Robbins & Associates, PC

Many people assume that because they are in a bus, they are safe. For this reason, people don’t tend to worry about the lack of seatbelts or airbags. And while car accidents are more common, bus accidents are not rare occurrences in our country today. On March 1st, 2009, 6 people were injured when a bus in Los Angeles country in California hit an oncoming car, on January 6th, 2008 a bus in Southern Utah hit the divider, killing 9 and injuring 46. Statistically speaking, the most common bus accidents are between cars and busses, the second are between busses and pedestrians. Every year, over 40,000 people die in car accidents, the numbers are startlingly large.

Bus and car accidents occur for many reasons:
• Driver negligence
• Bad weather or road conditions
• Defective machinery
• Speeding

And while some factors are controllable in accidents, many are not. As a passenger, you have rights. And understanding and knowing your rights is important in this day and age.

As the economy continues to struggle, more and more people are taking public transportation and carpooling. Speculations have been made that with the increased number of travelers, the number or bus and car related injuries could increase. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car or bus accident, contact the website of Robbins & Associates P.C.

Summer-time means the work crews are out cleaning up winter’s mess. From potholes and new paint to new lanes and shoulder work, road crews are busy this time of year. And while the safety of the work crews is always important, and drivers should be respectful, there are times when drivers are the ones who end up injured and in a car accident.

Typically, accidents that occur in work zones are due to driver negligence or unseen hazards in the road. When one lane closes and traffic converges, there are always inherent risks. However, private contractors are in charge of roadway construction and they are held responsible when highway safety precautions are not upheld.

These safety precautions include:
• Flagmen
• Warning signs
• Closed lane markers like cones or flashers
• Reflective clothing to help drivers see workers better

As a driver, it is always important to be alert when driving through a roadwork zone. If an accident does occur, it is vital that you try and document what happened. If the road was unsafe to drive on or flagmen were not present then you, as a driver, will have a better case. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident at a road construction site, contact the website of Atlanta car accident attorneys Robbins & Associates, P.C.

Today, bigger is better: bigger homes, bigger meals, bigger televisions, and bigger cars. Since the 1950’s, the size of families has increased and so has the need for cars that seat more people. Today, 1 in 4 cars purchased is an SUV (sport utility vehicle), and SUVs are the most popular choice for families since they has more room and better safety features than smaller, more compact cars. And while the SUV may seem like the perfect road-tripping, soccer toting vehicle, an estimated 70,000 SUV’s rollover every year injuring or killing passengers. Rollovers are one of the leading causes of fatalities in car accidents.

So what can a driver do to reduce the risk of an SUV rollover?
• Make sure your tires are always properly maintained. Keep them pressurized and make sure the threads are not too bare.
• Avoid overloading the car. SUVs already have a higher center of gravity; this is what makes them more likely to roll. When the car is heavily loaded, the center of gravity is even more unstable, if you car is packed with lots of luggage, gear or people, make sure to take extra caution while driving.
• Take turns slowly and, if you are on bumpy or unpaved roads, take extra caution while driving.
• Always be aware of your surrounding and control your speed. SUVs were not made for racing, so higher speeds make them less stable.
• Avoid swerving the car unnecessarily. If you are driving fast and try to swerve to miss hitting a squirrel or something else in the road, the car’s narrower track width and high center of gravity could cause a rollover. The best thing to do is drive slow. If you have to swerve, avoid panicked swerving.

In you or someone you know was injured in an SUV rollover, the law office of Robbins & Associates P.C. in the Atlanta, Georgia can help; please contact their website to learn more.

Car accidents happen. Whether or not the accident was your fault, or the fault of the other driver, it is important to know and understand the situation.

Some of the most common car accidents occur at intersections. Intersections can be dangerous because there are many different factors at play. Other drivers, signals, people crossing, turns being made. In fact, according to The Driving Institute of America, 1/3 of all accidents occur at intersections! The most common reasons car accidents at intersections occur are as follows:

• You or the other car ran a red light, or failed to stop at a stop sign.
• A pedestrian was in the crosswalk.
• Emergency vehicles with sirens sped through the intersection, causing other cars to swerve.
• A vehicle made a turn without looking.
• A vehicle failed to yield to right of way.

And while it is always important to know and understand the dangers inherent to driving, it is also important to know what precautions you can take in order to maintain yours and others safety on the road.
• Never assume things about the other drivers on the road. If you are at a 4-way stop, wait until the other cars stops completely.
• Try planning your trips early, so you do not need to speed to get where you are going.
• If you have a cell phone, use a hands-free set you are not as distracted behind the wheel.
• If an emergency vehicle is coming behind you and you are at an intersection, move out of the vehicles way, but try to pull over just beyond the intersection.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident in an intersection and live in Atlanta, Georgia, contact the website of Robbins & Associates, P.C. We have over 30 years experience handling cases and can help you when you don’t know what to do.