Too often do family and friends have to say an earthly farewell to a loved one because another person was negligent while driving. The option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the perpetrator is available in most cases of death due to negligent or reckless behavior. The family of a Georgia couple appears to have grounds to pursue financial damages from a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of a couple. The husband and wife, both 71 years of age, were in their Ford F-150 and were traveling through an intersection when a semitrailer ran a stop sign. The pickup hit the side of the semi, causing the semi to roll on top of the pickup truck. The couple died upon impact. Georgia State Patrol officials have not released details of the accident but state they are still investigating the matter. They indicated that charges will likely be issued to the 30-year-old…

A September weekend was dangerous for pedestrians in Georgia. In less than 24 hours, seven pedestrians were hit by motor vehicles in five separate incidents throughout the state. Out of the seven hit, four died from their injuries. Two killed on Sept. 14 On the evening of Sept. 14, 2018, a minivan hit a 74-year-old woman who was crossing six lanes of traffic in Athens-Clarke County. Her injuries were severe, and she died at the hospital. Police were not expecting to file charges against the driver who struck the woman. Less than a half-hour later, a hit-and-run driver struck and killed a 40-year-old woman in Cobb County. The police had little information to go on, and the driver in that accident remains at large. Three injured, two killed on Sept. 15 On Sept. 15, in Clayton County, a stolen delivery truck mowed down three pedestrians. The trio sustained moderate injuries, including broken bones,…

It's tragic when anyone is killed or seriously injured in a car crash, particularly if the victim is a small child. These crashes might happen for a number of different reasons. Drivers may be distracted, trying to avoid another hazard, or simply taking a turn too wide or too close to another vehicle. Earlier this month Georgia authorities responded to a car accident that resulted in the deaths of two adults and the serious injury of a baby. The crash occurred at about 8:20 a.m. The two vehicles, a sedan and a truck, were traveling north and south respectively when witnesses say the sedan cross over the middle line. The two vehicles collided head-on, causing significant damage to the front of both vehicles. Both drivers suffered fatal injuries in the crash. The driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene and the 10-month-old baby traveling with her suffered serious…

Dealing with an injury caused by the negligent acts of others can be stressful. These feelings are magnified when an injury happens to your child. No legal remedy can completely compensate for the physical and emotional toll. But a personal injury claim may provide monetary reparations for the medical bills, future care, and any lasting harm. There are a few things to keep in mind to build the strongest claim. The law regarding injury claims for minors By law, parents and guardians are allowed to file claims on behalf of the children they are responsible for. Should they win the case, the parent or guardian becomes the conservator of the financial settlement or funds awarded by the court or jury. This role comes with specific responsibilities outlined in the Georgia statute. In a nutshell, the money is earmarked for the minor child. Commonly, a special trust is set up to ensure that…

Even a small distraction can place a driver at risk of being involved in a collision. In fact, a car accident can occur within a matter of seconds. Georgia authorities recently responded to a crash involving two vehicles. A pickup truck was leaving a Kroger parking lot in Columbia County when it collided with a car that was traveling in the middle lane of the roadway. The driver of the pickup apparently did not see the oncoming vehicle. After the collision, traffic was limited to a single lane on one side of the road, and traffic on the other side of the road slowed significantly. Both the driver and passenger in the car were injured in the crash. They were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of their injuries, which were not considered life-threatening. Later, police determined that the driver of the pickup truck was at fault. He was charged with a failure…

Being involved in a car accident is a traumatic event that is even more difficult when the accident causes an injury. Whether serious or relatively minor, if you sustain an injury following an auto accident, you should not underestimate the situation. Many people are not aware of the legal circumstances and their rights when it comes to an injury from a car accident. It can be important for you to have a consultation with a personal injury attorney following an accident. Here are a few tips to help you decide when to contact a lawyer who focuses on this area of the law. The severity of injuries and long-term effects The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety reported that 19,405 people sustained serious injuries in 2015 due to a motor vehicle accident. While it can be advisable to consult with a personal injury attorney in any case in which you have suffered an…

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…

While it may seem hard to believe, it's now been nearly 25 years since the 50 states first began passing laws calling for mandatory ignition interlocks, the breathalyzer-like devices that prevent a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected in the driver's breath. Given this rather substantial passage of time, the question naturally arises as to just how effective these mandatory ignition interlocks have proven in preventing fatal drunk driving accidents on U.S. roads and highways. As it turns out, there was no real answer to this question until just last month. Indeed, a first-of-its-kind study published in the January edition of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine by experts from Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy Research has shed some much-needed light on this topic. After examining trends in fatal car accidents involving alcohol from 1982 to 2013, and accounting for certain developments in traffic safety laws, the…

Two police officers could face civil litigation after their criminal convictions in the Taser death of a suspect. The officers were both convicted in mid-December, with the jury only requiring 30 minutes to deliver verdicts in connection with this latest in a string of police-induced fatal accidents. Police departments throughout Georgia and the rest of the nation have been facing increasing civil pressure from wrongful death suits, particularly those related to Tasers and stun guns. This is one of the few high-profile criminal cases that have resulted in an actual conviction. In this case, the victim was reportedly shocked more than a dozen times as he was being taken into custody by the two officers. The man, who had fled the scene of an alleged domestic disturbance, lost consciousness shortly after the repeated shocks. Medical experts in the case found that the cause of death was directly related to the…

Almost everyone suffers a burn from time to time. Most are common heat burns caused by hot objects or liquids, steam, or fire. Children and elderly people are the most susceptible to these, but anyone can suffer these types of burns. They are typically first-degree burns, which affect the top layer of skin. Second-degree burns injure the first and second layers, while third- and fourth-degree burns go deeper and require immediate medical treatment. Heat, however, is by no means the only cause of such injuries. Electrical burns may require emergency care Lightning, household current, high-voltage wires, and stun guns can cause electrical burns. An injury of this kind might cause damage to internal tissues, and the victim should be seen by a physician. Call 911 if the person seems confused, has trouble breathing, is experiencing muscle spasms or seizures, or has suffered cardiac arrest. Chemical burns can be caused by…