Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

Georgia motorcyclists have the advantage of many months of warm weather to enjoy riding their bikes. Unfortunately, they also may suffer a disadvantage when they collide with another vehicle. Because a bike rider has little to protect themselves when a motorcycle accident occurs, riders can be seriously injured. Depending on the severity of injuries, lives can be changed forever. Recently, a man and woman riding a motorcycle suffered injuries after the operator attempted to avoid a collision with a car. The 47-year-old man was riding with his female passenger southbound on the road when a car pulled out in front of him. In an attempt to avoid the collision, he apparently slammed on his brakes. The quick reaction resulted in him losing control of his motorcycle. He suffered a serious head injury and was taken to a specialized facility for care. His passenger suffered injuries as well, but they are both…

State police are still in the process of investigating a fatal crash that claimed the life of a college student during the week of July 29. Georgia authorities say the single-car accident that killed the young woman may have been the result of drunk driving. The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash has been subsequently charged. The details of the accident are not widely known at this time, but it has been confirmed that at least two people were in the car at the time of the accident. It appears the driver of the vehicle, who was a friend of the victim, may have been speeding when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed. While the force of the impact killed the victim, the current status of the driver is unknown. Police have reason to believe the driver had been drinking at the time of the accident. She…

There is no disputing just how much of a scourge distracted driving has become on U.S. roads and highways. Indeed, numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that distraction was behind 3,179 crash-related fatalities in 2014 alone and that this dangerous practice actually triples the risk of an accident. While states have taken action to address this issue, with 44 banning texting while driving and a smaller number banning hands-free devices, it's clear that more needs to be done. Interestingly enough, Washington, the first state to implement a texting ban ten years ago, recently saw a new distracted driving law take effect, one that the Governors Highway Safety Association indicated "has the potential to be a game-changer and serve as a model for other states." What does Washington's new distracted driving law do exactly? The new law prohibits non-electronic distractions, such as grooming, eating, having a pet on…

While heading to the local dealership to purchase a new car, truck, or sport utility vehicle is always exciting, it often pales in comparison to the feeling that comes from shopping for a new motorcycle. That's because would-be purchasers know just how freeing and exhilarating it will ultimately be to take their new purchase out on the open road. As thrilling as walking the showroom floor can be, those who are buying a motorcycle for the first time will want to keep some important safety points in mind as they search for the perfect model. Power Thanks to everything from internet ads to movies, many novice riders automatically assume that bigger is better when it comes to engines. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instructs "buy the power you need, but only as much as you can handle safely." Indeed, bikes with more horsepower naturally have bigger engines and, as such,…

A hit-and-run car accident can be a very traumatic experience. What do you do when the person responsible for your incident disappears? Can you do anything? Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to possibly get help for your accident in the case of a hit and run. A claim for a motor vehicle accident is a personal injury case. In short, to prove such cases, you must show that due to the negligent act of the accused party, you suffered certain losses or damages. Thankfully, this can still be proven even if you do not know who the negligent party is. To do this, there are a few steps you need to take. First, you should report the accident by calling the police. Be sure to note everything you can remember and collect information from witnesses, if possible. Once you document the report, you should seek medical…

When a teen secures their driver's license, parents may feel some relief as they are suddenly off the hook for trips to and from school, work, extracurriculars, and other social engagements. However, this relief may prove short-lived, as they suddenly find themselves having to worry about their child's safety out on the roads and highways. Unfortunately, parents are right to be concerned. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that young people between the ages of 16 to 19 present the highest crash risk of any age group. More significantly, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among this demographic. Interestingly enough, the financial website WalletHub recently released a study ranking the best -- and worst -- states for teen drivers. Here, researchers examined 21 key metrics relating to safety, economic environment, and driving laws using both federal and state data. This, in turn, enabled them…

While most of us might not have realized it, a seismic change took place at hospitals around the nation this past weekend. Indeed, the change affects not just patient care, but the experience and education gained by treating physicians. Specifically, as of last Saturday, the nation's roughly 30,000 first-year medical residents, meaning interns who have just graduated from medical school, can now work longer shifts under a new rule. What exactly does this new rule dictate? The new rule changes the number of hours that first-year residents can work in a given shift from a limit of 16 hours to 24 hours. Furthermore, they are also permitted to work an average max of 80 hours per week, meaning they can exceed the 24-hour limit. Why did they change the limit from 16 hours to 24 hours? The issue of the number of hours first-year residents should be permitted to work has…

It may seem hard to believe, but the Fourth of July holiday is nearly here, meaning people across the state will soon be heading to parades, fireworks celebrations, and, of course, backyard barbeques. While the highlight of these gatherings for adults is almost always the food and beverages, this is certainly not the case for children. For them, the best parts are the impromptu games, the visits with friends and, of course, the pools. While this fascination with swimming pools is perhaps not surprising, it's also something of which parents and homeowners need to be aware. In case they need any reminding, they needn't look any further than a recently released report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. According to the CPSC report, while fatal child drownings declined by 17 percent from 2010 to 2014 (the range for which the most complete data is available), there were still an astounding 346…

It is certainly not pleasant to think about, but there are many ways to suffer an injury in a car crash. You could be the victim of an accident caused by a distracted driver, a drunk driver, someone who was speeding, or someone whose car suddenly blew a tire. Your first responsibility will be to yourself: Seek medical help immediately. When your thoughts clear a bit, remember that you will be seeking compensation for any injuries you might have, and the more help you can give to the personal injury attorney you engage, the stronger your case will be. Record Details You must report the accident to the police. While you wait for them to arrive, write down information about how the accident happened. Include details about the crash site, noting the names on street signs or highway signs and other pertinent descriptors. Make notes about the weather conditions and…

When it comes to distracted driving, the numbers tell the story. Indeed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined that 391,000 people were injured by distracted driving while another 3,477 lost their lives to this dangerous conduct in 2015 alone. As if this wasn't discouraging enough, consider also that the NHTSA has found that as many as 660,000 motorists are on their phones at any given time during daylight hours, meaning the risk of being involved in a distracted driving crash is disturbingly high. Unfortunately, this is far from a new phenomenon, as distracted driving accidents caused by cell phones -- particularly texting -- have been taking an astounding toll on our roads and highways for years. In fact, 46 states have now banned all drivers from texting while driving, including Georgia, in an attempt to address this epidemic. Some states are actually poised to take things even further,…