Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

For a 13-year-old Georgia boy, the mid-June day seemed ordinary. He was helping his family do yard work. The boy was edging the sidewalk, removing grass and weeds close to the pavement where a mower may not be able to reach. An unexpected tragedy turned this uneventful day into a wrongful death case in the blink of an eye. Seemingly out of nowhere, an SUV came speeding around the corner, and the driver failed to properly negotiate the turn. She struck both the boy and his father and did not even stop. As she drove away, the father, who suffered a serious leg injury, did his best to help his son, but the boy's injuries were severe, and being badly injured himself, there was little he could do. The injured father and son were taken to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment, and while the father was able to hang on, the…

In any wreck that involves a car and a big rig, the occupants of the passenger vehicle are at risk of suffering catastrophic injuries and possibly even lose their lives. Such was also the outcome of a truck accident in Georgia that claimed the lives of four people in Decatur. The sheer size and weight of a tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or an 18-wheeler, compared to the size and weight of a passenger vehicle explain most outcomes of such collisions. An accident reconstruction team launched an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the crash. According to a preliminary accident report, the accident occurred in a traffic light-controlled intersection shortly before 2:45 a.m. on a recent Monday. Authorities say the car had six occupants, and five were rushed to a hospital. Reportedly, two women and one man, ages 19, 20, and 23, died soon after the accident due to head trauma…

Georgia motorcycle enthusiasts can probably recall a story or two from the period of time in which they were learning to ride. Learning to drive a car is hard enough, but subtracting two wheels and safety features like seat belts and airbags require additional skills, like balance. New technology may level the playing field, making driving a motorcycle almost as simple as driving a car, but will this recent development lead to an increased potential for a motorcycle accident? A major motorcycle manufacturer is touting a gyroscope that will eliminate the need for a rider to balance him or herself on a motorcycle. The part has not yet been mass-produced for resale, but the announcement is already making waves. According to the specifications released by the manufacturer, the device will allow a computer to automatically balance a motorcycle with no skill required by the driver at approximately 3 mph. Though it…

In the wake of recent events, people all over the United States are gathering with other members of their communities to raise awareness and exercise their rights to peacefully protest. Georgia residents have organized in several cities to make their voices heard. People should be aware, however, that if an individual breaks the law during a similar public gathering, he or she can be charged with a crime. Recently, a man was arrested for a drunk driving accident that injured a police officer. Witnesses and investigators say that a police officer was in an intersection, directing traffic in an effort to keep the crowds of people and motorists on the streets safe and organized. Suddenly, a man went speeding through the intersection where the officer was stationed on an ATV. He then turned around and sped back through, striking the traffic officer in the process. The officer was seriously injured, and the…

Summer is creeping up on Georgia, and most residents are surely excited to enjoy some time outside. For motorcycle enthusiasts, the arrival of nice weather is a welcome event. Sadly, in spite of annual national campaigns regarding motorcycle awareness and safety, a driver in another vehicle can cause injury or death to even a seasoned motorcyclist. A recent motorcycle accident made headlines after the victims' personal details became public. According to local news outlets, a young couple on a motorcycle was stopped as they waited for an opportunity to safely make a left turn. Before they could do so, a driver following them in traffic failed to stop in time. She crashed into the motorcycle, sending it headfirst into another motorcycle in the oncoming lane. The driver of the second motorcycle did not suffer serious injuries, and neither did the woman that initially caused the crash, but the couple on the motorcycle…

Whether a motorcycle is driven for necessary transportation or recreation, many enthusiasts insist there is nothing like the thrill of taking a bike on the open road. Though many riders take precautions, like wearing a helmet and obeying traffic laws, riding a motorcycle can be dangerous because a rider is largely exposed in a motorcycle accident. A Georgia resident was recently killed after being struck by another driver. Police say a man driving a large semi-truck was attempting to turn right into a private driveway. Unfortunately, he admits he did not see the man on a motorcycle in the right lane next to him. As he began to execute the turn, his truck pulled directly in front of the motorcycle, and the rider could not avoid a collision. The man on the motorcycle was trapped under the huge truck, and both vehicles wound up in the private drive. The motorcycle rider…

A good Samaritan's attempt to render aid to the victims of a hit-and-run went awry, and at first glance, the story sounds like a tragic scene from a book or movie. An ongoing investigation into two Georgia car wrecks reveals the best and worst of human nature. After narrowly escaping death, a man was killed seconds later. According to witnesses and police, a 23-year-old man was driving a vehicle containing two passengers. They were struck by another vehicle, the driver of which fled the scene. A good Samaritan stopped to help and told the victim and his passengers to get out of their disabled vehicle, which was in the roadway, and to get into hers to safely wait for help. As the victim was making his way into the kind woman's vehicle, another car struck him and one of the vehicles stopped in the road. The 23-year-old man was killed as the…

Occupants of passenger vehicles in Georgia will always be at an increased risk when they share the roadways with big rigs. The sheer size difference increases the risk of catastrophic injuries or fatalities in any truck accident. Road safety is the shared responsibility of operators of all modes of transport, including those on two-wheels like cyclists and motorcycle riders. Safety authorities say drivers of smaller vehicles should consider the unique challenges with which large truck operators must deal. The fact that big rigs could be up to 30 times the size of passenger vehicles makes it more challenging for a driver to maneuver large trucks and buses. Acceleration and braking are particularly dangerous because these large vehicles are slow to accelerate when going uphill and quick to gain speed when they go downhill. The taller the vehicle, the higher its center of gravity, which increases the risk of rolling over. For this…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries follow drowsy driving crashes nationwide each year, including Georgia. The National Sleep Foundation reports that the most likely age group to cause drowsy driving car wrecks are drivers from 18 through 29 years old. The recommended number of sleeping hours per night is seven to nine, which makes parents with children more vulnerable. Drivers are advised to stay engaged by chatting with passengers and selecting lively music to which they can sing along, instead of soothing tunes that could cause drowsiness. However, too much focus on conversations and music could be distracting. Some drivers listen to audiobooks to keep them alert -- a great help when driving alone, and rolling down the window might also prevent drowsiness. Traveling long distances is best done in pairs while taking turns to drive. Lone drivers are advised to pull over where…

There are numerous distractions for a driver while on the road. While the most obvious these days is cellphone usage, passengers, roadside commotion, or even the driver's own thoughts can take focus away from the road. That loss of concentration on driving can lead to a fatal car accident or one with varying degrees of injury. A 33-year-old man from Hall County was recently killed in a mid-morning fatal car accident. The man was headed west in his Ford Focus when a Dodge Ram pickup traveling east crossed over the center lane. The two vehicles collided head-on. When Georgia State Patrol troopers arrived on the scene, they found the driver of the Ford had died from blunt force trauma caused by the impact. The pickup truck had rolled over and landed upside down. The driver was injured and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The state's specialized reconstruction team…