On the Field and On the Road – Every Hit Counts

The sportsworld was shocked yesterday when word spread about Chicago Bears’ safety Dave Duerson dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Duerson had testified before Congress in 2007 about the NFL’s retirement program and its players suffering from long-term concussion-related injuries, and shortly before his death on February 17th, Duerson wanted his brain to be studied to …

A Parent’s Worst Nightmare

The fatal accident in Douglas County this past Saturday is one of the many tragedies that often unfold on America’s roads. While campaigns like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have helped create a national dialogue, motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death of young adults aged 15 to 20. Many teenagers think they are invincible behind the wheel of …

New Traffic Fatality Statistics Available

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published its most recent data concerning fatal traffic accidents throughout the county. The NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), whose most recent statistics are through 2009, show that there was an overall 10 percent decline in fatal traffic accidents from 2008 in the United States. While the downward trend in fatalities can be linked …

“Drive Safely – In Memory Of”: GDoT unveils memorial signs

On Tuesday, the Georgia Department of Transportation announced that it will permit signs memorializing the victims of traffic accidents on federal and state highways. The Department unveiled the 15 inch circular signs that will state “Drive Safely- In Memory of” with the victim’s name at the bottom. The approved memorial signs will be installed as close to the scene of …

Quick Facts: Closed Head Injury

The effects of a collision – whether automobile, motorcycle, or tractor-trailer- are often not detected immediately. One injury that is often misdiagnosed or even missed altogether because it does not always manifest itself on an MRI or CT is a closed head injury. A closed head injury may lack the outward signs of physical trauma, yet the sudden shock of …

A Nuisance, But It Works

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a new study today, showing the installation of red light cameras, although controversial, has reduced fatalities by 35 percent in 14 of the largest cities in the United States.  Deadly intersection crashes fell in other cities with traditional enforcement, but only by 14 percent. The study also stated that by having tradition police …

Practice Pointer #3: Clue the Client in on Everything

One of the most important ways to gain confidence and build a great relationship with your client is through constant communication.  As the legal representative of your client, you are the one to best demystify and debunk myths and stereotypes of the legal profession. From the outside, the legal process is often seen as a quick call and quick settlement, …

Tired drivers as unsafe as drunk drivers

A new study has been released from a leading university in the Netherlands that shows being tired behind the wheel is as hazardous as drunk driving. The study monitored motorists who were behind the wheel for two, four, and eight consecutive hours. The individuals aged 21 to 25 were told to maintain a constant speed of 80mph in the center …

Out-of-state but not out of sight

It is undeniable that Atlanta is a major thoroughfare of the South, as the often frustrating traffic on the highway shows.  Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon scenario for an automobile accident to involve an out-of-state driver, especially one operating a commercial vehicle or rental car, who often lives hundreds of miles away. Georgia law offers recourse to individuals who …

Unsafe At Any Speed

Nearly 32,000 people in the United States die each year as the result of automobile collision. Now imagine how greater the number would be if you took away seat belts, shatter-proof windshields, and other safety features. 2011 marks the 45th anniversary of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.  After publication of Ralph Nader’s scathing expose on safety standards …