Georgia Personal Injury Blog
The Serious Consequences of Texting while Driving
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in the year 2010. Drivers are considered distracted when they take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, or their mind off the task at hand. Examples of distracted driving include fiddling with the radio, talking to a passenger, or talking on a handheld cell phone. One of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving involves sending and reading texts.
In March of 2010, AT&T launched a campaign regarding the dangers of texting while driving. The short documentary film they released as part of the campaign contained many examples of lives that were lost and families that were broken apart because a driver chose to text and drive. The video contains footage of a bus driver rear-ending stopped traffic while sending a text, a teenager struggling with depression after killing a bicyclist while texting, and a family celebrating the birthday of a teenager killed while reading a text.Read more…
Motorcyclist Hurt in Cherokee County Crash
A 22-year-old Canton woman was injured in a Georgia traffic accident when a truck struck her motorcycle. According to a CBS Atlanta news report, the motorcycle crash occurred on GA 140 at Hickory Nut Drive in Cherokee County. Officials say a 62-year-old man was driving a Chevrolet S10 truck that struck the motorcycle and ran the female rider over. She sustained serious injuries in the crash. The truck driver remained at the scene and was not cited for the crash.
Georgia motorcycle accidents often result in serious or fatal injuries. In the year 2008, 12 percent of the people killed in Georgia traffic accidents were motorcyclists. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), the 177 people killed in Georgia motorcycle accidents in the year 2008 reflects the highest highway motorcycle fatality count in 15 years. GOHS also reports that nearly a third of all fatal motorcycle crashes between the years 2004 and 2008 occurred in Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb, and Chatham counties.Read more…
Bar May Share Responsibility for Fatal Atlanta DUI Crash
Determining liability following a fatal Atlanta car accident can be a complicated process. According to a news report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the survivor of a wrong- way accident is attempting to hold a bar accountable for the crash. The fatal car crash that resulted in two fatalities occurred on Ga. 400 near the Lenox Road exit during the early morning hours on August 15, 2012. The lawsuit says that the security personnel at the bar could have done more to prevent the drunk driver from driving. According to the report, club security did take the driver’s keys and gave them to an acquaintance. The drunk driver took over the wheel shortly after they drove away.
Under Georgia law, it is possible to sue a bar that serves noticeably intoxicated individuals whom the bar staff knows will attempt to drive home. It can be difficult to prove, however, that the bar staff knew that the person was impaired and knew the person intended to drive. There are several questions that must be answered. Was it obvious that the person was intoxicated? How much alcohol was the individual served? Could the bar staff have known which individual in the party was the driver?Read more…
Several People Hurt after Car Crashes into Restaurant in Milton
Three people were hospitalized following a Georgia car accident involving a vehicle crashing into a restaurant. According to a news report in The Alpharetta Patch, the car crash occurred at the Express Wings & More restaurant on Windward Parkway in Milton. Officials say the 47-year-old female driver hit the accelerator instead of the brakes while parking and crashed into the building. No patrons were inside at the time of the crash, but two employees were injured. The driver complained of injuries, and one employee sustained minor injuries while another suffered serious leg injuries. No charges have been filed yet.
Anytime a vehicle crashes into a building, there are a number of questions that must be asked. Was the driver distracted or driving under the influence of drugs of alcohol? Did speed contribute to the crash? Did the driver suffer from a medical condition? Was the crash the result of a mechanical malfunction at the time of the crash?Read more…
Seeking Compensation for Atlanta Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is a term that is commonly used to describe a number of different neck injuries. Victims of Georgia car accidents who suffer from soft tissue cervical hyperextension injuries, cervical strains, or sprains are said to be suffering from a whiplash injury. These types of injuries typically result from auto accidents where the vehicle occupant’s head is whipped back and forth, or is jerked or twisted, in a sudden motion.
Whiplash injuries can occur even in low-speed collisions. For example, even a fender bender is sufficient to cause a whiplash injury. Victims may only feel a slight tightness at first, or they may experience severe neck pain. In either case, it is important to see a doctor right away. Symptoms from whiplash injuries can manifest immediately or they can develop over several days.Read more…
Georgia Traffic Accidents Caused by Speeding
Speeding is when a driver either travels faster than the posted speed limit or faster than is reasonably safe given the roadway and traffic conditions. Motorists who are speeding will have less time to avoid an accident and they have an increased chance of causing serious injuries in the event of a collision. Many serious injury car accidents in Georgia involve at least one motorist who is traveling at an excessive rate of speed.
Under Georgia Code 40-6-181: “The limits specified in this Code section or established as authorized in this article shall be the maximum lawful vehicle speeds, except when a special hazard exists that requires a lower speed.” For example, the speed limit in urban or residential districts and unpaved county roads is 35 miles per hour unless designated otherwise. Highway speed limits in Georgia are either 65 miles per hour or 75 miles per hour depending on whether the highway is inside or outside an urban area with a population of 50,000 or more.Read more…
Tips to Deal with Insurance Companies after an Atlanta Car Accident
It is easy to believe that an insurance company has your best interest at heart. The truth is, insurance companies are powerful corporations that look out for their own best interests and their bottom line. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize the value of a claim so the company will not have to pay as much. Victims of Atlanta car accidents should use caution when dealing with an insurance adjuster.
Remember that a Georgia insurance company will look for weaknesses in your claim. They will want to prove that you were not injured or that you were responsible for the crash. When you speak with an insurance provider, do not allow him or her to record your conversation. Refer to your notes so that you stay consistent and to the point. Do not elaborate on the crash more than you have to. You never know how they will attempt to twist your words.Read more…
Motorcyclist Killed in Cobb County Traffic Accident
A 30-year-old man was killed and a 12-year-old boy was injured in a Georgia car accident involving a collision between a 2005 Honda CBR 600 motorcycle and a 2007 Toyota Sienna LE minivan. According to a news report in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred at Pawnee Drive and Shawnee Lane in Marietta. Officials say the 30-year-old female driver of the minivan made a left turn into the path of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist was killed and his 12-year-old passenger suffered what appears to be a non-life-threatening injury. The driver of the Toyota has not been cited for the crash, but the investigation is ongoing.
According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GHSA), 177 people were killed in Georgia motorcycle accidents in the year 2008. That number reflects a steady increase from the 163 fatalities suffered in 2007, the 154 fatal injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents in the year 2006, and the 144 motorcycle accident fatalities in 2005. Additionally, 5,051 registered motorcyclists were involved in accidents in the year 2008, resulting in 3,471 injuries.Read more…
Proving Fault and Liability in Georgia Car Accident Cases
Determining who was at fault for a Georgia car accident is an important part of the claim process. Drivers whose act of careless or reckless behavior resulted in an injury accident may be held accountable for the damages they have caused. Determining fault and liability is not, however, always clear-cut.
After an auto accident, it is important to ask if any traffic laws were violated by any of the parties. Proving fault for an accident is made relatively easier when the at-fault driver is cited for speeding, running a red light, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Read more…
Compensation for Georgia Bus Crash Injuries
Riding a bus is typically a safe way to travel in Georgia. The size and weight of buses, however, makes them more prone to causing serious damage to other vehicles and very often when a bus crash occurs, we find that many passengers are seriously injured or even killed as a result of the traumatic injuries they suffer. Buses do not have airbags for passengers, and they rarely even have seatbelts. Therefore, bus passengers can be thrown about in the event of a collision resulting in severe injuries.
Under Georgia law, an act of negligence is sufficient to establish liability. This means that a bus driver who negligently causes an accident, and the bus company that hired the driver, are legally responsible for the injuries suffered by bus passengers. In fact, common carriers in Georgia have a statutory duty to exercise extraordinary diligence in caring for and protecting the people they transport.Read more…
Contact us today for a free and comprehensive case evaluation.
We require no legal retainer or upfront fees,
and you pay nothing unless we prevail.
Phone: (404) 995-3955
Categories
- ATV Accident
- Auto Accidents
- Bicycle Accident
- Birth Injury
- Burn Injury
- Bus Accident
- Child Injury
- Construction Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Firm News
- Hit-and-Run Accident
- Holiday Events
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Legal Updates
- Medical Malpractice
- Mesothelioma
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Truck Accidents
- Wayne Grant Education
- Wrongful Death
