Fayette County Georgia Wrongful Death Attorney Notes August is Most Dangerous Month on Nation's Highways

Newton County Wrongful Death Lawyer - Motorcycle Rider Killed in Crash

Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyer - Carroll County Student Killed in Roll Over Bus Accident

Parasailing Death of Lawrenceville Woman in Florida was Preventable

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