Georgia Injury Law Blog

Published on: September 9, 2009

Toyota Introduces Anti Drunk Driving Gadgets in Cars

Toyota to Introduce Anti Drunk Driving Gadgets in Cars

If the R&D folks at Toyota are successful, we may soon have cars outfitted with a breathalyzer device that can warn motorists if they are too drunk to drive, or in worst cases, simply shut down the ignition, preventing a motorist from driving away.

The automaker has announced that it is developing the gadget which features a breathalyzer and a digital camera that will take a picture of the motorist’s face for identification purposes. In case the driver is found to have too much alcohol on his breath, then the device will either warn him, or shut down the ignition system, depending on the levels of alcohol detected. Toyota says that it will soon begin testing the gadgets on trucks. Besides Toyota, Nisan Motor is also developing a similar gadget.Nisan’s gadget is part of its goal of reducing the number of fatalities or serious injuries in accidents involving its vehicles by half, by the year 2015.

Published on: September 8, 2009

Car Accident Traced to Red Light Violation

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Car Accident Traced to Red Light Violation

A teacher in Cherokee County suffered critical injuries in a head-on car accident earlier this week.Debra Walton was on her way to school when a vehicle struck her car. According to Cherokee County Sheriff’s officials, the car that struck Walton’s vehicle was driven by a motorist who ran a red light just before she struck Walton’s car.

Red light violations are a major cause of accidents in Georgia. According to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, every year there are 260,000 auto accidents caused by motorists running a red light. Typically, people run red lights because they are inpatient, and would rather not have to wait for the light to turn green. Often, drivers may be distracted, and may fail to see a red light. For instance, a driver who takes his eyes for a few seconds because he is texting on the cell phone, or changing radio stations, may miss a red light with serious consequences. Motorists are more likely to run a red light during rush hour times, or in congested traffic.

Published on: September 3, 2009

One Killed as SUV Crashes into Douglasville Home

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: September 2, 2009

Texting-Related Accident Video Draws Ire

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A Public Service Announcement video created by a British police department features a dramatization of an accident caused by a teen motorist who’s texting while driving. The YouTube video has gone wildly popular with over a million hits, but has also generated plenty of controversy because of its graphic content.

The video was made by the Police Department of Gwent in Wales, in response to the growing number of accidents linked to drivers texting at the wheel. It is gripping, and very graphic. This isn’t a sanitized "Don’t Text While Driving" message – there’s plenty of blood everywhere, and the video does a great job of showing the consequences of texting at the wheel.

The video has gone viral, and has generated controversy for its graphic scenes. There have been concerns about whether teenagers, who the video targets, can handle the blood and gore that’s on the screen. News media in this country too have featured the story, but as we write this, not one television station has agreed to air the PSA for American audiences.

Published on: September 1, 2009

Child Killed in Douglas County Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

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.

Published on: August 31, 2009

Hospital Cleanliness Still Major Issue

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a million people contract a hospital infection each year. A Consumer Reports survey provides clues to why those rates are so high.

In 2008, Consumer Reports surveyed 731 nurses, and this year, sampled more than 13,500 of its readers, who were polled about recent hospital experiences involving them or a loved one. The findings were surprising.

28 percent of nurses reported problems with cleanliness, while only 4 percent of patients reported so.

Published on: August 26, 2009

We Have Back to School Safety on Our Minds

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

We Have Back to School Safety on Our Minds

Thousands of school children across Georgia will be heading back to school after the summer break, raising concerns about accidents involving kids.

As Georgia personal injury lawyers, we are concerned that the summer traffic lull might lead to a sense of complacency among motorists. As schools reopen, there are going to be a markedly higher number of students walking and bicycling to and from school. There will also be hundreds of school buses, as well as parents picking up and dropping off their kids at crucial times.

Published on: August 25, 2009

Georgia Law Enforcement Kicks off Labor Day Drunk Driving Crackdown

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia Law Enforcement Kicks off Labor Day Drunk Driving Crackdown

Across Georgia, Labor Day counts as one of the deadliest holidays in the calendar. Every year, during the holiday that marks the official end of the summer, several drunk driving accidents are caused by holiday makers who have neglected to designate an official driver for the evening.

Last year, there were 2,154 accidents reported during the 78-hour period that marks the most dangerous day for motorists around the holiday. Those accidents injured 577 people, and killed 20. Most of these accidents, not surprisingly, were linked to driving under the influence.

Published on: August 24, 2009

Marriott Hotel Withdraws Rape Premises Liability Defense

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Marriott Hotel Withdraws Rape Premises Liability Defense

Marriott International has withdrawn a legal defense by one of its franchise hotels that a rape victim, who was assaulted in the hotel premises, acted carelessly and failed to prevent the rape.The company has issued a statement apologizing to customers and Marriott guests, who had been outraged at the legal defense that the insurance company lawyers adopted.

In 2006, the 40-year-old woman was assaulted when she was in her mini van in the parking lot of the Marriott Hotel and Spa in Stamford, Connecticut. The woman was raped at gun point in front of her two children, both of who were below seven years old at the time. The rapist, 55 year old Gary Fricker, has since been found guilty, and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.

Published on: August 19, 2009

Elderly Lexington Couple Mauled to Death in Dog Attack

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Elderly Lexington Couple Mauled to Death in Dog Attack

Mystery still surrounds the death of a retired professor and his wife, apparently from a vicious dog attack.

On Saturday, the mutilated bodies of retired UGA professor 77-year-old Luther Karl Schweder, and his wife 65-year-old Sherry were found near their home in Lexington. Preliminary autopsies showed that Sherry had died from dog bite injuries. Her husband’s autopsy results are not yet available. But it’s very likely that Luther Schweder also died from injuries in the dog attack.