Blog Archive - August, 2013

This is Part 2 of our series of blogs discussing ten facts about semi-truck accidents in Georgia that are important to know if you or a loved one is injured in a Georgia trucking accident.  The trucking industry is closely regulated by both the federal government and the State of Georgia because of the potential danger to others who must share the roadways with these massive motor vehicles.  Because trucking regulations designed to reduce the risk of Atlanta semi-truck accidents can have a real economic cost to commercial carriers and drivers with a commercial driver’s license, those in the trucking industry have a strong economic incentive to cut corners or ignore these regulations to increase their bottom line.  We have provided some key facts about trucking industry regulations relevant to many trucking accident claims.

Many families spend summer days experiencing the thrills of roller coasters and other rides and attractions at amusement parks, but theme parks, amusement parks, carnivals and fairs can be filled with potential hazards that have the potential to lead to serious injury. Many people presume that there are only a handful of roller coaster accidents each year because only the most significant accidents that result in wrongful death or catastrophic injuries are widely reported by the media.

While there are many situations where drivers of passenger cars, SUVs and other vehicles can cause a collision with a motorcyclist, sometimes the motorcyclist can cause a serious collision.  If a motorcyclist cuts off a car when changing lanes, the driver of the car may suddenly veer into an adjacent traffic lane or lock up the brakes in an effort to avoid colliding with the motorcycle.  This type of situation can lead to terrible injuries for occupants of the car, occupants of other vehicles and the motorcyclist.  While speeding is an unsafe practice no matter what vehicle someone is driving, traveling at recklessly high speeds on a motorcycle can easily turn into a serious multi-vehicle accident.

While most adults recognize that teen drivers are the most likely age group to be involved in a deadly collision, a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) provides some insight for parents in terms of risk factors and preventive measures to keep teenager drivers safe.  The study found that excessive speed is a major factor in many serious teen driving accidents.

Although most people recognize the risk of alcohol impairment when operating a motor vehicle, fewer individuals are aware that intoxicated pedestrians in the vicinity of motor vehicles can pose a comparably dangerous risk.  According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than a third of all fatal pedestrian crashes involve a drunk pedestrian, which is the same percentage of motor vehicle fatalities caused by drunk drivers.  The results of the study demonstrate that whether a person is operating a motor vehicle or walking for exercise, alcohol and motor vehicles in close proximity are a dangerous combination.

While stories about bicyclists being involved in collisions that result in a conviction for vehicular manslaughter are not that unique, a fatal bicycle accident in California reported by the AP focuses attention on a risk that is not quite as common.  The bicyclist in this fatal collision is not the wrongful death victim but the party who was convicted of vehicular manslaughter for running down a 71-year-old senior citizen according to the AP report.  Most pedestrians understand the potential risk posed by a motor vehicle but may be less attentive to the potential risk of being hit by a speeding bicyclist.

If you enjoying walking or running to stay fit or just for fun, there are many enjoyable locations for pedestrians in and around the Atlanta area. While a park or other areas that are clearly segregated from vehicle traffic may provide the safest locations for walking, many pedestrian choose to run on the shoulder of streets or must cross at intersections. When motorists are busy reading a text on their cell phone, updating their Facebook status or speeding, the result can be devastating for those crossing the street or walking on the edge of the roadway.

When accidents occur at highway speeds, the force of impact exacted on vehicle occupants can cause devastating injuries that permanently affect the quality of life of drivers and passengers.  When Georgia motorists are involved in head-on collisions, the force of impact and severity of injuries are often more severe than in any other type of crash.  A research study conducted by the Association for the Advancement of Automobile Medicine (AAAM) has provided suggestions regarding a new safety consideration in the design of vehicles that may make occupants safer during these extremely dangerous types of collisions.  While many presume that the bulk and weight of a vehicle, such as a large SUV is a key factor of crashworthiness in head-on collisions, a recent study suggest this is not the only safety feature that new car purchasers may want to consider.

The dangers of disregarding traffic signals at busy intersections can scarcely be overstated.  Drivers that run red lights or disregard flashing yellow lights that indicate a driver must yield can put vehicle occupants directly on a path that leads to a devastating collision.  Collisions caused by drivers that disregard traffic signals could be caused by driver inattention, excessive speed or simply reckless driving.  Because intersections necessarily entail vehicles crossing paths, the coordination offered by observing traffic signs and signals as well as right of way rules is essential to preventing serious accidents.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that there are more than 2.3 million people per year injured in motor vehicle accidents in the United States.  These reported injuries are physical injuries that may have physical manifestations and symptoms or that may be subject to verification by a diagnostic tool.  However, there is a less apparent harm suffered by many motor vehicle accident victims in Georgia that can have just as devastating an impact on an injury victim’s quality of life as any physical injury.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often causes enormous hardships for accident victims long after their physical injuries have healed.

Sometimes those injured in serious motor vehicle accidents are the victims of misinformation and myths perpetrated by the auto insurance industry and the business community.  The rationale is to discourage people from pursuing valid personal injury claims through misinformation.  An example of this type of false information perpetrated by the insurance industry is that rear-end collisions tend to occur at relatively low rates of speed and do not justify substantial damages.  The theory is that minor vehicle damages equate to minimal injuries.  In reality, rear-enders often result in very serious injuries.

Many people traveling to Atlanta or throughout Georgia by commercial airlines use shuttles to get to the airport from their home and to get to their hotel or rental car from the airport.  These shuttle services often use buses, passenger vans and limousines to transport travelers.  While these shuttle services have the advantage of being low cost or even free of charge, these rides can result in severe injury or even wrongful death when the shuttle company and/or driver fail to exercise reasonable care for the safety of passengers.  Our experienced Atlanta shuttle bus accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates provide compassionate and aggressive legal representation to shuttle accident victims.