Georgia Injury Law Blog

The week from May 16 to May 22 is being commemorated as National Dog Bite Prevention Week nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing attention to the fact that more than 1.4 million Americans suffer dog bites every year, a majority of them children.

One particular fact that the CDC wants to draw extra attention to this year, is that most people bitten by a dog have a pet dog in the household. That means your chances of being bitten are higher if you have a pet dog at home. In fact, according to the CDC, your chances of being involved in a dog bite increases with the number of dogs in your home.

It makes sense that people with little children at home should preferably have fewer numbers of dogs. It also makes sense that certain dog breeds are not suited to households with little children. If you’re looking to buy a puppy, make sure that you talk to a professional about this decision. If you can find an animal behaviorist in your area, then consult one about the breed of dog that’s suited your household.

Atlantans will have to get used to more numbers of bicyclists over the next few months as cycling season hits us in earnest. For those bikers who are new to Atlanta streets, it’s very important that you get familiar with the challenges before you.

You’re in luck, however. May is Bicycle Safety Month, not just in Atlanta, but across the country. That means plenty of bicycle promotion and safety awareness programs going on near you.

The risk of accidents is not something that bicyclists want to think about, but the fact is that these occur very frequently on Atlanta streets. Bicycling Magazine has brought out a list of some of the most frequent bicycle accident situations. The list features five of the most common bicycle collisions, and also recommends steps cyclists can take to avoid accidents like these.

Education and exposure to bicyclists and safety programs makes for a safer environment for both bikers and motorists. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is promoting the month of May as Bike Safety Month. The League of American Bicyclists is the official sponsor of this campaign, which will run through this month.

Any program that aims to spread the message of safe bicycling and increases awareness among motorists and bicyclists alike, will have the support of Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers. There is a series of events and programs lined up across the month, in the city of Atlanta. Here’s a look at just some of the events lined up for longtime bikers, as well as new bicyclists.

There will be a bike advocacy team meeting on May 10. This will be followed by a bike rally and bike rodeo on May 15. On May 19, bicyclists across the city will take part in the Ride of Silence to commemorate those bicyclists killed in accidents. On May 21 is the high point of the program, Bike to Work Day. On that day, teams of professional bicyclists will ride to work to demonstrate the conveniences and joys of a bike commute. Finally on the 26^th, there is a special workshop on Bike Maintenance for Dummies. The program will cover basics, like how to fix a flat tire and identifying bike parts.

It’s the kind of golden nexus that has had federal regulators and Atlanta personal injury lawyers very concerned. The trend of employees at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration leaving their jobs to take up cushy positions at prominent auto makers like Toyota, has been popular for a while now. After leaving their positions, these former NHTSA employees would then enjoy a cozy relationship with their former coworkers at the agency.

It has not been confirmed if this kind of relationship impacts auto safety. According to the Department of Transportation, there is no evidence to show that there was an unhealthy relationship between Toyota lobbyists who were former NHTSA officials, and the agency that they used to work for. However that hasn’t convinced some legislators. Sen. Barbara Boxer is working on an auto safety bill that would prohibit ex-NHTSA employees from working as lobbyists or in any other position that would require them to be in contact with their former employer. This restriction would be in place for a period of at least three years after the person quit his job at the NHTSA.

The Toyota crisis has also led to other lawmakers putting on their thinking caps and devising new legislation to keep American motorists safe. One such bill would require automakers to install anti-runaway technology in their vehicles. These technologies will include the override systems that are currently in place in several vehicles, and stop-start technologies. The bill is being drafted by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

More Than 350 Fatalities Annually in Police Chase-Related Accidents

There’s little attention paid to the hundreds of innocent motorists injured or killed every year in accidents caused by high-speed police chases. A new report by USA Today throws more light on this problem.

According to the report, which is based on NHTSA figures, every year, approximately 350 people are killed in accidents caused when police are chasing a suspect in a high-speed pursuit. In about one third of the cases, these fatalities involve the suspect being chased. The remainder, and the majority of the fatalities, involves innocent motorists.

The campaign against distracted driving is coming soon to a chat show near you. On April 30, the Oprah Winfrey show will broadcast a special on distracted driving, called National No Phone Zone Day, and Atlanta will play a part in the proceedings. .

According to the Oprah show website, Oprah’s special guests on that day will be representatives from the Department Of Transportation, the Governors Highway Safety Association, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other safety agencies. Oprah will invite families of victims killed in accidents linked to cell phone use while driving. There will be live rallies in several metropolitan cities across the country, including Atlanta. These rallies will include the participation of victims’ families, safety groups, and other advocacy groups.

Viewers will be invited to join a pledge – that they will make their car a “no phone zone,” and will avoid using a cell phone while driving at all costs. Hundreds of thousands of people have already joined the pledge on the Oprah website, and more are expected to join after the show airs on April 30.