Blog Archive - January, 2016

If you are a victim of a motor-vehicle incident caused by a negligent person or party, you usually will have to deal with an insurance adjuster. The process of dealing with insurance adjusters can be complicated, frustrating, and fraught with peril. Because adjusters must interact with a high volume of people often under tense and stressful conditions, they typically exhibit strong people skills. If you suffer severe injuries and face significant medical expenses, vehicle repair or replacement costs, pain and suffering or lost wages, it is important not to be misled by the amicable demeanor and apparent cooperation of an insurance adjuster employed by the other party's insurance company. The adjuster's goal is clearly aligned with his or her employer and directly in conflict of you obtaining a full recovery. This blog post answers some common questions that car accident victims in Fulton County and the surrounding areas of Atlanta need to know about insurance adjusters.

Social media is a part of life for many, but some personal injury claimants might not realize that what they post online could impact their case. In Canada, a B.C. Supreme Court judge rejected a car accident victim's claim for damages based largely on posts and pictures found on her Facebook account. The accident victim claimed she suffered from depression after two car accidents, causing her to be a homebody. However, the defense put forth evidence that the plaintiff attended parties, went tubing, went drinking with friends, and performed at a karaoke competition. All of this was gleaned from her Facebook account. The photos and posts, the judge determined, were inconsistent with someone who had experienced psychological trauma.

Windshield wipers may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the possible causes of car accidents. However, windshield wipers are vital to the safety of drivers, and when they do not work properly, accidents are more likely to occur. Defective windshield wipers present a tremendous danger to all road users, and defects occur more often than many realize.

In April of last year, tragedy struck the greater Atlanta community. Five Georgia Southern University nursing students died in a crash on the way to Savannah. Recently, loved ones and lawmakers gathered under the Gold Dome in Atlanta to remember these individuals taken too soon. Classmates and relatives recalled the day they received that horrible call. The ceremony was intended to honor the nursing students who perished and affirm that they will not be forgotten.

Recently, a woman was hit by a MARTA bus in downtown Atlanta. The accident occurred at the intersection of Forsyth and Alabama Street. Authorities report that the bus was turning left in the intersection when it hit a woman in the crosswalk at about 7 a.m. Atlanta police have cited the bus driver for failure to yield to a pedestrian. Fortunately, the woman survived the accident, but sustained a shoulder injury.

A serious car accident can result in considerable injuries, with one of the most commonly injured areas being the back. Our backs are made up of an intricate array of nerves and spinal cord bones. It is extremely prone to injury in the event of high impact force. In cases of severe back injury, back surgery might be necessary to relieve pain and restore sensation to the extremities.  This article will generally discuss common back injuries and procedures as they pertain to personal injury cases.  However, none of the information contained herein should be construed as medical advice and anyone who is contemplating such procedures or have suffered musculoskeletal injuries should consult a medical spinal doctor.

Self-driven cars have been lauded by motor vehicle safety experts, vehicle manufacturers, and others as a monumental step forward in making roadways safer. However, the enthusiasm for these new innovations has been tempered by concerns about potential accident risks, such as hackers, software bugs, and system malfunctions. These concerns appear to be warranted given new information indicating that human intervention might be necessary to prevent collisions involving cars on auto-pilot. A report released by Google Auto on January 13 indicates that despite the risks associated with human error, intervention by drivers plays an important role in keeping roadways safe.

Temperatures are dropping across Georgia and many areas will soon experience icy conditions. Icy roads can present considerable hazards as you could lose tire traction. In fact, ice on the roads is one of the top causes of accidents and can send drivers careening off the roadways and into obstacles or other vehicles.

Winter in Georgia means the potential for icy roads. Icy roads create serious hazards for drivers and can result in a number of accidents. There are many misconceptions concerning icy roads, which could lead drivers to make dangerous mistakes.

Most people associate excessive speed with danger on the roadways, but depending upon the circumstances, driving too slowly can be just as dangerous. Drivers who travel far below the speed limit could cause backups on the road, forcing cars to pass, which can lead to confusion and traffic accidents. While it is certainly necessary to slow down during inclement weather or poor road conditions, driving excessively slow without reason can create hazards.

Recently, three men tragically died after the driver lost control of their car and flipped onto I-75 in Atlanta. The accident closed the freeway for several hours. Atlanta police report that the three men, ages 36, 33, and 24, were traveling south on the Buford Highway Connector at about 3 a.m. when the driver of the vehicle lost control. The vehicle veered off the ramp and into the barrier, where it traveled for some distance before ultimately flipping over the wall and landing on its roof in the road.  Police report that the car was crushed and all three individuals were killed on impact. Family members and the community now mourn the loss of these three men.

Tire issues can cause devastating car accidents. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that faulty tires cause about 78,000 car accidents each year. Tires are a vital component to the safety of your vehicle and worn tread or a tire malfunction could equal disaster when driving.  At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our car accident attorneys have assisted a number of clients who were injured in accidents due to tire related issues. We also understand the importance of checking your tires often to avoid such accidents and offer the following guide to help you stay safe.

In order to receive workers' compensation benefits in Georgia, an injured employee must prove that the injury or illness is work related. Generally, if you are an employee performing a work task for the benefit of your employer and you become injured or ill, the injury or illness will be considered work related. Injured employees can receive workers' compensation benefits if their injuries are work related and they meet other necessary requirements.

The film 'Concussion,' starring Will Smith and Alec Baldwin, hit theaters over the holidays and has again drawn the nation's attention to the dangers of head injuries in the National Football League. In the movie, Smith plays Omalu, a forensic pathologist who is the first to publish findings linking football to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The NFL is then displayed in a negative light, attempting to conceal the findings from players and the public. While the movie itself does not focus on the long term implications of repeated concussions, it still succeeds in shedding light on the dangers of CTE to nationwide.

According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are approximately 12,500 new cases of spinal cord injuries each year. It is estimated that approximately 276,000 people in the United States are currently living with a spinal cord injury, with the average age of injury being 42 years, up from just 29 back in the 1970's. Males account for some 80 percent of new spinal cord injury cases.

Rapidly advancing technology has made the process of gathering evidence involving hit-and-run car accidents and other motor vehicle crash claims more effective. When our law firm was founded over three decades ago, ownership of video cameras was largely confined to television stations. Further, the technology of that period involved bulky and heavy devices that needed to be mounted on a fixed tripod. These limits, in terms of portability and accessibility, combined with the exorbitant costs of such cameras, meant that playing live video footage of a car crash resulting in injury and subsequent investigation was rarely an option. However, current advances in surveillance technology have made it much more important that a car accident investigation involve a search for video footage obtained from a variety of sources.

Obtaining disability benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) is challenging for several reasons. Many applicants find the process unexpectedly complex and may become discouraged if they are denied the first go around. SSD applicants need to go into the process understanding that it will be difficult and they may experience rejection, but this does not mean they cannot ultimately prevail in their action.

Parking lots can be a hazardous place for people walking and those driving. During the winter, this risk is exacerbated due to the potential for slippery conditions. Motorists need to be on the alert when driving in parking lots to avoid accidents and prevent injury to pedestrians. Pedestrians also need to be vigilant and keep a close eye out for both cars and slick conditions.

Collisions caused by drivers using cell phones have become a leading traffic safety concern. Because enforcement of laws restricting cell phone use while driving have presented law enforcement challenges, lawmakers in at least one state are now considering legislation to permit warrantless searches of mobile phones. The proposal currently being considered by lawmakers in Vermont could become a tool used by other states, but opponents of warrantless searches of cell phones worry about the threat to the privacy interests of drivers. This blog examines this proposal authorizing warrantless cell phone searches in light of these concerns.

The evolution of the "peer-to-peer sharing economy" on the Internet has exploded since Uber launched its smart phone application six years ago. This alternative to traditional taxi services offers consumers a less expensive transportation service than cab companies. Consumers seeking car transport services are able to connect with private drivers who provide rides in their personal vehicles. Based on the success and growth of Uber, similar programs have emerged, such as Lyft and SideCar.

Whether you are the driver or passenger on a motorcycle or in a car, truck or bus, a serious motor vehicle collision can result in injuries that cause enormous pain and permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries constitute one of the most common forms of catastrophic life-altering injuries suffered by victims in traffic accidents. When vehicle occupants experience a spinal cord injury (SCI) in a car crash, they might be forced to endure paraplegia, quadriplegia, diminished sensation, impaired cognitive ability, and/or limited mobility. Given the enormous impact of an SCI on a victim's daily routine and the staggering cost associated with treatment, individuals experiencing these serious injuries often rely on their recovery in a personal injury lawsuit to maintain their quality of life.

To safely operate a motor vehicle, drivers must be fully engaged in the task. If a driver is not alert, they are at risk of causing a serious accident. The most dangerous types of drivers are those who are not or cannot focus on the road ahead. Some of the most hazardous types of drivers include the following:

While most people think of grocery stores or sidewalks when they hear the term slip and fall, nursing homes are in fact one of the most common locations for this type of accident. Nursing homes are intended to offer the elderly a safe place that provides the care and attention they need, accidents can and do still occur. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die as a result of falls each year. Those that survive may experience serious injuries that can cause a prolonged recovery time and reduced quality of life.

Most truckers are law-abiding, safe drivers, but truck driver fatigue presents a tremendous danger to all road users. The truck accident that injured actor and comedian Tracy Morgan called this issue to the nation's attention, but the problem still remains. Shortly after the Tracy Morgan crash, it was revealed that the driver of the tractor trailer that slammed into Morgan had not slept in 28 hours. Sadly, this was legal, even though the National Transportation Safety Board blamed the crash on truck driver fatigue. In the aftermath of this headline grabbing accident, steps have been taken to prevent tired driving, but more must be done.

Most people have at least heard of the field of law commonly referred to as personal injury. In the minds of many it is associated with car accidents, but some people might not realize the extensive variety of cases that fall under the realm personal injury law.

Automobile and other traffic accidents can cause a variety of injuries that may lead to chronic conditions. One such condition is called fibromyalgia. Few people fully understand the painful condition of fibromyalgia, despite the fact that it affects millions of Americans annually. The majority of all fibromyalgia sufferers are women, though researchers are still unclear why this fact holds true. This disorder can be debilitating, affecting nearly every aspect of a person's life. This makes it hard for sufferers to maintain their employment, home life, and friendships.

If you have filed for Social Security Disability benefits then received a denial of your application, you might be feeling discouraged and overwhelmed. For many individuals, receipt of SSD benefits would have a significant positive impact on your daily life. If your SSD claim has been denied, it is important for you to know that many claims are denied the first time around, but applicants are still able to successfully appeal the decision and start receiving benefits.  NOTE: The following content is for informational purposes only and you should not rely on the information contained in this article without speaking to a knowledgeable social security disability attorney.

The spleen and the liver are both abdominal organs prone to injury in the event of blunt trauma. Car and truck accidents frequently result in severe trauma to the abdomen. If force is applied to the left side and back, there is a serious risk of injury to the spleen. The liver, as one of the largest organs in the abdomen, is susceptible to injury with blunt force trauma to any region of the abdomen. Car and truck accident victims who sustain a spleen or liver injury could require surgery and other supportive care to heal their serious injuries.

In the year 2013, close to 5,000 pedestrians tragically died in traffic accidents nationwide, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Children are particularly at risk of pedestrian accidents due to their small size and propensity to run near traffic. In fact, across Georgia and the Southeast, they often sustain serious injuries or even die as they attempt to cross or play too close to the street. Some children are even hit by vehicles in driveways or parking lots.

The knee is a sensitive area of the body supported by numerous ligaments that protect it from injury. However, in the event of a car accident, fall, or sports related accident, these ligaments can become damaged, impacting the knee and more. There are several ligaments within the knee susceptible to injury and each can result in pain, limited range of movement, and a prolonged recovery time.

Fracturing a vertebra in your spine is extremely painful and can potentially lead to long term nerve damage. Car accidents are among the most common causes of vertebral fractures due to the immense force involved in the accident. Rollover accidents are considered especially likely to result in vertebral fractures within the neck, which is a devastating area for this injury. Some other common causes of vertebral fractures include falls, particularly those from heights, gunshot wounds, and sports accidents.

If you are involved in a car accident, your smartphone might be just the tool that you need to document the crash and protect your legal rights. Today's smartphones provide just about everything you will need at the scene of an automobile accident. This is vital due to the fact that after a car accident, you will not likely be carrying a pen, paper, or a digital camera. Recognizing the usefulness of a smartphone in the event of a crash has led some companies to even create crash-specific smartphone apps.

Motorcyclists face a substantially higher risk of being involved in a collision that causes permanent debilitating injuries or fatalities than drivers of other vehicles. The reasons for the increased risk of a crash include the difficulty other drivers have seeing motorcycles, the presence of motorcycles where drivers do not expect a vehicle, and the general lack of diligence shown by passenger vehicle drivers. The lack of stability of a motorcycle also plays a significant factor in the increased crash risk. The increased severity of injury is the result of a complete lack of safety equipment. While most motorcycle collisions are caused by a driver or rider's human error, a recent massive recall of Harley Davidson motorcycles attests to the risk of a product defect causing motorcycle accidents.

Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits assist those individuals who are disabled and in need of financial assistance. SSD differs from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in that it is only available to those with sufficient work credits. SSD recipients must have worked and paid taxes for a certain period of time in order to become eligible to receive benefits.

We have all likely competed to sit in the front passenger seat. So called "riding shotgun" is the coveted, cool position in the car, stemming an array of games designed to determine who gets this favorite spot. However, despite being the most desired seat by many, the front seat is not the safest. In fact, according to researchers at the University of Buffalo, the most uncomfortable and least "cool" spot in the car, the middle seat, is the safest.

Social Security Disability (SSD) Benefits are designed to assist individuals with a prior work history who have become disabled and are in need of assistance. SSD benefits are available to those individuals with a sufficient work and tax history. These benefits are provided through payroll taxes and recipients are considered "insured" because they have worked for the qualifying number of years.

Many of us give little consideration to what shoes we wear while driving. We get dressed for our destination and presume that our footwear will allow us to drive safely. However, shoes can have a significant impact on driving ability. Some choices of footwear greatly impair control over the brake pedal, gas pedal, and overall movement of the vehicle. Inappropriate footwear is thought to be a factor in millions of car accidents annually.

This is our second installment of a two-part blog post providing key information about tractor-trailer event data recorders and their role in trucking litigation. The data recorded by these devices often is the most critical evidence in a trucking case, so we invite you to contact our Atlanta Trucking Accident Lawyers at Montlick and Associates if you have more specific questions about how the information from these devices can assist in the building of a compelling case.

If you are a cyclist who regularly pedals around the Atlanta Metro area, you are well aware that distracted or indifferent drivers can pose a huge risk to those who ride their bike for pleasure, exercise, or environmental concerns. Bike riders have limited ability to evade vehicles that drift into their lane because of their speed and handling limitations. When cyclists are hit by drivers of motor vehicles, riders are exposed to a high risk of serious injury because of a lack of protective features associated with bikes. Although many bike accidents occur because of unsafe driving, sometimes a defective bike can play a role in causing injury to a bicyclist. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury because of a defective bicycle, our experienced Atlanta Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Montlick and Associates can advise you regarding your rights and discuss representing you in a claim to obtain compensation for your injuries.

If you are involved in a serious accident with a large commercial truck, certain types of evidence will be critical to proving negligent conduct by the commercial carrier, trucking company, independent maintenance company, or other parties. One of the most critical sources of evidence in most trucking accident lawsuits is the "event data recorder" (EDR), also referred to as the "black box." These data recorders are much like the black box on a commercial airline, so they can be used to determine events that occur immediately prior to a crash to facilitate analysis of its cause. Because the evidence obtained from an EDR typically has a significant impact on the outcome of a trucking accident claim, this two-part blog article answers common questions about this form of evidence in trucking cases.

The perils of distracted driving are a topic that our Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers have addressed in prior blog articles. Despite a growing awareness of the unacceptable nature of multi-tasking while driving, many motorists cannot resist the temptation to reach for a drink, turn to discipline a child, adjust the radio, or text on a cell phone. When any driver divides his or her attention between the road ahead and other tasks, the probability of a serious collision rises significantly. Most tractor truck drivers are safe and law-abiding. However, the magnitude of the risk associated with distracted driving is even higher when the vehicle is an 80,000 pound fully loaded tractor-trailer.

Dealing with the aftermath of an auto accident can be rather difficult, leading to a great deal of fear, confusion, and uncertainty among its victims. However, when a crash involves a passenger bus, the moments following the accident can be simply terrifying. Unbeknownst to many people, accidents involving passenger buses can result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. The main reason for this is that people who use public transit on a regular basis typically do not wear their seatbelts. Otherwise stated, they often trust that the bus driver will take all protective steps necessary to keep them safe and do not take affirmative actions themselves. Unfortunately, reality dictates that a driver's safety measures could be lacking or might not be enough to prevent injury. Several people fail to realize that the way buses are generally designed leave passengers vulnerable to serious and sometimes fatal injuries. For example, many buses do not even contain seatbelts or other customary safety devices (i.e. passenger airbags), making injury and death more likely to unknowing passengers.

Each year, there are thousands of car accidents throughout the State of Georgia. Specifically, over 130,000 individuals are injured on an annual basis in car accidents located throughout the state. In general, the majority of these accidents arise due to the negligence of one or both of the drivers involved in the crash. Undoubtedly, being in an accident is both physically and emotionally taxing and there is no way to fully predict whether you will be involved in one or not. However, there are various measures that you can take to enhance your chances of making a fully monetary recovery if you do become injured in a collision.

Oftentimes, disputes over the cause of a car accident become a game of he-said, she-said. Otherwise stated, proving liability can sometimes be a challenging task, especially when the question of who is responsible for the accident is not readily apparent to the parties involved. Accordingly, it is crucial to obtain and review all of the evidence necessary to prove your case. Such evidence can include police reports, medical records, eye witness statements, and other sources. Specifically, the outcome of many personal injury cases often hinge upon the information that these aforementioned sources of evidence provide. With this in mind, it is crucial to consider the following suggestions if you were involved in a car accident, as they can help tip the judicial scales in your favor.

Doctors prescribe medications so that they can improve our health, but the use of some prescription drugs prior to getting behind the wheel of a vehicle can lead to serious injury or even death. By now, the public has been inundated with information regarding the risks and loss of life associated with alcohol-impaired driving. Many people also recognize that the liberalization of marijuana laws appears to have prompted a rise in pot-related collisions, but the role of prescription drugs in causing serious crashes has received far less attention.

Some drivers do not fully appreciate the value of uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage until they are actually in a collision and the other driver is not insured. Despite the saying that "it is better late than never," the time to confirm that you have UM coverage is prior to when you actually need to rely on it to cover accident-related losses. Georgia UM coverage is a valuable form of financial security when you are involved in a hit-and-run or a collision involving a driver with no insurance or insufficient insurance to compensate you for your loss. Although insurance companies in Georgia are required to offer UM coverage, many people decline such coverage because they do not fully appreciate its value. This article explains one of the benefits of stackable UM coverage as authorized by a 2008 change in Georgia law.

While most people are aware that teenage drivers make up the age group most likely to be involved in a fatal car crash, new data indicates that teenage driver fatalities have radically declined during the last decade. The new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta reveals that driving deaths involving teens aged 16 to 19 years decreased by 55 percent from 2004 through 2013. The number of teenage car accident fatalities fell from 5,725 to 2,568 during that ten year period.

While most people are well aware that defective motor vehicles can pose a serious danger, they might assume the vehicle needs to be traveling on a roadway to endanger occupants. Although issues like a loss of steering control, faulty airbags, or ignition switches that suddenly rotate to the off position have dominated the news in recent times, new technology can mean new types of hazards. Vehicles with a keyless entry feature have been viewed as offering convenience and reducing the risk of being stranded if a motorist's keys are misplaced or locked in their vehicle. However, a lawsuit that has recently been filed in Los Angeles Federal Court alleges there have been at least 13 reported fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by keyless entry systems installed in vehicles manufactured by Honda, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, GM, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Bentley, and Volkswagen according to an ABC News report.

While cautious driving is important at all times, the importance of exercising care and prudence behind the wheel increases when transporting a child passenger. Georgia has a number of special laws that are designed to decrease the risk of car accident-related injuries to kids. Two important restrictions that are designed to protect young passengers are laws mandating child safety restraint systems and prohibiting DUI with a child passenger. While most parents would never think to endanger kids by ignoring these prohibitions, our Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers are ardent advocates of child passenger safety in order to promote 100 percent compliance.

At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our Georgia car accident attorneys understand that car accidents bring a tremendous amount of stress and uncertainty. Accident victims are forced to deal with the physical pain of their injuries, while also struggling to determine how their medical bills will be paid and how they will support their families while off work. Faced with these momentous concerns, some car accident victims will rush to accept the first settlement offer that comes their way. However, there is considerable risk in accepting an early settlement without the assistance of your attorney. Once you have accepted a settlement offer, you cannot seek further damages for your injuries. Accordingly, your future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any negative impact on your career might not be covered.

When a driver is injured after being rear-ended by a motor vehicle while stopped at a red light, the injury victim might presume that liability is so clear that retaining an attorney is unnecessary. However, many people find out that car accident claims that supposedly involve "clear liability" all too often become contentious disputes because insurance companies have experienced insurance defense lawyers and crash reconstruction experts. When individuals injured in auto accidents attempt to handle their own legal claims, they often fail to realize how misguided this strategy is until it is too late.

When drivers disregard safe driving practices or fail to focus on the roadway, it can result in serious car crashes that cause debilitating injuries. The vast majority of auto collisions are caused by human error. While cars that operate themselves without the need for human input can one day eliminate the risk of crashes caused by drunk or distracted drivers, a new technology currently being developed by a team of researchers at Stanford and Cornell might offer a more immediate solution to the problem of poor driving.

The rights of an employee who is injured on-the-job to pursue a personal lawsuit is a common issue that the Worker's Compensation Attorneys at Montlick and Associates address for clients. Generally, a worker who is injured while engaged in work-related activities must pursue worker's compensation benefits rather than a lawsuit against an employer. Although there are exceptions to this general rule, these exceptions are fairly rare. While many people initially are disappointed to learn that they cannot sue their employer for a work injury, our experienced Atlanta worker's compensation lawyers strive to be the top workplace injury lawyers in Georgia by diligently pursuing all potential forms of recovery for our clients.

An interesting new service offered by FlightCar.com takes the peer-to-peer sharing economy to the next level. The company offers a service that permits people who are catching a plane at the airport to "rent" their vehicle to other driver's rather than pay exorbitant airport parking fees. Travelers drops their cars at the company facility near the airport and receive the car back washed and vacuumed. The company will later send a check to the individual who made their car available for rental customers. 

Although most parents recognize the importance of securing babies in car seats, a recent study suggests that vehicle safety involving children between the ages of 4 and 8 does not receive the same attention from parents or safety inspectors. Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury for children over the age of one year old. Children who outgrow child safety restraints are supposed to graduate to booster seats because lap and shoulder harnesses are designed for adult sized passengers.

Although many people object to mandatory motorcycle helmet laws, these objections usually are based on principles of personal autonomy and free choice rather than safety concerns. While a broad range of studies establish the safety benefits associated with wearing a helmet, some pundits contend helmets can cause motorcycle accidents or increase the severity of injury experienced in a motorcycle accident. Because we have heard this claim on many occasions, we decided to examine whether evidence supports a view that motorcycles can make riders less safe.

Although All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) can provide an exciting off-road experience or a productive form of farm equipment, these vehicles pose a serious risk of injuries or fatalities. Through the first eight months of 2015, fatal ATV crashes have claimed the lives of 357 people throughout the U.S., including 79 children age 16 or younger. The authors of the article highlight a number of common elements that contribute to ATV accidents.

Consumers across the U.S. visit new car dealerships and take vehicles on test drives on a daily basis. Given the massive number of test drives that occur, there will inevitably be a number of these jaunts that cause crashes resulting in debilitating injuries. An accident reported recently by a national media source provides an example of a collision during a test drive. The woman was driving a Toyota Camry, and her father and a salesperson were passengers in the vehicle. The woman reportedly lost control of the car. The Camry became wedged between two other vehicles, which necessitated her being rescued by emergency responders.

"I haven't been behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer since January 1980, but the task hasn't changed much. I learned how to drive a truck on the job – by which I mean on the highway, surrounded by unsuspecting motorists. You have to be 21 to handle a big rig; I was underage, unlicensed and surely a public menace. Yet over the course of eight months on the road, I may not have been the scariest one out there." This troubling statement made by a former trucker in an article published in Bloomberg View makes clear that motorists who share the roads with massive tractor-trailers have a legitimate reason to fear for their safety. Although must truckers are safe, law-abiding drivers, the problems within the trucking industry continue to pose a significant threat to others on our roads.

Whether you are an adult or child crossing the street in a crosswalk, it is a zone specifically designed for the safety of pedestrians. Although there should be no safer area of roadway for pedestrians, people both young and old are struck by vehicles in crosswalks across the U.S. on an almost daily basis. Georgia and the Atlanta-Metro area have repeatedly been included in the Top 10 on lists of the most dangerous cities and states for pedestrians.

Car accidents commonly result in hip dislocations and are the leading cause of these types of injuries in Georgia. Unfortunately, such injuries are on the rise in Georgia and across the nation as a whole. A dislocated hip normally arises when the tip of the thighbone slips, or dislocates, out of its socket. Just like with a dislocated shoulder, the bone is left in an unnatural position, causing severe and sometimes debilitating pain for its victims. Moreover, people who sustain a hip dislocation often experience nerve damage in the leg and foot due to the severe and traumatic nature of the injury. Oftentimes, the only way to repair the dislocation and associated injuries is through extensive orthopedic surgery.  NOTE: This blog article will discuss hip injuries as they pertain to personal injury claims.  The following information is intended to be for informational purposes only and nothing contained herein should be construed as medical advice.  Anyone who believes they have suffered from a hip injury should consult with a medical doctor.

If you have ever climbed in the backseat of a taxi on your way to a Braves game at Turner Field, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport or a business convention at the Georgia International Convention Center, you might have learned that the phrase, "Crazy Taxi®" often describes more than a video game. The taxi industry has been adversely impacted by the high price of fuel, tough economic times, and the financial competition for fewer fares as people cut back on travel. Most taxi drivers are safe and law-abiding.  However, the above factors have increased the incentive of taxi owners and taxi companies to neglect maintenance and increase speed between destinations. This lack of emphasis on public safety increases the risk that occupants of a taxi, other vehicle, and pedestrians can be injured in taxicab accidents.