Georgia Truck Accident Lawyers Blog

The Georgia trucking accident lawyers at Finch McCranie wish each of you a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July holiday and urge you to celebrate responsibly and stay safe on the road.

State officials believe that 18 people will not survive the weekend, having been involved in a fatal accident on Georgia roads, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Last year, 15 people died in Georgia car accidents over the Fourth of July holiday.

In all, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety estimates more than 2,000 crashes will injure 1,000 motorists and claim 18 lives between now and Monday.

While not every accident is preventable, there are steps motorists can take to stay safe on the road.

“Most of these crashes aren’t just random events caused by too many cars navigating through too much congestion," said Bob Dallas, director of the GOHS. “Drivers need to pay attention to Georgia State Patrol warnings that alcohol, speed and failure to use safety belts are the primary contributing factors in fatal crashes during the holiday travel periods.”

Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July have been the deadliest holidays on the nation's roads in recent years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nationwide Holiday Traffic Fatalities in 2008:

New Year's: 104

Memorial Day: 370

Fourth of July: 437

Labor Day: 423

Thanksgiving: 439

Christmas: 364

New Year's Eve: 37

Fatal Holiday Traffic Accidents in Georgia in 2008:

New Year's: 7

Memorial Day: 12

Fourth of July: 16

Labor Day: 13

Thanksgiving: 17

Christmas: 25

Atlanta trucking accidents remain a real threat through the holiday weekend. As a major trucking center, many rigs are expected to be on the roads, either attempting to get home to be with family, or starting a long haul after a short break. Millions of motorists will also pass through Atlanta on their way to visit family or while returning South after the long holiday weekend.