Atlanta Personal Injury & Accident Law Blog

When Those Helping Victims Become Victims Themselves

The phrase "Good Samaritan" is used to describe a person who renders aid to another (even a complete stranger) upon seeing that other person in need or distress. There are countless stories from across the nation of these well-intentioned and caring individuals stepping in to save others from danger, distress, or inconvenience. If these Good Samaritans are not careful, however, they can become victims themselves and could find themselves in a situation more precarious than that of the individuals they are attempting to assist.

Many people believe that road rage and aggressive driving are the same thing, however these two issues are completely separate causes of auto accidents. Aggressive drivers may actually cause more anxiety to American drivers than impaired drivers. Drivers who operate their vehicles with such behaviors as unsafe lane changes, excessive speeding, chronic tailgating or running red lights or stop signs can pose a serious risk to other motorists. With holiday traffic increasing, impatient driving behaviors can lead to car collisions as aggressive drivers make obscene hand gestures, honk, flash their lights, or even pass on the right hand side of the road.

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.

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.

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.

We recently reported on a tragic accident in Cartersville that claimed the life of a 30 year old mother of two. A local family was on their way home when a runaway tractor trailer pummeled into their car. The 30 year old mother, wife, and missionary was tragically killed instantly in the accident. The husband and two young children were injured.

Over the past few years, a number of lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, the maker of Mirena. Mirena is one of three different IUD devices currently available on the market and is used by millions of women across the country. Unfortunately, some women have experienced severe side effects due to IUDs, including abdominal pain, perforation of the uterus or cervix, migration of the IUD to other organs or parts of the body, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and much more. Recently, a new IUD called Skyla was released on the market and is expected to cause many of the same injuries. These complaints have caused many to question the safety of IUD devices.

Automobiles provide essential means of transportation for millions across the country and billions worldwide. We depend on our automobiles to perform as expected to safely transport us to our destination. When our car or a vehicle around us malfunctions, the results can be catastrophic. Car manufacturers are required to ensure their vehicles meet stringent safety standards on a federal and state level, but all too often, vehicles are released to the public that fall short of these standards and accidents result.

More than 20,000 children's dressers, armories, combos, and hutches have been recalled due to a number of significant safety concerns. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that the recall involved Pali Design items from various collections. These items were sold mainly in Babies R' Us stores, but were also sold in independent specialty stores across the country, according to WSB TV.

Due to the complex relationship between trucking companies, their drivers, and the truck manufacturers, truck accident "discovery" (gathering of evidence, which can include through subpoenas and legal procedures) is absolutely crucial in a serious injury case. There are many causes of truck accidents, but the bottom line is that when a 35,000-80,000 pound truck comes into contact with a 5,000 pound passenger vehicle, it is clear who will come out on the losing end. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates there are over half a million trucking accidents each year, resulting in over 5,000 fatalities.

The attention focused on distracted driving has raised public awareness considerably about the dangers of attempting to multi-task while operating a motor vehicle. While traditional distractions like chatting with passengers, adjusting the radio, reading a newspaper and grooming continue to be a problem, most government safety campaigns have focused on the dangers posed by electronic devices like cellphones. Certainly, these types of distractions justify the attention garnered by government regulators and media sources, but parents can face a serious distraction that receives much less attention – their kids sitting in the backseat.

When manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices receive reports of adverse events or side effects, the makers of these medical products have an obligation to report this information to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA investigates such reports and aggregates data to determine if regulatory action is needed, such as issuing a safety notice, requiring warnings on labels, or mandating a product recall.

Cosmetic surgery is popular here in Atlanta, and there is no shortage of facilities for people to choose from when they want a face lift, breast enhancement, reconstructive surgery, or other procedure that they feel will enhance their appearance. As the name indicates, cosmetic surgery is surgery, and any type of surgery involves risk. If cosmetic surgery is performed in a negligent manner, a patient's health may be endangered, in addition to any damage that is done to their appearance.

If you are involved in a collision in Georgia caused by a distracted or speeding driver, your first concern will be seeking medical attention and treatment for your injuries. However, this medical treatment will not be free, so the financial impact of hospital bills, lost wages and vehicle repair is likely to provide an additional source of stress. When you are involved in a collision  the source of the funds to compensate you for the damages you suffer typically is paid from insurance coverage.  This article will be focused on discussing some of the types of insurance that can apply when you are injured in an accident that is caused by someone else's negligence.  Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Montlick and Associates recognize that many car accident victims are confused regarding the types of coverage that apply to their personal injury claim. We have provided an overview of types of insurance coverage that might be important if you are involved in an Atlanta car accident.

Indoor trampoline parks like Cosmic Jump®, Sky Zone® and Mighty Jump® have begun to crop up in Georgia and across the U.S. because of their natural appeal as a fun form of recreation and exercise.  Although these venues are common locations for children’s birthday parties, a growing number of adults also hold events at indoor trampoline parks.  Because of the popularity of this form of recreation, reports of injuries involving bounce and trampoline venues are increasing.  Although this form of entertainment and recreation is potentially dangerous, the industry is not regulated in Georgia.

For over 30 years, the personal injury lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been protecting the rights of people who suffer debilitating injury because of the negligence of others.  We are aware that back and neck injuries are among the most common type of auto accident injuries that result in periods of temporary or permanent disability.  Neck and back injuries often result from trauma causing irritation or serious injury to the complex structures of the back and neck in car crashes, falls, construction accidents and other mishaps.

Labor Day weekend means family outings, sports events, camping trips and travel for many people, but traffic accidents also are more common on holiday weekends because of the increased traffic and the tendency to celebrate with alcohol.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Laborl Day weekend car accidents claim the lives of an average of 161 people across the U.S. each year.  The IIHS also reports that four out of every ten of these fatalities involve an intoxicated driver. 

This is Part II of our two-part blog post on intersection accidents that occur because a driver runs a red light. We invite you to read Part I for answers to more questions. If you have questions about your unique situation, we invite you to speak to a Georgia personal injury attorney at Montlick and Associates.

While Georgia prohibits all motorists from text messaging while operating a motor vehicle, talking on the phone is not subject to a universal ban. Georgia's disparate treatment of text messaging and talking on cell phones when driving is mirrored by a number of other states. Georgia does restrict ALL cell phone use for novice drivers and bus drivers. However, our state's treatment of cell phone calling and driving is based on the misconception that people can effective multi-task behind the wheel. The reality is that using a cell phone for any purpose while driving is potentially dangerous.

While most Fulton County drivers are aware of the serious danger posed by the use of cell phones when driving, there are fewer motorists that are aware of a potentially more serious distracted driving risk – eating while driving. Because of the sheer volume of fast-food drive-thru restaurants, the frequency of driving while consuming food or drinking beverages may exceed cell phone use while driving.