How to Drive Safely in the City of Atlanta

Atlanta is the unofficial hub of nightlife in the center of the universe that is the “Dirty South.” In recent years, the bustling city and its neighboring suburbs have acquired a host of new attractions for all ages and crowds. For art enthusiasts, there is the Goat Farm Arts Center, a 12-acre artist compound — and goat farm — that’s open to the public. For the nocturnal crowds, there are a barrage of nightclubs and upscale bars lining the streets of Buckhead and Midtown. For inquisitive children, Fernbank is there for hands-on science instruction. For the family, Six Flags Over Georgia provides full days of outdoor amusement in warmer months. Navigating the city center has never been easier, too, thanks to the new addition of the Atlanta Streetcar to the mass transit landscape.

While all of these activities are becoming to residents who enjoy exploring Atlanta with abandon, accidents can happen wherever one may venture, especially when it comes to transportation related calamities. With all of the things to do and sights to see in this southern gem of a city, residents spend an inordinate amount of time on the road. Residents of Metro Atlanta officially have the longest commutes to work in the U.S. and some of the worst traffic overall. The traffic here is so legendary that it inspired an interactive art experiment to help residents vent about the problem.

Atlanta Practice Areas

Car accidents and vehicle-related injuries are very common problems in Atlanta as a result of congested roads. Here are some of the ways that you can prevent getting into dangerous car accidents.

• Watch the weather.

Winter storms affect Atlanta greatly due to our lack of snow plows and other winter-related infrastructure that colder cities typically have on hand. Last year saw a two-day gridlock that stretched across several major highways. Before leaving home in bad weather, check the local news to see if the Georgia Department of Transportation has issued any safety updates for travel.

• Don’t get too close.

Atlanta has more instances of tailgating on highways than GaTech does in parking lots during game season. The city is known for its bumper-to-bumper traffic, which is a common cause of gridlock scenarios on the not-so-open road. To avoid accident-related injuries that arise from sudden stops and starts in close knit traffic, keep a safe distance from the car directly proceeding yours while driving.

• Park safely.

Traffic wars aren’t waged only on the streets. Parking lot accidents are a relatively common occurrence related to lot congestion, car doors being opened inadvertently in the path of an oncoming driver, and pedestrians walking into unmarked areas of lots where cars are either entering or exiting. To avoid personal injuries related to these instances, make sure to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

If you’ve been the victim of a car accident injury in the greater Atlanta area, get in touch with our personal injury lawyers at Morgan & Morgan for a free quote on how we can help your case.