Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

As much as we would like to believe that people are now more prone to rethinking their decision to get behind the wheel after a night spent imbibing, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that drunk driving is still the single biggest cause of deadly motor vehicle accidents, accounting for over 10,000 fatalities per year. In light of figures like these, questions naturally arise as to just how effective ride sharing services like the omnipresent Uber have been in reducing fatal drunk driving accidents. Indeed, the company, which markets itself as an on-call designated driver, frequently cites research showing that the ride sharing model reduces both DUIs and fatal drunk driving accidents. Interestingly enough, a recently published study in the American Journal of Epidemiology has called these claims about the efficacy of the ride sharing model in reducing drunk driving accidents into question. As part of the study, researchers…

As hard as it may be to believe, the 2016 football season is officially here, with players at all levels -- from youth and high school to college and professional -- putting on their pads and heading back to the field. If you don't believe it, consider that the Atlanta Falcons officially opened training camp earlier this week, while the Georgia Bulldogs first game is just over a month away. It's important to understand, however, that just as the football season is heating up, so too is the weather, as heat indices, meaning the combination of heat and humidity, in many areas of the country -- including here in Georgia -- are now routinely in the upper 90s or even the 100s. While this type of heat can be incredibly dangerous and even deadly for anyone exerting themselves outside, it is perhaps even more so for football players given their…

Thanks to the tireless efforts of scientists, engineers and software developers, many of the vehicles on the roads and highways are now equipped with safety technology that would have been unheard of a decade ago. Indeed, there's now technology to stop rear-end collisions, prevent lane departures and even assume complete control of the driving experience. As fascinating and encouraging as this has been, there are a few areas in which real safety solutions are still lacking, including drowsy driving. Interestingly enough, however, we may be on the precipice of seeing this dangerous driving condition rectified by safety technology currently being deployed in a somewhat unlikely industry. What exactly is this industry and what technology are they using?   Caterpillar Safety Services, a subsidiary of the Illinois-based construction giant, has outfitted 5,000 vehicles around the world involved in mining operations with facial recognition software and equipment designed by the tech company Seeing Machines.…

From traffic jams and road construction to inattentive pedestrians and inconsiderate motorists, there's no question that driving can sometimes prove to be a harrowing, if not slightly maddening, experience. While many of us are able to manage our frustration and anger while behind the wheel, a recently released study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that a surprisingly large number of motorists are now failing to keep their emotions at bay. Indeed, close to 80 percent of drivers surveyed confessed to expressing anger, aggression, or some other form of road rage over the course of the last year, while close to eight million confessed to taking their anger to another level by exiting their vehicle to confront another motorist or, perhaps unbelievably, purposely ramming another vehicle. Some of the more noteworthy findings of the study included: 51 percent of drivers confessed to purposefully tailgating 24 percent of drivers confessed…

Experienced Georgia personal injury attorneys know what to look for when a negligent driver causes an accident. Usually, the laws that are broken that cause accidents are common, such as speeding or illegal turns. However, Georgia police have said that many accidents happen because people break laws they don't even know exist. Whether you live in central Georgia or were just passing through, if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Georgia, make sure your personal injury lawyer investigates beyond the usual laws. Going the speed limit in the fast lane. You may think it's common knowledge that the left lane on the highway, interstate, or expressway is designated as the passing lane. But some people get comfortable in the left lane and linger in it, despite the cars speeding up on their bumper. It turns out you can get pulled over in the fast lane even if…

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is headquartered right here in Georgia, releases a report about a "serious public health issue," most people immediately take notice. That's because our national public health institute is recognized throughout the world as the preeminent authority on epidemiological issues. Interestingly enough, however, the "serious public health issue" identified in the aforementioned report has nothing to do with the spread or control of communicable diseases, but rather the staggering rate of fatal car accidents here in the U.S. What did the CDC report find? The CDC report, published in its monthly online publication Vital Signs, found that the U.S. has the highest number of fatal car accidents per year among 19 first-world nations, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan, and Germany. Indeed, it found that in 2013 alone, over 32,000 people lost their lives on roads and highways here in the U.S., which…

Despite the warnings, signs and education, many passenger vehicle drivers still do not pay attention to motorcyclists. Even though motorcyclists adhere to the same laws and have the same rights as other drivers, they are still one of the most overlooked travelers on the road. Unfortunately, even one moment of inattention can lead to a catastrophic accident and the loss of life. And, this threat is as great for motorcyclists as it is for pedestrians. Fortunately, there is a way for these victims of inattention and negligence to receive the financial relief they deserve after an accident. Motorcyclists are especially susceptible to accident due to a driver's failure to yield. These negligent acts, even at lower speeds, can produce enough of an impact on a motorcyclist's body to cause serious, life threatening injuries. Failure to yield is a crime, but when it results in injury or death to a motorcyclist it becomes…

Commercial vehicles pose a very serious threat to passenger cars traveling alongside them. Not only are they larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, they can travel just as fast as everyone else. Certainly these factors make commercial vehicles a danger, but there are several other factors that should be considered when making the decision to drive alongside them. By definition, a commercial vehicle is any vehicle used for carrying people or goods for a fee. Yes, this may include tractor trailer semi-trucks, but it also includes dump trucks, tanker trucks and delivery vehicles. Each one of these vehicles is dangerous in their own way. However, the level of risk these trucks pose to other drivers may be specific to their body type and contents. The run of the mill semi-truck, also known as a tractor-trailer, is one of the most commonly seen commercial vehicles on the highway. These trucks are mainly dangerous…

A good portion of our nation's infrastructure relies heavily on the long hours spent by highway workers repairing and maintaining our roadways. Here in Georgia, with our many busy highways, much of this maintenance and repair must be done during the late evening and early morning hours. While these hours are typically quiet on the highway, late night bar patrons and other partygoers may make up a good portion of the traffic. Ideally, each late-night commute is made by a completely sober and wide-awake driver. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. And, many vehicles speeding past road workers may actually be driven by a drunk driver. According to the CDC, roughly one-third of all traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. in 2014 were caused by drunk drivers. That is almost 10,000 people that lost their lives in alcohol-related car accidents. While it may not be known how many of those fatalities were…

It's a dubious distinction but one that anyone driving through the State of Georgia should be aware of. Two of our metropolitan areas recently made the list of America's most dangerous cities, based on national auto insurance claims statistics. Number seven on the list, Atlanta, probably won't surprise too many people. As a southeast regional hub, millions of cars drive on the interstates, highways, and roads through the area every day. The other city, though, might surprise you. That other city Anyone who drives regularly through southeastern Georgia won't be too surprised to learn that Augusta comes in at number 19 on the list of 20 most dangerous cities for drivers. In fact, eight of the top 20 on the list are in cities in the Southeast region of the U.S., making our region the most dangerous. How were the statistics compiled? The statistics were compiled across several different categories:…