More People Died in Traffic Crashes Than by Homicide
Read that again.
More people died on Metro Atlanta roads last year than by homicide.
According to reported traffic data, 425 people lost their lives on Metro Atlanta roadways. One hundred thirty eight of those were pedestrians and cyclists.
That is not a statistic. That is 425 families forever changed.
At Hasty Pope Injury Law, we are seeing the reality behind those numbers every single week in Canton, Gainesville, and across North Georgia.
And most of these crashes were preventable.
Why Are Traffic Deaths in Atlanta Rising?
If you live in Atlanta, Cherokee County, Hall County, or commute through I 75, I 85, or GA 400, you feel it.
Traffic is heavier. Drivers are distracted. Commercial vehicles are everywhere.
The rise in fatal car accidents in Metro Atlanta is being driven by a few major factors:
Distracted Driving
Cell phone use while driving remains one of the leading causes of serious car accidents in Georgia. Texting. Social media. Navigation apps. Even quick glances take eyes off the road long enough to destroy lives.
Georgia has a Hands Free Law, but enforcement does not eliminate behavior. We routinely see crash reports where a driver admits they looked down “just for a second.”
A second is all it takes.
Big Rigs and Commercial Truck Accidents
We are seeing more cases involving:
• 18 wheelers
• Delivery trucks
• Amazon and FedEx vans
• Construction vehicles
• Landscaping and work trucks
Commercial truck accidents in Georgia are often catastrophic. The weight difference alone creates devastating impact forces. When distracted driving meets an 80,000 pound tractor trailer, the outcome is rarely minor.
Our firm has handled serious truck accident cases where families were left dealing with spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death claims.
These are not fender benders. These are life altering events.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Fatalities in Atlanta
One hundred thirty eight pedestrians and cyclists were killed.
That number should stop everyone in their tracks.
Many of these incidents happen in crosswalks, near intersections, and in suburban areas where drivers are not expecting foot traffic.
We have represented clients who were simply walking across the street in their own neighborhoods. We have seen cyclists struck from behind by drivers who never braked.
The pattern is almost always the same.
The driver says, “I did not see them.”
But visibility is not the issue. Attention is.
Most of These Deaths Were Preventable
This is the part that matters most.
The overwhelming majority of fatal car accidents in Metro Atlanta are not caused by weather. Not by vehicle malfunction. Not by unavoidable circumstances.
They are caused by choices.
Looking at a phone.
Speeding through a yellow light.
Running a red light.
Failing to yield.
Driving too fast in heavy traffic.
We recently handled a case where a client was blamed for causing a crash and even received a ticket. After we tracked down traffic camera footage, it showed the other driver ran the red light.
Video evidence does not lie.
The truth is often there. It just has to be uncovered.
That is why we move quickly to preserve dash cam footage, traffic camera video, vehicle data, and witness statements. Evidence disappears fast.
Real World Impact on Families in North Georgia
Behind every number is a story.
A teenage driver on the way home from school.
A father commuting down I 575.
A mother walking through a crosswalk near downtown Canton.
We have represented families who came to us overwhelmed after a serious crash involving their teenage son. They were trying to navigate totaled vehicles, emergency room visits, and mounting medical bills.
From day one, our mission was simple. Lift the burden.
We secured funds for the totaled vehicle. We coordinated medical care. We built a case that covered medical expenses and out of pocket costs.
But what mattered most was making sure their son felt cared for, not like a claim number.
That is the difference between a marketing firm and a law firm.
What To Do After a Serious Car or Truck Accident in Georgia
If you are injured in a car accident in Atlanta, Canton, Gainesville, or anywhere in North Georgia, here are critical steps:
Call 911 and get a police report.
Seek medical attention immediately.
Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company before speaking to a lawyer.
Preserve photos, video, and dash cam footage.
Contact an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer.
Insurance companies move quickly to protect their side.
So do we.
We understand how to analyze crash reports, preserve digital evidence, and work with accident reconstruction experts. We have taken depositions of orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and trauma specialists. We know how to connect the medical story to the legal story.
That matters when your future is on the line.
The Hard Truth About Driving in Metro Atlanta
Four hundred twenty five deaths.
More than homicide.
That should wake every driver up.
Put the phone down.
Slow down.
Pay attention.
If you drive a commercial vehicle, understand the responsibility you carry. If you drive a passenger vehicle, understand that your decisions affect everyone around you.
Someone’s family is counting on you to make it home.
And if the unthinkable happens, know this.
Hasty Pope Injury Law has been fighting for injured families in Canton, Gainesville, and across North Georgia for more than 25 years. We have extensive trial experience. We are willing to go to court. We understand the medicine behind serious injuries. And we treat our clients like people, not files.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident, truck accident, pedestrian accident, or wrongful death case in Georgia, contact our office for a free consultation.
The statistics are rising.
But so is our commitment to holding negligent drivers accountable.
Let’s make the roads safer. And let’s protect the families who call North Georgia home.