Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

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…

Sometimes obeying traffic laws seems to interfere with what a driver thinks needs to be done. There are days when one is late for work and it feels like every light in Georgia is turning red just as the individual approaches it. Other days, one is in a hurry to get home or to a meeting and the stop sign just seems to be pointless. While there are times when some traffic laws may appear to get in the way, fatal accidents can occur when they are not heeded. Recently, two individuals were killed and another critically injured when one of the individuals failed to stop at a stop sign. According to authorities, one of the drivers was traveling west toward an intersection and appears to have legally proceeded to cross through it. Another driver was traveling south toward the same intersection. However, this driver apparently did not stop as required by the…

Many people don't like traveling next to a tractor-trailer on the interstate. Because of the size of the truck and the weight of some of the loads, other vehicles rarely stand a chance of getting away unscathed in a truck accident. A 55-year-old woman was injured in a truck accident on a part of I-75 that runs through central Georgia. A report stated the truck was attempting to enter the interstate from an on-ramp when part of the oversized equipment it was carrying hit the bridge that spanned the interstate at that exit. Some of the bridge fragments fell to the pavement and hit the car that was behind the truck. The woman was injured, taken to an area hospital for treatment and was released after doctors determined her condition was stable. The driver of the truck was not injured. Although details were not given, he was issued a citation by the state's…

Motorcycle drivers love riding their bikes, as it affords a feeling of freedom on the road other drivers may not understand. However, riding a motorcycle can be hazardous, mainly due to those other drivers. A motorcycle accident may happen when car and truck drivers are not vigilant, not noticing a biker who may be in their path. Charges have been brought against a 21-year-old Georgia woman after she caused a deadly motorcycle accident. An 18-year-old high school student was riding his bike when the woman's car hit him. She was making a left-hand turn and did not yield to the oncoming motorcycle. He was transported to an area hospital after being thrown from his bike and died not long after his arrival. The woman was not arrested at the time of the accident but just recently turned herself in. She was charged with vehicular homicide and failure to yield. At the time…

Those who choose to drink alcohol and then drive are a danger to themselves and others. So many families are left to pick up the pieces after a loved one is seriously hurt or killed as a result of drunk driving. One Georgia family is grieving after the loss of a 2-year-old boy in a drunk driving accident. At approximately 11 p.m., an SUV was stopped at an intersection and waiting for a green light when a pickup truck hit the back end of the vehicle. The little boy, who had been strapped in his car seat in the back seat of the SUV, died after being rushed to an area hospital. His father had been in the driver's seat and was treated for numerous broken bones. A report on the incident only stated his mother, who had been riding in the front passenger seat, was close to giving birth to a second child, but…