Georgia Injury Law Blog

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:20:16 -0500

Accidents Cost US $99 Billion in One Year

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has analyzed the cost of traffic accidents in the year 2005, and come up with a staggering estimate-$99 billion.

That's right. Fatal and non-fatal injurious accidents including car, motorcycle, truck, bicycle and pedestrian accidents cost the American economy $99 billion in 2005. Mind-boggling as that number is, it's probably just the tip of the iceberg. According to the CDC, it does not include other factors that could increase accident costs, like the increase in insurance premiums after an accident and an increase in taxes.

Not surprisingly, motor vehicle accidents involving cars, sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks were the most expensive, accounting for $70 billion in costs in 2005. Motorcyclists racked up costs of $12 billion, while the accident costs of pedestrians and bicyclists touched $10 billion and $5 billion respectively.

The costs from teen-related accidents were completely out of proportion with these motorists’ share of the US population. In 2005, teen drivers accounted for just about 14% of the American population, but fatal and non-fatal injurious accidents involving these drivers accounted for $30 billion in costs. That's 31% of all accident-related costs in 2005.

The statistics make for fascinating reading, but the advice that the CDC gives to minimize accident rates, reduce fatalities and injuries, and lower costs, is the kind that Atlanta auto accident lawyers routinely dish out.

· Enact primary seat belt laws and enforce these strongly.

· Focus on parental education about the correct installation of child car safety seats and increased use of these safety devices.

· Strengthen Graduated Driver’s Licensing policies, to allow teen motorists more experience on the road in low-risk situations, before allowing them to have full driving privileges.

· Mandate helmets for all motorcyclists and helmets.

· Increase concentrations of sobriety checkpoints.

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:36:34 -0500

Non-Approved Motorcycle Helmets May Not Protect against Injury

While the state of Georgia has a law requiring all motorcycle riders to wear helmets for their own protection, many motorcyclists in Georgia could be increasing their risk of injury by wearing unsafe, “fancy” helmets that are not approved by the Department of Transportation, nor by any private certifying agency.

The US Department of Transportation certifies hundreds of helmets every year. DOT-Approved helmets have an inner lining that protects the head during impact. They also have strong rivets, protective chin straps and other features that help prevent head and facial injuries during an accident. Unfortunately, too many motorcyclists in Georgia are riding with novelty helmets that look like military helmets, and do not cover the face completely. These helmets do not offer complete facial and head protection during an accident. In fact, wearing a helmet like this may not offer even minimal protection during an accident.

It makes no sense for a motorcyclist to wear a helmet that that has not been found to offer him protection during an accident. No motorcycle helmet, even one that is certified by the Department of Transportation, can completely guarantee that a motorcyclist will not suffer head and brain injuries during an accident. However, the chances of surviving an accident without these devastating injuries may be much greater if you’re wearing a DOT-approved and certified helmet.

Some motorcyclists have qualms about the safety standards of DOT-approved helmets. They believe that DOT testing standards are not strict enough to ensure the reliability of these helmets. If you don't trust the DOT standards, there are other private agencies which certify helmets. The Snell Memorial Foundation tests more than 3,000 helmets each year, and posts the results of the tests on its website. This is a nonprofit, independent authority that only certifies helmets that pass each and every test.

The best choice would be to buy a helmet that's tested and approved by the US DOT, and certified by the Snell Memorial Foundation.

The Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of motorcycle accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:44:36 -0500

Report Indicates Drunk Driving Still Serious Threat

Fact - Drunk driving fatality rates have dropped significantly over the past five years.

Fact - Fatal drunk driving accidents account for 31% of all highway accidents in the US.

There is no contradiction in those facts. While we have made substantial progress in reducing the number of people being killed every year in accidents involving intoxicated motorists, these accidents still continue to occur in large numbers, killing thousands of people every year. A new report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stresses exactly how serious the problem is.

The report includes the findings of a survey conducted by the NHTSA in 2008. The survey included drivers aged above 16 years. The survey indicated that approximately 1 in every 5 motorists admitted that he had driven under the influence at least once during the previous 12 months. Teen drivers between the ages 16 and 20 were less likely to say they had driven in an intoxicated condition. However, among the ones who did, the incidence of binge drinking was quite high. These teen motorists admitted to drinking at least six alcoholic drinks during a single sitting.

We've all seen those “don't drink and drive” PSA's on TV. Obviously, many of those are not reaching their target. The report comes at an opportune time. In a couple of weeks’ time, many Atlantans will be out celebrating the Labor Day weekend. We don't want to play party pooper here, but it's important to realize that your chances of being involved in a drunk driving accident will rise dramatically during the holiday.

There isn't anything you can do to prevent others from drinking and driving. However, you can increase your chances of returning home safe and sound. Wear seatbelts, don't drink and drive, and switch off your cell phone before driving. Spend some time mapping out an alternate route to your destination that will help you avoid congested streets.

The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto/car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:54:52 -0500

Proposals to Mandate Speed Limiters on All Trucks Gather Steam

As Atlanta truck accident lawyers, we have supported efforts by truck safety groups to get the federal administration to mandate speed limiters on all commercial trucks. Ultimately, it might be environmental concerns that help meet that goal.

We've known for long that reducing speed limits on trucks can help prevent the catastrophic injuries and multiple fatalities that result during high-speed truck accidents. Besides, even a reduction of 1 mph in truck speed can contribute to a 1% increase in fuel efficiency. Environmental and trucking efficiency concerns are high right now, and this May, the President asked his administration to get to work on developing a policy that would tackle fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emission concerns. Speed limiters will help meet both these targets.

The European Union already requires speed limiters on large trucks. So do Australia and Japan. Several provinces in Canada have truck speed limiter requirements in place. However, in the US, the administration has delayed taking any action, in spite of the fact that there is nationwide support for speed limiters on trucks. A survey in 2007 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that more than 82% of American drivers supported having speed limiters on trucks. The American Trucking Association also strongly supports a proposal like this.

It's rare to have a trucking safety initiative that actually has nonpartisan support from all parties concerned, and yet, the federal administration has failed to act on making these devices mandatory.

Traffic Fatalities Focus of Highway Study

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:20:27 -0500

More Focus on Highway Safety Technologies, Less on Distracting Issues

Does the super-sized focus on specific highway safety problems like distracted driving and auto safety issues like the Toyota acceleration crisis detract attention away from potential safety technologies and processes? It's an intriguing question posed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and as Atlanta auto accident lawyers, we agree with many of the Institute’s opinions.

What the Insurance Institute is basically saying in its latest report, is that when federal transportation safety agencies focus heavily on a specific highway safety problem like distracted driving, and when already limited resources are devoted to tackling this problem, it takes much attention and effort away from the development of other technologies and processes that can prevent accidents. No one is denying that distracted driving is a serious problem, but it contributes to a small percentage of auto accident fatalities every year. Similarly, we aren't saying that Toyota doesn’t have acceleration problems. In fact, in our capacity as Atlanta personal injury lawyers, we have always said that the company needs to be held accountable for its negligence.

However, all the Toyota bashing takes attention away from the fact that a majority of the approximately 40,000 highway fatalities that occur every year in the US do not involve Toyota vehicles. For that matter, they do not involve distracted driving. In short, when federal transportation safety authorities devote extensive resources to fighting specific problems, like cell phone use while driving, they ignore the fact that more fatalities every year could be prevented by using, say, red light camera systems. We could prevent more fatal highway accidents every year by constructing roundabouts at busy intersections, or installing speed limiters on all commercial trucks. Some of the newest auto safety technologies, like lane departure warning systems can help prevent a variety of accidents that are caused by a number of factors, including distracted driving. We could be focusing on mandating these on all vehicles.

We could focus on these systems, and significantly reduce highway fatality rates. Instead, federal authorities seem to concentrate on holding distracted driving summits. Not that the distracted driving problem in Georgia isn't serious and doesn't demand attention, but while we tackle it appropriately, there are other things we could do to save more lives every year. There currently seems to be an imbalance in federal highway safety priorities, which needs to be set right.

Dog Bite Claims on the Rise; Insurers Pinched

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:11:53 -0500

Insurers Concerned over Increase in Dog Bite Claims

Insurance companies are beginning to feel the bite as a nationwide increase in dog bite claims chews away at bottom lines.

In 2009, there was an increase of 6.4% in the amount that insurers had to pay out to settle dog bite claims. Companies paid out $412 million to cover dog bite claims in 2009, compared to the previous year, when the payout was $387.2 million. The average dog bite claim in 2009 exceeded $24,000 for the third year in a row. The number of claims increased to 16,586 - an increase of 4.8%.

The situation is so bad many insurance companies are now declining to provide dog bite insurance coverage, as part of their homeowner's liability insurance coverage. Other companies agree to provide coverage if the owner agrees to send the dog to a behavior training school. Obviously, these increased payouts are hitting insurers where it hurts, and they are, in turn, increasing pressure on dog owners.

Insurers point to the fact that more and more states are enacting strict liability statutes for dog bites. While Georgia has a “one bite free “policy that allows dog owners to avoid liability for a first time bite by the dog, this is frequently overridden by local ordinances governing leash laws. For example, if Buster busts through the home fence or if the owner just lets him wander the neighborhood until dinnertime, then the owner is liable as a matter of law if Buster bites someone while off leash. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia have strict liability statutes, under which a dog owner can be held liable if his animal attacks, regardless of whether he had knowledge of the dog’s vicious tendencies or not. These are the kind of laws that Atlanta dog bite lawyers have strongly supported.

Taking Away the Keys - Senior Motorists Need Encouragement to Give Up Driving

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 03:30:14 -0500

The decision to step in and take action when you see an elderly motorist beginning to lose his driving abilities, is never an easy one to make. However, for millions of Americans in the position of caregivers for their parents, it's a moment that presents itself sooner or later.

Studies estimate that elderly motorist safety is likely to become an even bigger safety concern in the years ahead, as the baby boomer population hits its 70s. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2008, 78% of the senior population in the United States had driving licenses, compared to 73% just a decade earlier. Those numbers are expected to increase over the next decade.

It’s important for families of these motorists to know when to make the decision to suspend or restrict the person's driving privileges. It's also important to gently ease the person into giving up the keys, or at least present him with a set of alternatives to driving. Here are some steps you can take to keep your loved one and others safe.

· See if you can get someone to accompany the motorist when he/she drives.

· Restrict driving at night.

· Restrict driving only to nearby locations.

· Don't allow senior motorists to drive during rush hour.

If none of this is possible, and you would like your loved one to stop driving altogether, stage an intervention. Get a member of the family who is close to the senior driver, to stage the intervention, so it's less stressful. If that doesn't work and the person continues to be stubborn about driving, you may simply have to take away the keys, or move the car to another location where it cannot be accessed.

If the person willingly gives up the car keys however, you must have other options in place. For instance, who's going to take over the responsibility of driving him around now that he can't drive himself? Entrust someone in the family with the responsibility of doing this, or establish a schedule rotating the task among family members.

The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto/car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

Driving with a Pet Creates Distraction

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 03:25:35 -0500

More and more Atlantans are thinking twice before texting while driving, thanks to a new Georgia law that bans text messaging at the wheel. However, Atlanta auto accident lawyers know for a fact that many Atlantans think nothing of driving with an unrestrained or unsecured pet in the car.

According to a new survey conducted by the American Automobile Association, four out of every five dog owners drive with their pet in the car. One in three of these admit that the pet is a major distraction. Only 17% of the dog owners in the survey use restraints or dog barriers while driving. Pets can be a huge distraction while driving, and considering that we are a country of dog lovers, it is surprising that there hasn't been a more intense spotlight on securing dogs while driving.

A CBS report has more information for dog owners who would like to secure their dogs safely in their cars, but don't know where to look. There are plenty of safety devices out there, from safety barriers, to dog safety seatbelts and dog booster seats. Seatbelts are ideal for large-size dogs, while booster seats are better for small-sized dogs. Besides, there are hammocks and dog personal restraint systems that can help secure your dog, and prevent him from falling when you apply the brakes. Securing a dog with seatbelts will prevent him from jumping out the window, always a concern for anyone driving with a dog in the car.

It's dangerous to drive expecting a dog to behave like an adult human. When your dog barks incessantly, moves around the vehicle, or wants to jump out the window, it takes your attention away from the road and increases the risk that you will be involved in a crash. Being a responsible dog owner should include securing a dog while driving.

Bus Accident Injuries Curbed by Seat Belts

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:46:05 -0500

Feds to Mandate Seatbelts on All Buses

The worst bus accident in Atlanta in recent memory occurred three years ago, when a bus carrying a baseball team from Bluffton University plunged off a highway overpass, killing seven people including five baseball players. Some of those who were killed or injured were ejected from the vehicle, as the bus swung around sharply before it flipped over. Would those statistics have been different if the students were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident? It is quite likely, and if a US Department of Transportation proposal to mandate seatbelts on all motor coaches is successful, we might be able to dramatically reduce the number of people seriously injured or killed in bus accidents in the future.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that his agency is considering long-pending proposals by the National Transportation Safety Board, to mandate seatbelts on all motor coaches. The NTSB made the recommendations back in 1968, but any attempts at federal and state legislation to mandate seatbelts on all motor coaches have been thwarted by the powerful bus manufacturer lobby. The industry has managed to get away with putting thousands of vehicles sans seatbelts out there, and the impact has been seen in a series of deadly bus accidents, from California to Texas.

According to federal data, approximately two-thirds of bus accidents between 1997 and 2008 involved a single vehicle rolling over. Seventy-five percent of the passenger fatalities in these rollovers involved people ejected from the bus. Passengers are at a much higher risk of ejection from a bus when they are not restrained. It shouldn't take super smarts to figure that out, but it has taken federal agencies more than four decades to seriously consider the issue of seatbelts in buses. It's about time that we mandated personal restraint systems in buses that transport thousands of Atlantans every day.

The Atlanta personal injury lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto/truck/bus accidents in the metro Atlanta region, and across Georgia.

Higher Truck Weight Limits Will Impact Highway Safety

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:08:51 -0500

A new piece of legislation that has been introduced in the U.S. Senate seeks to allow individual states to increase the gross weight limit on trucks plying the Interstate Highway System. The current gross weight limit in Georgia is about 80,000 pounds. If the legislation were to become law, trucking companies would be able to increase that weight to up to 97,000 pounds.

There are several reasons why Atlanta truck accident attorneys have a problem with this. For one, it would mean greater wear and tear on our already stretched highways. These are tough economic times, and funding for highway repairs and maintenance is already hard to source. The increased wear and tear from heavier trucks would leave Georgia’s highways compromised.

There's another more serious reason why we strongly oppose any bill to increase funding for weight limits on trucks plying interstate highways. No matter how experienced a truck driver, he will find it a challenge to drive a trailer with an additional 17,000 pounds of cargo. Ask any truck driver and he will tell you that this is likely to be a safety concern if the bill actually becomes law. Trucking can be extremely strenuous, physically challenging work, and while experience can help, Atlanta truck accident lawyers often come across devastating truck accidents caused by experienced truckers.

Supporters of the bill, known as the Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, say that the bill will require trucks with heavier trailers to come with an additional axle to make up for the additional weight. They say the increased weight limit would also make trucking less expensive, and relieve congestion on our highways.

Several states have begun to experiment with increased weight limits, but we would advise caution against such experimentation in Georgia. We currently face far too many challenges involving infrequent trucking inspections, driver fatigue, and rogue truck drivers. The trucking industry and federal trucking safety authorities should be looking at how we can tackle these safety issues first.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Settled by Georgia Department of Transportation

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:00:53 -0500

Georgia Department of Transportation Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The Georgia Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $600,000 dollars to settle a wrongful death lawsuit, arising from a taxi accident that killed a 51-year-old woman. Patricia Heller was killed when her taxi went out of control and crashed into a tree. She suffered fatal injuries.

Her husband filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the taxi driver, the taxi company, a former city inspector and the Georgia Department of Transportation. The lawsuit alleged that the taxi had bald tires on the day of the accident, and had passed a city inspection just one day before the crash. The lawsuit also accused the Department Of Transportation of negligent design of that section of Interstate 85, alleging that a tree should not have been allowed to grow so close to the roadway. The lawsuit also alleged that the slope was too steep, and the drainage system was poor.

Last month, a Fulton County court ruled that the tree clearance came under the jurisdiction of the city of Hapeville, and not the Department of Transportation. However, the negligent design claim was allowed to go ahead. Now, the Georgia Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle the wrongful death lawsuit. It has also apologized to Heller's family, including her husband and two children.

Since the accident, the Georgia Department of Transportation has established a more expansive tree clearance program. However, the agency says it has no plans of making any changes to its drainage system or the slope design, because it doesn't believe any changes are needed

The Atlanta auto accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of auto accidents in the metro Atlanta region and around Georgia.

Rural Areas Have Highest Rate of Fatal Car Accidents

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:34:43 -0500

NHTSA Data Shows High Rates of Auto Accidents, Fatalities in Rural Areas

Newly released data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that traffic safety in rural areas continues to be a serious concern. According to the statistics, although just 23% of the US population lived in rural areas in 2007, accident fatalities in rural areas accounted for 57% of all traffic accident fatalities that year.

A few very interesting facts stand out from the study.

· In 2007, rural areas accounted for approximately 56% of all fatal accidents, and 57% of all accident fatalities. In contrast, urban areas accounted for approximately 44% of all fatal accidents and 43% of all accidents and fatalities.

· In rural areas, 33% of all auto accident fatalities occurred in speeding-related accidents. In contrast, speeding-related accident fatalities in urban areas accounted for 31% of all fatalities.

· In 2007, rural areas accounted for approximately 57% of the 12,998 people who were killed in drunk driving accidents. Urban areas accounted for 43% of the total alcohol-related accident fatalities the same year.

· According to data from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, seat belt use in urban areas nationwide was approximately 84%, while seatbelt use in rural areas was around 73 % in 2007.

· In 2007, 56% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in rural areas were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, compared to 51% of occupants in urban areas.

· Auto accident victims in rural areas continue to have limited access to emergency trauma care. Out of the fatalities in 2007, 63% who died en route to the hospital were in rural areas, compared to 37%, who were from urban areas.

Unfortunately, there are not many surprises in this report for Atlanta auto accident lawyers. The fact is that rural areas tend to be neglected when it comes to sobriety checkpoints, or speeding crackdowns. The result is that more numbers of people are involved in such accidents in rural parts of Georgia and around the country. Accident victims in rural Georgia in particular, continue to suffer from a lack of access to emergency “golden hour” care. The result -, more numbers of fatalities in rural areas at rates that are completely unacceptable to Georgia auto accident lawyers.

Truck Rollovers Could Be Prevented with Electronic Stability Control

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:31:27 -0500

Mandatory Electronic Stability Control Systems Would Prevent Truck Rollover Accidents

Electronic stability control systems have been found to significantly reduce the risk of rollover accidents in passenger vehicles. These systems are mandatory on all new passenger vehicles, but have not yet been made mandatory in commercial trucks. According to researchers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if electronic stability control systems were made mandatory in all commercial trucks, it would reduce the risk of rollovers, and save approximately 106 lives a year.

Researchers estimate that approximately 3,500 rollover accidents involving commercial trucks could be prevented each year, if all trucks were equipped with stability control systems. These systems could prevent about 4,400 injuries every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is waiting for the results of a formal study into the benefits of having electronic stability control systems in all trucks, to make a decision about mandating these in all commercial trucks.

These stability control systems would greatly reduce the number of truck rollovers every year. Big rigs are at a high risk of rollovers, which can occur when the truck is making a turn, or when there is a shift of load. Tank trucks are at an even higher risk of rollover because of the liquid cargo, which can cause a shift of balance. According to preliminary NHTSA research, there are approximately 1,265 tanker truck rollover crashes in the US every year.

Equipping a truck with an electronic stability control system would add less than $1,000 to the cost. It would not only save truckers from serious injury when their truck flips over, but would also protect thousands of innocent motorists. However, trucking companies have been slow to adopt rollover prevention technology.

The Atlanta truck accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent injured victims of truck, 18-wheeler, and tractor trailer accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

What Every Driver Should Know about Motorcyclists

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:28:02 -0500

One of the biggest factors in motorcycle accidents is motorist negligence or lack of motorist awareness. It's important for motorists to understand that motorcycles are not like cars or trucks. Motorcyclists face peculiar challenges as they jostle for space with motorists, and it helps motorcyclists if other people on the road are more aware of these challenges.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has tips for motorists and truck drivers to help them look out for motorcyclists. Here's a brief rundown of just some of those tips.

· Look out for motorcyclists especially closely at certain spots, like intersections. Because of a motorcycle’s small size, it may be easier to miss.

· A motorcycle may look much further away than it actually is. It may also be difficult for a motorist to judge a motorcyclist’s speed accurately.

· Because of the motorcycle’s narrow frame, it can easily be hidden in a motorist’s blind spots.

· Most motorcyclists aren't speeding - it only seems like they're riding at excessive speeds because of their thin frame.

· Survival for a motorcyclist depends on being visible to motorists. A motorcyclist often needs to adjust his position simply to be visible to motorists around him. He's not doing this to show off or as a stunt.

· Never overestimate a motorcyclist’s power of maneuverability. A motorcyclist is definitely in a position to navigate through congested traffic better than someone in a car, but that doesn't mean that he can always maneuver his bike to avoid an accident.

As Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers see, most motorcycle accidents are caused because of negligent motorists, and not, as many motorists would like to believe, because of reckless motorcyclists. All it takes is awareness of motorcyclists and respect for their rights to share the road with you, to significantly reduce the number of fatalities in these accidents every year.

New Standards Will Make Cars Safer

lisasiegel1@mindspring.com (Lisa Siegel) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:45:26 -0500

In a move that is sure to increase auto safety for Americans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it will soon launch its new auto testing and rating program. Several 2011 models will be tested using these tougher testing standards. The agency will begin testing about 55 models, including some American favorites like the Honda Odyssey, the Ford Fusion and Taurus, and the Chevrolet Cruze.

Under the new testing system, cars will be tested against each other, and not against a standard performance bar. In the old system, far too many cars were able to meet the standards, and obtain a five-star rating. In the new system, vehicles will have to compete with each other to get the five-star rating, and there will be far fewer vehicles that actually meet the new standards. Several cars that currently enjoy a five-star rating could find their rating drop to a two-star one, once the testing program is implemented.

The new testing program will include a pole test and a female crash test dummy in the front passenger seat. The tests will result in a single overall safety score. For the first time, the rating will also contain information about any additional safety features the car contains, like lane departure systems and forward collision warning systems. With this rating system, consumers will find it easier to buy cars that not only prevent accidents, but also protect them in the event of an accident.

As Atlanta auto accident lawyers, we know that safer cars have been a major factor in the drop in accident fatalities over the past decade. Cars in 2010 are much, much safer than they were back in the 1970’s. The new rigorous testing standards will help protect motorists and occupants, and minimize those fatality rates further.