Robbins & Associates, PC

According to studies, gasoline prices are having a positive effect on traffic fatalities, and this year the number of traffic deaths may reach their lowest level since 1961. Preliminary figures on auto accident deaths show that higher gas prices nationwide have lead to a dramatic reduction in those killed. With a gasoline shortage gripping Georgia, Tennessee, and other parts of the Southeast after Hurricane Ike, it's likely that figures will continue to drop.

Traffic fatalities in 1961, when gasoline was less than one tenth its current price--$0.31 per gallon--were just over 36,200. Traffic fatality rates then rose every year, and peaked at 55,600 in 1972, despite the addition of mandatory seatbelt regulations by the federal government. After years of steady decline, the number hovered just above 42,000 per year, despite the fact that people were buying huge SUVs that made them feel safer in the event of an accident. Then last year it dropped to 41,059, and this year the number of fatalities dropped sharply, 22 % in March, and 18 % in April as people stopped driving their supposedly-safe SUVs because of high gas prices. If the trend continues, fatalities will be less than 37,000 this year for the first time since 1961.

The changes are not uniform across age groups. Teenagers and the elderly, who are the most likely to die in traffic accidents, are adversely affected by gasoline prices and tend to change their behaviors first, so the number of deaths among these groups is declining more rapidly than other groups.

With the gasoline shortage, there will hopefully be an even greater decline in traffic fatalities, because many of the very driving behaviors that conserve gas--driving slower, observing proper spacing, and others--are also safer driving behaviors.

But if you have lost a loved one as a result of an auto accident, contact an experienced Atlanta, Georgia auto accident lawyer at Robbins & Associates, P.C. today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation.

All truck drivers are responsible for the loads they carry. And carrying different types of cargo to restaurants, stores, and suppliers all over the country is an everyday experience. If you ever drive on the highway, you’ve seen them. However, just because truck drivers are responsible for their loads doesn’t necessarily mean they are responsible with their loads. Sometimes these loads come loose and fly off the truck. And sometimes these unsecured loads hit other cars causing horrific accidents.

An unsecured load accident is more likely to happen if the driver or their employer has not paid careful attention to how their load is stored or attached. Another concern is overloading, which may cause a load imbalance. This then can cause the entire load to come loose. Trucks carrying tires, wood, steel beams, or even other vehicles need to be aware of this. Though a demanding schedule means that they must carry a load many would consider unsafe, the driver needs to take extra care in making sure their load is secured. They must also be sure their vehicle is maintained properly so that the parts that help to secure their load do not snap off or break.

If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident due to an unsecured load in the Atlanta, Georgia area, please contact us for an initial evaluation.