Understanding Georgia Motor Vehicle Crash Report Codes
The type of road that you drive on can have a significant effect on whether a car accident occurs and how severe it may be. Depending on the location, it can also determine how quickly you can get help as well. For example, if your accident occurs on a gravel road, it may take more time to get emergency personnel out to your location to help you get medical assistance. That type of delay can not only seriously affect your health, but it can have a profound impact on your amount of damages and injuries as well.
The road composition can also sometimes cause an accident too. It’s much easier to lose control on a dirt or gravel road compared to a blacktop, for example. This type of information may be very valuable for your car accident case.
Road Composition Types Noted on the Crash Report
Many car accidents in the United States occur on blacktop or asphalt roads. This is because most streets in the U.S. today are paved. However, other types of roads see their fair share of accidents as well.
The types of road composition that are noted on the Georgia Motor Vehicle Crash Report include:
- Concrete. Concrete roads aren’t used as often throughout Georgia simply because asphalt or blacktop is much more cost effective. But, concrete generally doesn’t require as much maintenance so you may see concrete roads in smaller communities. Nonetheless, concrete cracks can lead to large fissures in the street that can affect your ability to control your vehicle, especially if you are on a motorcycle or another smaller car.
- Asphalt or Blacktop. Asphalt is actually a mixture of tar and gravel that is compounded down in several layers. It is used to coat a road so that the surface is smooth and level. It does require significant upkeep, however. When the street breaks down because of water or wear and tear, it can be dangerous.
- Tar and Gravel. This type of road is actually very similar to blacktop, but it’s more often used as a sealing treatment instead of as a paving method for an entire street. Newly chip sealed roads will often have loose gravel that can be dangerous, especially if it’s not appropriately marked. When a construction crew fails to put up warnings about the loose gravel, and it leads to an accident, they may have legal liability for your damages and injuries.
- Dirt. Georgia has a variety of dirt roads that have very little maintenance. These roads can be hazardous in periods of heavy rain or when the street hasn’t been updated in some time. Georgia is famous for its red dirt, and there are a few dirt roads that feature this natural wonder. But, today, there are just a few of these roads in more rural areas of each county.
- Gravel. While gravel roads are far less likely to wash out compared to dirt roads, they can still be just as dangerous. Traveling too quickly on gravel, especially while going around curves and making turns, can cause drivers to lose control pretty quickly. Some drivers are also so familiar with dirt and gravel roads that they sometimes forget basic safety measures, like yielding to oncoming cross traffic. Most intersections on gravel or dirt roads aren’t controlled either, which makes each juncture slightly more dangerous.
- Other. If the officer doesn’t know what the road composition is or is unsure, they might mark “Other.” But, there are very few road types that would fall under the “other” category. Sometimes when accidents occur in a parking lot or just outside of a driveway, an officer may mark other just to indicate that the collision actually didn’t occur on a “road.”
Information regarding road composition may seem basic, but it helps paint the picture of what happened to a jury who may be considering your case. For example, someone who frequently travels on gravel or dirt roads may be more familiar with the dangers associated with them. Someone who has never been off the blacktop may have a hard time understanding why a driver should have been driving slower on a gravel road. Being able to give this information to a jury or insurance company helps tell the story of your car accident.
Using Road Composition in Your Car Accident Case
John Foy & Associates will help you use this type of information to your advantage in a car accident case. Let us help you paint the picture to the jury or an insurance company by presenting this valuable information from the vehicle crash report. Fill out the form to your right or call us at 404-400-4000 to get your FREE consultation today.