On Monday, July 27, 2020, a young man’s 2004 Honda Accord was struck, leaving him with fatal wounds. The accident occurred when he pulled out of the “Club X” nightclub parking lot directly into another vehicle’s path. The other vehicle, a 2013 Dodge Ram, hit the Accord with such force that it flipped on impact, killing the Accord’s driver and leaving the Dodge Ram’s operator in critical, but eventually stable, condition. Events and details surrounding the fatal crash are still under investigation. A devastating accident may lead some to ask about dram shop laws. What is Georgia’s Dram Shop Law? Dram shop law applies to every city in the state of Georgia, including Macon, providing sober individuals affected by a drunk driver with compensation if the individual under-the-influence was overserved by another vendor. Dozier Law Firm, a team comprised of expert attorneys, explains: “Georgia’s Dram Shop law is located in…

As Fox 5 Atlanta reports, street racing near Atlanta isn’t a revolutionary criminal activity, but police may have found a way to stop these dangerous stunts from happening altogether. The city’s interim chief of police has offered his support to place sand-filled barriers along intersections where street racing stunts are likely to occur. Identifying the areas in need of such barricades has yet to prove difficult. "There is no scientific method to what we are doing," Commissioner Josh Rowan says. "Where we see the black circles [burned rubber from stunt-inspired braking] we will put down barriers." What’s disturbing is how even though police are actively locking up dozens of street racing drivers and impounding their “muscle” cars, new drivers seem eager to step into their place regularly, despite almost certainly knowing the legal risk over and above the risk of a car accident. And the legal risks are undoubtedly real.…

On Monday, August 10, 2020, a bicyclist was killed in southern Fulton County near Atlanta after colliding with a tractor-trailer. EMTs responded to the crash, but it is unknown whether the victim died on the scene or if he died upon transport to a treatment facility. One additional vehicle is said to have been involved, though details regarding why the accident happened, who was at fault, and potential charges are still a mystery. While an investigation is still ongoing, this tragedy serves as a good reminder to always receive medical treatment if and when you are involved in a motor vehicle accident. Advice from Dozier Law Firm Assuming your accident injuries are not fatal on-impact, seeking medical treatment immediately following a car or tractor-trailer accident is crucial. Dozier Law Firm, a team of experts in motor vehicle accident representation, explains: "The most important thing you can do following a motor…

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…

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…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries follow drowsy driving crashes nationwide each year, including Georgia. The National Sleep Foundation reports that the most likely age group to cause drowsy driving car wrecks are drivers from 18 through 29 years old. The recommended number of sleeping hours per night is seven to nine, which makes parents with children more vulnerable. Drivers are advised to stay engaged by chatting with passengers and selecting lively music to which they can sing along, instead of soothing tunes that could cause drowsiness. However, too much focus on conversations and music could be distracting. Some drivers listen to audiobooks to keep them alert -- a great help when driving alone, and rolling down the window might also prevent drowsiness. Traveling long distances is best done in pairs while taking turns to drive. Lone drivers are advised to pull over where…

There are numerous distractions for a driver while on the road. While the most obvious these days is cellphone usage, passengers, roadside commotion, or even the driver's own thoughts can take focus away from the road. That loss of concentration on driving can lead to a fatal car accident or one with varying degrees of injury. A 33-year-old man from Hall County was recently killed in a mid-morning fatal car accident. The man was headed west in his Ford Focus when a Dodge Ram pickup traveling east crossed over the center lane. The two vehicles collided head-on. When Georgia State Patrol troopers arrived on the scene, they found the driver of the Ford had died from blunt force trauma caused by the impact. The pickup truck had rolled over and landed upside down. The driver was injured and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The state's specialized reconstruction team…

When a driver ignores traffic laws, bad things can happen. The laws were put in place for the safety of all who are on the road, whether driver, passenger or pedestrian. Breaking the law may lead to a car accident that could seriously injure or kill someone. A driver choosing to ignore a stop sign caused a car accident in which a Georgia resident was killed. A spokesperson for the Georgia State Patrol reported that a 19-year-old drove his Jeep through the stop sign for a side road intersecting with a state highway. She hit the passenger side of a pickup truck driven by a 31-year-old resident of a nearby town. The pickup driver was taking a friend home from work. The friend was a former contestant on a once-popular reality dance show, "So You Think You Can Dance." Both men were rushed to an area hospital, where the friend died. The driver…

There can be numerous reasons a Georgia driver gets into a car accident on the road. While cellphones are thought to be responsible for the most obvious loss of focus during a driver's travels, other passengers, other vehicles, and even medical conditions can contribute to a lack of concentration that could cause a car accident. Four adults and six children were involved in a recent car accident where the injuries ranged from minor to critical. According to an officer with the Georgia State Patrol, a pickup truck with two adults had stopped on a state highway to make a left-hand turn. A minivan with two juvenile passengers and the driver had stopped behind the truck. A third vehicle, a subcompact car occupied by one adult and 4 children rammed into the rear of the stationary minivan. All four adults suffered minor injuries, as did four of the children. Injuries to the…

Drinking and driving is selfish. Many who consume alcohol or drugs before getting behind the wheel believe they will reach their destination without causing a car accident. Others simply do not care if they cause harm or not. Two people were injured in a car accident when a Georgia man apparently decided he would drive after drinking. A police report was released by the responding officer after the man made a turn and entered the wrong lane, crashing into an SUV. A child and an adult in the SUV were injured and were taken to a nearby hospital to be treated. Neither had been critically injured and were released by the time the details of the report were published. Police say the man who instigated the collision seemed to be inebriated, as it was believed he had an odor of alcohol on his breath, was slurring his words, and was unsteady on…