SUV Crashes into Starbucks and Injures Two People in Georgia
There are many activities that people engage in while drinking their Venti Vanilla Latte at Starbucks including reading the paper, surfing the Internet or discussing foreign affairs. You may have noticed that dodging an SUV is not on the list. However, this is exactly what happened at a Cummings Starbucks when a 66 year old driver pushed on the accelerator instead of the gas causing his SUV to crash through a Starbucks’ front window and into a table where two patrons were enjoying their morning coffee. The women were injured and transported across the street to Northside Hospital-Forsyth.
This incident shows the unpredictable nature of serious Georgia auto accidents. It is safe to assume that the last thing either of these accident victims was worried about was what to do if they were suddenly hit by an SUV. Most people do not expect to be involved in a car accident when they leave their house or place of employment. Unfortunately, auto accidents are by definition unplanned and unpredictable. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing people involved in passenger car accidents, SUV rollover accidents, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents and virtually any kind of accident involving a motor vehicle for over 39 years. Our attorneys know that being prepared for the unexpected can ensure better medical treatment and an easier time obtaining compensation for your injuries. We have provided some basic guidelines that can help you anticipate, prevent and prepare for unexpected auto accidents:
Drive a Safe Vehicle: Many people drive cars that have serious safety issues including vehicles with poor safety and crash ratings or vehicles with serious maintenance issues like bald or old tires, worn out brake pads or broken seat belts. When purchasing a new vehicle, you should consider such issues as crash reliability, safety equipment like side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes or electronic stabilization, roof crush ratings and similar vehicle safety considerations. Especially if you have a used vehicle, make sure tires, seat belts and the like are inspected and well maintained.
Obtain Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Estimates place the number of uninsured motorists as high as 14 percent, with the number growing because of a down economy and high unemployment rates. There are also a substantial number of drivers who carry only minimum liability insurance and that have insufficient coverage to fully pay an accident claim where the driver is involved in an accident causing catastrophic injuries or death. If you have uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance, you are protected because your own insurance may provide the resources to compensate you for you injuries, pain and suffering and loss of income if the insurance coverage of the driver who causes the accident is inadequate.
Carry Medical Card and Insurance Information: If you are seriously injured in a car accident, you may be unable to provide key information about your doctor or health insurance. You should make sure you have an insurance card and medical information, which may help facilitate obtaining prompt treatment. If someone else has authorization to make emergency medical decisions or consent to treatment on your behalf, you should also carry contact information for this person. Bring a Camera/Video Camera: It is always a good idea to have a camera or preferably a video camera with you in your vehicle so that you can collect and preserve valuable evidence if you are involved in a serious car accident. Many smart phones now have the ability to both take pictures and video so that evidence related to damage to the vehicles, physical signs of injury and defective road conditions can be collected.
No amount of preparation can completely eliminate the stress and headaches that come with an auto accident. However, the more prepared you are the easier your life will be when the unexpected happens. If you are the victim of a Georgia car accident and suffer serious injuries or a loved one suffers wrongful death, Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, can represent you and help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Our experienced Georgia pedestrian auto accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat. We are dedicated to providing exceptional service and to our goal of being the best auto accident attorneys in Georgia.