New Streetcars Involved in Seven Accidents This Year

If you’ve been going through downtown Atlanta lately, you may have noticed the new streetcars. They’ve been in operation since December, but their accident record has not been very good. Seven accidents have happened involving the new vehicles since the program began.

Streetcar managers say that this isn’t unusual for a new system, though city council members aren’t so sure. The managers say that streetcars haven’t ran in Atlanta for over 60 years. It is going to take time for motorists to get used to the new vehicles. However, the council questioned the managers about whether or not all the safety markings were in place before the streetcars began to operate. The managers say that all the markings are in place now.

Any change in street markings, to say nothing of having a new type of vehicle sharing the road, puts drivers at risk until they learn the new route. Anyone who has driven in downtown Atlanta knows that it’s a maze of one-way streets, lanes that end, and all manner of confusion. There’s little that can be done about it considering how highly developed and old that section of town is.

There have been occasions where confusing road markers have been used as a defense in personal injury cases, especially ones that are filed against a local government. Normally those kinds of cases are filed for bad infrastructure, like a large pothole or a bump throwing a car off track. However, if you feel that a confusing road sign did contribute to your case, speak with a personal injury lawyer like the ones at John Foy & Associates. We can help.