Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

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.…

Impaired driving can cause irreparable and lifelong damage. Those who have lost a family member or friend as a result of drunk driving have a hole in their lives that can never quite be filled. A 73-year-old Georgia woman has been charged with drunk driving and other allegations for a recent interstate accident. According to the state patrol report, the woman stopped her Chevrolet Impala for unknown reasons in the middle of her lane on I-75. A tractor-trailer had been behind her and tried to go around the car but was unable to completely avoid hitting it. The Impala was thrown into a Honda Accord that was parked off the road in the emergency lane, pushing the Honda onto the interstate. The tractor-trailer and the Honda collided, pinning the sedan under the truck. The truck driver and an 8-year-old male passenger in the Honda escaped injury, but the others in…

In Union City, three people lost their lives and four more suffered injuries after a recent crash involving a van and a police car. Purportedly, the officer was in pursuit of a stolen car when the car accident occurred. The collision caused both vehicles to catch fire. The collision occurred on Jonesboro Road on the night of Sunday, Nov. 11. According to the Georgia State Police, the officer started chasing the suspected stolen car on Highway 138. Purportedly, a white work van carrying six occupants then attempted to enter the highway by making a left-hand turn. At this point, the police cruiser collided with the van, knocking it on its side, before both vehicles burst into flames. Although the accident is still under investigation, no details were given in the report as to whether the officer had his emergency lights or siren on as he was pursuing the stolen vehicle. The…

If you sustained an injury or developed a health condition relating to your employment, you may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits under Georgia law. You may be eligible to receive coverage for your medical treatments as well as benefits to help you cover your bills when your injury limits your ability to work. Your employer does not have to be at fault for the injury or the condition. In fact, even a worker whose own actions contributed to the incident may still receive benefits. Job-related injuries The main requirement for coverage is that the injury or health condition stems from your job. For example, an injury may be covered if it occurs in the course of your employment; similarly, a condition should arise from job-related activities. Specifically, this includes injuries that happen while you are working. In Georgia, employment-sponsored activities such as company events or weekend retreats can also count…

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes have become popular in Georgia and elsewhere around the country. Sometimes HOV lanes are designated by a white diamond on the road and other times they are separated roadways that control the direction of traffic with the use of barriers. The barrier controlled lane of I-75 was the site of a head-on crash that is thought to be the result of drunk driving. A driver entered the HOV lane going in the wrong direction at about 6 a.m. one recent morning. The driver, who is believed to have been drunk, crashed through nine barriers driving south into northbound traffic. The southbound driver crashed head-on into a northbound car. Another northbound vehicle rear-ended the car that had been hit head-on. The drivers of the three vehicles involved were transported to local hospitals. Their conditions are unknown. According to police reports, the HOV lane has been open…