In The News

Published on: October 13, 2026

Amusement Park Rides Result in Death and Brain Injuries

Tragedy occurred at Six Flags over Georgia on October 12, when one patron died and several others were injured after a man was ejected from a roller coaster. Cobb County police identified the man as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was riding Six Flags’ Goliath coaster when he was ejected over the top of the hill near the end of the ride, striking other patrons during his fall. CBS reported that one witness, Connor Thompson, was standing in line for the Goliath ride, and said it looked as if the restraint on the seat was unlatched. This same ride was the site of another death in 2006, in which a man had a heart attack on the coaster.

Given the possibility for severe injuries and even fatalities, it is surprising that there is no federal oversight of amusement park rides. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission investigates accidents from machinery, but ever since 1981, Congress ruled that amusement and water parks are exempted from this regulation as long as the rides are “permanently fixed to a site,” such as rides at Six Flags theme parks. The amusement park industry is represented by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, or IAAPA, which spends about $600,000 annually to lobby against federal regulations. These efforts have been successful: legislation has been proposed to restore this oversight since 2001, but as of 2026 nothing has changed. IAAPA conducts their own safety survey, but completing the survey is optional, with only 177 of 436 invited parks participating in 2019.

This lack of oversight results in injured patrons seeking redress through individual lawsuits, rather than broad changes occurring in the industry. For example, another Six Flags location, Magic Mountain in California, has been the site of more than 100 brain injuries after patrons rode the X2 coaster. According to CNN’s analysis of medical records and court filings, patrons have suffered from brain injuries connected to this ride for two decades, resulting in at least two deaths.

Published on: October 12, 2026

Campus Sexual Assault and Violence

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

College provides students learning experiences that go far beyond education. For many students, this is the first time they live away from home and learn to be adults. It is also a time of increased risk as they build new relationships, socialize with new groups of people and join new activities. Unfortunately, some students also experience sexual assaults. These assaults often stem from student activities involving alcohol on campus, which is especially seen with sororities and fraternities. In addition, sexual assaults also arise from the failure of colleges and universities to have appropriate safeguards in place for their students.

According to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, sexual violence is not a rare or isolated problem on college campuses. In fact, the first few months at college are when the risk is especially high for students.

The 2015 Campus Climate Survey found that 11.7% of undergraduate students experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent. The 2019 Campus Climate Survey conducted by the Association of American Universities found that of the schools that participated in both the 2015 and the 2019 Surveys, that number had increased to 13% In 60% of reports of rape involving college-age victims (17 – 24) the perpetrator was known to the victim.

Published on: April 29, 2026

Truck Catches Fire in Georgia Highway Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

On April 21, a box truck crashed into an 18-wheeler, hitting the left corner of the trailer. Upon impact, the box truck immediately caught fire and was destroyed. According to police, the box truck was found to be following too closely, and when the 18-wheeler slowed, the box truck was unable to stop in time. The incident occurred on I-20 just west of Exit 172, northwest of Thomson, Georgia, and both lanes of I-20 were closed for almost two hours following the crash.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event. In fact, according to The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5 percent of truck crashes occurred when the driver was following another vehicle too closely.

What constitutes following too closely? According to GA Code § 40-6-49 (2024), vehicles on the roadway “shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” This guidance assumes drivers will use judgement but does not define what constitutes “reasonable and prudent.” For more specific guidelines, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration advises drivers to leave at least one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length when driving below 40 mph. This translates to about 4 seconds when driving behind a tractor trailer. To measure how many seconds are between you and the vehicle in front, find a stationary object such as a light pole and count off after the vehicle in front passes it, using “one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.”

Published on: February 20, 2026

Georgia Lawmakers Propose Raising Minimum Highway Speeds

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

While driving on the interstate in Georgia, you may notice that in addition to the posted maximum speed, otherwise known as a speed limit, there is a minimum speed of 40 mph. This limit requires motorists to drive at least 40 mph in order to prevent slow driving from causing an accident. This minimum speed has stayed the same over the years, even as the maximum speed limit changed from 55 mph to 70 mph on some interstates.

Some Georgia legislators are proposing a change to the minimum speed in order to help close the wide gap in speeds between those traveling 40 mph and those traveling 70 mph. The argument is that by having such a large speed gap, motorists are more likely to be in a rear-end collision. The bill’s sponsor, John Carson of Marietta, explained that “I want to limit the number of rear-end collisions. I’ve received fatality reports … It’s horrific.” In support of the bill, Georgia Public Safety Commissioner William W. Hitchens III sent a letter to the legislature which states “As commissioner of the GA Department of Public Safety, I have no concerns as it relates to increasing the minimum speed limit on Georgia’s interstates. Our agency has seen several crashes that have occurred due to slow moving vehicles on roads through the state. Driving below the speed limit can in some cases, be as dangerous as traveling above the posted speed limit. Vehicles that are traveling below the minimum speed can cause traffic issues such as long backups and cause motorists to take evasive actions due to approaching the vehicle faster than expected. This can be exacerbated when traversing hill crests and curves without a long sight distance. Additionally, crashes occur on multi-lane roads when drivers change lanes to pass slower moving vehicles. While DPS doesn’t experience a lot of crashes based on the minimum speed, crashes that we do investigate seem to have more significant damage and injuries due to the speed difference.”

House Bill 809 would raise the minimum speed to 50 mph on highways in which the maximum speed is 65 or greater. Opponents of the bill such as Representative Rhonda Taylor of Conyers expressed that seniors may have difficulty maintaining this higher speed, saying “It would be a better solution … (to) move to the right.” Higher minimum speeds could also create dangerous conditions during storms and adverse weather, when motorists are unable to maintain high speeds due to wind or rain.

Published on: October 17, 2025

Tragic Jackson County Crash: Semi Causes Chain Reaction Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

While urban counties such as Fulton are known for accident fatalities, rural and exurb areas in Georgia are also at-risk. This is particularly true on interstates and highways frequented by semi trucks and tractor trailers.

On October 13 in Jackson County, a semi-trailer chicken feed truck rear-ended a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan after following too closely. This pushed the Dodge forward causing a chain-reaction crash with four additional vehicles, and both the van and the tractor trailer were enveloped in flames. All eight occupants of the van have been declared deceased, one of whom may have been pregnant. The driver of the tractor has been arrested and charged with eight counts of 2nd degree vehicular homicide, and the crash is currently under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.

Chain reaction accidents have the potential to cause wide devastation to multiple vehicles and their occupants. In this case, the accident was caused by the truck driver following too closely. To ensure enough distance between your vehicle and the one in front, there should be three seconds of distance between vehicles when traveling under 40 mph. To measure seconds of distance, identify a lamp post or pole ahead of you and check when the car in front of you passes by the pole. At least three seconds should pass before your car also passes the pole. On highways and interstates where speeds often exceed 55 mph, add an additional second of space, and when following a tractor trailer or other large vehicle, allow additional space, since such vehicles have large blind spots.

Published on: August 22, 2025

Safety First After Interstate Vehicle Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

We’ve all heard the common-sense advice: after an accident, exchange information with the other driver. However, when it comes to accidents on busy roadways such as interstates, the common sense answer could get you killed.

On August 13, 36-year-old truck driver Terrell Lowdermilk of Chattanooga was hit by a vehicle while trying to do the right thing. While driving a tractor trailer on I-75 in Marietta, he had a minor sideswipe accident with another tractor trailer. Both drivers stopped after the accident to exchange information, one on the interstate and one on the nearby exit ramp. While Lowdermilk stood in the left lane of the entrance ramp, he was hit and killed by the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado. Unfortunately, this driver fled the scene without stopping to help.

After investigation, on August 15 police charged Milton police lieutenant Christopher Bradshaw with vehicular homicide and hit-and-run. He has been fired from the Milton police department and is being held in Cobb County jail without bond.

Published on: August 11, 2025

Distracted Driving Behaviors On The Rise

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

It’s not just using cell phones while driving, but also other types of distracting behaviors like eating and snacking at the wheel that expose motorists to the risk of car accidents. Unfortunately, when auto accidents do occur, they often involve very serious personal injuries. A new survey conducted by an insurer finds that while motorists are aware of the dangers of texting while driving or using cell phones while driving, they are still likely to engage in other distracting behaviors at the wheel.

The survey was conducted by Nationwide, and found that approximately 20% of motorists continue to use cell phones while driving. This is in spite of the fact that use of cell phones at the wheel is linked to a much higher risk of being involved in car accidents. More than half of the motorists in the survey also admitted to snacking and drinking while driving. Another 13% admitted to getting ready for work while at the wheel which includes applying makeup and shaving.

It is clear that cars are no more just automobiles for transporting people around, but have turned into extensions of people’s lives and homes. This has contributed to a range of distracting behaviors at the wheel that significantly increase a motorist’s risk of being involved in an auto accident.

Published on: July 28, 2025

Study: Many Cars Now Have Expanded Blind Zones, Bigger Car Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Much of motorist safety has to do with safe vehicle design. Thousands of car accidents every year are likely caused by imperfect or defective design of automobiles. A disturbing new study finds that some of the top-selling cars in America, including larger automobiles like SUVs and pickup trucks have blind zones that have expanded in size over the past 25 years. Simply put, larger blind spots greatly increase the risk of car accidents.

The analysis was conducted recently by researchers at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a group that has been in the forefront of demanding that automakers implement safer vehicle designs as a way of preventing car accident wrongful deaths. This study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety used new measurement techniques to measure a motorist’s area of vision around the vehicle.

The study found that between 1997 and 2023, forward visibility around a vehicle dropped by as much as 58% in some of the most popular SUVs on the market. In the case of pickup trucks, the forward visibility dropped by 17%. This means that the blind zones in many of the most popular and highest- selling pickup trucks and SUVs in the United States have actually been decreasing significantly in size over the past few years.

Published on: June 18, 2025

Brain Decoder Test Results Hold Promise for Spinal Injury Patients

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Thousands of people suffer spinal cord injuries in car accidents every year. Technologies and therapies that make use of sensors and impulses in order to trigger movement point to the way forward in spinal cord injury treatment. A recent study also broke new ground in this field.

The experiment was conducted on 17 persons who had no spinal injury. These persons were made to wear special fitting headgear that measured their brain impulses. They were asked to extend their legs or think about extending them. The researchers then recorded brain waves to identify when a subject moved his leg and intended to move his leg.

The researchers found that the brain waves were very similar in both the actual movements as well as the imagined movements. Using these electrodes, the researchers were able to identify when people were thinking about moving their leg even when they were not actually doing so, based on the brain waves recorded. These people were able to move their legs just by thinking about moving it, helped by the triggering of electrical impulses in the spinal cord.

Published on: June 10, 2025

Data Shows Waymos Linked to Fewer Car Accidents than Tesla Auto Pilots

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With the increase in the number of driverless cars on our roads, there has been concern about the safety aspect of these vehicles, especially with Tesla’s spotty accident record with these cars. However, new data seems to show that Waymo driverless cars have a much better track record when it comes to safety.

Waymo recently published the results of a research paper which shows that the company’s driverless cars were involved in fewer auto accidents, compared to human-driven cars. The results were based on data involving more than 57 million incidents, compiled regardless of who was at fault in the accident. The analysis of the data found that even compared to human drivers, Waymo driverless taxis were involved in 92% fewer number of car accidents involving pedestrians. That’s encouraging news for transportation safety officials who have been looking for ways to reduce the number of pedestrians being killed in car accidents.

Waymo taxis also performed better in auto accidents involving motorcyclists and bicyclists. There were 82% fewer car accidents resulting in injuries involving motorcycles or bicycles and Waymo cars. There were also 96% fewer intersection accidents involving Waymo cars, and 85% fewer auto accidents involving serious injuries.