Blog Archive - August, 2011

While there has been dramatic increases in recent years in motor vehicle safety and reduced injuries and fatalities in collisions between motor vehicles, these improvements have not translated into improved pedestrian safety.

Cell phone-related distracted driving is a leading cause of Atlanta distracted driving car accidents. While the increasing prevalence of electronic devices are certainly a leading cause of serious car accidents in Georgia, other driver distractions also interfere with safe driving, including eating and drinking while driving.

Red light cameras have been the subject of widespread debate in Georgia regarding their impact in reducing auto accidents and personal liberty. Many critics of red light cameras contend that the primary motivation behind use of the cameras is filling the tax coffers.

Many have heard of the moth effect that some people believe causes drivers to steer toward lights of vehicles parked on the side of the road resulting in serious Georgia car accidents. A wealth of academic research has been conducted on the “moth to the flame effect” or “moth effect.”

A woman was struck and killed by a piece of metal protruding from a truck in Clayton County. The pedestrian was not even on the roadway but was in a grassy area off to the side of the road. Law enforcement accident investigators indicated that they believe a metal fence pole fell off the truck of a fencing company. The metal object struck the accident victim in the back of the head.

There have been significant advancements in vehicle safety in terms of the development of anti-collision systems that alert drivers of potential hazards that cause car accidents on Georgia roadways.

Golf carts are a popular mode of recreational activity on the golf course as well as off the course in Georgia. Although golf carts can be fun, they also are prone to rollover accidents that can result in serious head trauma. Whether you are tooling around a private community enjoying the summer sun or on vacation trying to get in a relaxing round of golf, golf carts can pose a substantial risk of serious injuries.

The issue of legal duty is one that is a foreign concept to many who suffer serious injury or wrongful death in Georgia. Many presume that if a person is in physical danger and another person could render aid with little or no risk that the law must impose a requirement to render assistance.

The first FDA study of stem cell research is underway and offers the potential promise of restoring sensation and mobility for spinal cord injury (SCI) victims that have suffered injury in motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents and other serious accidents.

A recent article published in the New York Times suggests that improvements in playground safety have made playgrounds “too safe.”   Playground equipment has undergone major changes designed to prevent serious injuries such as strangulation, head trauma and fractures resulting from falls.

Distracted driving is the leading cause of teen auto accident fatalities in the U.S. based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Although alcohol-related teen auto accidents have declined, the overall teen accident rates have remained constant because of offsetting increases in accidents caused by distracted teen drivers (based on data provided by a State Farm Insurance Study and NHTSA Study). Although 90 percent of teen drivers deny that they drink and drive, the same percentage admit to observing drivers distracted by passengers or cell phone usage according to the National Teen Driver Survey.

A collision in which a driver plowed into a police officer this past weekend provides a reminder of the danger faced by law enforcement officers when assisting motorists or enforcing traffic laws. Many times police officers must leave the safety of their vehicle on a busy interstate for a variety of tasks including assisting at the scene of an accident, aiding stranded motorists and enforcing traffic safety by issuing citations.

One of the most frightening experiences for a driver traveling down a Georgia freeway or approaching an Atlanta intersection is to depress the brake pedal and have nothing happen. Brakes that malfunction are one of the most dangerous types of vehicle equipment failures and can easily cause a serious auto accident.