Blog Archive - May, 2011

The legal term for a statutory deadline within which one must bring a lawsuit involving personal injury or wrongful death is called the statute of limitations.

The average tractor-trailer can weigh anywhere from 12,000-80,000 pounds. This is about 25 times more than the average passenger automobile.

Defense driving today is even more important than ever before. With so many drivers being distracted by the use of electronic devices and other things, it is a driver's responsibility to keep an eye open and be prepared for any potential problems while behind the wheel of the car.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced new measures to help ensure the safety of passengers traveling by bus lines in our country. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has indicated that new measures and requirements are being put in place to help ensure the safety of passengers and to monitor carriers and drivers to make sure that they are complying with federal regulations.

Intersections tend to be dangerous places for both bicyclists and motorcyclists. Drivers in automobiles may speed up at intersections when they are trying to beat a yellow light or rush into traffic at a green lights without waiting until all traffic is safely through the light.

Driving at night can be risky business, and many drivers do not take into account that it can present hazards that are not present during daytime driving hours.

State highways have reduced speed limits for tractor-trailer trucks for a number of reasons. The road can be winding, have steep inclines or declines and be mountainous and/or very narrow.

Stop and go accidents can occur on any road and are more common than you may think. Drivers are more and more distracted by other things and do not pay attention to traffic in front of them as well as they should.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new mandatory standard to improve the safety of toddler beds.

Tailgating is a contributing factor in more than one-third of all auto accidents on our roadways according to research by the Highways Agency. By following too closely, it decreases the amount of time that a driver has to react in the event of a problem.

There have recently been reports by the FDA of methemoglobinemia, which is a rare but potentially life-threatening side effect associated with the use of products that contain benzocaine.

The DePuy Pinnacle hip system was introduced to the market in 2001 by the company DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., a subsidiary of the Johnson & Johnson company.

With the nice weather coming, chances are people will be spending a lot more time outdoors, which can mean spending more time on outdoor porches, balconies, decks and patios.

It is now known that the long-term effects of successive head injuries can last a lifetime for some that play contact sports.

It seems the world of Apple's iPhone and iPad users have another app at their disposal, this one is designed to prevent them from falling asleep behind the wheel of their car.

A tragic car accident has resulted in unanticipated consequences here in Atlanta where a 16-year-old teenager has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide for the death of his mother who was a passenger in a car he was driving.

Johnson & Johnson has a lot of image building to do to regain the warm and fuzzy image of a family company that sells Band-Aids and other quality products. Since the beginning of 2010, the company has had over 50 products recalled.

We were saddened to read of the tragic accident a few weeks ago that left one person dead and two injured in the wake of a tragic head-on collision. According to media reports, a car crossed the center divider line when traveling west on Martin Luther King Jr Drive in southwest Atlanta and crashed head-on into a truck.

Spring is here so people are cleaning off their camping equipment in anticipation of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Undoubtedly, this holiday weekend is one of the busiest camping weekends in the country, and it can bring both fun and the risk of serious accidents to those enjoying it.

Last month, Douglas Ray, a 67 year-old man, won in court against Irvine drug maker Allergan Inc. when the federal court jury awarded a verdict of $212 million in his favor.

There is a great deal of media coverage about DUI accidents in the Atlanta metro and elsewhere throughout Georgia. Most people assume that driving under the influence only means driving while intoxicated with alcohol.

There has recently been some investigation related to a recall on GM vehicles due to stalling problems. Federal safety investigators for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are looking at the 2005-07 Buick Rainers, 2005-07 Chevy Trailblazers 360s, 2005-06 Trailblazer EXT 370s, 2005-06 GMC Envoy 360s, 2005-06 GMC Envoy XL 370s, and 2005-07 Saab 9-7Xs. There are 865,000 vehicles altogether being investigated.

On April 29, 2011 the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association of the United States Army recognized Montlick and Associates as the recipient of the 2011 Most Patriotic Business Award.

"You cannot ignore the many acts of service to Soldiers and military families that Montlick and Associates has provided over the years,” said President and Colonel (Retired) Charles Guta. “Patriotic media messages, direct awards of vacation relief to military families, and legal support to our Veterans; Montlick and Associates has made the military an integral part of their corporate responsibility program and we must recognize that fact positively."

In yet another pit bull attack, a young boy from southwest Atlanta had to be taken to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Monday for lacerations to his face.

Alcohol-impaired driving is still a significant public-safety problem in the United States, resulting in 17,000 auto accidents per year. If drunk drivers perceive that they will be stopped or arrested for what they do, the presumption is that they will be less likely to engage in this exceedingly risky behavior.

Car accidents have been on the decline, and much of that can be attributed to the increase of safety features in newer vehicles over the years.

The stroller industry remains highly unregulated, and there are no federal or state mandated standards in the U.S. even today for strollers.

Since the 1950s, the FDA has required that dosing instructions for children under the age of two be left off of children's over-the-counter medications.

When people get hurt in a car wreck, the first priority must always be treatment for any injured people. Later, there are property damage issues to deal with as well.

With the recent bad storms here in Atlanta, we are reminded that weather conditions directly affect the number of auto accidents in not only Atlanta but throughout the state.

There have been two recent swimming accidents in the Atlanta area that provide a stark reminder of the dangers of drowning as summer approaches.

It was revealed on Friday that two San Diego activists have filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of California that names A.I.G, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank as defendants.

Each year in the United States, 90,000 people are injured, and about 1,000 are killed by people who run red lights. A crash involving red light runners is more likely than any other type of crash to result in some degree of injury.

According to a MARTA spokesperson, "Safety and security are MARTA's highest priorities..." These seem like hollow words in light of an incident that just occurred involving one of their buses and 62 year old passenger Lettie Robinson.

Consumer safety experts are leading the push for new standards for ATVs and other off-highway vehicles.

When a state law conflicts with a federal law, the federal law prevails. This principle is referred to as the doctrine of preemption.

Pedestrian safety throughout Atlanta and all of Georgia becomes a bigger and bigger issue as cities continue to grow and more cars are on the road everyday.

Driving under the influence is a strong predictor of the risk of automobile collisions and puts many lives in danger, including drivers and passengers in surrounding vehicles as well as bystanders, such as pedestrians.

Regular inspections and maintenance are the responsibility of every trucking company that owns trucks and every driver that drives the commercial trucks.

Train service to the Kensington MARTA station was suspended last month after a MARTA train hit a man. Without many witnesses and with the investigation ongoing, it is not clear at this time whether the man was pushed, fell or jumped onto the tracks.

Most people recognize that careless and inconsiderate drivers are a frequent cause of Georgia car accidents. Few would be surprised to hear that defective cars and defective parts also cause many serious motor vehicle accidents.

It is estimated that 5,000 teenagers die a year in auto accidents. In the U.S., almost 13 percent of all fatal crashes are alcohol-related, and 40 percent of that number involve teens drinking and driving.

Summer is right around the corner, which means that people will be pulling out their Jet Skis, Seadoos, Wave Runners and other personal watercrafts (PWCs).

A human being has limited abilities when it comes to processing information. These limitations, when combined with certain situations, contribute to Georgia auto accidents. Humans rely on perception, attention, and memory when processing information.

A pharmacist has a duty to safeguard their patients from pharmacy error.

We hear about dog attacks quite often in the news, but it does not make them any less shocking, especially when they involve children.

A man, who was charged last week with driving under the influence of prescription drugs, serious injury by vehicle, and following too closely, just had a new charge added to the list. He is now also being convicted on felony vehicular homicide, which could bring him 15 years in prison.

A visit to a Georgia emergency room can literally mean the difference between life and death, and you have no choice but to rely on medical professionals to provide you with the best care as quickly as possible.

Rear-end collisions are a common form of motor vehicle accident in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. If you are involved in a rear-end car crash, it can be extremely upsetting because you may be stopped for traffic and feel helpless to avoid the accident.

Rural roads and interstate highways are where many car accidents occur that result in serious injuries and fatalities.

In light of a wave of recent tour bus accidents occurring across our nation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is committed to reviewing both regulatory and operational practices in the discount tour bus industry.

The highways of Georgia have been less than safe recently with some appalling recent instances of road rage.

Electricity is a part of our everyday lives whether we like it or not. We come into contact with it when we turn on our lights, appliances, and tools and don't even think about it for the most part.

Driving while texting or using cell phones has been the primary focus of discussions involving distracted driving, but there is another distracted driving hazard that is garnering an increasing amount of attention and debate.

Those who ride motorcycles are particularly vulnerable in serious motor vehicle accidents. The staggering number of serious head injuries suffered by those who ride motorcycles led many states to pass mandatory helmet laws.

Spring is the peak season for tornadoes, and unfortunately some years Georgia is hit hard, resulting in a fair number of injuries, hundreds of lost homes and even tragic deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driver inattention is the cause of almost eighty percent of all traffic crashes, and mobile phone use is the most common distraction of all.

In June of 2010, Georgia's governor, Sonny Perdue, signed into law a bill that would require drivers and front passengers in pickup trucks to wear seat belts.

Cranes are a fundamental piece of heavy machinery used in the construction industry. While mobile cranes serve a vital and even essential role in many building projects, they are a leading cause of serious injury and wrongful death in construction accidents.

The majority of the time airbags operate effectively and safely. Airbags have saved almost 25,000 lives since 1970, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) between 1990 and 2007 airbags that malfunctioned accounted for the deaths of 284 people.

Tire blowout accidents on the highway cause serious injuries to thousands of people every year. It is not an uncommon sight to see tire parts from tractor-trailer trucks strewn all over the highways.

Few people ever expect to be injured in a car accident when riding as a passenger in another person’s car. An injured passenger has as much claim to compensation for injuries suffered in a serious Georgia car accident as a driver who was not at-fault.

Police car chases last an average of 2.5 minutes with 30-40% of these chases ending up in car crashes.

Summer is almost here and many people are getting ready to enjoy their boat. A boat can be great source of fun and recreation whether wakeboarding or fishing. However, a fun afternoon out on the water can quickly turn into a fatal boating accident.

Reckless driving is defined under Georgia law as driving in a manner that exhibits reckless disregard of property or other people and is a misdemeanor. Reckless driving includes any unsafe driving practice that recklessly places anyone in the surrounding area at risk of injury or even death. Georgia law does not specify how fast or what circumstances demonstrate “reckless regard” for property or the safety of others.

In the state of Georgia, bicycles are considered vehicles, and cyclists are vehicle operators with the right to be safely accommodated everywhere they wish to ride, just as every other vehicle operator.

When Atlanta drivers leave their home each morning to commute to work, it is highly unlikely that anyone considered the possibility that he or she might be involved in a dump truck accident.

At a time when drunken-driving deaths are dropping, deaths caused by people driving while impaired by prescription or illegal drugs are increasing.

Customers who are injured in a slip and fall accident in a Georgia grocery store should consult a personal injury attorney who is experienced in handling these types of cases.

In a class action lawsuit, a plaintiff or a group of plaintiffs represent a larger group of people with similar legal claims against a particular defendant or group of defendants.

As part of Montlick & Associates’ commitment to driver safety, we are proud to partner with the Safe America Foundation in support of their SafeTeen Georgia Driving Academy. This Saturday, May 7th, hundreds of teens and their parents will gather at the Atlanta Motor Speedway for a day of interactive training designed to give young drivers hands-on driving experience in a safe learning environment. Teens will learn the basics of safe driving from experts including law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

Industrial accidents can be gruesome in nature and are frequently fatal. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that in 2007, there were a total of 5,488 deaths in the U.S. due to these types of accidents.

There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the effectiveness of DUI checkpoints with widely divergent opinion depending on who is asked. The alcohol beverage industry predictably contends that DUI checkpoints are ineffective and costly.

SUV's are often purchased by people who are athletic, enjoy outdoor activities, want to tow things like boats, as well as for family use, and who care about safety.

Intel Corporation has a goal of developing a truly intelligent car. A "smart" car, if you will, that will earn its name for the data that it can gather, not for just the great fuel mileage it gets. Their vision is that one day there will be a car that makes decisions on its own.

The popularity of plastic surgery is growing at a phenomenal rate. While elective cosmetic surgery was once entirely within the province of the rich and famous, it is now common amongst those from all walks of life.

A massive recall of box fans manufactured by Lasko Products Inc. has been announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) because of a risk of fire hazard.

Serious personal injuries can happen in the blink of an eye and can happen anywhere including at home, work, the grocery store or driving in your car.

A week ago in Texas, police found a woman dead in a parking lot after being shot by a woman who confronted her due to a road rage incident. The woman who was killed allegedly cutoff a woman in a white SUV.

Greenstone LLC, a Pfizer subsidiary, is in the news after the disclosure that the labels on two of its drugs were inadvertently put on the wrong bottles, according to the FDA.

One of the biggest tragedies in many slip and fall accidents is that people do not act quickly enough in seeking medical treatment or in obtaining competent legal advice. This can result in a significant reduction in the value of a slip and fall accident claim.

It is prom and graduation season in Georgia, and along with all of the fun that teenagers can have comes a high degree of danger from teens that drive after they have been drinking or staying out late.

If you suffer serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall or workplace accident involving heavy machinery, you may face months and even years of pain, medical care and rehabilitative therapy.

TPN, otherwise known as total parenteral nutrition, was deemed to be the cause in an outbreak of Serratia marcescens bacteria in six Alabama hospitals recently.

Media Release. Atlanta, GA—April 12, 2011—Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association of the United States Army announces the selection of Montlick and Associates CEO David Montlick as the recipient of the 2011 Patriotic Business Award. The award ceremony will be held at 11:30 am on April 29, 2011 in the ballroom of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland St NE, Atlanta, GA, 30303.