Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

It seems there are a number of people who think the rules of the road do not apply to them. Distracted driving, drug use or alcohol consumption before driving, or otherwise negligent behavior behind the wheel are all causes of fatal accidents on Georgia roadways. A man faces multiple charges after causing one of the state's most recent fatal accidents. The man and a friend were headed south when his 2007 Chevrolet sedan left the road. After hitting some trees, the car went spinning back onto the road and hit another vehicle going north. Rescue personnel found the man injured and his friend dead when they arrived at the scene. There was no mention of any injuries to the occupants of the second vehicle. The man was taken to a local hospital. However, he left the hospital before the admission process was completed. U.S. Marshals located and arrested him on numerous…

Ask most people who have been victims in an accident due to reckless behavior and they will say the effects can last for years to come. Excessive speeding, tailgating, texting while driving and drunk driving are all examples of reckless driving that could cause irreparable damage should they result in an accident. A Georgia man has been sentenced for causing multiple injuries to two people in a drunk driving incident. In May 2017, the man was driving his pickup truck when he hit a sedan with a family of six inside. The mother and one of the children suffered several broken bones as well as other injuries. Testimony during his recent trial indicated the man's blood-alcohol level at the time of the collision was over three times the legal limit of .08 in Georgia. The trial lasted four days and the man was found guilty on six charges against him. He…

The pain of losing a limb is not just physical but psychological, as well. When the limb is lost as a result of an accident due to reckless driving, anger is yet another emotion the injured party has to endure. A Georgia woman is seeking justice in the loss of her left arm from the reckless driving of a police officer. Nearly a year ago, the woman was crossing through an intersection on a green light when a police car slammed into the side of her vehicle. The loss of her arm was only one of her injuries from the collision. She claims neither the blue lights nor the siren on the front of the police vehicle were activated in an effort to warn other drivers of its approach. Police who responded to the scene contradicted the woman's claims, saying both warning signals were on. The proof needed from the dashcam…

Driving after consuming alcoholic beverages is a recipe for disaster. According to some statistics, the number of accidents caused by drunk driving has risen in the past few years. Drunk driving by a Georgia man is said to be the cause of a collision causing injuries to people and death to a beloved pet. A report states a 57-year-old man driving a minivan crossed the center line into the lane of oncoming traffic. He crashed into an SUV headed straight toward him. He and the other driver had to be cut out of their vehicles and, along with the passenger in the SUV, were transported to a nearby hospital. All three were critically injured and a dog belonging to the couple in the SUV died. The incident report by police claimed the minivan contained drugs and alcohol, causing them to arrest the driver on charges of reckless driving, felony serious injury…

Not only do drivers in Georgia have to watch out for the actions of other drivers, but passengers also need to be careful in placing their trust, as well. Drunk driving is unacceptable and any potential passenger should have the courage to either take the keys away from an inebriated driver or find another ride. A passenger recently lost her life in a drunk driving accident. The only information given so far by police about the passenger has been that she was an adult. They state the driver of the car was not able to stay in her lane of traffic when she ran off the road and crashed into a nearby utility pole. The force of the collision caused injuries serious enough to kill the passenger, who was riding in the front seat. The driver was also injured and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her injuries…

Too often do family and friends have to say an earthly farewell to a loved one because another person was negligent while driving. The option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the perpetrator is available in most cases of death due to negligent or reckless behavior. The family of a Georgia couple appears to have grounds to pursue financial damages from a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of a couple. The husband and wife, both 71 years of age, were in their Ford F-150 and were traveling through an intersection when a semitrailer ran a stop sign. The pickup hit the side of the semi, causing the semi to roll on top of the pickup truck. The couple died upon impact. Georgia State Patrol officials have not released details of the accident but state they are still investigating the matter. They indicated that charges will likely be issued to the 30-year-old…

Georgia residents who own dogs know their pets need to be walked on a daily basis. Most set out at a convenient time of day to ensure the dog gets the exercise it needs, never thinking it may end in tragedy. A family lost someone they loved in a wrongful death accident when he was walking his dog. The woman believed responsible apparently left the scene but has been identified by police. The 66-year-old man was in his own yard when a vehicle, suspected to be a silver Infiniti and going too fast for the weather conditions at the time, hit him and his dog. Both the man and the dog were killed instantly. Later in the day and less than a mile away, police found the vehicle they believed to be used in the hit-and-run accident. Police discovered the owner of the vehicle was in jail but used various means,…

The number of bankruptcies that take place in America is alarming. According to the United States Courts, nearly 13 million Americans declared consumer bankruptcy from 2005 to 2017. The fact that so many people cannot pay off their debts is alarming. It is important to understand the reasons why millions of people file for personal bankruptcy. Here are some key causes of consumer bankruptcy in the United States. 1. Credit card debt Debt that accumulates via credit cards can be uncontrollable. The risk of obtaining massive credit debt is higher with creditors who charge significant interest rates. The reasons people build up credit card debt range from irresponsible spending to financial catastrophes. 2. Job loss Losing a job can easily cause someone to declare bankruptcy, especially if he or she does not have an emergency fund to cover living expenses. Sudden job terminations and layoffs can make it difficult to cover food, rent or mortgage,…

A needless death at any age is devastating, but to lose a teenager because of the negligence of another person is indescribable. Many family members who have lost a child, parent, or spouse, as a result, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, in part, to hold the negligent individual responsible for his or her actions. A Georgia family will have the option to file a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of their 17-year-old son. According to information in police reports, a 17-year-old driver was alarming his three passengers as he was driving erratically down the road. He crashed into a tree after losing control of the vehicle. The crash caused flames to erupt, engulfing the entire vehicle. A 911 call was made, but dispatchers had difficulty determining where the vehicle was located. The passenger in the front was killed in the crash, and the other two in the back seat…

The needless loss of life because of the negligence of another person is often devastating to loved ones left behind. Typically, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed against the person deemed responsible for the death, often bringing a measure of comfort to grieving family members. The family of a Georgia woman likely have cause to file a wrongful death lawsuit after a collision killed her and her daughter. The woman, a criminal justice professor at Georgia College, and her 15-year-old daughter were traveling on a two-lane highway when a pickup truck headed toward them crossed over into their lane and hit them head-on. A sheriff's deputy at the scene stated the deaths of the mother and daughter were instantaneous. The driver of the pickup truck survived but was injured. The 38-year-old pickup driver was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for several injuries, including a broken pelvis.…