Horst Shewmaker, a personal injury law firm serving North Fulton County, today addressed the implications of 14 consecutive quarterly declines in national traffic fatalities alongside persistent accident risks facing Georgia drivers as the state enters 2026.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data reveals 27,365 traffic fatalities during the first nine months of 2025, representing a 6.4 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Despite these improvements, Georgia reported 1,466 traffic deaths in 2024, with Fulton County accounting for approximately 9 percent of the state's total fatalities.
The Horst Shewmaker Alpharetta car accident lawyer team notes that while national trends show progress, local accident patterns remain concerning. Georgia Department of Public Safety reported 15 traffic fatalities during the 2025 Christmas holiday counting period alone, with law enforcement making 239 DUI arrests and issuing 489 distracted driving citations.
"While we acknowledge the positive trend of 14 consecutive quarterly declines in traffic fatalities nationwide, accidents continue happening daily on Georgia roads, particularly in high-traffic areas like Fulton County and along corridors such as GA 400," said Zachary S. Shewmaker, partner at Horst Shewmaker. "Each collision creates complex legal questions about liability, insurance coverage, and fair compensation that accident victims must navigate while recovering from injuries. As we enter 2026 with major construction planned for GA 400, understanding legal rights and proper evidence preservation remains more critical than ever."
The $4.6 billion GA 400 Express Lanes project, scheduled for heavy construction beginning mid-2026 through Alpharetta, presents additional concerns for traffic safety. Construction zones historically correlate with increased accident complexity, making legal representation particularly valuable for injury victims.
Georgia's fault-based insurance system requires injured parties to prove liability, a process complicated by insurance companies deploying adjusters immediately after crashes. Evidence preservation in the initial hours and days following collisions proves critical for establishing fault and securing appropriate compensation.
An Alpharetta car accident attorney can help victims navigate both economic damages, including medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and property damage, as well as non-economic damages addressing pain and suffering, emotional distress, and permanent impairment. Georgia's two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits makes timely legal consultation essential.
Speed, impairment, and distraction remain the primary contributing factors in serious crashes throughout Georgia. The 2024 statistics reveal that 20.1 percent of traffic fatality victims were pedestrians, while 62 percent were either unbelted or had unknown belt use, highlighting the ongoing challenges in traffic safety despite national improvements.
Horst Shewmaker has represented injury victims throughout Georgia for over two decades, recovering more than $30 million in damages for clients. The firm handles car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian injuries, bicycle accidents, rideshare incidents, brain injuries, spinal injuries, and wrongful death claims. Operating on a contingency fee basis with no upfront costs, the firm provides 24/7 availability and free case evaluations for accident victims seeking legal guidance.
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For more information about Horst Shewmaker, LLC, contact the company here:
Horst Shewmaker, LLC
Zachary S. Shewmaker
6785627714
info@horstshewmaker.com
10745 Westside Way Suite 165, Alpharetta, GA 30009
