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When Do Most Merging Accidents Occur In Atlanta?

Merging Sign Board

Even the most cautious Atlanta drivers sometimes get into car accidents due to no fault of their own. One of the most common crashes occurs when one vehicle merges into another. Learn about when and why merging accidents happen in this article, and remember to speak to our Atlanta car accident attorney at Shani O. Brooks if you believe you have a case. Our legal team has more than a decade of experience litigating auto accidents in Georgia and may help you pursue a claim against the liable driver.

What Is A Merging Accident?

Merging accidents on highways happen when two motor vehicles collide when one is attempting to enter traffic from an entrance or exit ramp. There are several kinds of merging accidents that occur on Atlanta’s busy highways:

  • Rear-end crashes: These merging accidents happen when the vehicle trying to merge smashes into the rear of another car. They are often caused by tailgating and speeding.
  • Side-swipe crashes: These happen when the sides of two motor vehicles contact each other when both attempt to enter the same lane. Side-swipe accidents often occur because one driver is distracted or does not yield the right of way.
  • Head-on crashes: A head-on merging accident can happen when one driver goes in the wrong direction on an entrance or exit ramp.

When Do Merging Accidents Happen?

With so many cars on the road in our large community, it is unsurprising that merging accidents happen often. These serious accidents happen when drivers incorrectly judge their distance from other vehicles. Some common reasons these accidents occur are:

  • Merging at a speed well below the speed limit on a busy highway.
  • Suddenly cutting off other cars.
  • Changing lanes abruptly without using a turn signal.
  • Changing several lanes at the same time.

Who Is At Fault For An Atlanta Merging Accident?

Usually, the driver attempting to merge onto the highway is at fault, but there are exceptions to this rule. For example, suppose the merging vehicle slams into another that is speeding. In that case, the merging driver may not be liable because the speeding driver made it too challenging for the other to enter the roadway safely.

In other situations, a driver could try to enter from an inside lane and hit a car attempting to merge from the outside lane to the middle one. In this situation, the first vehicle could not be at fault. That said, if the cars were involved in a sideswipe accident, the at-fault driver would be decided by where the cars were on the road and where the vehicles contacted each other.

Another possibility is both drivers could be at fault. If that is the case, potential compensation in the incident could be decided according to Georgia’s comparative negligence laws, which state that one’s compensation is reduced according to the percentage of fault for the accident.

Keep in mind that the merging driver causes the majority of merging accidents. If this happened to you, it is essential to be represented by an experienced car accident law firm in Atlanta, such as Shani O. Brooks PC. Our lawyers possess the skill, tenacity, and experience to obtain the most compensation for your losses.

Speak To Our Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Today For Help

Were you recently hurt in an Atlanta merging accident? Do you have lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering? You could be entitled to compensation in a car accident lawsuit, so do not delay. Speak to our Atlanta car accident attorney at Shani O. Brooks PC immediately for legal assistance. Call (404) 920-4736 for a confidential consultation.

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Taking Photos And Videos After An Accident Is Crucial

Taking Photos After An Accident

Proving that another party caused a car accident depends on the evidence presented to the insurance company or jury. Photos and videos are among the most critical evidence after a car accident. You should take pictures and videos after the accident to help your attorney prove the case for a claim or lawsuit. If you were in a car accident with injuries recently, our Atlanta car accident attorneys might help you get compensation for your losses.

Why Are Photos And Video Important After A Car Accident?

Photographs and videos are compelling evidence for proving car accident liability. After all, a car accident and its aftermath can be stressful and confusing. Photos and videos help you document how it happened and your property damage and injuries. Taking pictures immediately after the crash can provide critical evidence and details you might overlook. But upon review, the images and video could reveal things that you did not see in the immediate aftermath.

Unfortunately, sometimes accident victims do not take the photos and videos they should. This could leave accident investigators guessing what happened by relying on tire marks, eyewitness accounts, and other evidence. This might make proving the claim more challenging, and getting compensation could be more complicated. When you and your attorney want to establish a claim, having plenty of detailed videos and photos is always preferable.

How To Take Effective Photos And Video After An Accident

Most of us have cell phones in our pockets or purse, so getting excellent photo evidence is not difficult. Keep these tips in mind when recording photographic evidence after the accident:

Take Plenty Of Photos And Video

Most cell phones have plenty of memory for thousands of images. Taking too many photos is always better than taking too few. The claims investigator will comb through your pictures and videos and find the details needed to prove what happened.

Focus On Details And Close-Ups

You should never disturb the accident scene, but if you can get close-up images, it will help your case. If necessary, use the zoom function on your cell phone to get close-ups of accident damage, tire marks, license plates, etc. The evidence might be less valuable if the photos and video are too far away.

Wide Angle Shots Are Key

You also should take wide-angle images of the entire accident scene. Doing so gives the investigators important context about how and why the accident occurred. Law enforcement will remove the vehicles when they finish their investigation, so now is the time to get pictures and videos.

You also should take close-up images of your injuries after the accident. You can also take photos of them in the following days to show how they are progressing – for better or worse

Contact Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers In Atlanta

You should take photos of the crash scene, vehicle damages, and injuries in a car accident. These essential steps can help if you file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. If you have legal questions, contact our Atlanta car accident lawyers at Shani O. Brooks PC at (404) 920-4736.

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Don’t Ignore Headaches After A Car Accident

Headaches After A Car Accident

Suppose you are in a car accident in Atlanta when another driver pulls out in front of you. The next day, you have a headache that will not go away. This should not be ignored because it could be a sign of a severe head or neck injury. After reading this article about headaches and car accidents, talk to our Atlanta car accident lawyer at Shani O. Brooks PC if you have questions about your recent accident.

What Causes A Headache After A Car Accident?

A headache after a car crash is also called post-traumatic headache. Some aspects of the trauma from a car accident probably caused the issue. You could notice a headache within seconds or minutes of the accident. However, post-traumatic headaches in the days after the incident are also common.  

There are many potential causes of headaches after car accidents, the most common being impact or whiplash involving your head or neck. If you had regular headaches before the car accident, you could notice your headaches worsened after the crash. 

A headache can also be caused by neck pain traveling to your head. The root cause of a headache after a car crash can vary, but you should never ignore the problem. Always have your head and neck checked by a doctor to see if there is an injury.

What To Do After A Car Accident Headache

If you were in a car crash and have headaches, this may be a sign of a significant injury. It is vital for your health and legal options to have a doctor check you for injuries stemming from the car accident.

The best thing to do after a car accident, whether you think you are hurt or not, is to go to the ER or your personal physician for a medical examination. The doctor may find a head, neck, or other injury you initially overlooked. If you have headaches, the doctor will note it in your medical record, which could be crucial for obtaining compensation in a claim or lawsuit later.

Also, you should always go to the doctor after a car accident if you have headaches. It is unlikely that the injury will go away on its own and could become much worse as the hours and days pass. Any time you feel pain in your head or neck after a car crash, seek immediate medical attention.

Next, if another party or entity caused the car accident, you should consult with a personal injury attorney in Atlanta. Head and neck injuries are often painful and debilitating, and you could be entitled to compensation in a lawsuit. If you have persistent headaches stemming from the car crash, it could take weeks or months for the symptoms to fade, affecting your ability to work and enjoy life. If so, you should receive compensation for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost earnings.

Contact Our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer In Atlanta

After a car accident, having a doctor check you for injuries is always wise. This is especially true if you suspect a head injury and have headaches. After being checked by medical personnel, contact our Atlanta car accident lawyer at Shani O. Brooks PC at (404) 920-4736 about your legal options.