Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog

On February 1, 2020, two people were killed in a multivehicle accident on an Atlanta-area interstate. The crash involved a tractor-trailer, and it sparked a large fire that produced flames rising 30 feet high. The fire spread across all lanes of traffic, leaving some drivers stuck at a standstill for more than two hours – and others to suffer in the fiery blaze. According to NBC News, “firefighters encountered an inferno as the first crews arrived on the scene [of the auto accident], and subsequent explosions were seen and heard as the fuel ignited.” The accident on I-85 involved multiple vehicles and left two individuals with fatal injuries. Several others were injured, and numerous others suffered property damage to their vehicles. Businesses along nearby Dawson Boulevard were evacuated as a precaution due to their vicinity to the incident, a major headache for Atlanta area commuters. Trucking Companies, Insurance Agencies, and Law…

Police officers in Georgia work hard to keep the roadways safe for residents and visitors alike. It is not unusual for large trucks to be mixed in with traffic, especially on highways. High speeds, inclement conditions, or driver errors can contribute to a serious truck accident. The sheer size of these vehicles can result in increased risk for injury or death in the event of a crash. Law enforcement has launched an investigation into a recent truck accident, and for officers, this one hit close to home. The victim was an officer from Smyrna, Georgia's police department. For reasons that are still unknown, a semi-truck flipped over and landed squarely on the officer's patrol car. The driver's side of the car was crushed. The officer was taken to a local hospital for immediate treatment of crash-related injuries. The investigation is ongoing, and it is not clear if police have any…

When Georgia residents hear about a bad accident involving drinking and driving, it may be natural to imagine that a vehicle operated by an inebriated driver crashed into another. While this is often the case, a drunk driving fatality can also result from a single-vehicle accident. A recent case illustrates the repercussions of how driving under the influence can have especially personal consequences. Preliminary information establishes that a 20-year-old Georgia man was under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle. After hitting several trees, the vehicle came to rest on an embankment beside the roadway. The driver suffered serious injuries, but his 20-year-old female passenger fared far worse. She was killed as a result of injuries suffered in the crash. Police say she was thrown from the vehicle as it spun out of control. After being treated for his injuries, the driver was arrested and taken to…

For a 13-year-old Georgia boy, the mid-June day seemed ordinary. He was helping his family do yard work. The boy was edging the sidewalk, removing grass and weeds close to the pavement where a mower may not be able to reach. An unexpected tragedy turned this uneventful day into a wrongful death case in the blink of an eye. Seemingly out of nowhere, an SUV came speeding around the corner, and the driver failed to properly negotiate the turn. She struck both the boy and his father and did not even stop. As she drove away, the father, who suffered a serious leg injury, did his best to help his son, but the boy's injuries were severe, and being badly injured himself, there was little he could do. The injured father and son were taken to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment, and while the father was able to hang on, the…

In any wreck that involves a car and a big rig, the occupants of the passenger vehicle are at risk of suffering catastrophic injuries and possibly even lose their lives. Such was also the outcome of a truck accident in Georgia that claimed the lives of four people in Decatur. The sheer size and weight of a tractor-trailer, semi-truck, or an 18-wheeler, compared to the size and weight of a passenger vehicle explain most outcomes of such collisions. An accident reconstruction team launched an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the crash. According to a preliminary accident report, the accident occurred in a traffic light-controlled intersection shortly before 2:45 a.m. on a recent Monday. Authorities say the car had six occupants, and five were rushed to a hospital. Reportedly, two women and one man, ages 19, 20, and 23, died soon after the accident due to head trauma…

Georgia motorcycle enthusiasts can probably recall a story or two from the period of time in which they were learning to ride. Learning to drive a car is hard enough, but subtracting two wheels and safety features like seat belts and airbags require additional skills, like balance. New technology may level the playing field, making driving a motorcycle almost as simple as driving a car, but will this recent development lead to an increased potential for a motorcycle accident? A major motorcycle manufacturer is touting a gyroscope that will eliminate the need for a rider to balance him or herself on a motorcycle. The part has not yet been mass-produced for resale, but the announcement is already making waves. According to the specifications released by the manufacturer, the device will allow a computer to automatically balance a motorcycle with no skill required by the driver at approximately 3 mph. Though it…

In the wake of recent events, people all over the United States are gathering with other members of their communities to raise awareness and exercise their rights to peacefully protest. Georgia residents have organized in several cities to make their voices heard. People should be aware, however, that if an individual breaks the law during a similar public gathering, he or she can be charged with a crime. Recently, a man was arrested for a drunk driving accident that injured a police officer. Witnesses and investigators say that a police officer was in an intersection, directing traffic in an effort to keep the crowds of people and motorists on the streets safe and organized. Suddenly, a man went speeding through the intersection where the officer was stationed on an ATV. He then turned around and sped back through, striking the traffic officer in the process. The officer was seriously injured, and the…

Summer is creeping up on Georgia, and most residents are surely excited to enjoy some time outside. For motorcycle enthusiasts, the arrival of nice weather is a welcome event. Sadly, in spite of annual national campaigns regarding motorcycle awareness and safety, a driver in another vehicle can cause injury or death to even a seasoned motorcyclist. A recent motorcycle accident made headlines after the victims' personal details became public. According to local news outlets, a young couple on a motorcycle was stopped as they waited for an opportunity to safely make a left turn. Before they could do so, a driver following them in traffic failed to stop in time. She crashed into the motorcycle, sending it headfirst into another motorcycle in the oncoming lane. The driver of the second motorcycle did not suffer serious injuries, and neither did the woman that initially caused the crash, but the couple on the motorcycle…

Whether a motorcycle is driven for necessary transportation or recreation, many enthusiasts insist there is nothing like the thrill of taking a bike on the open road. Though many riders take precautions, like wearing a helmet and obeying traffic laws, riding a motorcycle can be dangerous because a rider is largely exposed in a motorcycle accident. A Georgia resident was recently killed after being struck by another driver. Police say a man driving a large semi-truck was attempting to turn right into a private driveway. Unfortunately, he admits he did not see the man on a motorcycle in the right lane next to him. As he began to execute the turn, his truck pulled directly in front of the motorcycle, and the rider could not avoid a collision. The man on the motorcycle was trapped under the huge truck, and both vehicles wound up in the private drive. The motorcycle rider…

A good Samaritan's attempt to render aid to the victims of a hit-and-run went awry, and at first glance, the story sounds like a tragic scene from a book or movie. An ongoing investigation into two Georgia car wrecks reveals the best and worst of human nature. After narrowly escaping death, a man was killed seconds later. According to witnesses and police, a 23-year-old man was driving a vehicle containing two passengers. They were struck by another vehicle, the driver of which fled the scene. A good Samaritan stopped to help and told the victim and his passengers to get out of their disabled vehicle, which was in the roadway, and to get into hers to safely wait for help. As the victim was making his way into the kind woman's vehicle, another car struck him and one of the vehicles stopped in the road. The 23-year-old man was killed as the…