Articles Posted in Wrongful Death

It’s the fourth wrong way driving accident-related death in recent weeks in the Atlanta area. Last weekend, a mother and a son were seriously injured when their SUV collided head-on with another SUV that was traveling the wrong way in John’s Creek. The accident was caused when Raymond Myrand drove his SUV eastbound in a westbound lane. Alpharetta-resident Myrand died at the scene of the accident, while the woman and her 12-year-old son sustained critical injuries.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution now confirms the sad news that the mother has succumbed to her injuries. Her son continues to remain in the hospital, and is expected to recover from his injuries.John Creek police are continuing their investigation into why Myrand ended up driving the wrong way and on a collision path with the SUV.

As Atlanta personal injury lawyers, we have been blogging about a series of such wrong way driving accidents in Atlanta recently. In fact, the mother here is the fourth fatality in such accidents in recent weeks. The dead include a woman who was killed on the 21^st of November when her car was involved in a head on collision with a wrong way driver. The driver in that accident was intoxicated, and has been charged with DUI and vehicular homicide. Three people were injured in that accident, including the women’s two children. Last week, a 25-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision with a man driving north in the southbound lanes of the Downtown Connector.

As Georgia car accident lawyers, we represent victims of automobile accidents, not just in the metro Atlanta area, but across the state. This includes rural areas in Georgia. That is why it‘s deeply concerning to us to see that rural Georgians continue to be at a higher risk of fatal accidents, than their city counterparts.

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more fatal accidents on back roads on rural areas in 2008, than in the urban areas. In 2008, there were 700 fatal crashes in rural areas in Georgia, compared to 687 on urban roads or main highways.

According to law enforcement officers, a large number of accidents on back roads seem to involve speeding. These narrow back roads in the country are not meant for high speeds. Rural roads also may come with dangerously sharp curves and road signs that are old and worn out. When you add to that a driver who may be distracted talking on the cell phone or driving at high speeds, an accident is almost expected.

Three Killed in Stone Mountain Freeway Van Accident

At least three people, all employees of Georgia Power, were killed in a deadly van accident on Stone Mountain Freeway on Tuesday afternoon. Six other people have sustained critical injuries.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, a van with 9 people inside was struck by a Dodge Stratus, which clipped the van when it tried to make a lane change. The van flipped over from the impact, and was severely damaged. Emergency crews had to cut through the roof of the van to rescue the victims trapped inside. The critically injured were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital and Atlanta Medical Center.

Gwinnett County Cop Arrested for DUI Also Involved in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Last month, we reported on a Gwinnett County police officer arrested after being involved in a DUI accident. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, it now turns out that police officer James Stoudenmire had also been involved in another fatal accident, which has resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit against the County.

On December 15^th 2006, Stoudenmire, according to the lawsuit, was traveling on US 78 at a speed of between 78 to 80mph. The lawsuit alleges that he was driving with no sirens or flashing lights when he crashed his car into another vehicle, being driven by Willie Allen Sergeant Jr. Stoudenmire at the time was responding to a code three call. Officers responding to a code three call must obey speeds limits, and all traffic control devices. The crash killed Sergeant, and his family in December 2008 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gwinnett County.

Stone Mountain Woman Killed in Accident in Gwinnett County

A woman was killed in a head-on accident over the weekend near Lilburn in Gwinnett County. According to news reports, the woman was driving a Ford Escort, when she crossed a center line, and rammed into an oncoming Chevrolet. The woman, who has been identified as Maureen Kalkstein was rushed to the hospital, but was declared dead.

According to Gwinnett County police, Kalkstein was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. In 2009 alone, Gwinnett County has seen 37 people dying in accidents. Out of those, 6 involved motorcyclists and pedestrians. The remaining 31 people were killed in auto accidents, and out of these, 14 were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Increase in Fall Accident Fatalities is Disturbing

Researchers at the John Hopkins School of Public Heath have found a sharp increase in the number of fatalities from accidental falls and poisonings, between 1995 and 2005.

These increases were part of a larger overall pattern, in which the number of people who died from unintended accidents increased by 11 percent over the study period. The study found increases in other unintended accident fatalities including drowning accidents, and deaths from burns and suffocation. However, it’s the increase in mortality rates from accidental poisonings and falls, that has drawn the highest attention.

Georgia Family Battles Over Wrongful Death Damages

The parents of a teenager who died in an accident involving a police car in 2007, is likely to appeal his wrongful death verdict in the Georgia Supreme Court, in a case that has received nationwide attention for its unusual nature.

In October 2007, 16-year-old Byron Trent Pyles died in a car crash involving a police car. His parents, Rebecca Lynne DeVent and Byron Keith Pyles filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Henry County against the Locust Grove police officer involved in the accident, and the police department.

One Killed as SUV Crashes into Douglasville Home

You don’t expect to be struck by a car when you’re safely ensconced in your own home. But that’s exactly happened to Douglasville-resident George Michael Bryant.

The 60-year-old man was in his house watching a movie on Saturday night with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren, when an SUV crashed into their house. Bryant suffered massive injuries and died. His wife, daughter and grandchildren are being treated at local hospitals.

Child Killed in Douglas County Accident

A 4-year-old boy has been killed and other members of his family, including his mother, have been seriously injured in an accident in Douglas County earlier last week.

According to Georgia State Patrol, a Pontiac Bonneville crossed the center line, and crashed into a Toyota Corolla on Monday. Two children, including 4-year-old Luke Ingalsbe were sitting in the backseat of the Toyota. Luke sustained fatal injuries. Luke’s mother, his infant brother Jacob, and a front seat passenger were seriously injured. The driver of the Pontiac sustained minor injuries. Investigations into the accident are going on.

December 3, 2007

Last week the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s front-page article examined the complex legal issues that arise when two family members are involved in a single car collision.Sisters Yvonne Woods and Janice Carroll were traveling cross-country in Janice’s SUV.While driving her sister’s vehicle, Yvonne fell asleep.The SUV left the road and crashed.Yvonne was killed in the accident and Janice was injured.

The AJC article focused on the outrage from Yvonne’s family when Yvonne’ eldest daughter (probably the executor of the estate) was served with a personal injury lawsuit filed by Aunt Janice.Apparently, the family had no idea that Aunt Janice was suing the estate for her injuries.Further, the family was shocked that Aunt Janice would sue when her sister had been doing her a favor (helping her drive cross-country) when she was killed.