Georgia Injury Law Blog

Published on: January 2, 2025

Speeding Exacerbates Pedestrian Personal Injury Risks of Taller Vehicles

Earlier research indicated that it might be the taller height of large vehicles like SUVs that make them a bigger personal injury threat to pedestrians than mere vehicle weight. Now, newer studies confirm that speeding only exacerbates those risks to auto accidents involving pedestrians which often result in severe and catastrophic personal injuries.

According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, speeding increases the risk that a sports utility vehicle or a pickup truck poses to a pedestrian. Exactly how much of a risk depends on the height of the vehicle. Taller vehicles that are speeding are much more likely to cause grave or fatal injury to a pedestrian when they are in a collision with them.

The size of an automobile can be a significant factor in the severity of the injuries that a pedestrian suffers in a car accident. However, the weight of the vehicle may not be as relevant since all vehicles, including smaller passenger cars, are heavier than pedestrians. What seems to significantly increase the severity of the personal injury risk to pedestrians is the height of the vehicle. Taller vehicles with a taller hood, for example, like large – sized SUVs, are much more likely to cause serious personal injuries to pedestrians because the pedestrian is more likely to suffer personal injuries to his upper body or head in such auto accidents. These are some of the most devastating injuries, and are very likely to result in catastrophic damage or wrongful death.

Published on: December 26, 2024

Focus on Older Driver Safety This Winter

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

This December, traffic safety organizations have been drawing attention to the car accident risks facing senior motorists. These risks often result in severe personal injuries from auto accidents.

A number of national and local organizations recently marked the week between December 2 and December 6 as Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. The aim of the commemoration was to draw attention to the various safety threats affecting the auto accident risks of older drivers above the age of 65. This is one of the most at-risk motorist groups out there with significant health -related car accident risks that potentially affect their driving abilities.

The national population of older drivers has increased significantly over the past decade. According to the AARP, the population of motorists above the age of 65 increased by almost 30% between 2012 and 2021. The car accident rate for senior drivers of this age group increased by more than 4% between 2021 and 2022. The number of car accident wrongful deaths involving motorists above the age of 65 increased from 7,515 in 2021 to 7,870 the following year.

Published on: December 17, 2024

Are Teen Drivers Now Safer Than Before?

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Teen drivers have traditionally been regarded some of the most inexperienced and dangerous drivers out there. Here’s how Gen Z may be challenging that narrative.

New data shows that Gen Z, or the generation born between 1997 and 2012, may be some of the safest teen drivers in several decades. According to the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Gen Z teens who received their licenses in 2012 -the first Gen Z teens to receive their licenses – were less likely to be involved in car accidents compared to driver’s license holders in previous generations.

This is in spite of the fact that Gen Z is one of the most technologically adept generations, and has grown up with 24/7 access to smartphones and technology in cars. With all the technology and distractions available in a car, you would think that teen drivers are now the most distracted of all drivers, and, therefore, some of the most dangerous on the roads. The data actually finds that that may not be true at all, at least relative to the accident risks of previous generations of teen drivers. This generation of teenage driver seems to have lower accident rates compared to previous generations of teenage motorists.

Published on: December 11, 2024

Plan Ahead to Avoid Drunk Driving Car Accidents This December

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The month of December sees some of the highest numbers of drunk driving car accidents in the year, thanks to the Christmas and New Year holidays. No wonder then that December is marked as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

Data suggests that the number of drunk driving car accidents on our roads is actually increasing every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, based on data from 2021, alcohol -related car accident numbers in December were the highest that they have been in 15 years.

All 50 states have laws in place that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol. In most states, the legally acceptable blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08. In fact, many agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board have gone on record calling for a further reduction in the blood alcohol concentration limit to .05. In spite of these laws against drunk driving, however, far too many motorists feel comfortable driving after having consumed alcohol, and those numbers increase in the month of December.

Published on: November 29, 2024

Naps can Improve Motor Learning after Brain Injury

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

New studies find that persons who have suffered traumatic brain injury and are undergoing rehabilitative motor skills therapy, may benefit from short naps after their therapy sessions. Traumatic brain injuries often occur from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, slip and falls as well as due to construction site accidents.

The results of the study were published recently in the Journal of Sleep Research. The researchers focused on the role of short naps during rehabilitation therapy for persons who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Many persons with brain injury struggle with motor tasks after their personal injuries.

The study involved the participation of 32 subjects with a brain injury. The participants were required to take short naps of about 45 minutes duration after their therapy sessions. Their performance was monitored using a number of parameters including MRI imaging. The researchers found that there was enhanced performance after the participants napped, with improvements including quicker retrieval of learned sequences.

Published on: November 24, 2024

Most Motorists Neglect Dangers of Drowsy Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

While most motorists arrange to take alternate means of transportation when they are too intoxicated to drive, they may not be as cautious when they are sleepy and not in any condition to operate a vehicle. Unfortunately, this lack of caution results in a significant number of car accidents.

The results of a new study by the National Sleep Foundation reveals the cavalier attitude that most Americans continue to have towards drowsy driving. This is in spite of the fact that driving while sleeping or fatigued contributes to thousands of car accidents every year. Many of these car accidents are fatal while others may result in severe or catastrophic personal injuries.

The National Sleep Foundation survey found that as many as 7 out of 10 American motorists were likely to seek out alternate needs of transportation when they found themselves to be too intoxicated to drive. However, the approach to drowsy driving was markedly dissimilar. Only four out of every 10 American motorists, who had not had enough sleep and were too sleepy to drive, admitted to finding alternate modes of transportation.

Published on: November 13, 2024

Avoid Car Accidents This Thanksgiving Holiday

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the deadliest holidays of the year with law enforcement agencies recording thousands of car accidents during these 4 days.

Thanksgiving ranks right up there with New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo as one of the most alcohol -intense holidays of the year. There is a special tradition attached to Thanksgiving which makes it even more strongly linked to alcohol – related car accidents. The Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday, typically called Drinksgiving or Black Out Wednesday, ranks as the single biggest drinking day of the year. More alcohol is consumed on this Wednesday than on any other holiday. This means that as you set out for your Thanksgiving break, you are likely to be sharing the road with people who are highly intoxicated on alcohol after having drunk excessively the previous day.

It is not just drunk drivers that motorists need to be extra cautious of during Thanksgiving. Statistics show the incidence of all other types of dangerous driving behaviors including speeding and distracted driving also increases over this holiday weekend. This combination of drinking, being distracted by mobile phones and other passengers in the car as well as speeding to get to their destination on time makes for an ideal combination that increases the risks of being involved a serious car accident. Bear in mind that the Thanksgiving holiday is also when emergency responders and hospital emergency rooms are stressed to their limit which means that if you are involved in a serious car accident, help might be delayed.

Published on: November 8, 2024

Strong Helmet Laws Can Prevent Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Deaths

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Thousands of motorcyclist lives could have been saved in motorcycle accidents over several decades if universal helmet laws had been in place in all U.S. states. Unfortunately, without these laws, many people were killed or suffered brain damage unnecessarily in motorcycle accidents.

A new study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that as many as 11% of all motorcyclist and rider deaths over a period of close to 5 decades could possibly have been prevented if universal motorcycle helmet laws had been place in all states. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study, more than 22,000 motorcyclist lives could have been saved between 1976 and 2022 if all states had universal helmet laws. That means that about 11% of all motorcyclist wrongful deaths during this period of time could have been prevented.

Wearing a helmet can significantly help reduce a person’s chances of being killed in a motorcycle accident, just like seat belts can help save motorist lives in car accidents. In spite of that fact, all states have laws that require motorists and passengers to wear seat belts while driving, but only 17 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists and riders to wear helmets while riding.

Published on: November 1, 2024

GHSA Launches New Initiative to Prevent Distracted Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Governors Highway Safety Association is collaborating with a major insurer to make it more accessible for Americans to prevent distracted driving auto accidents. A new website is part of this effort to help reduce the incidence of distracted driving on our streets.

The Governors Highway Safety Association recently announced a collaboration with State Farm Insurance. The initiative includes a website called GenerationDistractionfree.org, and the aim of the initiative is to empower parents and guardians to raise a new generation of motorists who will be less addicted to technology and distractions at the wheel.

Parents have a huge role to play in molding their children’s driving skills. Distracted driving is a major killer on American roads, and contributes to more than half of all car accidents recorded in Georgia every year. These are alarming statistics, and it is clear that government- led initiatives and legislation have limited impact in reducing the incidence of distracted driving. This is why the Governors Highway Safety Association Highway is bringing the topic of distracted driving into American homes.

Published on: October 29, 2024

School Bus Safety Notes on Preventing Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With hundreds of thousands of children across the metro Atlanta region now back at school, it is important for motorists, parents and other stakeholders to focus on looking out for school buses and keeping children safe. Unfortunately, every year there are car accidents near school buses in which children are killed or injured.

As a motorist, know the rules to follow when it comes to sharing the roads with school buses. School buses are some of the most regulated vehicles on our streets, and, therefore, are subject to a number of rules and regulations. Motorists in Georgia and other states are also required to follow the rules when they share the roads with these massive vehicles and their precious cargo, in order to avoid auto accidents.

When you are following a school bus, look out for the flashing lights. Yellow lights mean that the bus is preparing to slow down, which means that you need to slow down and prepare to stop as well. A red light means that children are being picked up or dropped off. You must remain stopped while the red light is on and the Stop arm is extended. Wait till the bus actually starts moving before you start your car and move ahead too.