Blog Archive - January, 2013

Ford Motors has announced a recall of the 2013 Fusion and Escape crossovers that are equipped with a 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine.

Although more extensive use of airbags in cars, trucks and SUVs has contributed to fewer serious permanent injuries and fatalities in motor vehicle collisions, defective airbags can expose vehicle occupants to devastating injuries.

Our Georgia 15-passenger vans accident attorneys are well aware of the serious dangers posed by these dangerous motor vehicles. Excursions that involve church choral groups, civic organizations, nursing homes and other groups often means a spike in use of 15-passenger vans.

When motorists in Georgia discuss insurance coverage with their insurance agent, the issue of whether to take optional uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage as well as the amount of actual coverage is an important issue to consider. Many drivers elect to save a few dollars by declining UM/UIM coverage. If you are on the fence about the value of UM/UIM coverage, the knowledge that there are drivers like Michael O. Snider may provide guidance when making your decision. Snider, a 70-year-old man, allegedly caused 15 wrecks while driving drunk through both Gwinnett County and DeKalb County this week according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A Texas woman was awarded over $22 million in damages by a state court jury who found Coca-Cola and one of their marketing representatives at fault, because the employee was driving distracted while conducting business via a hands-free cellular device when the crash occurred.

A fatal Cherokee County forklift accident this week provides a tragic reminder that forklifts are frequently the most dangerous piece of heavy machinery at a construction site, manufacturing plant, warehouse or supermarket.

Graphic images this week on recent television news broadcasts depicted a parent’s worst nightmare – children strapped to gurneys and wearing oxygen masks being hauled away from a local Atlanta elementary school.

Bounce houses (also known as “jumpers”) are such a common source of fun for kids that most parents have watched their kids play in these enclosed inflatable trampoline type structures. Jumpers are common at birthday parties, children’s entertainment centers and other venues with activities oriented toward children.

Most bicycle enthusiasts in the greater Atlanta metro area recognize the dangers posed by careless or distracted motorists. Some bike riders adapt their riding practices to avoid high risk areas.

The conduct of paramedics and other emergency responders often make the difference between catastrophic injuries and full recovery.

Georgia personal injury attorneys report Georgia fire safety officials are concerned about the sudden spike in fire-related fatalities during the first few weeks of 2013. According to a Henry County fire captain, Georgia has seen 13 fire fatalities during the initial two weeks of January.

Many bicyclists that suffer serious injuries in accidents with drivers of cars, trucks and SUVs contact our experienced Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers to inquire about suing the owner of a vehicle when someone else was the driver at the time of the accident. Because bicyclists have no protection from the impact of a collision with a motor vehicle, a bicycle accident can result in devastating injuries to a bicyclist.

If the notion of metal component rubbing against each other inside your body makes you cringe, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed last week that you have a reason to be concerned.

The settlement this week of a case against Eli Lilly involving breast cancer allegedly caused by taking diethylstilbestrol (DES) may lead to settlement of many similar pending cases against the manufacturers of the drug.

The Montlick & Associates Henry County auto accident attorneys are sad to report how a fatal collision on I-75 in Henry County provides yet another tragic reminder of the danger of navigating Georgia streets and highways when the roads are wet or visibility is limited.

A tragic semi-truck accident provides a frightening example of the consequences when a trucking company looks the other way and permits an 80,000 pound fully loaded tractor-trailer to be operated by a truck driver with a serious medical condition.

The December holiday season and New Year’s Eve is a period when drivers are traveling more vehicle miles. This season is also filled with Christmas parties in homes, workplaces and other celebrations that often include alcohol or drugs.

A recent tragic pit bull attack of a 5-year-old Spaulding County girl provides a reminder of the unique danger posed by pit bulls and other aggressive dog breeds. The girl was injured when the pit bull latched onto her face and refused to release her face from its jaws.

Although distracted driving has received significant attention as a serious public safety issue, distracted pedestrians have received a lot less attention. Kids walking down the street or crossing an intersection while their eyes are glued to the display of electronic devices like a mobile phone, iPod, Kindle or tablet computer are extremely common.

Concussions, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage suffered in contact sports like football have received media attention for years, but only recently have the press and public started to focus on the dangers associated with cheerleading accidents. While some may dispute whether cheerleading is a sport, there can be no debate that it is potentially dangerous. According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, cheerleading accounts for 65 percent of all serious female sport-related injuries.

While public awareness campaigns such as Montlick & Associates' Don't Text & Drive Campaign, anti-cell phone laws and stepped up enforcement efforts have reduced the frequency of distracted driving accidents, inattentive driving remains one of the leading causes of motor vehicle-related fatalities.

A 70-year-old man was killed in a collision with a 17-year-old female driver when the teen made a left-hand turn in front of the fatality victim, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The teen driver has been charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and failure to yield.

A multi-car pileup in the Midwest that was caused by the first significant snowstorm of the season serves as notice that winter weather has arrived. While the 25 car pile-up that resulted in one fatality and many injuries was caused by snow, these types of dangerous collisions may be caused by forms of adverse weather that we see more frequently in Atlanta, like fog and rain.

Distracted drivers are responsible for a significant number of rear-end collisions. When a driver is texting on a cell phone or reviewing documents when approaching an intersection, a brief moment of distraction is sufficient for the driver to slam into a vehicle stopped at a red light.

When DeKalb County motorists travel the roads throughout the area, they may presume that if they drive cautiously and focus on the road they will avoid accidents. While prudent driving is important, drivers have no control over other drivers who tailgate and speed, or drive while intoxicated or distracted.

A new study reveals that prescription psychotropic drugs used to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia impair driving ability and increase the risk of car accidents. The findings published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology provides new evidence that driving under the influence of drugs like Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta and Imovane (collectively referred to as “Z-drugs”) contributes to an increased risk of causing a car accident. The authors of the study recommend that drivers consider staying off the road when taking these medications.

Commercial semi-trucks pose unprecedented dangers to other vehicle occupants and pedestrians that include their massive size, limited responsiveness, longer braking distance and enormous blind spots.

Motor vehicles transport a wide range of cargo, but parents typically regard their children as the most precious cargo. Our Georgia car accident lawyers understand that small children and babies who are not properly secured in a child safety restraint system face a particularly high risk of suffering serious injury in any accident.

The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Montlick & Associates understand that when you are involved in a motor vehicle collision while traveling the roadways of Atlanta, the surrounding metro counties, and throughout the state of Georgia, the hardships that you face may include intense pain, disability, medical expenses, insurance hassles and legal obstacles.

The enactment of a new social host ordinance in Kennesaw is intended to discourage parents who furnish alcohol to those who are underage.  Teen drunken driving accidents are one of the most common causes of serious car accidents which result in permanent injury and wrongful death.  Parents that host teenage parties and provide alcohol in their home may be subject to six months in county jail, substantial fines and even a civil penalty in an amount to be determined by a judge.

If you work on a construction site with cranes, you know that they are one of the most dangerous pieces of heavy machinery used on construction projects.  OSHA data indicates that cranes cause a higher number of construction accidents than any other type of construction equipment. 

College students may have many worries, including upcoming exams, research projects and less official worries like finding the best weekend party. Most students at the University of Georgia, Georgia State University and other college campuses do not worry about the possibility that they will be the victim of a violent attack.

The manufacturer of a water expanding toy has voluntarily recalled the product because it poses a severe choking hazard and may cause severe injury or death. The manufacturer of the defective product, Dunecraft, Inc. is recalling approximately 100,000 Fabulous Flowers, Water Balz, H2O Orbs “Despicable Me” and Growing Skulls according to an article published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Our Georgia accident lawyers have noticed that an increasing number of motor vehicle accidents are caused by sleep deprived drivers. This is because many Americans are working longer hours and multiple jobs to make ends meet. The skill and alertness necessary to safely operate a car, truck, SUV, motorcycle or semi-truck can be severely compromised when a driver is struggling with fatigue.

Seatbelt use can provide significant protection to vehicle occupants in a rollover accident involving a car, pickup truck or SUV because the driver and passengers are not ejected. Many rollover accidents result in only minor injuries when seatbelts are used, since the speed of the vehicle slows as it is rolling over.

Our Georgia personal injury lawyers understand that many people travel to visit family, especially during the holidays, and some of those family members will be exposed to dogs. When relatives visit, it is natural to assume that a loved one’s dog will be friendly and unlikely to bite or attack.

When drivers do not safely maintain their vehicle, they place passengers and everyone else using the roadways in danger. Teenagers’ lack of experience and familiarity with vehicle maintenance issues can result in motor vehicle malfunctions that cause car accidents or contribute to more serious injury in collisions.

A Bartow County trucking accident that forced closure of I-75 recently claimed the lives of three people in a fiery wreck. A spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol indicated that the commercial truck struck a guardrail and concrete pillar which caused a suspended sign to fall and the semi-truck to burst into flames.