Georgia Injury Law Blog

Published on: December 29, 2012

National Seat Belt Usage Rates at Record Highs in 2012

Across the country, approximately 86% of all motorists buckled up before driving in 2012.That was a record high for seat belt usage in the U.S., and marks a significant improvement over the past decades.

The data came from a new study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which found that national seat belt usage rates are at an all-time high of 86%.The National Occupant Protection Use Survey finds that the use of seat belts here has increased steadily since 1994.That has coincided with the fact that many states across the country, including Georgia, have enacted stricter seatbelt laws that require all motorists to buckle up.

In many states like Georgia, seat belt laws are primary enforcement laws, which means that a police officer who sees a motorist driving without wearing a seatbelt, can simply pull him over, without finding any other infraction.Primary enforcement laws are much more stringent, because they lead to stronger enforcement of the laws.Not surprisingly, the study found that states like Georgia that have primary enforcement laws have much higher seatbelt usage rates compared to states that have secondary enforcement laws.

Published on: December 17, 2012

Georgia Officials Warn of Increase in Car Accident Fatality Numbers in 2012

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia state officials are warning about a possible increase in the number of auto accident-related fatalities for this calendar year.The numbers are expected to rise in 2012, which will be the first time the state has seen an increase in more than 5 years.

The Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Public Safety recently announced that there has been a spike in traffic accident fatalities in the state this year.According to statistics, the state has already surpassed the accident fatality toll during the same period of time last year.

What is even more concerning to our car accident attorneys is that we are still in mid-December, and have not yet started the busiest travel season of the year.As we approach Christmas and New Year’s, there will certainly be more motorists on the road.And unfortunately, too large a percentage of these motorists will be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.Others will be speeding to get to their destination or party on time, and texting while driving remains a big problem in Georgia and across the country.

Published on: December 7, 2012

No-Texting Law Rarely Enforced in Georgia

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Unfortunately, Georgia’s ban on texting while driving for all motorists has not been effectively enforced since the law went into affect more than 2 years ago.According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, since the ban on texting while driving was imposed in Georgia, less than 50 people a month are convicted of texting while driving.In fact, the number of people who are convicted of texting while driving annually is miniscule, compared to the number of people convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution analyzed state records as of September 17, 2010, and found that enforcement of texting while driving laws is pitiful in the state.(They also provided a breakdown of convictions for texting while driving in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and Cobb Counties.)There were 1,281 convictions for texting while driving-related offenses during this period of time, while 22,500 people were convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol during the same time.Georgia State troopers admit that they have only been able to issue about 11 citations per month since the law went into effect on July 1, 2010.

Many Atlanta car accident lawyers find that part of the problem with enforcing the law is that the law makes it difficult for police officers to pull people over for texting while driving.The onus of responsibility to prove that the motorist was texting while driving is placed on the law-enforcement officer.Officers must be able to prove that the motorist was indeed texting while driving, and not merely dialing a cell phone while driving, or accessing a map.

Published on: November 26, 2012

Nasal Cell Transplants Show Signs of Reversing Paralysis in Dogs

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Spinal cord injuries are always serious, and can lead to partial or complete paralysis.There is no complete cure for paralysis, and a victim’s best opportunity for recovery of his physical abilities is through a comprehensive physical therapy and rehabilitation program that helps him strengthen muscles, and increase coordination abilities.(We are fortunate in Atlanta to have Shepherd Center, one of the best brain and spinal cord injury hospitals in the world.)

Researchers at the University of Cambridge are now claiming some success in reversing paralysis in dogs by injecting stem cells from the nasal lining of the nose to the injury site.The study was a collaborative effort between the Cambridge University Veterinary School and the Medical Research Council’s Regenerative Medicine Center.The results of the study were published recently in the journal Brain, and found that animals that were injected with the nasal stem cells taken from the olfactory lining regained some movement in their hind legs.

The researchers studied 34 dogs, 23 of which were administered stem cell injections into the site of the injury.The rest of the dogs were treated with a neutral fluid.Researchers compared the progress in both of the groups of dogs.

Published on: November 16, 2012

Georgia Committee of Teen Drivers to Advise on Accident Prevention

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The governor of Georgia has announced the establishment of a committee that would consist entirely of teenagers, for the purpose of advising state officials on ways to reduce car accidents in Atlanta and across the state.

Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that the commission, called the Gov.’s Commission on Teen Driving would constitute a panel of teenagers from around Georgia.These teenagers would be selected based on applications received by the state.About 15 to 20 teenage drivers will be included on the panel.

According to the Gov.’s Office of Highway Safety, Gov. Nathan Deal has significant concerns about accidents and fatalities facing many of Georgia’s youngest drivers.The Governor’s Office is encouraging teenage motorists between the ages of 15 and 19 to apply for positions on the panel, because this can present them with a unique opportunity to help formulate laws that affect teenage safety.

Published on: November 6, 2012

Depression, Anxiety Drugs Can Increase Potential for Car Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A recent study found that certain common prescription drugs used to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders can actually increase the risk of car accidents.

According to the study, which was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, an individual’s risk of a car accident may increase if he takes medications that are used to treat these conditions.In fact, the links between these medications and an increased risk of car accidents is strong enough for researchers to warn doctors that they should alert patients who are taking these medications not to drive after taking them.

The researchers specifically focused on on psychotropic drugs that are often used to treat depression and anxiety.These drugs can alter the way the brain functions.Ultimately, the side effects of the drug can impair the person’s ability to control a vehicle.

Published on: October 15, 2012

Preventing Distracted Driving Accidents Through Example.

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A new survey of teenage drivers indicates some disturbing findings, but not ones that our Atlanta car accident attorneys are unfamiliar with.The survey found that some teenage drivers are learning the most atrocious driving habits from their parents.Those habits include failure to wear seat belts, talking on cell phones while driving, and even driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The survey, which was conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance and a student youth safety organization called Students against Destructive Decisions, involved more than 1,700 teenagers.These teenagers were surveyed about their driving practices and whether they had witnessed these driving practices among their parents.

It is shocking to note that at least 91% of the teenagers admitted that they had seen their parents talking on cell phones while driving, and 90% self-reported that they did so too.Similar numbers of teenage drivers also reported that they observed their parents speeding while driving, and as a result, approximately 94% of the teenagers also admitted that they drove at excessive speeds.

Published on: October 1, 2012

GHSA Takes Tough Positions on Distracted and Drugged Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently adopted expansions of its policies related to distracted driving and drugged driving.These are 2 factors that are cited in thousands of fatal and injury-causing car accidents that occur in the metro Atlanta region every year. We have continued to see an increase in drunk driving accidents in our office, and believe a tougher stand on this problem is necessary to protect Atlanta drivers and passengers.

The GHSA is calling for a complete ban on the use of handheld cell phones while driving across all states.Just a few states have complete bans on hand-held cell phones while driving, while more than 35 states, including Georgia, have banned texting while driving.

The Governors Highway Safety Association earlier supported only bans on text messaging while driving, and bans on the use of electronic devices by both novice drivers as well as school bus drivers.This is the first time that the GHSA has voiced its complete support for bans on handheld cell phone.

Published on: September 25, 2012

Georgia DOT’s Plans to Raise Speed Limits Could Increase Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A number of states around the country have experimented with an increase in speed limits on some of their freeways and highways.Earlier this month, Texas had the dubious distinction of becoming home to the road with the highest speed limit in the country, with one stretch now having a speed limit of 85 mph limit.In Georgia, similar plans are being discussed that would raise our speed limit.

However, Atlanta car accident lawyers would warn against any rush to increase speed limits on roadways, without carefully analyzing the possible effects on motorist safety and the increased risk of accidents.

In Georgia, the Department Of Transportation is currently experimenting with increasing the speed limit on I-285 from 55 mph to 65 mph.Those 65 mph speed limits are fairly reasonable, when considering that the current highest speed limit in Georgia is 70 mph.While motorists in Georgia may complain that the speed limits in the state are far too low, the fact is that very often, motorists decide to drive at least 10 mph above the posted speed limit.So when you have a speed limit of 70 mph, you’re likely to have many motorists traveling at 80 mph.

Published on: September 11, 2012

Series of Wrong Way Driving Accidents In and Around Atlanta

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The month of August saw a disturbing series of accidents caused by motorists driving the wrong way on highways and freeways in and around the metro Atlanta region.These accidents ended with catastrophic injuries and multiple fatalities.

The first accident that occurred earlier in the month involved a motorist who was driving the wrong way on Georgia 400, and crashed her car into another vehicle.The driver of the other car died in the accident.

Just a few days later, there was another wrong-way driving related accident, this one occurring in Gwinnett County.In this accident, the wrong-way driver crashed his vehicle head-on into another car on Georgia Highway 316 near Dacula.At least 2 people were critically injured in this accident, and victims had to be cut out of the damaged vehicle.