Georgia Injury Law Blog

Published on: November 18, 2009

Study Reveals Teen Texting While Driving is Dangerously High

Study Reveals Teen Texting While Driving is Dangerously High

A new study that included teens from Atlanta, has revealed some frightening statistics that should cause great concern to Georgia personal injury lawyers. The study included 800 teens between 12 and 17, and 74 more in 9 focus groups in Atlanta, New York, Denver and Ann Arbor. According to the study, about a quarter of teens aged between 16 to 17 years admit to having texted while at the wheel.

However, it’s not that fact – scary as it is – that worries us the most. Almost half of the respondents between 12 and 17 years old in the Pew survey, admitted that they frequently see their parents texting while driving.

Published on: November 17, 2009

Student Injured in DeKalb County School Bus Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Student Injured in DeKalb County School Bus Accident

News of a school bus accident is enough to cause concern to any Georgian. These vehicles carry some of the most precious cargo, and children may be at serious risk of injuries in these accidents. At least one student has been hospitalized with injuries after an accident involving two DeKalb County school buses this week.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the accident occurred on Monday, when bus number 1794 of the McClendon Elementary School struck bus number 1282 at the Lawrenceville Highway and Interstate 285 intersection. One of the children suffered cuts, and was taken to a hospital. Fortunately, there were no other injuries in the accident. The accident seems to have been caused when bus number 1794 backed up into the other bus.

Published on: November 16, 2009

Helmet Usage Can Minimize Brain Injury Risk In Motorcycle Accident Victims

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Helmet Usage can Minimize Brain Injury Risk in Motorcycle Accident Victims

Efforts by law enforcement authorities and transportation authorities in Georgia and nationwide, have helped lower accident fatality rates over the past few years. However, the rates of motorcycle accident fatalities have increased dramatically during the same period.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as of 2008, motorcycle accident fatalities had actually increased for the 11th year running.

Published on: November 13, 2009

New Studies Evaluate Fall Accidents of the Elderly

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

New Studies Look at Ways to Prevent Fall Accidents in Elderly

Elderly persons aged 65 or above have a much higher risk of suffering slip and fall accidents. They are also more likely to suffer debilitating long term injuries from these falls that can severely impact their quality of life. In fact, about 20 percent of elderly persons who suffer a hip fracture after a fall accident, die within 12 months of the fracture.

With alarming statistics like these, it has always been a source of concern to Atlanta slip and fall accident lawyers that little research is done to find out why these people are at risk for such falls. However, as the New York Times says, new research involving the use of wireless sensors placed in elderly persons’ homes, are providing experts clues to understand what kind of conditions can increase the risk of falls, helping develop preventative measures that can minimize the risk of falls.

Published on: November 12, 2009

Atlanta Ranks Among Top Ten Most Dangerous Metro Areas for Pedestrians

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers, we haven’t been blind to the lack of proper infrastructure that makes Atlanta such a dangerous place for pedestrians. Now comes a new study that confirms the Atlanta metropolitan area as one of the most treacherous places for pedestrians in the US.

The rankings have been developed by the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, which recently released a report on the state of pedestrian safety in the country. The picture is bleak. According to the report, approximately 5,000 pedestrians die every year in traffic accidents.

The list of 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas has Florida occupying the first four spots making it a nightmare destination for pedestrians. Memphis is at number 5, followed by Raleigh –Cary, North Carolina, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, Houston-Sugarland- Bay Town, TX, Birmingham-Hoover, AL, with Atlanta- Sandy Springs- Marietta occupying the 10^th spot. To generate accurate rankings, the researchers developed a Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) to clearly and correctly compare metropolitan areas based on actual danger to pedestrians.

Published on: November 10, 2009

Defective Buses Could Expose Georgia Passengers to Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

I came across this interesting report by the Chicago Tribune which elaborated on how one bus manufacturer neglected to inform customers about its defective vehicles for 8 years, while the NHTSA failed to speed up this process.

The bus manufacturer in question is New York-based Transportation Collaborative Inc (TCI). The company recently agreed to inform its customers there are defective parts in its buses that have been recalled. These parts include

· Unstable seatbacks that could collapse in the event of a crash causing serious injuries

Published on: November 9, 2009

Ford Inflatable Seatbelt Systems Promise to Reduce Risk of Injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Ford Inflatable Seatbelt Systems Promise to Reduce Risk of Injuries

As Georgia car accident lawyers, we are constantly monitoring new auto safety technologies that promise to keep drivers and passengers safe in an accident. Ford Motor Company has now announced the development of new inflatable seatbelt systems that we believe could be the next big thing in auto safety.

According to Ford, it will equip new Ford Explorers that are due to go into production next year, with the inflatable seatbelts in the rear seats. During a crash, the belt inflates and fills up with cold compressed gas. The gas is released after several seconds through tiny pores in the belt.

Published on: November 5, 2009

Georgia Seeks to Lower Motorcycle Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Motorcycle Education Initiative Aims to Lower Accident Statistics Across Georgia

Last month, Georgia State Patrol and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety launched a motorcycle safety education initiative, aimed at lowering the numbers of motorcycle crash statistics across the state. According to Georgia State Patrol, the safety education unit will provide motorcycle safe information at schools, clubs, military facilities and other locations across Georgia.

The safety education initiative comes as motorcycle accident fatality rates continue on their upward graph, causing concern to law enforcement officials, motorcycling groups as well as Georgia motorcycle accident lawyers. While other highway accident statistics have dropped steadily over the past decade, motorcycle accident fatalities have actually increased during the same period of time. Currently, motorcycle accident fatalities constitute 14 percent of all highway fatalities in the US. In 2007, 162 motorcyclists died in accidents in Georgia. 3,334 people were injured in these accidents.

Published on: November 3, 2009

Several Morehouse Students Injured in Bus Accident in Henry County

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A group of Morehouse College band members were injured on Saturday morning when the bus that was carrying them to a football game in Albany, flipped over on I-75 south in Henry County.

According to Fox News, there were 42 members of the Morehouse College marching band in the bus, which hydroplaned on the wet roads, skidded off the highway and rolled into a ditch. At least 13 of the band members had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that are not reported to be life threatening. Twenty nine other passengers also had to be taken to hospitals to check on other less serious injuries.

According to Henry County police, the road was slick from recent rains in the area, and that could have played a part in the crash.

Published on: October 31, 2009

Teenagers Injured in Roller Coaster Crash in Augusta

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Teenagers Injured in Roller Coaster Crash in Augusta

Three teenagers were injured seriously enough to require a visit to the hospital, after the roller coaster they were on crashed at the Georgia Carolina State Fair in Augusta over the weekend.

The crash occurred on Saturday at around 9:30 pm. According to witnesses, they yelled out when they saw that the roller coaster were about to crash, but the operator failed to slam the brakes quickly enough causing the coaster to rear end the others. In all, four people were injured, and three of them required treatment at the hospital.The victims insist that no one at the fair bothered to check if their injuries were serious. They received no emergency care.Far from displaying any concern about the injuries, the fair operators acted quickly to shut down the roller coaster as soon as the accident occurred. Fair personnel have not yet commented about the reasons for the crash.