible for the equipment failure.

The other principal cause of bus accidents is driver fatigue. A bus accident caused by a drowsy driver may put entire youth groups, senior tour groups, or families in danger. As with cases involving commercial trucking driver fatigue, the company as well as the driver may have some responsibility.

Further legal complexity may challenge bus accident victims if the bus was a municipal bus, as governmental regulations and protocols can make the claims process drag on and on. We are here to help.

One of the most common causes of bicycle and motorcycle accidents is when drivers fail to see the rider or observe the right of way. This is often the case with drunk drivers or others driving under the influence. A distracted driver may sideswipe a bicycle or motorcycle rider when changing lanes or turning.

Types of bicycle or motorcycle accident injury

Bicycle and motorcycle accident injuries are often permanent, even if only in the form of minor scars. However, many types of injury common to bicycle or motorcycle accidents have grave consequences, including:

Traumatic brain injury
Paralysis
Eye injury
Head, neck and face injuries when the cyclist strikes the car or pavement
Broken bones and fractures of arms, legs, hands and feet

Our commitment to injury prevention

Gary Martin Hays & Associates has given away 1000 bicycle helmets and sponsored public service announcements about bike safety to help prevent the tragedies we have seen bicycle accident victims suffer. We support the building of bike trails designed and maintained for optimal safety.