Blog Archive - September, 2010

Victims of violent crime can suffer serious physical injuries and long-term emotional scars. Frequently, those who commit violent offenses have no ability to pay a judgment for the damages they cause. They may be facing incarceration for their criminal offense or simply lack insurance and assets against which a violent crime victim can pursue a claim for compensation.

Sometimes a property owner who should have taken appropriate security precautions to protect visitors from being attacked on their property can be liable for not taking reasonable precautions to protect against foreseeable violent criminal offenses, including assaults, batteries, rapes and similar violent attacks. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing those injured in Georgia due to inadequate security for over 39 years. Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about inadequate security cases:

Bus accidents are typically much more dangerous than a motor vehicle accident with a passenger vehicle because of the enormous weight and size disparity between the vehicles. Over 15,000 people are injured and over 300 killed each year in bus accidents. The injuries suffered in a bus accident are often catastrophic including head and neck injuries, traumatic brain injury, spinal chord injuries, internal organ injuries and even fatalities.

If you or someone you love is injured in a bus accident, you may seek compensation for your injuries from the responsible parties. Busing accidents can be complex with multiple potential defendants who contribute to the incident. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing those injured in Georgia and Atlanta bus accidents for over 39 years. Here are answers to some of the questions you may have if you or someone close to you was involved in a bus accident.

When a pedestrian is involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, the probability of serious injuries is very high. Atlanta was recently rated as one of the most dangerous cities in the world for pedestrians. Busy commuters throughout the state of Georgia often disregard pedestrians, or are distracted by cell phones, resulting in devastating consequences for the accident victim.

The traditional family model of one parent working full-time and one parent staying home to take care of the children has slowly changed. The economic reality is that most families can no longer make it on a single income, and a 50% divorce rate means that there are lots of single parents who must both raise a child and work full-time. One recent study indicated that as many as six out of every ten children or 13 million children that are not yet school age are enrolled in daycare.

Many people are seriously injured on public and private property because the property owner or manager fails to make the premises safe. The area of law that covers injuries from dangerous conditions on another person's property is called "premises liability." One's ability to recover for such injuries often depends on the visitor's reason for being on the property, as well as how the property owner is classified.

As part of Montlick & Associates’ commitment to driver safety, we are proud to announce a new partnership with the Safe America Foundation in support of their Safe Teen Georgia Program. We are very excited to sponsor a “Braking Contest” where teens compete against each other on driving simulators at local events throughout North Georgia. The “Braking” competition is part of Safe America’s ‘SafeTeen 100’ program – a year-long initiative to increase driving skills by rewarding good drivers. The contest kicked off this past week at Lovett High School. Ben Timberlake was recognized as the "top driver" of the week! In addition to winning a $100 gift certificate Friday night, Ben will be able to compete with other students next spring to win a 2011 Ford Focus as part of Safe America’s year-long campaign to increase driver education participation in Georgia high schools.

Trucking accident litigation poses an interesting paradox in that these cases often result in the most serious injuries, however, there are often unique challenges to overcome prior to recovering compensation for injuries. The trucking industry is heavily regulated by both federal and state governments because the huge difference in weight between a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle often results in catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injury, spinal chord injury, paralysis, and fatalities.

Many people have no idea how prevalent bicycle accidents are each year in the U.S. Over 500,000 cyclists are treated in emergency rooms annually for bicycle related accidents. An additional 700 people per year are killed in bicycling accidents amounting to over 52,000 bicycle accident deaths since 1930. Because a bicyclist has no structural protection if one is involved in an accident, the injuries suffered are often catastrophic including head and neck injuries, traumatic brain injury, spinal chord injuries, paralysis, fractures and broken bones, and even death.

In a terribly tragic situation, our client, an eight-year-old boy, was rendered a quadriplegic after being involved in a horrendous automobile collision. The driver at fault was traveling in a county ambulance. He was not responding to an emergency call, nor were any lights or sirens in use. In the right lane next to him and ahead was a second potentially at fault driver. The second driver pulled into the ambulance's lane and stopped at a signal. The ambulance driver did not brake in time and clipped the rear of that vehicle. Instead of swerving to the right, where the traffic was light and moving in the same direction, the ambulance driver swerved into oncoming traffic. He ran head on into the vehicle where the child was a backseat passenger.

Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law honors A.J. Johnson of Gainesville High School as the Montlick & Associates’ Athlete of the Week September 17, 2010. Johnson is one of the most sought after linebackers in the country, being recruited by several colleges such as Florida, Clemson and Tennessee. While he is called the “beast” on the field, Johnson is considered a role model on campus and has a 3.2 GPA. “When he is around, he brings everyone’s play up another level. Good ones have a way of doing that” says Head Coach Bruce Miller.

The Montlick & Associates’ Athlete of the Week is featured on WSB-TV’s Friday night Sportszone program in Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of the 2010 Atlanta high school football season, Montlick & Associates will crown an Athlete of the Year. And as part of our ongoing commitment to support the community, Montlick & Associates will donate $5,000 to the winner’s school.

If you suffer a job related injury under Georgia Workers’ Compensation Law, you are entitled to compensation for medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages, and other benefits. A workers' compensation claim is different than a personal injury claim for injuries because you do not have to prove that your employer was at fault. The workers’ compensation system was designed to provide a fast efficient legal remedy for employees that suffer job related injuries and occupational illnesses. The workers’ compensation system can be complicated so it is easy to make a mistake that limits your claim and results in you receiving less than you were entitled to under law. The law firm of Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, has been representing people injured on the job in the greater Atlanta area and throughout the State of Georgia for over 39 years. We get many inquiries from those who suffer a job related injury or occupational illness with basic questions about their rights. We have provided answers to some of the most commonly asked questions below.

When one thinks about serious traffic accidents, one often imagines drunk, inattentive, or reckless drivers. Many would be surprised to learn that a recent study showed that over 52% of all motor vehicle fatalities are a result of faulty roadways. A great number of these accidents do not even involve a second vehicle. Pursuing a claim for compensation against a public entity for a faulty road or highway can be extremely difficult and costly, because the government itself has created special rules to protect government entities from such lawsuits.

Important: Time Deadlines apply to all legal matters!  Failure to file a claim within the required period of time results in the loss of your rights to bring your claim.  When a government entity is involved the time period can be very short!!  Sometimes it is as short as 6 months.  That is one reason why it is so important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer without delay.

Abbott Laboratories has issued a voluntary recall of its best-selling infant formula, Similac, after an internal quality review detected that the formula may be contaminated with insect parts. The recall affects up to 5 million Similac-brand powder formulas sold in Georgia and the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and some Caribbean countries.

Most of us never worry about how we will deal with the financial consequences of an auto accident caused by a careless driver that results in serious injuries. We presume that if the other driver is at fault, that person's insurance policy will provide compensation for any loss. This is not always a safe assumption, because a collision may involve a driver who is uninsured, underinsured (does not have enough insurance), or flees the scene and cannot be found (hit and run). In such situations, your automobile insurance policy may provide uninsured motorist coverage (UM) that can provide compensation to you or a loved one-but only if you have uninsured motorist coverage! And do you have enough coverage?

Under Georgia law, any car insurance policy must offer UM coverage. Chances are that you have UM coverage unless you rejected such coverage in writing, but it is always good to double-check your policy. Many people only obtain the minimum (smallest amount) of UM coverage, but it is advisable to obtain as much as you can- in case you or a loved one sustains serious or catastrophic injuries due to the negligence of an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Montlick & Associates, Atlanta Injury Attorneys, recognizes Dontavious Lawson of McEachern High School as the Montlick & Associates' Athlete of the Week September 10, 2010. Lawson suits up as an offensive end for the McEachern Indians; however he is being recruited as a defensive end. When asked how he feels about the switch, Dontavious says he will play wherever his team needs him. He is truly a team player and one of McEachern’s team captains. Lawson has a 3.3 GPA and plans to study engineering. “He is a first class person, a guy that I would like my son to grow up to be like. And someone that I look up to and I know a lot of the players do to,” says McEachern’s Head Coach Kyle Hockman.

The Montlick & Associates' Athlete of the Week is featured on WSB-TV’s Friday night Sportszone program in Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of the 2010 high school football season, Montlick & Associates will honor an Athlete of the Year. As part of our ongoing commitment to support the community, Montlick & Associates will donate $5,000 to the winner’s school.

Injuries From Products: The news is full of reports of people seriously injured by dangerous and defective products from children’s toys covered in lead based paint, to drugs with dangerous side effects, to vehicles that are prone to sudden unintended acceleration or rolling over. These defective products can lead to catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal chord injuries, paralysis, and even fatalities.

At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing Georgia residents injured by defective products for over 39 years. If you or someone you love is seriously injured or killed by a defective product, call the experienced attorneys at Montlick and Associates for a free consultation. We believe that consumers need to have as much information about their rights as possible, and have provided answers to some frequently asked questions about Georgia products liability law below:

While motorcycles can be an enjoyable source for recreation and a fuel efficient means of transportation, they also pose a disproportionately high risk of being involved in catastrophic or fatal accidents. At Montlick & Asssociates, we realize that most motorcycle drivers are well trained, careful, and experienced drivers, but we know that the drivers of larger vehicles don't always see the motorcycle, or don't understand differences in handling characteristics. Even though motorcycles only account for two percent of vehicles on the road, they account for in excess of eight percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents. If the total miles traveled are taken into account, a motorcycle rider is 32 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than someone in an automobile. The experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Montlick & Associates has been helping injured riders and their families for over 39 years.

Because of our experience, we receive many telephone calls from victims of serious motorcycle accidents. We have provided answers to some of the most common questions below:

Nursing home abuse and neglect is both widespread and under-reported, as some of society's most vulnerable citizens' are victimized. While nursing home abuse and neglect can take many forms, it often results in serious injuries and even the tragic death of senior citizens. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been helping injured people throughout Georgia for over a quarter of a century. Here are examples of some of the questions that families often ask us about nursing home abuse:

Montlick & Associates, Georgia Personal Injury Attorneys, honors Roswell High School quarterback, J.P. Douglas, as the Montlick & Associates’ Athlete of the Week for September 3, 2010. Douglas threw for 7 touchdowns during the regular season as a reserve quarterback, and took over the starting position during the playoffs in the 2009 football season. Head Coach Leo Barker says of Douglas, “He is our leader on offense. Kids look up to him and kids respect him. The kids know that in J.P., we have somebody that can get the job done.” Douglas also excels in the classroom, and has set some high goals for himself. He is an AP student being recruited by several Ivy League schools. While Douglas hopes to use his athletic skills to play college football, he plans to use his knowledge to practice medicine.

The Montlick & Associates’ Athlete of the Week is featured on WSB-TV’s Friday night Sportszone program in Atlanta. At the end of the 2010 high school football season, Montlick & Associates will honor an Athlete of the Year. As part of our ongoing commitment to support the community, Montlick & Associates will donate $5,000 to the winner’s school.

A recent $677 million jury verdict against a major California provider of nursing home services highlights the degree and scope of nursing home abuse. It is believed that this is the largest verdict in the country this year. One recent study found that 44% of residents of nursing homes report being a victim of some form of abuse.

A fully loaded semi tractor-trailer can weigh in excess of 80,000 pounds, but is far less responsive than a 3,000 pound passenger vehicle in terms of it's ability to brake, accelerate, and maneuver. This unfortunate combination of factors results in approximately 500,000 accidents involving semi-trucks each year. A collision involving a commercial big rig results in a person being killed or injured every 16 minutes. The enormous weight disparity between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles result in a disproportionate number of fatal accidents when a semi-truck is involved. One in eight motor vehicle fatalities involve a commercial truck.

A pedestrian was fatally run down by a man driving an SUV this weekend as he crossed Marietta Street in Cobb County, Georgia. Witnesses indicated that the vehicle that fled the scene never even slowed down as it crashed into the pedestrian. This tragic accident is just one of many fatal pedestrian accidents in Atlanta and throughout the State of Georgia. A fatal pedestrian hit and run accident can devastate a family emotionally and financially.

When a motor vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the injuries are almost always serious- including head and neck injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, even fatalities. The human body was simply not designed to withstand the impact of thousands of pounds of metal moving at high speeds. When a fatal Georgia pedestrian accident is combined with a driver who flees the scene, the stress and grief associated with the accident is even greater. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we understand the heartache that accompanies such a tragedy and have been helping victims of fatal pedestrian accidents for over 39 years.

Montlick & Associates, Atlanta Injury Attorneys, recognizes Colby Smith of Parkview High School as the Montlick & Associates’ Athlete of the Week for August 27, 2010. Smith excels on the field as a three sport athlete and two year starter; and off the field as a 3.9 GPA honor student, student council representative and Sunday school teacher. “You name it and he does it. He never misses anything. He finds time to do it all” says Coach Cecil Flowe. Smith lines up as tight end for the Parkview Panthers and hopes to someday play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Montlick & Associates Athlete of the Week is featured on WSB-TV’s Friday night Sportszone program in Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of the 2010 high school football season, Montlick & Associates will honor an Athlete of the Year. As part of our ongoing commitment to support the community, Montlick & Associates will donate $5,000 to the winner’s school.

The scope of the danger of suffering catastrophic injuries and even fatal injuries from a fall has been confirmed by the results of a study just released from the United Nations health agency.  That study indicated that 424,000 people die worldwide from falls making it the largest cause of accidental death in the world other than auto accidents.

An additional 37.3 million people are injured in falls each year seriously enough to require medical treatment. The construction industry is one of the largest source of falls in the U.S. often resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. The magnitude of the problem is reflected in the fact that 10% of all construction related deaths result from accidents involving falls. The Atlanta law firm of Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, have been assisting those injured regarding construction related falls from scaffoldings, ladders, roofs or other elevated surfaces for over 39 years.

Car accidents are an unavoidable reality of the widespread use of vehicles in our daily lives. More than 1,720 people are involved in auto accidents per day in Georgia, which amounts to more than 70 accidents per hour. Many of these accidents are severe, leading to catastrophic injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal chord injuries, head and neck injuries, internal organ damage, fractures, paralysis and even fatalities.

People often feel that the roads are safest away from high traffic areas like downtown Atlanta. The thought is that fewer vehicles on the road might mean fewer collisions and less risk of being involved in a serious accident. Ironically, a recent study suggests that rural areas pose a far greater risk in terms of drivers being involved in an automobile accident, both in terms of frequency and the seriousness of one's injuries.

All across Georgia and throughout the U.S., Americans spend much of their lives in a motor vehicle commuting to work, taking our children to school, or driving to the grocery store or local mall. One study found that the average person spends approximately 540 hours per year or over two hours per day in a motor vehicle. Given the enormous amount of time we spend driving, the risk of being involved in an auto accident with a drunk driver is much greater than many would care to imagine. Tragically, many of us have a loved one who may have been involved in an alcohol related car accident and suffered catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. The victim of a drunk driving accident is almost always not responsible for causing an accident, but helpless to avoid it as well.

Although it was recently reported that many of the Toyota sudden acceleration accidents were a result of driver error, sudden acceleration accidents have caused serious auto accidents and resulted in judgments against auto manufacturers as large as 80 million dollars ($80,000,000). A sudden acceleration accident occurs when a driver experiences a rapid unintended acceleration of a vehicle.

The tragic news of a 4 year old Lawrenceville girl who died in a drowning accident despite Gwinnett County Fire Department personnel's attempts to rescue and resuscitate her was devastating for her family and the community. Unfortunately, tragic swimming pool accidents are not uncommon and most often claim small children as their victims.

If you suffer a personal injury in an auto accident, trucking accident, SUV rollover accident, motorcycle accident or any other type of accident causing injuries, catastrophic injuries or fatalities, your claim against the other driver will often be based on the negligence of the other driver. Negligence in its simplest sense means something akin to carelessness or fault but that is an oversimplification.

When drivers or passengers are involved in serious auto accidents, there can be signifcant challenges in seeking appropriate compensation from other drivers. Sometimes the other driver may be uninsured or underinsured such that there is not sufficient insurance coverage, especially when someone suffers catastrophic injuries or death. It is important to note that when a person who causes an accident is working on the job at the time, their employer may be liable for all injuries and damages that were caused under the doctrine of "respondeat superior," which literally means "let the employer answer."

For over a quarter of a century the Attorneys at Montlick and Associates have been helping people who are injured in serious auto accidents by careless and inattentive driving, including pursuing claims against negligent drivers' employers.

It's a day like any other day as you climb behind the wheel of your motor vehicle and head out to take your children to school or drive to work when you are suddenly involved in a motor vehicle accident. Last year, almost 34,000 people were killed and another 2.2 million were injured in auto accidents. 1,603 people were involved in fatal accidents in the state of Georgia alone.

When someone close to us is killed by the negligent or intentional act of another, the emotional impact on a family is overwhelming. In addition to the enormous stress and emotional toll, families often face tremendous financial problems in the form of massive medical, funeral and burial expenses and even loss of family income. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our goal is to assist a family through such a tragedy by removing the financial and legal issues from the sphere of the family's attention so that they may focus on what is really important in terms of healing and coping.

The Georgia Worker's Compensation System is designed to compensate workers who are injured in the course and scope of employment. Unfortunately, poultry workers have a high rate of work-related injuries, including many that may make it impossible to continue working in the industry.

With the overwhelming popularity of social networks like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn, people may not realize that they are living their lives under extraordinary scrutiny. Privacy concerning one's daily activities has become largely a thing of the past for those who routinely use social networks.

Many residents in apartment complexes become victims of violent crimes because of inadequate security measures taken by the owner of the apartment complex. It is tragic when an apartment resident is the victim of a violent crime such as rape, assault or murder. Inadequate security cases generally fall under the legal area of premises liability law.

A tenant under Georgia premises liability law would be classified as an invitee, because the tenant has a mutual contractual relationship with the owner of the property. Because a property owner/landlord is in a position to have superior knowledge of dangerous conditions related to the property, including past crime, the owner has an obligation to keep tenants free from hazards through the exercise of ordinary care. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been helping victims of violent crime recover against property owners with inadequate security for over 39 years.

A premises liability claim involves injuries that occur when someone is on the property of another.  This can include slip and falls, dangerous natural conditions, man made hazards, criminal attacks, and false arrest or imprisonment, to name just a few examples. If you are injured on the property of another, you may have a right to seek compensation for your injuries from the person who owns or is in control of the property.

An official for Norfolk Southern recently reported that an employee was involved in a fatal train accident near Marietta Road in Atlanta. This tragic railroad accident is not an isolated incident. Railroad workers face such a dangerous work environment that Congress passed the Federal Employers' Liability Act (commonly known as "FELA") to provide protection and compensation for injuries to the many railroad employees across the country.  The law regarding the compensation of injured railroad employees is a hybrid of worker's compensation and personal injury rules that makes it different from both.

Since their development over thirty years ago, seat belts have become the most important piece of automobile safety equipment. We have also seen public safety messages and campaigns related to seat belts, such as "buckle up for safety" and "click it or ticket." Despite the widespread publicity promoting the importance of seat belts if one is involved in a serious car accident, there is an important piece of information that is not widely known to the public. Thousands of drivers dutifully buckle their seat belt and that of their children every time they get behind the wheel, only to find that their safety belt does not provide the protection that was promised. Thousands of Americans have been killed or suffered catastrophic injuries during auto accidents despite conscientious use of their seat belts, because their belts have suddenly become unlatched or otherwise failed.

The development of airbags has protected many Georgia residents from catastrophic injuries and fatalities in moderate to high speed collisions. It has been estimated that airbags, during an approximately 20 year period, prevented an estimated 5,303 front seat occupants from fatalities. Airbags are a valuable piece of safety equipment for protecting those involved in auto accidents from suffering serious injuries or death in a high speed collision. Unfortunately, airbags can cause significant injuries or fatalities when a driver is involved in a low speed crash.

Discovering that someone we love has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect can be heartbreaking. A recent report indicates that as many as two million people over the age of 65 have been abused or neglected. Nursing home abuse and neglect is even more appalling because many of those abused lack the ability to protect themselves or are afraid or unable to alert others that they are being victimized. A recent study revealed that as many as 30% of nursing home staff members admit to having engaged in conduct constituting abuse or neglect. It is reasonable to assume that this estimate probably understates the magnitude of the problem. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been dedicated to helping injured people for over 39 years, and we can help.

It has always been important to Montlick & Associates, Georgia Injury Attorneys, to give something meaningful back to the community. From the important role we play in society as lawyers, to providing well over 1,000,000 free consultations with an attorney, to all of the activities under the umbrella of our HelpKeepKidsSafe.Org and Montlick Family Safety program, to our extensive activities to Support Our Troops, to supporting worthy organizations and various philanthropic opportunities, our commitment to the public and the people we serve is an integral part of who we are.

Montlick & Associates has made an extensive commitment to support the research efforts at the Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center. This particular support is profoundly meaningful to us because the Emory University School of Medicine is involved in important research that will ultimately benefit both our clients and society in general.

The construction industry is among the most dangerous work environments for employees, despite detailed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Construction sites are filled with hazards that endanger both those working on the site, as well as those who are simply passing by or visiting.  Construction sites are typically riddled with a multitude of hazards even if the employer is complying with all federal and state regulations and industry safety standards.

Montlick & Associates, Attorneys Salutes the Best of 2010 with a $5,000 Donation to the Winning Athlete's School!

Montlick & Associates is proud to honor the best on and off Georgia's high school football fields as the exclusive sponsor of WSB-TV's Sports Zone Athlete of the Week and Athlete of the Year. Beginning August 27th through November 5, 2010 a new player will be honored each week on WSB-TV Atlanta's Sports Zone (Fridays from 11:20pm-11:35pm on Channel 2).

As part of its Family Safety Program, Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law appears on the ABC News in Atlanta each week to present valuable safety and legal tips to the community. Watch this week's news segment to learn about our long history of community service, and to hear our special holiday safety message. You can also download our firm's safe driving guide for this week: Five Steps to Help Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents.

The popularity of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) continues to grow despite the growing number of people who are seriously injured or killed while operating the vehicles. Two incidents in July serve as examples of the danger posed by recreational ATV use. Three teenage girls were riding an ATV on a city street in Douglas County and apparently lost control of the vehicle as they tried to negotiate a curve.

A recent fatal trucking accident in Sandy Springs, Georgia serves as a sad reminder of the dangers posed when 80,000 pound fully loaded commercial trucks share the roadways with 3,000 pound passenger automobiles. Rosario Velez, 44, had stopped in the emergency lane of I-285 at Riverside Drive.

The Georgia Injury Attorneys at Montlick & Associates were contacted by a man who fell through the floor of a home. After being invited to his neighbor’s house to view an area under construction, the client, while walking around the second story of the neighbor’s home, fell through the sub-floor and landed on a concrete surface below.

Everyday folks in Atlanta and throughout the State of Georgia load their children in the car, buckle them up in a child restraint system (car seat) or seat belt, and head out to conduct their daily affairs. Most parents do not realize how much danger lurks for our children when we take such trips.

Unfortunately, 250,000 children a year are injured in auto accidents and over 2,000 suffer fatalities according to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA). Car accidents are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 2-14. Many of us assume that our children are safe because we faithfully use a child restraint system. Our sense of security is misplaced as one study shows that as many as 80% of child safety restraints are used incorrectly because of the lack of compatibility between child restraint systems and automobile seat belts.

While most people driving trucks are careful, safe drivers, the reality is that when a car collides with a large truck the injuries are likely to be severe. Commercial trucks cause the death of thousands of people and injure hundreds of thousands more in the U.S. each year. The enormous size and weight of commercial trucks can approach as much as 80,000 pounds or more when fully loaded, so such accidents usually result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.

While statistically air travel is the safest form of travel based on accident rates, serious aviation accidents almost always result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. The volume of air travel is predicted to increase dramatically over the next two decades, which will mean a corresponding increase in the number of residents in the greater Atlanta metro area and throughout Georgia who are the tragic victims of aviation accidents. Aviation accident cases often involve several potentially responsible parties; complex state, federal and international laws and regulations; and detailed engineering and aviation industry standards.

Be Prepared with Our Auto Accident Checklist

Watch this video from ABC News to see Montlick & Associates' Family Safety Advocate share important tips to follow if you are ever involved in an automobile accident. For a step by step guide on what to do at the scene of an accident; print out our Auto Accident Checklist and Accident Notes Form below and place it in your glove box. We hope you will never need them, but they are very helpful tools to have if you are ever in an accident.