Bicyclist Killed on St. Simons Island Causeway

A Kingsland woman was killed as she and her husband were riding their bicycles west on the St. Simons Island causeway and a nearby motorist drifted out of his lane and struck the mother of four. The woman was pronounced dead at Southeast Georgia Health System a short while later. The motorist fled the scene. However, he was located a short while later in Brunswick by the Georgia State Patrol. Witnesses noticed that the truck he was driving had business details on it, and they turned this information over to police. Using these details, law enforcement located the driver roughly an hour and a half later at his home. He was arrested and has been charged with homicide by vehicle, failure to report an accident involving a death, following too closely, injury or property damage, causing a serious injury by vehicle, hit and run, failure to wear a seatbelt, and operating a vehicle with defective tires.  

Georgia Personal Injury Lawyers Explain Settling a Personal Injury Claim

The parties in many personal injury cases worry that, if they agree to settle their claims, it is a sign of weakness. However, this is not the case. By working out a settlement agreement, whether it occurs in mediation or simply by negotiations through attorneys, the parties maintain control over their case and can save a great deal of time and money in the process. Mediation has proven successful in many lawsuits and legal claims, including personal injury cases. Even if the parties are hostile toward the idea of settling, often, after speaking with the mediator, these parties agree to compromise.

E-Cigarette Expolsion Injury Lawyers in Georgia

In Breman, Georgia, a young father’s life was likely forever changed when the e-cigarette he carried in his pocket spontaneously ignited. According to ABC News, a man felt a burning sensation in his pocket. Frightened, he jumped up, but flames began to soar up his pants leg as his pants were actually burned onto his leg. His hand was also burned when he reached into his pocket to throw the e-cigarette batteries onto the ground. Horrified, he noticed that when he did so, the hot batteries melted through the tile on the floor.

The Role of an Expert Witness in Motor Vehicle Accident Claims in Georgia

Expert witnesses can be used in numerous types of personal injury and medical negligence cases, including auto accident cases. Whether or not the case goes to trial, a personal injury attorney may decide that using an expert witness is necessary to protect their client's rights. Many accident victims are unaware of the significance of the expert witness’ role in some complex motor vehicle accident claims. For example, if the insurance company of the "at-fault" driver is denying fault for the accident, an expert witness may be needed to analyze the accident scene and demonstrate the negligent action of the other driver. 

Dash Cams Growing in Popularity in the United States

You are driving home from work on a busy afternoon. Your route requires you to pass through several intersections. Out of the blue, as you enter an intersection, another car slams into your passenger side. Fortunately, you are not seriously injured, and the other driver does not appear to be, either. However, you begin to argue as to who ran the red light. If there are no witnesses to the accident, how would you prove that you had the green light?

Head Injuries from Horseback Riding Accidents

When most individuals think about head injuries that occur during athletic events, they think about football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, or some other contact sport where players often slam into each other. However, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers discuss a surprising report that shows that the activity with the highest rate of traumatic brain injuries is actually horseback riding.

Hoverboards Continue to Be a Growing Issue for Famiies

Over the last year, hoverboards have become a popular accessory for individuals of all ages. Starting around last year's holiday season, hoverboard sales began to grow more and more. Unfortunately, so did the number of reported injuries caused by these two-wheeled devices. Our personal injury attorney in Georgia reports that in Forsyth County, Georgia, urgent care centers saw a large number of injuries caused by hoverboards.

Trampoline Parks: Fun or Dangerous?

A recent report showed that trampoline park injuries are increasing across the country. Trampoline parks are indoor facilities that provide numerous trampolines and other types of entertainment. They are popular for birthday parties and other events. Often, the entire floor of a section of a trampoline park will be made of trampoline material—allowing children the opportunity to hop and bounce all over. Many adults often enjoy these parks as well, as many parks advertise workout programs or other events targeted toward older customers. Unfortunately, many trampoline parks are inherently dangerous, and kids and adults alike can suffer serious injuries.

When to Call an Attorney after a Car Accident -- Seven Reasons to Hire an Experienced Georgia Car Accident Attorney

If you are T-boned in an intersection by a driver who runs a red light, or your motorcycle is forced off the road by a motorist making an unsafe lane change, you can experience life-altering injuries.  If you only suffered minor damage to your vehicle with no injuries, you might not need an attorney to handle your claim.  Auto accident victims that suffer any injury, however, should see a doctor and disclose all symptoms even if they seem minor.  Sometimes trauma to the head will not immediately manifest obvious symptoms that reveal a serious injury.  However, delays in seeking medical attention can permit swelling to occur inside the skull that increases the pressure on the brain, creating a risk of permanent brain damage.  If you suffer any form of physical injury in a motor vehicle accident, speaking with a personal injury attorney can be a critical step in protecting your legal rights.  In this blog article, our experienced car accident lawyers offer seven reasons to retain legal representation.

How an Experienced Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Can Protect You from Insurance Company Traps

When you are involved in a motor vehicle collision that causes serious injury, it is normal to feel as though you have been victimized by an alcohol impaired, distracted or otherwise careless driver. While many people presume that the other driver's insurance company will make a reasonable offer to settle the claim if liability is fairly clear cut, this misconception fails to properly consider the role of insurance companies. The primary function of an insurance company is to maximize revenue which is accomplished at least in part by minimizing the amounts paid on insurance claims. 

We all know or have met someone, a friend, acquaintance, or even a stranger, who has experienced a whiplash injury during an automobile accident. Sometimes we see that person wearing the familiar collar used to stabilize the neck during recovery. Other times we hear or are told about the pain, discomfort or stiffness someone is experiencing in his/her neck, shoulders, low back, arms or hands. 

Pedestrian accidents are a major problem across the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that pedestrians are one of the few groups of road users to experience an uptick in fatalities, with deaths totaling over 4,735 in 2013. On average, a pedestrian is now killed every two hours and injured every seven minutes. Recognizing the tremendous need for increased pedestrian safety, the United States Department of Transportation declared pedestrian and bicyclist safety among its top focuses. The agency launched a Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative to bring down pedestrian accident rates.

When drivers travel in Atlanta and throughout Georgia, they generally do not anticipate the possibility that they will be involved in a serious traffic accident that could cause a spinal cord injury. However, there are between 6,000 and 10,000 people per year who make that same assumption and suffer spinal cord injuries in a motor vehicle accidents while driving or riding in cars, motorcycles, trucks or SUVs based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Car accidents account for nearly half of all new spinal cord injuries. The CDC also reports that alcohol is a significant contributing factor in causing a quarter of all spinal cord injuries.

An investigative expose published by the USA Today provides a chilling picture regarding the safety of private planes and helicopters. Approximately 45,000 people have perished in fatal crashes involving these forms of aviation vehicles during the last five years. To put this in context, the number of fatalities in these crashes is nine times higher than the number of deaths resulting from commercial airline crashes. While federal investigators concluded that pilot error was the cause of 86 percent of these crashes, the USA Today investigation concluded that many of these crashes actually were caused by dangerous designs and defective components.

Georgia Auto Accident Attorneys Explain Drunk Driving Can Justify Punitive Damage Awards in Georgia

When you experience serious injuries in a car accident, you might be confronted with intense pain, significant emotional distress, a grueling course of rehabilitation, and permanent disability.  The angst associated with overcoming these hardships can be much more intense when your injuries result from a preventable accident caused by a drunk driver.  While the danger posed by driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated might be widely acknowledged, alcohol-impaired drivers continue to constitute the leading cause of traffic-related fatalities.  Drunk drivers continue to cause over 10,000 deaths per year while causing serious injury to millions more.  In this blog article, our experienced drunk driving accident attorneys in Georgia analyze the special issues in personal injury and wrongful death cases involving intoxicated drivers.

Do I Need to Hire an Attorney for a Car Accident in Georgia?

Our car accident attorneys frequently are asked by auto collision victims whether they need to hire a lawyer.  The answer to this question is not straightforward.  While a person injured in a crash suffers serious injury or loses a loved one, there is no requirement that the injury victim or surviving family retain legal representation.  Although auto accident victims have the right to pursue a lawsuit for financial compensation without an attorney, plaintiffs who pursue this course are at a distinct disadvantage when taking on insurance companies with a team of adjusters, insurance defense lawyers, and accident reconstruction experts.  Insurance companies also will have the benefit of virtually limitless financial resources to defend their insured and mitigate the carrier’s liability for a money judgment or settlement.  Our auto accident law firm works with injury victims to balance the scales of justice in their favor.  This blog article  discusses important reasons to hire legal representation.

Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyers Discuss Important Strategies for Preserving Your Claim Following a Canine Attack

Many people share the common misconception that dog bites are relatively minor incidents that rarely result in significant injuries.  However, dog attacks force so many victims to seek medical attention that they constitute the leading cause of homeowner’s insurance claims.  While most dogs are lovable family pets, 4.5 million people are bitten annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.  Homeowner’s insurance industry data reveals that dog bites account for a third of all money paid out on homeowner’s claims in 2016.  The Insurance Information Institute (III) and State Farm reported that dog attacks accounted for $600 million in payments during that period.  This study also found that the risk of suffering a dog attack continues to rise because the number of claims increased 18 percent from the prior year.  In this blog article, our Atlanta dog bite lawyers highlight ways some individuals compromise their potential claims.

Personal Injury Lawyers in Georgia Discuss Keeping Children Safe During the Holiday Season

The holiday season can be an exciting time for children and teenagers with holiday parties, school vacation, and more play time outside. With the proper safety precautions, celebrating kids and adolescents can enjoy the winter break free of mishaps and injuries. 

Will Self Driving Cars Be a "Safe" Reality?

In early November 2017, a self-driving shuttle bus crashed in Las Vegas. The shuttle was active for only a few hours before it crashed. It began its maiden voyage two hours before after a ceremony announcing the shuttle’s launch. Although it was successful, that fateful trip calls into question the efficacy of the program as well as the notion that self-driving or autonomous vehicles are even close to becoming a reality. The technology might not be as reliable as industry leaders might have you believe.

Georgia Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Highlight Traps for the Unwary When Dealing with Insurers

Insurance carriers often leverage injury victims’ lack of experience and knowledge when dealing with accident claims.  Many claims are compromised by strategic errors such as those generally outlined in this blog article.

Aftermath of Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Shooting: Liability of Venue Owners for Acts of Violence Caused by Negligent Security

Our hearts go out to the victims of the Mandalay Bay mass shooting and their families.  While these incidents seem unimaginable, violence against patrons of businesses, concerts, and sporting events are becoming all too frequent.  Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, offer our condolences to the hundreds of injury victims and the families of those who perished in this horrific tragedy.  Given the number of people injured during this incident, many families will face staggering medical bills, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.  Since the shooter elected to take his own life, the victims and their families will have to investigate other sources of financial compensation for their losses.  In this blog article, we generally answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the liability of business owners for violent acts of third-parties that occur because of inadequate or negligent security.

The Dangers of Using Tree Stands to Go Hunting – Georgia Personal Injury Attorney Explains

Deer hunting season is nearly here, and during this time, hunters are reminded of just how dangerous tree stands can be.  There are certified tree stands that many hunters use, along with a harness, which helps to ensure a hunter is properly secured.  However, many hunters build their own tree stands out of what they find, and any wood used may not be treated to withstand rain, wind, and other weather-related wear and tear.  Wood pieces are often used as steps, and these steps can deteriorate quickly over a year or even sooner.  Even if tree stand steps are safe after being placed, they may be completely unsafe the next year when hunting season rolls around again.  

Atlanta Car Accident Attorneys Discuss Important Mistakes to Avoid When Dealing with Insurance Companies

When you are involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else, feelings of stress and uncertainty are natural reactions. If you experience injury, the pain and prospect of medical treatment often intensify your anxiety.  Collision victims overwhelmed by these physical and emotional challenges might not place a high priority on pursuing a legal claim or navigating insurance company obstacles.  However, insurance carriers do not maximize their profits by promptly paying the full value of legitimate claims.  Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Montlick & Associates have provided a list of important things to avoid when dealing with the other driver’s insurance company.

Georgia car accident lawyers Answer Frequently Asked Questions about Car Accidents Causing Traumatic Brain Injuries

Although the media and a recent motion picture have focused on traumatic brain injuries caused by contact sports like football, motor vehicle accidents constitute a more common cause of head injuries that result in brain damage.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.7 million people in the U.S. suffer traumatic brain injuries each year.  Since 17.3 percent of these TBIs result from motor vehicle collisions, approximately 294,100 people per year suffer a brain injury in vehicle crashes.  In this blog, our Georgia personal injury lawyers answer frequently asked questions about TBIs experienced in auto accidents.

Six Steps to Protect You and Your Family From a Catastrophic Truck Accident in Georgia

What Makes Trucking Accident Litigation Especially Complicated?

While all motor vehicle accident related injuries can provide a basis for pursuing a personal injury claim, trucking accidents pose unique legal issues and practical challenges.  Collisions caused by the fatigued driver of a semi-truck or a commercial carrier that fails to drug test a driver are more complicated than a typical car accident.  The most obvious difference between semi-truck crashes and accidents involving passenger cars is that one of the vehicles can outweigh the other vehicle by 25 times or more.  This massive weight differential means that occupants of the passenger car are especially likely to suffer devastating injuries.

Georgia’s Employee Handbook for Understanding Workers’ Compensation Laws and Workers’ Rights

Employees in the state of Georgia have certain rights when it comes to being injured while on the job.  All too often, injured employees are not fully aware that they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they are unable to work due to an injury or illness suffered while on the job.  While many employers do follow the laws of the state of Georgia, there are employers out there that do not follow these laws.  However, these same employers may not provide employees with the necessary information regarding their rights and obligations for filing a workers’ compensation claim and receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

A Personal Injury Attorney in Georgia Explain Limitation of Punitive Damages in Georgia

Personal injury plaintiffs infrequently prevail on punitive damage awards. In Georgia, punitive damages may be awarded by a jury to deter future bad conduct. But, the net effect of tort reform is to place limitations on the cases in which a jury can award punitive damages and scale back a jury's ability to punish egregious or repeat offenders.

Our Car Wreck Attorneys in Georgia Explain Damages for Traumatic Brain Injuries 

The Georgia car wreck attorneys for Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law frequently represent victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries in accidents caused by the negligence or carelessness of others. Traumatic brain injuries can result in death, disfigurement, or permanent disability requiring 'round the clock care. In these situations, it is critical for the victim and his or her family that they receive the most considerable amount of financial compensation possible. Significant monetary compensation can help ease the burden of caring for your loved one.