A well-known local rapper named Shawty Lo died in a fatal mid-September accident on Interstate 285 in southern Fulton County.

According to police reports, the recording artist was a passenger in a vehicle on a southbound ramp. The driver of the car reportedly lost control, leaving the road and crashing into a tree. This caused the vehicle to flip over and catch fire. Two others in the car at the time were taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Understanding single-vehicle crashes

While we often think of auto accidents being collisions between two or more vehicles, single-car crashes are also quite common. The following are some of the most common driver error-related causes of these types of accidents:

• Distracted driving: Drivers today have myriad distractions available to them, including smartphones, food and other passengers. All motorists have a responsibility to keep their eyes on the road at all times — and they should never text or browse the Internet on their phones while behind the wheel.
• Intoxicated driving: Individuals who have consumed drugs or had too much to drink should avoid operating a motor vehicle at all costs. Drugged or drunk drivers have slowed reaction times and may not be able to respond quickly enough to hazards out on the road.
• Reckless driving: Drivers also have a responsibility to operate their vehicle safely, and should avoid speeding, weaving in and out of traffic or engaging in other dangerous behaviors.

If you or someone close to you has been seriously injured or killed in a car accident and you believe negligence played a role, meet with a knowledgeable Atlanta personal injury attorney at McMenamy Law LLC.