Trucking accidents do not typically involve a situation where a truck driver is not in the driver's seat. Such accidents are few and far between, but when they happen, that aftermath has the potential to be deadly. A Mississippi man experienced something that many truck drivers do not think about. As he he was securing the load of logs on the back of his truck, the driver got trapped under the back tires of the truck and was tragically run over, according to a local news report.
All states have the power to create their own laws when it comes to many things, such as whether or not a motorcycle helmet is required, among other safety laws. Some states do not require motorcyclists to wear helmets and/or protective eye gear. Other states require the use of helmets and/or protective eye gear, but only for young riders, such as those that are under the age of eighteen. Some states have become stricter when it comes to helmet requirements, and Georgia is one of those states.
Google has been testing self-driving cars for quite some time now and has done so with minimal accidents. Recently, a Google self-driving car experienced its first accident where passengers were injured. According to NBC News, in Mountain View, California, a Google self-driving car was rear-ended when a driver failed to brake before striking the back of the Google car. All people involved in the accident suffered whiplash, but no other serious injuries. While the injuries suffered were rather minor, the potential still exists for serious injury or death to result from an accident, even if it does involve a self-driving car that is supposed to be safer than a car driven by a human.
It's not every day that you see a traffic accident that involves more than a just a few people. Traffic accidents are already difficult to investigate when they involve only one or two vehicles, so investigating an accident that involves numerous vehicles and individuals can take months or even longer to evaluate. Further, when such a large accident involves deaths and significant injuries, the aftermath is undoubtedly painful, both physically and mentally.
Many car accidents that occur on a daily basis involve two or more vehicles, and typically involve conduct, such as, among others, inattentive driving, traffic violations and driving under the influence. Whatever the reason may be for why an accident occurred, it can be challenging to overcome the aftermath in the form of lifelong injuries, or even death. When an automobile accident involves just one vehicle, it may seem as though the accident would be easier to investigate, which is not always the case. Sometimes, single-car accidents can be more difficult than others to evaluate as well as to determine what truly caused the accident to occur.
Most of us know when an ambulance is flying by us on a street or highway, signalling that there is an emergency and everyone essentially needs to get out of the way. When an automobile accident occurs, and those involved have suffered injuries, an ambulance usually rushes to the scene to provide immediate medical attention and transport the injured individuals to the nearest hospital. However, it is not every day that an automobile accident actually involves an ambulance. Such an accident has the potential to be devastating, especially if an ambulance is racing to a hospital and driving well above the speed limit.
Motorcycles are often seen as more dangerous vehicles than your ordinary passenger car simply given the fact that motorcyclists are vulnerable to the elements, and do not have protective gear beyond helmets, eye protection, and padding. Any motorcyclist who survives an accident likely feels lucky to be alive, as the situation can always be worse, as was the case with a recent motorcycle accident. Three motorcycles and one pickup truck were all traveling south on a small highway when an accident unexpectedly occurred as the motorcyclists turned to stop at a restaurant, according to a local news report. The facts are unclear as to who caused the accident, and it will likely take months to determine what went wrong.
Many Georgia motorists and bicyclists have learned to share the road with one another, providing sufficient room for both types of vehicles to travel on the same roadways. However, there are still situations where some motorists fail to provide bicyclists with sufficient room to travel, or fail to even see bicyclists at all while not paying full attention to those sharing the roadway. A recent Milton accident tragically left one bicyclist dead and another injured after a pickup truck collided with them and three other bicyclists traveling in the opposite direction, according to a news report. As the pickup truck attempted to pass a car directly in front of it, it struck the five bicyclists head-on due to the fact that there was insufficient room for the truck to pass the vehicle in front without hitting the cyclists.
The United States medical industry has multiple specialties that allow patients to receive treatment and care that is specific to the particular medical condition a patient is suffering from. However, even specialists, who are supposed to be the best in their field, make mistakes. And while such mistakes are more often than not unintended, they can have consequences that result in permanent injury or death, potentially changing an injured patient's life forever.
As Georgia citizens, we always hope that drunk driving will not end in tragedy. It is an unfortunate reality that innocent individuals will suffer the consequences of one person's decision to drive under the influence. Shortly after the Fourth of July holiday, a Wake County couple and another woman lost their lives when a drunk driver ran a red light, striking the victims' car while they were on their way to church in Lithonia, according to WTVD TV. Such a devastating fate is unimaginable for many people, and losing loved ones in this way can leave them with irreparable emotional pain.
Trucking accidents have the potential to become deadly mainly because trucks are so large that any impact can seriously harm or kill any person involved. What we sometimes forget is that the load that cargo trucks are carrying can also be a factor in the severity of an accident. For example, trucks that carry gasoline or some other kind of flammable substance can play a significant role in how dangerous a trucking accident can be, causing damage, injuries and possibly death. It is commonly known that flammable cargo can make a trucking accident more dangerous, but many people may not consider cargo like hay bales to be particularly dangerous. This assumption was recently proven wrong in a tragic Minnesota accident.
Anytime an accident involves alcohol, a variety of questions are raised, and one of the questions normally asked is whether or not the accident could have been prevented. The situation can seem much worse when the victims of a car accident are teenagers. Earlier this month, a 16-year-old girl who was a passenger in a vehicle tragically lost her life, and six other young individuals were injured in a North Carolina accident just south of Charlotte, according to a local news report.
Stop signs continue to play a vital role in traffic safety, even if they seem unnecessary at times, especially in rural areas where there is not much traffic. Many drivers are able to ignore stop signs or run red lights without any consequences, and are lucky to avoid what could be a deadly accident. However, stop signs exist for a reason, and are placed at particular locations with specific purposes in mind. A recent South Carolina accident tragically left two young adults dead after they were struck by a passing tractor trailer, according to a local news report. Apparently, authorities believe that the vehicle failed to adhere to a stop sign rather than allowing the tractor trailer to pass.
Will New Technology Introduced by Carmakers Really Limit Inattentive Driving?
With the way we communicate today, it is difficult to ignore that "ding" of your phone when a text message arrives, or your favorite song playing when a friend or family member calls. In a way, it is great that people want to be connected. However, like most things in life, being connected all the time can be dangerous under certain circumstances. It is well-known today that distracted driving can be deadly, and has in fact cost many lives in Georgia and other states. You only need to read or watch the news to see that people are still texting and talking while driving.
Georgia Woman Killed in Michigan Accident – Was Drowsy Driving to Blame?
Today's society does not sleep as much as past generations for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, employment schedules and obligations, family obligations, school assignments, and general lifestyle choices. Whatever the reason may be, a lack of sleep has the potential to negatively affect a person's ability to drive. When a driver operates any vehicle while fatigued, this driver puts his or her own life at risk, as well as the lives of others on the roadway. Falling asleep at the wheel is certainly a problem that plagues not only truck drivers, but everyday drivers as well.
Safe tires are a critical component to all vehicles, no matter what the size. When a tire is unsafe, for any reason at all, both the driver, any passengers and other people sharing the road are at risk of being injured or killed. Regular tire maintenance is crucial to ensure tires are operating on your vehicle as they should. A recent Florida accident was yet another example of how a potential tire blowout or lost tire, proved to be deadly. According to a local news report, a son and father were tragically killed when driving on the Florida Turnpike when a tire on their car either blew out, or simply fell off the car, causing the vehicle to cross the median and flip over. Three other individuals suffered injuries, but fortunately, they survived the accident.
It is widely known that SUVs tend to have a higher rollover risk than other standard passenger cars. Anyone driving an SUV likely knows this fact, and may take measures to drive more safely with the understanding that any accident has the potential to result in a rollover that could then lead to serious injuries or death. A Georgia woman was recently involved in a rollover accident when she veered off the road and flipped her Jeep Wrangler, according to WRDW. The woman was ejected from the vehicle and was not wearing a seatbelt.
Hit and run accidents are some of the most devastating accidents a person can be involved in. Receiving immediate medical attention is crucial when anyone is harmed as a result of an automobile accident. When someone is left at the scene of an accident untreated, that person's condition can quickly deteriorate, as prompt medical intervention can be essential to saving that person's life. According to a local news report, a young South Carolina woman recently lost her life as a result of a horrific head-on collision. The other driver left the scene of the accident on foot, and has not yet been found.
It's not every day that you hear about a car that has fallen from a parking garage – especially one that is four stories tall. According to the local news, one woman is lucky to be alive after her car passed through a barrier and drove off a parking deck in a hospital parking garage. The woman's car landed on pickup trucks that were parked below her, which apparently cushioned her fall. This driver was wearing her seatbelt, and thankfully did not suffer serious injuries.
In April of 2015, CCTV footage captured the last minutes of a young girl's life as she tragically fell to her death from an escalator. The six year old was at a shopping mall with her mother when she plunged several floors down from an escalator. She died on impact due to her injuries. This tragic accident is sadly just the most recent in a long line of serious escalator injuries that can occur at malls and shopping centers.
Automobile accidents involving drunk driving are likely to continue despite efforts to stop and prevent such conduct. Many drunk drivers are stopped before they can cause an accident, but when such drivers do so, the aftermath can be horrific, resulting in serious injuries or death. A recent drunk driving accident demonstrates that all drivers and passengers on our roadways are vulnerable.
No matter what the circumstances may be surrounding a particular auto accident, it is always painful and tragic to see a child become injured or worse, killed. Recently, a 15-year-old Gainesville boy suffered a fate that no child or family should bear. According to a local report, the boy lost his life after the 19-year-old driver of the vehicle he was riding in lost control of the car and slammed into a tree. It is unclear how or why the driver lost control of the car, but the fact remains that the boy's family will never be the same again.
For the first time in the several years that the vehicles have been tested, a Google self-driving car was involved in an accident that resulted in injuries. The injuries, fortunately, were minor and Google insists that the accident was the result of human error, not the self-driving car.
Georgia's warm weather and miles of highway make it an ideal location for motorcycle enthusiasts. However, along with the rise in popularity of motorcycles comes a risk of harm to riders. Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious injuries and even death due to the lack of structural protection afforded riders, as compared to motor vehicle drivers and passengers. Each year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, over 4,000 motorcyclists are killed in accidents across the country. Further, the number of motorcycle deaths is 26 times the number of automobile accident fatalities.
Recently, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that youth sports camps and leagues could be taking more action to protect children from sexual abuse. The report examined federal data that came from activities where children spend many summer hours. The GAO will now look into how youth sports camps screen for sexual abuse and protect campers.
A 77 year old woman from Colorado was tragically found dead in the steam room at a gym several months ago. Her body was not found until approximately 12 to 17 hours after her death, and it was a fellow gym member that found her, not an employee. Her family is now considering a lawsuit given the results of the autopsy.
Workplace accidents can be just as devastating, and even more devastating than any other accident that occurs outside the workplace. Workplace accidents are sometimes dealt with differently than car accidents, medical malpractice and other personal injuries. Some workplace accidents can result in an employee or a person's loved ones receiving workers' compensation benefits. However, in some instances, workplace injuries can also be addressed in a personal injury action, depending on the nature and severity of the injuries as well as the reason why such injuries occurred.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 15,700 nursing homes exist across the country and over 1.4 million Americans reside in these facilities. With our population aging by the year, this number is expected to increase significantly. Nursing homes and assisted care facilities are generally quite expensive and the relatives of elderly or infirm loved ones who place them in these facilities trust them to provide a safe and caring environment. Sadly, this is not always the case. Although most nursing homes provide quality care, others allow residents to be treated poorly or even experience abuse. In fact thousands of nursing home residents suffer injuries and die in nursing homes due to abuse.
Over the past few years, a number of lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, the maker of Mirena. Mirena is one of three different IUD devices currently available on the market and is used by millions of women across the country. Unfortunately, some women have experienced severe side effects due to IUDs, including abdominal pain, perforation of the uterus or cervix, migration of the IUD to other organs or parts of the body, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and much more. Recently, a new IUD called Skyla was released on the market and is expected to cause many of the same injuries. These complaints have caused many to question the safety of IUD devices.
Uber is a fast growing rideshare program that offers services across Atlanta and much of the country. This rideshare program allows users to download an app and request a driver as needed. Passengers can select the type and size of vehicle desired and review a driver's rating before accepting the ride. Drivers will then travel to pick up their passenger while driving in their own vehicle. While the program offers a competitive alternative to taxis and other public transportation, it does present some legal issues, including insurance gaps, workers' compensation challenges, and low insurance coverage limits. Some individuals have been involved in accidents while traveling in an Uber vehicle, only to find themselves at risk of not receiving sufficient compensation for their injuries.
Police are searching for the individual responsible for a fatal hit and run accident that occurred in Atlanta on July 19, according to WSB TV. The victim was walking down Cleveland Avenue on the sidewalk, when suddenly a car went across all four lanes and pummeled into him on the sidewalk. The car jumped the curb and ended up in the parking lot of a store. Police report that a call came in at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday. A witness reports seeing the car hit the pedestrian, jump out of the vehicle, and run away into the woods.
Automobiles provide essential means of transportation for millions across the country and billions worldwide. We depend on our automobiles to perform as expected to safely transport us to our destination. When our car or a vehicle around us malfunctions, the results can be catastrophic. Car manufacturers are required to ensure their vehicles meet stringent safety standards on a federal and state level, but all too often, vehicles are released to the public that fall short of these standards and accidents result.
Under Georgia law, as set out in O.C.G.A. § 40-8-79, it is unlawful for anyone under the age of 18 to ride as a passenger in the bed of a pickup truck on any interstate highway in the state. Even though it is not illegal for those over the age of 18 to ride in the bed of a truck or for minors to do so on small roadways, this dangerous behavior can result in serious injury or death.
Drinking and driving inflicts in an immense societal cost, killing thousands of individuals each year and injuring many more. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports that in the year 2000, for every 140 miles driven, a person with a blood alcohol concentration of over .08 was behind the wheel. It is estimated that over two million accidents across the United States involved the use of alcohol and these crashes tragically kill over 16,000 annually and injure another 500,000.
Police are currently investigating a fatal motorcycle accident that happened in southwest Atlanta, according to 11 Alive News. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office has reported that the victim was a 46 year old from Atlanta. He was riding along with four others overnight on Benjamin E. Mays Drive. Police report that three of the bikers turned around after they no longer saw the accident victim traveling with them. It appears that the 46 year old rider was rounding a corner when he lost control of the motorcycle and slammed into a pole. He was thrown from the bike and tragically died as a result of his injuries.
The number of highway deaths across the United States has reached epidemic levels. According to data published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (downloads PDF file), the majority of all fatal accidents occur on rural roads and involve rural residents. While only one-fifth of our population lives in rural areas, three-fifths of all accidents occur there. In fact, over half of all fatal accidents, amounting to some 42,000 accidents a year, occur on rural roads. This figure includes drivers and passengers as well as pedestrians, and motorcyclists. If you consider only rural passenger vehicle fatalities, 65 percent of all deaths occur on rural roads. Of these, 54 percent were not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Recently, an eighteen year old and her 17 year old boyfriend were tragically killed in a horrific automobile accident in Paulding County, according to WSB TV. Family members report that the two teens had been together for two years and the parents of these teenagers are devastated. The teens were on the way to visit one of their mothers in the hospital at the time of the accident. A 16 year old sibling was also in the car at the time of the accident and was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Recently, a nine year old boy tragically perished in a drowning accident at an East Point swimming pool, according to WSB TV. The boy drowned while several children were at the pool, all seeking to cool off on the hot summer day. Witnesses report that the child was swimming "just fine" on his stomach prior to the incident. When he flipped over, it appeared he was just floating, but had in fact drowned. The boy's mother was frantic at the scene of the accident and the boy was transported to the hospital where he was sadlypronounced dead.
Recently, two tractor trailers collided on a portion of I-85 located southwest of Atlanta, according to WSB TV. The Coweta County accident forced the closure of the interstate for some time while investigations ensued and debris was removed. The tractor trailers were apparently traveling approximately 39 miles southwest of Atlanta when an accident ensued. One tractor trailer overturned and both caught fire. All northbound lanes were closed for two hours while traffic was diverted onto Highway 27 and three people were reportedly treated at the scene for injuries.
In May of this year, a U-haul slammed into an SUV traveling on Tara Boulevard, according to WSB TV. Investigations revealed that the U-haul ran a red light, crashing into a car carrying a local victim's advocate for the Clayton County District Attorney's office. The car rolled over several times before landing on its wheels. Flames engulfed the vehicle, trapping the victim inside.
Currently, police are searching for witnesses to a fatal crash that left one dead while the other driver fled the scene of the crash, according to WSB TV. Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County was the site of a tragic hit and run earlier this month. Officers arrived on the scene of the accident to find a white truck on its side. The driver, a 47 year old man, was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the truck. This local sergeant at Phillips State Prison in Buford had been driving in the southbound lanes near Sugarloaf Parkway when an SUV, driven by a 20 year old, suddenly collided with his truck. The SUV driver stopped briefly after the collision but she drove away soon after the accident. Subsequently, she reportedly turned herself in. Police are hoping to uncover witnesses to the crash in order to assist in their case against the hit and run driver.
Is Texting While Driving an Addiction?
A new survey reveals that drivers across the country are still ignoring the risks of distracted driving and pulling out their cell phones while behind the wheel. AT&T polled over 2,000 people across the United States as to their driving habits and cell phone usage. The results were appalling enough to concern any driver. AT&T found that 61 percent of all those polled texted while driving. A third checked their emails and 17 percent even admitted to taking a selfie, all while driving. Thirty percent of drivers checked Twitter and one in ten drivers turned on video chat. Drivers conducted these dangerous activities despite the fact that texting while driving is banned in at least 46 states and several other states ban the use of cell phones altogether.
Canadian researchers have recently uncovered a link between those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury and engaged in the behavior aggressive driving. The study was published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention and examined drivers in Ontario who had suffered at least one traumatic brain injury. The drivers were found to report instances of aggressive driving at high levels, which included threatening other drivers, passengers or vehicles.
If you have been injured while on the job, whether due to a workplace accident or cumulative stress injury, you may have the right to workers' compensation benefits which could cover your medical expenses and partially cover your time off work. Employees across a wide range of industries will be eligible for workers' compensation coverage, which is mandated by various state and federal laws.
You have likely heard the term "pain and suffering," but may not fully understand what this phrase means in the context of your personal injury action. The phrase can be vague and clients often struggle to understand what exactly is considered pain and suffering and how these damages can be calculated.
Recently, in Polk County, a 16 year old mother was killed and her young son injured when a tree limb fell on them, according to WSB TV. The mother and son were reportedly at Peek Park when a limb fell while she and her one year old baby were sitting on a park bench. The young mother, according to a family member, had just moved her son from the baby swings to the park bench when they heard a sudden cracking sound. She attempted to run with the baby in her arms but was tragically not fast enough. The young woman was knocked unconscious and later died while her baby was flown to a children's hospital in Atlanta with a skull fracture.
If your loved one has been killed in any type of accident caused by another at fault person or party, you should be eligible to seek compensation from that party responsible for your relative's death. Surviving spouses, children, the personal representative or parents of deceased family members can bring a wrongful death action seeking compensation for the many damages sustained by the family due to the loss of their loved one. Wrongful death lawsuits can be filed against any defendant who was responsible for the death, including individuals, companies and even government entities. Our attorneys will discuss the types of damages available in a wrongful death suit.
A study conducted by the United States Justice Department found that 97 percent of all civil cases, including wrongful death actions, are settled or dismissed without ever going to trial. The number of trials held in the courtrooms surveyed fell from over 22,000 in 1992 to nearly 12,000 in 2001. The general movement in our justice system in recent years has been towards settlement and mediation. However, it can be extremely difficult to place a monetary value on wrongful death cases, as no figure can actually replace the human life stolen. This makes settlement often difficult and adversarial.
Data has emerged as to the immense dangers of an often unrecognized form of distraction: applying makeup while driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than nine people are killed and 1,153 are injured in crashes that involve distracted drivers. Distracted driving is defined as driving while engaging in any other activity that takes your attention away from the road. Distracted driving can greatly increase your risk of being in an accident. Generally, distractions can be broken down into three categories: visual, manual and cognitive. Visual distractions take your eyes off the road, while manual takes your eyes off the wheel. Cognitive distracters pull your mind from the task of driving.
A wrong way accident in Henry County resulted in several injuries and shut down northbound I-75 for some time on Tuesday, June 23, according to WSB TV. The accident occurred just after 2 a.m. near Hudson Bridge Road. The driver of a 2002 Red Chevrolet Avalanche entered I-75 at either I-675 or Highway 138 and traveled for likely two miles in the wrong direction before causing a massive accident.
Tragedy struck Clayton County recently when an intoxicated driver headed the wrong way down the interstate and collided with a car carrying several children, according to WSB TV. Atlanta police report that a 20 year old was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he started traveling the wrong way on I-75 South in Clayton County. The intoxicated driver's pickup truck slammed head-on into a car carrying two adults and three children. Two children, an eight year old and a seven year old, were tragically killed in the crash, along with a friend of the family. The driver and a three year old boy remain in critical condition in an area hospital.