Atlanta, Georgia, home to the state capital, is also Georgia’s most populous city with an estimated 2006 population of 486,411 residents according to the US Census Bureau. At Millar & Mixon, LLC, we focus our practice on representing persons seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents in the Atlanta area. The population of Atlanta has grown nearly 17% since the year 2000, with the surrounding metropolitan area experiencing the same rapid growth. Atlanta is located almost entirely in Fulton County, where Atlanta is the county seat, while a small portion of the city extends into DeKalb County. The City of Atlanta encompasses only 132 square miles, but the metro Atlanta area includes 28 counties and encompasses 8,376 square miles.
Atlanta, Georgia is well-known as the center for entertainment in the South. The city boasts fine dining, a vibrant nightlife scene, seven professional sports teams, and a wide range of attractions and events. Long known as a top destination for meetings and conventions, Atlanta is also famous for being the home of the world headquarters of such prestigious corporations such as the Coca-Cola Company, Georgia-Pacific, the Cable News Network (CNN), Delta Air Lines and Turner Broadcasting.
Unlike many other southern cities, the Atlanta skyline is dotted with modern high-rise office towers and hotels clustered in three districts in the city: downtown Atlanta, midtown Atlanta, and Buckhead. Each district has its own distinctive skyline. Downtown Atlanta is the location of the majority of corporate headquarters, city, county, state, and federal government facilities, sporting facilities, and tourist attractions in the city. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides a vast public transportation network for commuters and residents in the downtown Atlanta area, but the majority of commuters arrives and departs by automobile.
Downtown Atlanta is served by the Downtown Connector (75/85). The connector is the overlapped connector of Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 through the heart of Downtown Atlanta. Downtown Atlanta is also served by Interstate 20.
Interstate 285 is the Perimeter Highway around metropolitan Atlanta. Originally intended to allow through traffic to bypass the city, it now is heavily used by local traffic because of suburban growth. Atlanta has been fast growing for quite some time now, and the development has reached far beyond the scope of the Atlanta Beltway. Many corporations have established their presence near beltway interchanges instead of the center city.
According to NAVIGATOR, the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation System, Atlanta-area commuters log more than 100 million vehicle miles traveled every business day. The NAVIGATOR system focuses its traffic cameras, congestion sensors, changeable message signs, ramp meters, and HERO patrols (Highway Emergency Response Operators) on areas that experience the heaviest congestion.
The NAVIGATOR traffic cameras do not record the frequent traffic accidents and traffic infractions on Atlanta’s heavily congested roadways, a fact that surprises many Atlanta residents who make requests for copies of these recordings before appearing at Municipal Court. The Municipal Court in Atlanta hears violations of the city charter, city ordinances, and misdemeanor traffic offenses arising under state law and excluding vehicular homicide cases. The court is located at 150 Garnett Street.
Atlanta residents involved in a car accident, pedestrian accident, motorcycle accident, or bicycle accident involving a Fulton County resident typically have their case heard at the State Court of Fulton County. The car accident lawyers of Millar & Mixon, LLC have helped hundreds of clients throughout the state of Georgia recover what they are owed. The State Court hears all criminal cases below the grade of felony and all civil actions regardless of the amount in controversy. The Magistrate Court of Fulton County, a division of the State Court of Fulton County, hears civil actions involving $15,000 or less in damages. The Fulton County Superior Court, Georgia’s busiest trial court of general jurisdiction, presides over administrative appeals and civil, major criminal and domestic relations cases.
Midtown Atlanta, the city’s second skyline, is just north of downtown Atlanta. Midtown is a major business and residential district, and it is home to Piedmont Park, the Woodruff Arts Center, and the Georgia Tech campus. Buckhead, Atlanta’s third skyline, is several miles north of midtown. Buckhead is a popular business district and nightlife district.
Atlanta has a reputation as being one of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians and bicyclists. According to the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Atlanta has just 30 miles of bicycle lanes and a backlog of broken sidewalks needing repairs. These facts demonstrate why Atlanta has low rates of bicycle commuting and walking places more cars on its notoriously congested streets.
