Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

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,…

On most days, news of a proposed rule being published in the Federal Register, the legal newspaper run by the National Archives and Records Administration, would fail to generate any real coverage or discussion. That's because most proposed rules, while important, are nevertheless written in an arcane style and/or cover an area of little interest to the general public. Of course, there are always exceptions. For example, consider that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published two proposed rules earlier this week that, if adopted, would change the landscape of the trucking industry in the U.S. Commercial Learner's Permits The first proposed rule calls for states to be granted the authority to issue commercial learner's permits for up to 12 months with the option to renew for an additional six months. This would be a departure from the current rule, which sets the limit for issuing CLPs at six months. According to…

Statistics from the Federal Communications Commission reveal that as many as eight people lose their lives and over 1,000 more suffer injuries in distracted driving-related crashes here in the U.S. every day. As if this wasn't dismaying enough, the FCC has also determined that as many as 660,000 people are using their smartphones or other electronic devices while driving at any given daylight moment across the nation. Faced with sobering figures like these, it's easy to doubt whether anything can be done by lawmakers to address this epidemic. Indeed, texting while driving is already prohibited in 46 states (including Georgia), while 14 others also ban the use of handheld devices behind the wheel. Similarly, questions arise as to what, if anything, phone manufacturers can do. Interestingly enough, Apple, maker of the ubiquitous iPhone, recently unveiled what it's calling a new solution to distracted driving at its Worldwide Developers Conference. As part of the forthcoming…

If you think back to the last time you met with a physician, chances are good that the first thing you did when they entered the exam room was shaking their hand. If you have a hard time remembering doing this, it's likely because you did it without thinking, as it's firmly ingrained in our society that handshakes are the customary mode of greeting. Indeed, chances are good that if the physician had declined to shake your hand or instead greeted you with a bow, fist bump, or wave that you would have no problem remembering this departure from the norm. As bizarre as this may sound, it's exactly what a group of California-based physicians and medical professionals did as part of a six-month experiment. Specifically, a UCLA physician conducted a very basic study in which he asked staff members in the neonatal intensive care units at two different hospitals…

At this exact moment, many people throughout Georgia are packing their bags, loading their trunks, and filling up their tanks in preparation for a Memorial Day road trip. Statistics show, however, that they won't be alone in looking to getaway. According to AAA, as many as 39.3 million Americans will be traveling at least 50 miles from Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29, the highest number of travelers in 12 years. Furthermore, AAA is projecting that 88 percent of people will be making their way to their respective destinations by car. Closer to home, AAA is projecting that 1.17 million residents of Georgia will be traveling over Memorial Day with as many as 1.05 million going by car. While rising wages, lower fuel prices, and increased consumer confidence are likely the reasons why so many people are hitting the road, travelers might want to consider a recent study by the personal financial…

Cycling is a great way to be eco-friendly and burn some calories. Georgia recognizes bicycles as vehicles under the law. As a cyclist, you have the same rights to public streets and roads that cars and trucks do. This also means that you must abide by the same traffic laws that motorists do. When you are out on the road, you need to drive defensively and pay attention to the other motorists to prevent accidents. Make sure you know the laws and safety rules for riding bicycles in Georgia: Stay off the sidewalk. Only riders under the age of 12 are allowed to ride on a sidewalk. Motorists must give cyclists a three-foot buffer between their vehicle and the bicycle when passing. Cyclists have the right of way in bike lanes, but not every motorist is aware of this. Make turns carefully. Always signal your intentions and try to catch the…