First responders attended to multiple victims of car accidents across Georgia over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Across Georgia and the country, law enforcement authorities were reporting record volumes of traffic. More than 55 million Americans are reported to have travelled over the holiday weekend. Unfortunately, as is often the case, large volumes of traffic make for greater numbers of auto accidents. In Georgia, the scene was no better as more than 23 accident fatalities were confirmed over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This year, the holiday weekend stretched from 6:00 pm on Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.
Apart from the 23 wrongful deaths, numerous other persons are reported to have suffered personal injuries in these car accidents. At least one busy interstate had to be shut down for 7 hours after a car accident involving an 18 -wheeler and an SUV. At least five out of the 23 fatalities occurred in a single car accident.
While larger traffic volumes typically do lead to a greater number of auto accidents, the high numbers this year in Georgia are a cause for concern. The increase in car accident wrongful deaths over the past few years is also being linked to an increase in travel as Americans catch up on all the travel that they missed out on between 2020 and 2022.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that the Thanksgiving holiday is the deadliest holiday in the American calendar. Between 2017 and 2021, the total number of car accident wrongful deaths over the Thanksgiving holiday was 2,456 which was higher than the number of fatalities recorded over the Labor Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Christmas holidays. Labor Day lags just behind Thanksgiving with a total of 2,351 deaths recorded in car accidents over this holiday between 2017 and 2021.
An overwhelming majority of most car accident fatalities recorded in the country occur between the months of September and December. Many of these auto accident deaths can be linked to driving under the influence of alcohol. More than 32,000 of the car accident deaths between 2017 and 2021 occurred in the last two months of the year. Almost 25% of car accident fatalities in the last 2 months of the year involved speeding. Between 2017 and 2021, more than 830 car accident deaths involved a drunken driver, and in 137 of those cases, the victim was the driver.
With the year’s deadliest driving season upon us, it is important for motorists in Georgia to wear seat belts, avoid driving under the influence and drive at safe speeds at all times.
The Atlanta car accident attorneys at Katz Personal Injury lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for damages that include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other forms of compensation. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.