Atlanta Wrongful Death Lawyer - Marine Killed in Wrong Way Driving Accident in Atlanta

A Marine who was on his way home to Alabama after a tour of duty in Iraq was killed this week in Atlanta. Police confirmed that  the crash was caused by a wrong way driver.

Lance Cpl. Gregory Suedmeyer and his wife Katelyn were on their way home to Huntsville, Alabama, when their car was struck by a Chevy Silverado, driven by a 74-year-old Bruce Joseph Quayle.  He was apparently driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-20. He drove at least one mile in the wrong direction before his car crashed head-on into the Suedmeyers.

The Marine was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later died.  His wife continues to remain in a critical condition.  Police are investigating how he ended up driving the wrong way on the interstate.  Just before the fatal crash, numerous emergency calls were made to Douglas County 911 about the wrong way driver.

This traffic fatality is especially tragic given the fact that Suedmeyer was a young Marine who had survived deployment in Iraq only to be killed near his home in an automobile collision.  The fatal wreck occurred in a week in which the Department of Transportation estimated that highway crash fatality rates last year had been the lowest since 1954. There are fewer people dying in crashes across the country, but accidents like this one remind everyone, including Atlanta wrongful death lawyers exactly why we need to keep focusing on preventing the needless loss of innocent lives.

Gwinnett County Wrongful Death Lawyer - Gwinnett County Woman Killed in Accident, Police Blame Bad Weather

Georgia DUI Accident Lawyer - Georgia Sees Fewer Christmas Weekend Accident Deaths than Predicted

Fayette County Wrongful Death Lawyer - Fayette County Teenager Killed in Car Accident

Gwinnett County Car Accident Death Likely Attributed to Inexperience of Teen Driver

Bicycle Accident Death in Cherokee County

A bicyclist was killed this week in an accident involving a sports utility vehicle in Woodstock, Cherokee County, Georgia.  According to news reports, the man was riding his bicycle on a sidewalk when he crashed into an SUV that was leaving a parking lot. The SUV ran over the bicyclist, killing him instantly.

The accident comes on the heels of a report that indicated that bicycle accident injuries have become more severe over the past decade. The study focused on bicycle injuries between 1996 and 2006, and researchers found that injuries had actually become more severe during this period. The numbers of serious chest injuries rose by 15 percent, while abdominal injuries increased 3 fold.

The researchers also found that while bicycling rates across the country, including in Georgia, had increased, the rate of helmet use remained static. As an Atlanta personal injury lawyer, I find this piece of information the most troubling. It means that more and more people are making the decision to bike around to work, for leisure and for exercise, without equipping themselves with the right safety gear.

Consequently, the study found that at least 1/3 of the patients in the study had sustained a serious head injury in an accident. The researchers called for more investment in bicycling infrastructure, like creation of more bike paths, as well as greater awareness in the motorist population, as measures to reduce these rates.

Atlanta has seen a sharp increase in the number of bicyclists on its streets, but city authorities have failed to take the growing needs of this population into consideration. The result has been frequent conflicts between bicyclists and motorists, and very often, an accident like the one here.

Three Killed in Accident on Highway 78 in Dekalb County

Three people from Gwinnett County were killed in an accident near Stone Mountain Park on Tuesday. Initial news reports from the Atlanta Journal Constitution said that 6 others had been seriously injured when the van they were traveling in was struck by a car, and then flipped over. New reports coming in have identified the victims.

According to DeKalb County police, the driver of the white sedan was changing lanes on Georgia State Highway 78 when he struck the rear bumper of the van, which then flipped over several times. The van was full of Georgia Power's employees who were commuting to work.  The six people who were injured continue to be in a critical condition at hospitals in Atlanta, and my thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families.  DeKalb police have indicated that criminal charges may filed against the sedan driver, James Miles.

Coincidentally, the accident occurred on the same day that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had some good news for DeKalb County personal injury lawyers.  According to the NHTSA, traffic accident fatality rates for the first half of 2009 were down by about 7 percent compared to the same period last year. Between January and June 2008, 17,871 people died in traffic accidents. This year, there have been 16,626 fatalities traffic accidents during the same period. 2008 was something of a milestone year in terms of fatality rates - they were the lowest the agency has recorded in decades.

Accidental Death of Pedestrian Child in Duluth Raises Calls for Lowered Speed Limits

The family of a boy who was killed in a pedestrian accident in Duluth over the weekend is calling for speed limits to be lowered in the area.

Four-year-old Tylerlee Magliocco was killed when he walked on to the road on Saturday night and was struck down by an SUV. Apparently, Tylerlee had managed to open the locked door of his house on his own and walk out. His mother was on the phone and didn’t hear the chime that normally rings when the front door is opened. She only realized something was wrong when she heard the squeal of tires. Tylerlee sustained serious injuries and died the next day in the hospital.

The driver of the SUV, an 18-year-old, stopped after the crash.  So far, there is no indication that drug or alcohol use was a factor in the accident. Police don’t believe the driver was speeding or distracted either.

Tylerlee’s parents say they don’t blame the driver of the SUV for their son’s death, but they are calling for speed limits on Grant Avenue to be lowered. The speed limit is 45 miles per hour.  The parents believe that 35 or 30 mph would be the right speed limit, given the number of families with little children living nearby. According to Duluth police, the particular stretch of road where Tyler was hit doesn’t appear to be especially prone to accidents.

Georgia Motorcycle Accident Results in Death of Smyrna Man

A motorcycle rider died in an accident in Cobb County over the weekend.

According to news reports, the motorcyclist Anthony Torone Anderson was riding his bike behind another motorcyclist. When the second rider attempted to make a left turn, Anderson's bike crashed into the motorcycle. The impact of the collision sent the motorcycle crashing into several utility poles. Anderson was rushed to a hospital, but was pronounced dead.

Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its annual report on traffic accident fatalities for 2008. As a Cobb County personal injury lawyer, I was very encouraged to see that fatality rates across almost all types of accidents, had declined substantially. However, the rate of fatalities in motorcycle accidents had actually increased, as it has been over the past decade.

In Georgia, 177 persons died in motorcycle accidents in 2008, compared to163 in 2007. These numbers have been steadily increasing, from 111 in 2004, to 144 in 2005, to154 in 2006.  Of the 2008 fatalities, 160 motorcyclists were wearing a helmet at the time, and 14 were not.

Law enforcement agencies in Georgia have grappled with the problem of motorcycle safety, but face challenges in bringing down the fatality rates in these accidents. Motorcyclists, for one, are at a much higher risk of dying in an accident. In fact, a motorcyclist is up to 80 times more likely to die in a crash than a motor vehicle driver. Motorcyclists have little protection in the event of an accident, and this increases the risk of a rider becoming one more number on the fatality list. Helmets may offer a high degree of protection, but as we can see from the 160 helmeted motorcyclists who died in Georgia last year, they are no guarantee against death.

It's also hard to target awareness campaigns to educate motorcyclists about safe riding practices.  There are higher numbers of motorcyclists aged 40 and above now on the streets, compared to decades earlier when motorcycles were the ride of choice for younger men.  The demographics of riders have changed dramatically, creating challenges in implementing education programs.

Family of Three Killed in Gwinnett County Car Accident Prepares to Mark First Anniversary

A Gwinnett County family that lost three members in a drunk driving car accident last year will mark the one year anniversary of their deaths at the end of this month. On the 31^st it will be one year since the horrendous alcohol-related car crash which 20-year-old Gainesville resident caused a five vehicle crash that killed two siblings and an infant of the same family as well as the driver of his car.

On that fateful day, Carmon Cody Rhoden, who had been drinking before the crash, was spotted by a motorist weaving in and out of traffic and driving recklessly.  The motorist called police to inform them of the driver, but police never got a chance to stop Rhoden.  A few minutes later, he clipped a Ford SUV carrying Demetrius Randle, his wife Falleen, daughter Whitney, her 13-month-old son, Kayden and her 14-year-old brother Alexander. The force of the impact caused the SUV to flip over several times before it came to rest on its top.  Whitney, her little son, brother, and the driver, Mark Anthony Gay were killed.  Demetrius Randle suffered serious brain injuries.

Rhoden never stopped to offer the victims any help, or call for emergency rescue personnel. He simply drove on. He later claimed at his bond hearing that he didn't realize that the crash was "that big."  Drunk driving was not Rhoden's only offense, it later came out. He was driving at a speed of 112 mph at the time of the crash. He was denied bond and has spent the last year at the Gwinnett County jail, charged with reckless driving, vehicular homicide, and hit and run.

Demetrius Randle has spent much of the year since the accident recovering from his injuries. When his loved were ones were being buried, Demetrius was deep in a coma, battling for his life. As he attends the memorial service on the first anniversary of their deaths, he may receive closure.

Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers

The combination of speed and driving is a potent one, and any automobile accident that involves a speeding and intoxicated driver almost always has  devastating results such as catastrophic injuries and death.  If you have questions about how to proceed after suffering injuries in an alcohol related accident, contact an Atlanta and Peachtree City car accident lawyer at my office.

Cobb County Student Drunk at Time of Accident

Earlier in January, a 16-year-old Cobb County student was killed in a car accident when he crashed his vehicle into an incoming car. The driver of the other car was left with serious injuries.  Toxicology reports now show that the teenager Garret Reed was intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .133 at the time of the crash.

The accident had ignited debate about teen drunk driving, and the role of adults who provide alcohol to under aged drivers.  On the evening before the accident, Garret had attended an event at his school. After he left, he obtained a half gallon of rum which he consumed at various spots, including in the parking lot of an entertainment center. Shortly after midnight, Garret left for home, but not before telling his friends that he was drunk. He insisted however, that he felt well enough to drive. A few minutes later, he crashed his vehicle. A week after the accident, police arrested Kecia Evangela Whitfield for providing rum to Garret and his friends. Whitfield was the mother of one of Garret's classmates, and is currently awaiting a court date in April.

Georgia is one of at least 10 states that allow parents to give their own children alcohol, but only in the home or in a private setting. However, it's illegal to give other people's children alcohol. Garret's accident has raised the issue of "social hosting laws" that punish parents whose homes become venues for drinking parties. Parents, whose children use their homes for such parties where other minors consume alcohol, can be fined thousands of dollars. Social hosting laws are being enacted not just in Georgia, but across the country in efforts to crack down on binge drinking by teenagers. 

Woman killed in Pedestrian Accident in Atlanta

A Cobb County woman was killed while crossing a road in a hit and run pedestrian accident in Atlanta earlier this month. Police have now released details about the vehicle that hit 47-year-old Joyce Bailey.

Bailey was trying to cross a road in Midtown on the 21^st of March when she was struck by a car that police now say was probably a gray or silver colored Mercedes Benz. According to witnesses who were at the scene of the accident, the Mercedes Benz received some damage on the front of the car and the wind shield. The driver is said to be either a white male or an African American of light complexion. Police have also been able to use footage obtained from the camera at a gas station close to the accident spot. The driver never stopped the car after the accident. The hit and run driver drug Bailey several yards into the gas station. Bailey died soon after.

For Bailey's family and friends, the circumstances surrounding her death must be agonizing. She was struck down by a car, and then dragged some distance away before she died. The driver of the car never got down from his car to offer the dying women any comfort, and never bothered to call for emergency help. The driver of the car that struck Bailey deserves the strongest punishment he can receive for his crime.

Pedestrian accidents usually involve death or serious injuries.  A pedestrian does not have the luxury of being protected by metal, the protective cushioning of airbags or the secure restraints of seatbelts.  The victim is usually thrown several feet or drug underneath the striking vehicle, causing severe traumatic injuries, including head and brain injuries.  Those that do survive, usually have long and arduous recovery periods, with weeks and months of painful rehabilitation in an effort to return to a normal life.

Expenses in the case of such injuries don't stop at the initial cost of hospitalization, doctor costs and medication expenses. There are the costs of physical therapy and rehabilitation, loss of wages due to missed hours from work as well as the costs of long term medical expenses. For instance, victims of a pedestrian accidents who have suffered brain or spinal cord injuries are likely to be in need of long term or 24 hour care. 

New Bill May Decrease Number of Deaths in Georgia Through Expansion of Trauma Care Centers

Last month, I discussed the deplorable state of Georgia's trauma care network and the increase in auto accident fatality rates in rural Georgia, which has fewer numbers of such emergency care centers.  A severe paucity of funds, made worse by a recession and a budget deficit, threatens to condemn thousands of Georgians in the south to continued limited access to "golden hour" trauma care.  Now, a new bill that offers a ray of hope for funding efforts has been introduced in the legislature.

The bill, sponsored by state Representative Jim Cole is backed by Governor Sonny Purdue. It aims to charge an additional fee of $200 from every motorist who is caught driving at extreme speeds on the state's highways.  Motorists driving at 85 mph on four lane highways and 75 mph on two lane roads will have to pay the $200 fine, in addition to any other fines that may be levied.  The bill will also impose a fine of $400 on drivers as they attempt to get their suspended or revoked driver's licenses renewed.   The bill aims to raise at least $30 million each year, and these funds will be used to expand the state's trauma care system.  Another scheme that will eliminate the annual car tag tax, and replace it with a fee of $1,500 payable one time only on newly purchased vehicles, is also receiving backing from House Republicans.  This move too is expected to add to the state's coffers, enabling funds to be channeled towards trauma care center expansion.

As a Georgia personal injury lawyer and a concerned Georgia citizen, I am delighted by these measures that promise to bridge the gap in emergency trauma care in cities and rural centers.  It also makes perfect sense to me that "super speeders," who are typically involved in serious auto accidents, are the ones who should pay heavy fines for their behavior, thus funding the expansion plan.

The risk of death is highest during the "golden hour" - the first hour after a serious car accident, fall or explosion - and too many Georgians suffer from a lack of access to immediate trauma care because there are no trauma care centers in their area.  If the bill is passed, more people in rural parts of the state will receive access to the trauma care they need.

Atlanta Car Accident Causes Two Deaths

An automobile accident on Friday night involving a pickup truck, a MARTA bus and a car killed 2 people in Atlanta.  According to this report, a speeding Dodge pickup truck hit a MARTA bus at a Southwest Atlanta intersection. The impact caused the pickup to become air borne, crashing down on a nearby passenger car.  The 2 occupants of the car were killed instantly. The driver of the pickup truck suffered moderate injuries, and was rushed to the hospital, where he is listed as being in stable condition. Police have not yet filed criminal charges against the pickup driver and have confirmed that alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

Judging from the impact of the accident, the pickup driver seemed to have been driving at excessively high speeds. Speeding is one of the most avoidable driving behaviors. When a motorist drives at excessive speed, he risks not only his own life, but also the lives of dozens of other motorists who are sharing the road with him. A crash involving a speeding car almost always results in severe and catastrophic injuries and death.  The kind of injuries that result from such crashes are life altering ones like brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations, which can drastically alter the quality of a person's life.

As a Peachtree City Wrongful Death Lawyer I have litigated cases for people who have suffered serious injuries in a crash where speeding was one of the primary factors. No matter what the compensation amount, it can never return the quality of life that was enjoyed before the crash. Many victims depend on the damages they receive to bear their expensive medical treatment, rehabilitation therapy and income replacement.

Woman Charged in DeKalb County Pedestrian Accident

A Snellville woman who struck and killed a 7-year-old boy on his way to school in  a crosswalk accident earlier this month, is now facing misdemeanor charges of vehicular homicide, and crosswalk and traffic safety violations.

Shirley Rita Ogilvie was driving an SUV when she struck Cameron Dunmore in front of Princeton Elementary School on the 2^nd of February. Cameron was crossing on a designated marked crosswalk with a stationed crossing guard who held a stop sign. Ogilvie failed to stop at the crosswalk, hitting the little boy. He died at the scene of the accident. The area where the accident occurred has high traffic levels, and residents had complained in a petition to DeKalb County about the lack of traffic signals at the spot.

In another unrelated pedestrian accident, a man was struck and killed as he was crossing a block at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard on Saturday morning. The driver of the SUV that hit the man didn't bother staying back to offer the injured pedestrian any help. He drove on ahead, and police are now looking for the SUV.

As this report shows, the dithering economy and Georgia's massive budget deficit are impacting DeKalb County funding for road safety programs. In the absence of funding, essential road building activities like construction of new roads and sidewalks and installation of street lights have been cut. County officials say they have no other choice but to slash endowments for such projects.  Last year, the County spent $19 million on the construction of roads and sidewalk, and bridge repairs. This year, the proposed funding for such projects has dramatically reduced to just $5.5 million. That's bad news for pedestrian safety advocates like this Georgia personal injury lawyer who have been calling for more investment in pedestrian safety programs.

With the recession showing no signs of abating, and the budget deficit still looming as large as ever, it looks like Georgia's pedestrians and motorists will simply have to work together to make these streets safe for all. Motorists must follow all traffic rules, including those related to stopping for pedestrians, giving them right of way, and being extremely cautious near intersections and crosswalks where most of these pedestrian accidents occur.

Child Killed in DeKalb County Pedestrian Crosswalk Accident

A seven year old boy was struck and killed in a pedestrian accident when he was walking across the street in a crosswalk near Princeton Elementary School in south DeKalb County on Monday.  Cameron Dunmore was on his way to his first day in a gifted program at school, when he was struck and killed by an SUV driven by a parent of another student at the school. The driver, Shirley Ogilvie, is expected to be charged with vehicular homicide.

According to reports, the boy was crossing the street at the school crosswalk at 7.30 am.  There was a crossing guard on duty holding a stop sign, but for unknown reasons, Ogilvie failed to stop.  In the 24 hours since the pedestrian accident, we've also learned that there had been a traffic light in front of the school, but it was removed recently by County officials.  Residents of the neighborhood, concerned about the high levels of traffic and the safety of students, had recently submitted a petition to the County authorities to install a traffic signal.  County officials apparently conducted an "assessment" of the need for a light, but the light was never installed.  Residents claim that the area can be a problem, especially when there are inattentive or speeding drivers. 

Pursuing Pedestrian Accident Claims in Atlanta 

Pedestrian accidents almost always result in severe and life threatening injuries and even fatalities.  Liability in an Atlanta pedestrian accident can extend not just to the motorist who was driving the vehicle, but also any agencies that may have been responsible for defective design or negligent maintenance.   An injured person can claim damages for both economic losses - medical bills, hospitalization - as well as non-economic losses like damages for pain and suffering, etc.

In the accident results in death, the family may file a wrongful death claim. These claims are involve both tangible (financial) losses, as well as intangible losses, like loss of the joy of living which may be harder to quantify.  In addition, a jury may return a verdict for punitive damages, where there was conscious pain and suffering, to deter an exceedingly reckless driver.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, you will need the counsel of an experienced Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney to recover damages for you.  Contact an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer at my office for a free evaluation of your case.

NHTSA Study Confirms Drunk Drivers Cause Forty Percent of the Traffic Fatalities

Gwinnett County Personal Injury Lawyer - Three Children Injured in Bus Accident

Sleep Apnea Clinical Trial is Good News for Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers

Last month, I blogged about the NTSB recommendation for mandatory sleep apnea screenings for commercial truckers, to reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents.  I expressed my hope that the FMCSA would act on the recommendation, and mandate sleep apnea screenings for bus and truck drivers.  While we wait for the FMCSA to act (and judging by the agency's speed in responding to NTSB recommendations in the past, I would say it's going to be a long wait) it's encouraging to note that a Georgia-based sleep therapy services provider and its study partners have announced positive results from a clinical trial on treatment of truckers suffering from sleep apnea.

The trial was conducted by SleepSafe Drivers Inc., a company that provides sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment programs for commercial fleets, as part of a nationwide contract with a transportation company. The trial aims to document the kind of savings possible from reduced medical costs associated with early diagnosis as well as reduced accident-related expenses. According to representatives of SleepSafe Drivers' clinical partner, Atlanta-based Fusion Sleep, the trial's goal is to determine the health benefits of sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment in truck drivers.  This will hopefully create a model that could be used by the rest of the industry to prevent fatigue-related tractor trailer crashes.

The investigators have seen some measure of success using the sleep program.  Truckers, who suffered from sleep apnea, managed to knock off dozens of pounds, and were able to reduce daytime fatigue and lethargy.

Driver fatigue and drowsiness behind the wheel is a major factor in trucking accidents in Atlanta. Until the FMCSA mandates that companies offer diagnostic programs and treatment facilities to truckers, I hope trucking companies will come forward to offer their employees such programs, to ensure everyone's safety.

Trucking Companies Continue to Operate Despite Orders to Shutdown due to Safety Violations

A study conducted by the Government Accountability Office has revealed that hundreds of trucking companies continue to operate, even after they were ordered to shut down because of federal safety violations that included suspended licenses and impaired driving.  According to the report, many of these companies continue to operate under different names.

It's a scary fact, and has prompted a response from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency has responded to the GAO report by saying that it has introduced a computerized screening process under which new applicants must be compared to any previous companies with poor safety records. They noted that new companies are also now required to go through a safety audit within the first 18 months.

However, it's proving to be hard to enforce those measures as strongly as they should be. The FMCSA does not have the kind of computer capabilities needed to identify companies that have used similar names and addresses, but don't match each other exactly. There is also ambiguity about whether the federal agency or the state has the power to enforce these rules. Therefore, the GAO report only considers those companies that exactly match each other. The number of such companies is likely to be higher because the report doesn't take into consideration names and addresses that may be similar to each other. There is also ambiguity about whether the federal agency or the state has the power to enforce these rules.

The GAO is warning that the reincarnation of these companies continues to place motorists at risk for serious tractor trailer accidents. There are federal rules that mandate safety standards for brakes, wheels, tires and several other components of a tractor trailer. A reincarnated company will resume operations of its vehicles without bothering to take the kind of corrective action that was ordered. That means there are several tractor trailers with possibly defective or malfunctioning components, driven by unlicensed or inexperienced drivers or even drivers with a history of drug and alcohol use. That's dangerous news for innocent motorists on the road, and deeply concerns me as a husband, father of three and a Georgia truck accident lawyer.

Texting While Driving - Deadly Mixture New Study Confirms

Even though the study dealth with large trucks and truckers that take longer to stop and are less maneuverable than cars, the findings apply to all drivers, who tend to exhibit the same behaviors as the more than 100 truckers studied.  Truckers do not appear to text more or less than typical car drivers.  Compared with other sources of driver distraction, "texting is in its own universe of risk," said Rich Hanowski, who oversaw the study at the institute.

Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech institute, one of the world's largest vehicle safety research organizations, said the study's message was clear. "You should never do this," he said of texting while driving. "It should be illegal."  Thirty-six (36) states still do no ban texting as it is a relatively new phenomenon.

Investigations into Fatal Colquitt County, Georgia Tractor Trailer Accident Continue

Investigating teams are probing a fiery truck accident that took place in Colquitt County, Georgia on Tuesday, but it will be weeks before we find out what actually happened to incinerate the vehicle that the victims were traveling in. The two women who were killed in the crash have now been identified as sisters, Juana Mezquital Severiano and Petra Mezquital Severiano. They were reportedly on their way to work in a Chevrolet Blazer, being driven by 28-year-old Juana. As the Blazer was crossing an intersection, it collided with a tractor trailer that was also passing through.

The impact of the accident sent the two vehicles hundreds of feet ahead. The Blazer came to a stop on an embankment and immediately burst into flames.  Passing motorists and the truck driver tried to pull the two women out of the burning car, but were unsuccessful. It was left to firefighting crews and rescue personnel who arrived at the scene to extricate the girl's bodies.  Sources say that the two women died on impact and were not alive when the vehicle exploded. It took a while to identify their charred remains. Initially, there was some confusion that an infant was present in the car, but that was later refuted. The sisters were identified with the help of their husbands and head trauma was ruled as the cause of death. The driver of the tractor trailer, who escaped without injury, hasn't been charged yet.

There is no information yet on any probable causes of the accident or whether speeding was a factor. Police are likely to conduct a complete investigation of the conduct of both drivers in the accident including the truck driver, Wayne Daniels. They will likely be looking into his speed at the time of the crash, as well as conducting alcohol and drug tests to rule out the possibility of driving under the influence.  Any signs of malfunctioning of the truck like faulty brakes etc. will also be investigated as well.

Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer

 The two sisters were the third and fourth road accident deaths in Colquitt County in just the past three weeks.  If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a large truck or tractor trailer, contact me at my Atlanta and Peachtree City personal injury lawyer firm for a free evaluation of your case.

Truck Accident on Georgia Highway 11 Injures Two

A truck accident involving a tractor trailer and a garbage truck on Georgia highway 11 close to the Newton County/Social Circle border pushed both vehicles into a roadside ditch. Both the driver of the tractor trailer and the garbage truck were rushed to the hospital with injuries.

According to this report, the garbage truck was attempting to make a turn into a driveway on the afternoon of February 27^th. The tractor trailer which was following behind was unable to slow down in time to avoid the garbage truck. The tractor trailer crashed into the smaller truck, and the impact ripped apart the front portion of the tractor trailer. No other vehicles were involved in the accident. Some fuel from the tractor trailer spilled into the highway, and emergency crews were rushed to clean up the spill.

It appears that the tractor trailer driver was either speeding or following too close to the garbage truck. A tractor trailer is a massive vehicle weighing tens of thousands of pounds, and this makes it harder for a vehicle to slow down in case of an emergency. In fact, it takes up to twice as long for a tractor trailer to slow down or halt as it does for a smaller passenger vehicle. That's why it's so important that tractor trailers avoid tailgating, and keep some distance between their rig and the vehicles in front.

Speeding is particularly foolish for large truck drivers. Slowing the vehicle becomes even harder in emergency or non emergency situations and the consequences can be disastrous. An eighty (80) thousand pound tractor trailer can easily crush smaller vehicles and the occupants inside are exposed to the significant risk of serious injury.

New Truck Driver Work Hour Rules May Impact Accident Rates

A new federal rule mandating the number of work hours truck drivers can drive went into effect in January. Debate continues to rage over how the rule will impact truck accident statistics.

The new rule which was issued in December 2008 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration increases the number of consecutive hours a truck driver can spend behind the wheel in a 14-hour work day from 10 to 11.  The rule was first issued in 2004, but debates about its effectiveness ensured that enforcement was delayed for several years. In January, the rule finally went into effect in the face of opposition by Georgia truck accident lawyers, road safety advocates and families of victims whom have died in trucking accidents in which driver fatigue was cited as the most important factor. Overwork and stress are the 2 biggest reasons why a tractor trailer driver can began to feel tired and drowsy behind the wheel. A driver nodding off at the wheel of a passenger car is dangerous enough, but when a driver at the helm of a massive 80,000 pound tractor trailer does the same, the results are devastating. Victims and survivor groups have long called for more restrictions on truck driver work hours to reduce the risk of driver fatigue.

The new rules don't account for the realities of the widespread manipulation of log books in the trucking industry. Generally, the more hours a truck driver works, the more he earns. That simple fact is the reason why truck drivers in the past have been found to maintain 2 separate log books.  The trucking industry has lobbied strongly to get the new rule passed insisting that there is enough data to show that very few accidents actually occur during the 11^th hour of the 14-hour work day. Besides, the industry stands to lose billions of dollars every year if the rule is reversed to the pervious 10 hour requirement.

Truck Accident Lawyers

In an accident involving large trucks like a tractor trailer, victims can claim compensation from the trucking company that employed the driver.  It is extremely important to contact a lawyer well versed in this area of law to require the trucking company to preserve supporting information that will prove or disprove the truth of the paper log books.  If you have been injured in a truck accident, contact a Georgia truck accident lawyer at my office for a free consultation.

FDA Approves Stem Cell Trial for Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

As an Atlanta, Peachtree City and Newnan car accident lawyer, I constantly see the devastating effects that these crashes can have and the life altering injuries caused by others negligence. Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious injuries related to automobile collisions, and so far, a complete cure has been elusive. Hope has arrived for these patients.  The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the world's first stem cell clinical trial for treatment of spinal cord injuries.

That is news bound to cheer spinal cord injury patients as well as stem cell research proponents, who have long been calling for increased funding to realize their ambitions of a cure through embryonic stem cell therapy.  This summer, a California-based company will kick off a trial, injecting embryonic cells into eight to ten spinal cord injury patients.  Currently, the trial has modest aims, hoping to  ascertain the safety of stem cell therapy.  It is a small step forward, in a field that has often been the focus of bitter and controversial debate.  While nobody is expecting quick miracles from these new trials, medical researchers are excited about the possibilities for a cure over time.

Spinal cord injury is caused by a sudden and violent impact to your spine that results in damage to one or more of the vertebrae.  This damage could be in the form of crushed, fractured, or dislocated vertebrae, and the level of disability varies from patient to patient.  Most spinal cord injuries caused in the US are the result of automobile accidents, including car accidents and truck accidents, accounting for close to half of all spinal cord injuries each year.  Falls, such as those that may occur as part of a construction accident when a worker falls off scaffolding or a crane, account for 15 percent of all spinal cord injuries.  The rest are caused by disease, gunshot wounds, and sporting accidents.

An accident victim with serious injuries may be eligible for compensation, not just for immediate and ongoing medical treatment expenses, but also for the long term care that spinal curd injury patients require.  There may be physiotherapy expenses, as well as the costs of making lifestyle changes to help the victim cope with his injuries, such as modifications to his house and/or car to facilitate access.

If you have suffered serious injuries in a car or truck accident, an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney can help recover the compensation to cover the short term as well as long term care expenses.  Contact your Peachtree City personal injury lawyer for a free evaluation of your case.