Published on:

by

Auto Accident  prevention systems like front crash avoidance  technology and lane departure warning systems play a significant role in protecting motorists and passengers.  However,  when there is any malfunctioning or problems reported with these systems, repairs can be challenging to complete.

The  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is reporting on a recent analysis of the repairs of auto crash prevention systems in automobiles.  Many of these systems including rear view camera systems and blind spot detection systems can play a tremendous role in helping keep motorists safe and preventing car accidents.  However,  when motorists take these cars in for repairs after the technology malfunctions or because the system is giving an error message, or  after an auto accident,  they find that repairs are not always satisfactory.  According to the study, many motorists continue to face problems with the technology even after repairs have apparently been completed.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study surveyed approximately 500 drivers.  Most  of the drivers in the study had taken in their car for repairs after experiencing problems with the safety technology in their automobile.  In  some cases, the problems appeared after an auto accident while in other cases, the repairs were the result of a recall or the result of a recommendation by the automobile repair shop. Repair issues were more likely to be seen when the car had been involved in a car accident.  Incomplete repairs were also much more likely to be seen in those cases in which the windshield replacement was required as part of auto repairs.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

More  lives could potentially be saved in  auto accidents involving minivans every year if these vehicles came with stronger and more efficient seat belt warning systems.

A  new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety highlights the fact that far too many minivan models simply do not have effective and efficient seatbelt reminder systems in place.  This  is even more alarming when you consider that these vehicles are mainly purchased by families with young children.

The  minivan is the ubiquitous symbol of the young American family.  For  decades,  Americans with young families have been buying minivans for their very specific travel needs.   However, failure to use proper restraint systems has disastrous consequences for America’s children.  In  2020,  more than one-third of children below the age of 12 killed in car accidents were not properly restrained at the time.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

There are a number of complications that are associated with suffering a head injury,  and one of these, according to a new study, is an increased chance of dying,  with the risk having doubled over a period of 3 decades.

We know of some of the more common consequences of head injury including memory loss, attention and concentration difficulties, and cognitive deficits.  Head injuries have also been linked to other long-term disabilities including Alzheimer’s disease,  Parkinson’s disease,  early onset dementia and stroke.  All of these are long term consequences can seriously impact the quality of a person’s life.

However, there is one serious consequence of a head injury that does not attract as much attention –  the effect of the brain injury on the person’s life expectancy. A new study probed the effects of a head injury on a person’s life expectancy, and found that a head injury could increase the risk of death over a period of 30 years.  In  some cases, the risk of death increased by two or even  three times the risk without a head injury.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

The  federal administration has announced that it will soon launch an investigation of the wrongful use or overuse of antipsychotic drugs on patients in nursing homes.

The  administration has long been investigating the misuse of antipsychotic sedatives, including those that  are typically prescribed for nursing home patients who do not require these drugs at all.  In too many cases, investigators have found nursing homes wrongly classifying certain patients as schizophrenic so that they may be prescribed antipsychotic sedative drugs.  The administration has also found several nursing homes engaging in these practices and wants to understand whether these practices are widespread in the industry.  The  Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services believes that the problem is a prevalent one, and that its scope has not been fully investigated.  Therefore, it has now announced that it will soon launch an investigation of such practices in the nursing home industry.

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that is characterized by symptoms that include delusions, hallucinations and other symptoms.  Antipsychotic drugs  are often used to treat patients with schizophrenia.    Side effects of these medications can include death. It is estimated that less than 1% of the American population suffers from schizophrenia.  However,  more than 99 nursing homes classify as many as 20% of their patients with schizophrenia.  That is a disproportionately  large percentage  of nursing home residents  who are being diagnosed with this condition, relative to the American population with schizophrenia.  In  other words, the math simply does not add up here.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

Statistics  seem to show a slight drop in the number of people killed in car accidents across the country during the first 9 months of 2022, compared to the same period of time the previous year.   However, the number of people  killed in pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents increased over the same period of time.

New statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show a very  slight drop in auto accident fatalities in the first 9 months of last year, compared to the same period of time in 2019. A  total of 31,785 people were killed in car accidents between January and September 2022, compared to the previous year.  That was a 0.2%  drop.  The  bad news, however, is that bicycle accident and pedestrian  accident wrongful deaths continued to rise over the first 9 months of 2022 as they have  for several years now.

Car  accident deaths across the country and in Georgia have been at elevated levels since 2020 when the pandemic struck and lock downs were imposed.  In  spite of a drop in traffic volumes with few people driving on the streets, the number of auto accidents began to spike, confounding experts.  Since  then, we have learned that auto accident numbers began to rise in 2020 because of reckless driving behaviors, including speeding.  With  lower traffic volumes on the road, motorists became  much more comfortable driving at high speeds, and those behaviors  have continued since then.  Additionally, the lack of enforcement campaigns during this time also meant  more numbers of people driving without wearing their seatbelts or driving under the influence of alcohol, contributing to those high statistics.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

Fears  for personal safety are widespread among motorists and pedestrians, a majority of whom in a recent survey admitted that they were very concerned about their risks of being involved in an auto accident while traveling.

The  results of the survey revealed that as many as 83% of motorists and 78% of pedestrians are concerned about their risks of being involved in an  auto accident while on the road.  Auto safety is definitely a priority and a major concern for most American motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Respondents in the survey opined  that safe transport  should be the top most transportation safety concern for authorities,  and should be given more importance than efficient commutes, sustainable transport and other initiatives.

Those fears for safety are not entirely unfounded.  Americans have been treated to a variety of disquieting news articles about declining safety standards and increasing car accident deaths across the country over the past few months.  In  2021, for instance, there were more than 42,000 car accident wrongful deaths recorded across the country, the highest number on record in 16 years.  The number of pedestrians killed in car accidents  increased by close to 12% between 2019 and 2021, and there were  close to 7,500 wrongful deaths in these auto accidents last year.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

Chain reaction auto accidents that involve multiple vehicles are a serious threat during the winter season. With winter storms and blizzards in many parts of the country, including Georgia recently, it is important for motorists to understand that these are some of the most treacherous conditions that they could be driving in.

Many parts of Georgia, especially the north, typically see several snowstorms over the winter season. If you are a motorist in Georgia or plan to travel around the state over winter, it is likely that you will come across some kind of snow storm or other wintry or icy road conditions.  It is important for motorists to understand that these are some of the most treacherous and hazardous weather conditions for a motorist to drive in.  Multi-vehicle chain reaction car accidents that initially start off with a single vehicle or two are common during the winter months. Elsewhere around the country, several multi vehicle accidents have resulted in serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths this winter season.

Protect  yourself  against being involved in a multi vehicle auto accident this winter by following these tips.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

Concussions are some of the most common head injuries that occur in car accidents and motorcycle accidents, but are often ignored with sometimes serious consequences.  It is this mindset that the nation’s premier brain injury advocacy group will seek to change with a new initiative.

The Brain Injury Association of America in collaboration with Abbott recently launched a coalition of more than 20 brain injury advocacy groups.  The coalition called Concussion Awareness Now will conduct education campaigns across the country in order to raise awareness about the possibly serious consequences of concussions.

According to experts, concussions are often brushed aside as minor injuries.  These injuries sometimes can result in no loss of consciousness and no bleeding.  There may be no swelling or inflammation at the site of the injury.  The lack of any visible symptoms can sometimes spur people into a sense of complacency, and many victims who have suffered a concussion may not even seek medical treatment.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

People who have suffered an alcohol related personal injury, like an injury that results from a drunk driving car accident,  may have their chances of dying in the year after the injury increase significantly.

As the holiday season commences, it is important for Georgia motorists to understand that driving under the influence of alcohol, or otherwise using alcohol irresponsibly in a manner that  causes them personal injury may actually increase  their chances of dying in the year after the injury.  According to the results of a new study that was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, when a person suffers an injury of the kind that results from an alcohol -related car accident, or any alcohol-related accident, especially an injury that is serious enough to require hospitalization, the chances of the person dying after the injury increase by a staggering 5 times.

The researchers looked at people who suffered from alcohol – related disorders and analyzed their fatality risk after suffering a serious personal injury related to their alcoholism.  Different types of injuries were studied as part of the research. These injuries include those that result from drunk driving accidents as well as slip and fall accidents which are common when a person is inebriated and not in complete control of his senses. The researchers also included those injuries that occurred as a result of attempted self-harm,  or  when the person is involved in drunken fights.

Continue reading
Published on:

by

An increasing population of senior motorists on Georgia roads translates into a large number of drivers with possibly impaired driving abilities, and an increased risk of auto accidents.

It is important to note that not every person above the age of 65  is a dangerous driver.  In fact, a fit and healthy senior can expect to be driving for many more years, provided he or she is in excellent physical health.  However, in some cases, a senior motorist may exhibit signs of impairment that can impact his ability to drive safely. Because a senior’s impaired driving abilities can significantly affect not just his or her own safety, but also the safety of other motorists on the road, it is up to the family to look out for warning signs of declining driving abilities and heightened car accident risks in the senior.

Here are some warning signs that should alert you to the possibility that your loved one is incapable of driving safely.

Continue reading
Contact Information
945 East Paces Ferry Rd # 2230
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 460-0101 Fax: (404) 240-0401 Toll Free: (888) 426-2100
508 E Howard Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 460-0101

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2016 – 2025, Katz Personal Injury Lawyers
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design