Springfield Car Accident lAWYERS

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Springfield, like other cities in Effingham County, has its share of car accidents each year. Car accidents threaten the safety of drivers in Georgia for the same reasons they do motorists throughout the rest of the United States. Recovering from your injuries while trying to secure damages after a car accident can be overwhelming. A Springfield car accident lawyer can help you navigate through the legal process smoothly and make sure that you receive fair compensation.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents in Springfield?

There are multiple reasons that cause car accidents. Sometimes there are conditions outside the vehicle that play a role, but often car accidents are caused by irresponsible drivers. Some common causes of car accidents include the following:

  • Speeding: Speeding is the leading cause of traffic fatalities. The faster a person drives, the more likely a car accident will occur. Speeding decreases drivers’ abilities to control their vehicles and lessens the effectiveness of safety belts and car seats. It also causes more severe injuries to drivers and passengers because of the greater force impact.
  • Impaired driving: Anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving a vehicle is more likely to cause a serious or fatal accident. Intoxicated drivers experience impaired judgment, blurred vision, difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle, and other impediments to safety. Signs that a driver might be under the influence include weaving, sudden acceleration or braking, traveling at night without headlights on, failure to signal, tailgating other vehicles, and driving in the wrong direction. It is imperative to stay away from a driver showing any of these behaviors. It is even more important to stay off of the road if you have been drinking or improperly using drugs.
  • Distracted driving: It is well-known that distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents. Drivers often text and talk on their cellphone instead of focusing on the road. Other common distractions include having discussions with other vehicle occupants, listening to music, grooming, and eating. This is also a form of careless driving. A car accident can happen in a matter of seconds, which is why it is imperative that drivers stay focused on the road at all times.
  • Reckless driving: Reckless driving is when a person drives in a manner with disregard for the safety or well-being of others sharing the road. This can include weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights, failing to yield, and tailgating. Reckless and aggressive driving can lead to serious car accidents and injuries.
  • Poorly maintained road conditions: Some common road conditions that are hazardous are potholes, cracked and crumbling pavement, uneven heights between lanes, unplowed and unsalted winter roads, and road debris. Also, unclear or improper road signage can also cause car accidents.

What Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Springfield, GA?

While a car accident can happen anywhere, certain roads and intersections in and around Springfield see a higher volume of traffic and a greater risk of serious collisions. If you regularly drive through the area, it is worth using extra caution in the following locations:

  • Georgia Highway 21: As the primary corridor running through Springfield, Highway 21 carries heavy commuter and commercial traffic through the county seat. It mixes high-speed through traffic with local drivers heading to the courthouse, government offices, and downtown businesses, creating conditions where rear-end and angle collisions are common.
  • Highway 21 and McCall Road: This intersection along the Springfield bypass has long been known as a dangerous and deadly spot. Roughly 16,000 cars pass through the intersection each day, and after a fatal crash prompted community concern, the Georgia Department of Transportation and Effingham County fast-tracked the installation of a traffic signal there to improve safety.
  • Highway 21 and Highway 119: Highway 119 intersects Highway 21 in the center of Springfield, creating one of the city’s busiest and most accident-prone junctions. The high volume of turning and cross-traffic makes this a frequent site of collisions.
  • Highway 21 and Old Augusta Road: Located south of Springfield, this intersection generates frequent collisions as vehicles navigate between the highway and nearby residential areas. Drivers merging from lower-speed roads onto the busy highway face a heightened risk of T-bone and rear-end crashes.
  • Laurel Street and the Downtown Grid: The downtown area around Laurel Street handles mixed traffic from courthouse visitors, government employees, and local residents. The combination of pedestrians, parking, and steady vehicle traffic can lead to accidents when drivers are distracted or fail to yield.

What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?

A car accident can cause a variety of injuries to any area of the body. The following are some types of injuries commonly suffered by victims of car accidents:

  • Broken bones and fractures: Broken ribs, legs, arms, ankles, wrists, and even pelvises can result from car accidents. Their severity ranges from simple breaks needing a cast, to more serious compound fractures that may require surgery.
  • Neck injuries and whiplash: Whiplash is the term for muscle, ligament, tendon, and soft tissue injuries to the neck that can happen in car accidents. Whiplash injuries can be very painful and can occur even when cars are travelling at low rates of speed. Cervical dislocation and disc location are also serious injuries that often result from car accidents.
  • Back injuries: Back injuries are very common as a result of car accidents, as the body and spine are not designed to sustain heavy impact. It is important to pay attention to any back pain after a car accident, since back injuries can be delayed in presenting themselves. The pain and disability from a severe back injury can be chronic and life-altering.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Car accidents are a leading cause of TBI. Open head injuries can result from an occupant’s head hitting a surface or hard objects, such as a windshield, dashboard, or steering wheel. They can cause bruising, fractures to the skull, and external damage that alerts medical professionals to possible internal brain trauma. Closed head injuries are harder to identify and are caused by the brain being pushed against the skull. This can result in brain swelling and damage to brain tissue. TBI often results in long-term disability.
  • Spinal cord injuries and paralysis: Spinal cord injuries are common in serious car accidents, particularly in crashes where occupants are ejected. In a complete spinal cord injury, there is often paralysis below the point of injury. With incomplete spinal cord injuries, there can be some movement and sensation. Damage to the spinal cord is traumatic and can be either life-ending or life-altering, as it typically involves some form of paralysis.
  • Organ damage and internal bleeding: Any car accident with a forceful impact can result in organ damage and internal bleeding, particularly those involving vehicle ejection. Organ damage and internal bleeding are hard to detect and extremely serious, so an occupant ejected from a vehicle must seek medical treatment immediately.
  • Cuts and lacerations: Severe cuts and lacerations can occur when a driver or passenger is hit with or ejected through the glass of a windshield or window. Other serious injuries can be sustained if occupants are hit with other foreign debris or land on hard surfaces.

What Should I Do If I Have Been in a Car Accident in Springfield?

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, it is essential to be sure that proper medical treatment is received. It is also important to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to assist with what can be a complex legal progress. You have the right to bring forth claims for both economic and non-economic damages against at-fault parties.

There are several reasons to hire a car accident lawyer, including:

  • A knowledgeable lawyer will help move the case along quickly and efficiently.
  • Obtaining compensation after a car accident can be complicated. A lawyer will calculate how much can be obtained, considering current and future medical bills, physical therapy and counseling, current and future lost wages, pain and suffering, punitive damages, and property damage.
  • You will be assured that the accident site will be thoroughly investigated, police and medical records requested, witnesses interviewed, and experts consulted.
  • You will be able to focus on recovering from any physical and emotional trauma. Phone contact from insurance companies, other parties, or representatives will be handled by your lawyer, as well as all necessary correspondence and other paperwork.
  • Multiple insurance policy claims are often filed after a car accident, which can be confusing. Hiring an experienced lawyer who knows the proper procedures after a car accident is advantageous. This includes requesting discovery, filing all possible claims, knowing statute of limitations, and understanding insurance policy coverage.
  • There are other individuals or entities that may be held liable as well. A manufacturer that built a defective vehicle can be liable for injuries or fatalities. An auto mechanic who knowingly used faulty parts may be sued for damages and well as the manufacturer of those faulty parts.

What Happens if Multiple Parties are Responsible for a Car Accident?

Georgia follows the comparative fault or comparative negligence rule when determining who is responsible for the costs of an accident and how much. This rule provides that a judge assigns a percentage of responsibility for each involved party, and they will be responsible for that percentage of the overall award. This means that a party filing a lawsuit for injuries they sustained may end up paying a portion of the overall damages. Also, if one party is found to be responsible for at least 50 percent of the damages, they are ineligible to receive any compensation.

In Georgia, injured parties looking to file a claim have two years to do so from the date the car accident occurred. Parties have four years after a car accident to file a claim for any property damage. It is important to hire an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident to determine the proper course of action and ensure the best possible outcome for your case.

The Springfield Car Accident Lawyers at Kicklighter Law Protect the Rights of Those Injured in Car Accidents

It can be a traumatic and life-changing experience when you are involved in a car accident. You may be facing long-term injuries and mounting medical bills. The Springfield car accident lawyers at Kicklighter Law will help you through this legal process while you recover from your injuries. To schedule a confidential consultation, call us today at 912-754-6003 or contact us online. We are located in Springfield, Georgia, and we proudly serve clients in Effingham County, Savannah, and surrounding areas.