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…

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration tracks the sources of injuries to bicycle riders, as well as the causes for cyclist fatalities. By far, being hit by a car is the major cause of cyclist injuries or death. The statistics show a slight decline in recent years, but exposure data is far from complete. Unbalanced records According to the NHTSA, 818 people died in bicycle-vehicle accidents in 2015, a 12.2 percent increase from 2014. On the other hand, the number of bicyclists injured went down from 50,000 in 2014 to 45,000 in 2015. This figure is based on actual reports. However, it might be considered an estimate because certain factors are not known. For example, no one knows how far a cyclist travels on a particular outing or how long he or she is exposed to car and truck traffic. Some collisions are not reported. The risk of bike accidents…

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…

In the event you find yourself in a hospital room in the near future -- whether as a patient or a visitor -- chances are good you'll be struck by how clean the room seems and how much emphasis seems to be put on fighting the spread of infection. Indeed, surfaces may be gleaming, linens changed frequently, and hand sanitizer readily available. It isn't your imagination, as hospitals across the nation are making a concerted effort to fight the spread of bacteria such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococc (VRE) that have taken a very real and very deadly toll on patients. Consider that statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that there were an estimated 722,000 infections in U.S. acute care hospitals in 2011 alone and that roughly 75,000 of these affected patients died during their hospitalizations. While efforts to curb deadly infection…

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…

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…

Now that we are a few months into the school year, kids and parents alike are starting to become accustomed to their new routine, including homework, extracurriculars, and, of course, start times and dismissal times. Regardless of the chosen method of getting to and from school, there's a very good chance that kids will at some point have to cross a street, a parking lot, or a dedicated one-way drop-off/pick-up lane. In light of this reality, both students and parents alike will likely want to take note of some rather sobering figures on pedestrian accidents from the child advocacy organization Safe Kids Worldwide. According to Safe Kids Worldwide: 284 teens ranging in age from 12 to 19 were killed in pedestrian accidents in the U.S. in 2015, which averaged out to roughly five fatalities per week and a 13 percent increase from 2013. Teens ranging in age from 15 to…

Truckers face a unique set of risks when they go to work each day. Not only are they driving massive vehicles across long distances and along busy highways, but they also are required to do heavy lifting as they unload and reload trailers. As a result, there's always been a higher number of Central Georgia trucker injuries than in other careers and professions in the state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that truckers suffer among the highest number of nonfatal injuries and work-related illnesses in the U.S. As a result, workers' compensation is likely to be something they need at some point during their career, and it's critical that they work with an expert legal professional in order to get their claims approved. Facts to Know About Workplace Safety for Truck Drivers The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently revealed data that proves that truckers are at a high risk of injuries while on the job.…