Personal Injury Law Blog

ATLANTA, GA - According to a news report published on 11alive.com, Senate Bill 10 has been introduced in the Georgia Senate. Senate Bill 10 was created to combat the increase in illegal drag racing or drivers "laying drag" on city streets and highways.  The number of street racing incidents have skyrocketed in the past several months in Atlanta and cities throughout the United States.

The Virginia Department of Transportation shows the accident fatality numbers for Northern Virginia are lower but are still too high for safety officials.  The Virginia DMV's accident data shows that 2019 was the "deadliest year in the last decade" to be a pedestrian in Northern Virginia.  Despite the number of fatalities dropping in 2020, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and other transportation officials are hoping to find new strategies that will improve bicyclist and pedestrian safety.

DETROIT, MI - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced a safety alert concerning electric vehicle fires' hazards to accident first responders.

According to Steve Wallace at the TIMESCOLONIST.COM, one way to significantly reduce traffic accidents is to modify roadways so that they are one-way.  The idea could even be used to reduce parking-lot accidents by reconfiguring parking lots to move traffic in one direction and eliminating the need to "back out" of a parking spot.  The idea could reduce the number of pedestrian-related parking lot accidents and deadly head-on collisions.

ATLANTA, GA - According to a news report published on 11alive.com, the Atlanta Police Department announced that street racing suspects will no longer be eligible to "bond out" of jail if arrested for street racing.

ARIZONA - Arizona has lifted the "no fine" grace period with regards to the state's 2019 Distracted Driving Law.  The state's distracted driving law makes it illegal for drivers to hold or use a cellphone, write text messages, read text messages, watch videos, record videos, or broadcast video while operating a motor vehicle.  Arizona was one of the last U.S. states to enact a distracted driving law.  After the law was passed in 2019, law enforcement officers were permitted to issue warnings without fines.  However, law enforcement officers are now allowed to write citations for distracted driving. 

THE UNITED STATES - The United States used to lead the world in motor vehicle safety.  However, the lack of innovation has caused the United States to fall behind other countries in terms of auto safety according to BLOOMBERG.COM.  The popularity of sports utility vehicles and the lack of progress in passing improved Federal safety standards for cars and trucks made the roadways more deadly. 

COLORADO - According to a new study from the American Automobile Association (AAA) released on January 11, 2021, the number of fatal pedestrian accidents on Colorado's roadways increased by 89% over the past ten years. In the United States, 2018 saw more fatal pedestrian accidents than any other year since 1990. 

LEHIGH ACRES, FL - According to an online news report, a man from Lehigh Acres, Florida, is pleading with local officials to add a stop light at a deadly Lehigh Acres intersection.  

ATLANTA, GA - According to a news report from AJC.COM, 2020 was one of the most violent years in decades, and the Atlanta Police Department has decided to reinstate its former policy on police chases, which was suspended a year ago.*

Approximately 63 million Americans have at least one pet dog.  Since 2000, the percentage of people who have a pet dog has steadily increased by almost 22%.  

The Shepherd Rehabilitation Center discovered that falls account for about 30.5% of all spinal cord injuries. In addition to spinal cord injuries, fall victims often endure other injuries. Knee, ankle, wrist, and elbow injuries are common complaints slip and fall accident victims make after a serious fall. These injuries can result in breaks, strains, sprains, torn muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Head injuries like concussions and lacerations are also common. 

BRISTOL, TN - According to a motorcycle accident report posted on wjhl.com, two children were injured, and one motorcyclist was tragically killed in an accident on Highway 394 in Bristol, Tennessee.*

According to a helicopter crash news story published by hattiesburgamerican.com, one person was tragically killed in a helicopter accident in Jones County, Mississippi.*

The mother of a stray gunfire accident on I-95 is pleading for state and local officials to take action regarding traffic camera evidence.*  Last year, her daughter was tragically killed by a stray bullet, and she feels the criminals responsible could have been caught had government agencies worked together to preserve traffic camera footage.  

Wrong-way driving, also known as counterflow driving, occurs when a driver is operating his or her motor vehicle against the direction of traffic.*  Wrong-way driving happens in parking garages, parking lots, and single lane and multiple lane roadways.  

Traffic accident data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has accident experts suggesting that excessive speeding increased the number of accident-related deaths in 2020. Starting in March of 2020, the coronavirus lockdowns shut down businesses and schools, leaving most roadways and highways virtually deserted for several months. However, the traffic accident mortality rate soared, although some states reported traffic volume decreased by up to 50%.  

According to a motor vehicle accident report posted on AJC.com, the number of fatal highway accidents in 2020 exceeded 2019's numbers... in July of 2020.  Although there have been fewer motor vehicles on the road during the first few months of 2020, many more people tragically lost their lives on state highways in 2020. 

According to a news article in heavy.com, please avoid drinking and driving on New Year's Eve 2020 and New Year's Day 2021. To help keep people safe this year, several companies are giving away free rides during the New Year celebration. Some rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber are offering special coupon codes for their rideshare services.

CHARLESTON, SC- People around the world are getting ready to celebrate the New Year, and AAA wants them to do so without putting themselves and others at risk on the road, according to ABCNEWS4.COM.  A spokesperson for the organization warned Carolinians to avoid kicking off 2020 with a tragedy.*