Georgia Personal Injury Blog

New CPSC Annual Report Reveals Startling Data on Fireworks

By Grant Law Office on July 2, 2013

On June 26, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued its annual report on fireworks injuries and deaths at the National Mall. The data contained within the report was troubling, to say the least.

In 2012, six men were killed by firework devices, both legal and illegal. Around 8,700 suffered fireworks-related injuries; more than 5,000 of those injuries occurred between June 22, 2012 and July 22, 2012. In other words, the injuries that occurred during the 30 days surrounding Independence Day constituted 60 percent of the year’s total.

CPSC investigations into these incidents revealed that many of these injuries occurred due to malfunctioning fireworks or improper use. Most victims sustained only minor injuries and recovered fully or were expected to in a short time; however, there were several reports of victims sustaining more serious, long-term injuries.Read more…

Georgia DOT Plans to Improve Mike Padgett Highway

By Grant Law Office on June 28, 2013

It took several accidents along Mike Padgett Highway to encourage the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to make significant improvements and enhance traffic safety. According to a WJBF news report, the most recent accident that occurred on Mike Padgett Highway happened in Augusta on June 19, 2013. In that accident, officials say a vehicle rolled over after a truck swerved to avoid striking another vehicle. That accident left four people injured and hospitalized.

Many nearby residents and drivers have stated their concerns about the safety of this busy roadway, and the Georgia DOT has taken notice. The $25-million dollar construction plan includes the installation of concrete medians from Bennock Mill Road to Old Waynesboro Road.Read more…

Cherokee County Accident Leaves Four Injured

By Grant Law Office on June 17, 2013

Four people were injured in a recent Cherokee County car accident involving a Mini Cooper, a pickup truck that was pulling a trailer, a Ford F-150, and a Volvo. According to a CBS Atlanta news report, the car crash occurred at Cherokee Drive and Holly Springs Road. Officials say the 30-year-old driver of the Mini Cooper entered the intersection as the pickup was making a left turn. The female driver of the Mini Cooper swerved around the trailer, crossed into the opposite lane, and struck the Ford F-150. The Volvo behind the F-150 was also affected. The driver of the Mini Cooper was the most seriously hurt of the four injured victims. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Intersection accidents are common in Georgia, and they often result in devastating injuries. It is important whenever an intersection accident occurs to determine who had the right-of-way and if anyone failed to obey a traffic control device. Many of the most serious injury accidents at intersections involve drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way when turning left.Read more…

EMTs and Patient Killed in Georgia Ambulance Crash

By Grant Law Office on June 14, 2013

A 65-year-old patient and two emergency medical technicians were killed in a Georgia car accident involving a collision between their ambulance and a semitrailer. According to a news report in The Associated Press, the fatal truck accident occurred on state Highway 32 near the town of Ocilla in South Georgia. Officials say the ambulance had its lights and sirens on when a semi jackknifed across the centerline. The ambulance struck the left side of the semi and the driver, patient, and other medical technician were killed. It is unclear what caused the truck to jackknife.

Jackknifing is when a trailer pushes on a tractor from behind and rotates at an acute angle, like a folding pocketknife. Jackknifing is extremely dangerous for a number of reasons. Smaller vehicles can get crushed by the swinging trailer, and the momentum of the truck may force it into other vehicles as the truck driver struggles to bring it to a halt. Jackknife accidents can even prove dangerous after the truck has stopped because the positioning of the trailer will likely impair further motion of the truck. This means that the large tractor-trailer will be sitting in traffic as a giant hazard for approaching vehicles.Read more…

Study Shows Malpractice Payouts Account for Small Portion of Healthcare Costs

By Grant Law Office on June 10, 2013

The idea that medical malpractice claims are a major reason why healthcare costs are so high is a popular talking point. A recent study by the National Practitioner Data Bank, however, showed that large medical malpractice payouts by doctors only account for a fraction of national healthcare expenditures. According to the report published in The Journal for Healthcare Quality, the $1.4 billion a year spent on high payouts only accounts for .05 percent of healthcare costs.

As reported by Reuters, up to $60 billion in costs annually come from unnecessary procedures and tests. This is a considerably larger amount than the cost of medical malpractice lawsuit payouts.Read more…

Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Offers Five Important Swimming Pool Safety Tips

By Grant Law Office on June 6, 2013

Now that summer is upon us, it is important to review swimming pool safety tips. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day. Approximately two of those victims are aged 14 or younger. For every child who drowns, another five require emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.

Not all drowning incidents can be prevented, but a number of these tragic accidents are entirely avoidable. Here are five important swimming pool safety tips to remember:Read more…

Atlanta Car Crash Proves Fatal

By Grant Law Office on June 4, 2013

A 68-year-old man was killed in an Atlanta car accident when a flatbed tow truck struck the vehicle in which he was a passenger. According to a news report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fatal truck accident occurred at the intersection of Marietta Street and Northside Drive in northwest Atlanta. Officials say the collision occurred at an intersection, but they have not provided information regarding who was responsible for the accident. The fatally injured Chattanooga man was sitting in the front seat of the sedan. The driver of the sedan and three juveniles in the backseat were transported to a nearby hospital. The tow truck driver was not injured.

Intersections are some of the most common locations for serious injury accidents. Common causes of Atlanta intersection accidents include:Read more…

Family of Fatally Injured Victim Demands Justice

By Grant Law Office on May 27, 2013

Two months ago, a 24-year-old man with a history of reckless driving was determined to have been responsible for the death of a 70-year-old woman. According to a My Fox Atlanta news report, the driver who officials said was at fault has still not been arrested for the fatal crash, and the victim’s family is pleading for justice. Officials say the woman was fatally injured on State Route 101 in Carroll County when the driver of a pickup clipped another truck, went airborne, and landed on top of the victim’s vehicle on the other side of the road.

The victim’s family is still left wondering as to why the at-fault driver, who has been previously arrested or cited for reckless driving and speeding about a dozen times, has not been arrested yet in connection with their loved one’s death. According to the Fox 5 news report, if the driver is charged, it will be for a misdemeanor vehicular homicide count because he was not impaired at the time of the crash.Read more…

Georgia Personal Injury Attorney Offers Tips to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

By Grant Law Office on May 22, 2013

Motorcycle riding can be as exhilarating as it is dangerous. If you choose to ride in Georgia, it is crucial that you exercise caution at all times. Remember to ride at speeds relative to the roadway conditions and to exercise safe riding habits.

Here are a few tips about how you can prevent a serious injury motorcycle accident:

• Read your owner’s manual. It is important to have a basic understanding of how your motorcycle works and what type of maintenance it may need.
• Perform an inspection. Before hitting the roadway, check the tires, cables, lights, horn, mirrors, oil, fuel, coolant, and brakes.Read more…

Driver Killed in I-75 Semi-Truck Collision

By Grant Law Office on May 13, 2013

A driver was killed and another was injured in a Georgia big rig accident involving a collision of two semi-tractor trailers. According to a report by The Associated Press, the fatal truck accident occurred on I-75 about 17 miles north of Valdosta in Cecil. The Valdosta Daily Times reports that the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officials suspect that either the rear truck was going too fast or that the front truck was going too slow. The driver of the rear truck was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and the driver of the front semi was hospitalized.

Because of the size and weight of trucks, the injured victims of truck accidents are typically occupants of smaller passenger vehicles. It is possible, however, for truck drivers to suffer serious or fatal injuries as well. A wrongful death suit against the at-fault driver or trucking firm may help provide the support needed for funeral expenses, lost future wages, loss of companionship, and other related damages. In many cases, it is advisable for the family of someone killed while working to pursue compensation through multiple avenues.Read more…