2011 December Archive

On Friday, December 23, at 6:00 p.m., the Christmas holiday travel weekend began, and, according to the Roswell Patch, it claimed four lives by the time it ended on Monday, December 26 at midnight based on Georgia Department of Public Safety (DPS) statistics.

The four Georgia traffic fatalities from this weekend included two reported by Cobb County Police, one reported by Atlanta Police, and one reported by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) post in Wilkes County. The Roswell Police Department conducted nine DUI stops over the holiday weekend, but there were no fatalities.

According to the GSP, there were 351 traffic crashes in 2010, causing 280 injuries and three fatalities during the Christmas holiday. Those statistics are only as reported by the GSP. With all agencies reporting, there were 641 crashes, 387 injuries, and three fatalities. Although the number of fatalities over the Christmas holiday weekend this year was a small increase from last year, overall traffic fatality numbers are in decline across the state. According to U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) statistics, 2010 was the fifth consecutive year that Georgia highway fatalities decreased and it seems that 2011 will continue that trend.

Every motorist is responsible for his or her own safety, as well as the safety of others on the road. If you have lost a loved one in a Georgia car crash that was caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another driver, you have the right to pursue legal action. The knowledgeable car accident wrongful death lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost future income, and other losses. To discuss your potential claim with one of our attorneys, call us today for a consultation at (404) 995-3655 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513.

Very Low Birth Weight, or VLBW, is dangerous for the health of a newborn, and, according to a recent study published in Neurology, its effects may continue through young adulthood. According to Medscape.com, the study concludes that newborns with VLBW tend to have deficiencies in neurocognitive abilities once they become young adults. It is no surprise that severely preterm births are already associated with impaired mental faculties in children, but there are not many studies that follow-up on these results as the children grow older. “Neurocognitive Abilities in Young Adults with Very Low Birth Weight” is that follow-up study.

Within this study, as part of the Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults, two groups of more than 100 adults each were subjected to a battery of tests. One group included young adults who had been born with VLBW and the other included young adults who had normal birth weight. The tests evaluated general cognitive ability in addition to executive functioning and related abilities. Academic performance was also considered. The study concluded that:

1. The VLBW group performed slower or scored lower than the non-VLBW control group in expressive language abilities, general intelligence tests, verbal fluency, visual scanning, copy and immediate recall, and psychomotor speed.
2. The VLBW group more frequently participated in remedial education in school than the control group, although it found no significant differences in self-reported academic performance (probably due to their participation in remedial education).

It was also concluded that VLBW may impair the brain’s ability to resist or repair issues related to brain injury. Additionally, the study found that VLBW adults are more likely to suffer from chronic disease, participate in less healthy living, and even have higher mortality rates.

VLBW in a newborn can lead to serious medical conditions and lower quality of life, even into adulthood. It is only with proper prenatal screening and care that a doctor can prevent circumstances which would cause a VLBW birth. If your child has suffered injury and/or illness as the result of negligence on the part of a physician, the dedicated Atlanta birth injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., can help you and your child obtain the compensation you deserve. Contact our offices today to learn more about your legal rights and options at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513.

Soon after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) banned commercial large truck drivers and bus drivers from using any hand-held cell phone while operating the vehicle, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made its recommendation to the nation’s 50 states to ban all non-emergency, portable electronic devices, including hands-free for all drivers. The NTSB made this recommendation following the conclusion that the initial cause of a devastating accident in Missouri was caused by cell phone use.

What started as a rear-end collision turned into a fatal multi-car pile -up when the 19-year-old driver of a GMC Sierra pickup truck rear-ended a trailer-less Volvo truck-tractor. This initial crash was followed by two more as a 71-passenger school bus rear-ended the pickup truck and then was rear-ended itself by a second, 72-passenger school bus. This accident resulted in two deaths and 35 injuries. The driver of the GMC Sierra had sent/received 11 text messages in the 11 minutes preceding the accident.

Georgia currently has a texting ban for all drivers and an all-cell phone ban for school bus drivers and drivers under 18 years old. The texting ban, which was implemented earlier this year, is the latest cell phone law for the state. According to CBS Atlanta, there is both support and opposition to the NTSB recommendation in Georgia. While some residents have seen how cell phones distract drivers from attending to the task at hand, others feel it is an imposition on private rights. When asked about the likelihood of such a total ban being passed in Georgia, a State Senator responded with pessimism. It is believed unlikely that such a law would pass, but state lawmakers are open to discussing the bill for a total ban, if introduced. There are no plans to enact additional cell phone laws as of yet in Georgia.

Whether or not Georgia has a total cell phone ban does not mean a driver should casually use his or her cell phone while driving. It has been proven to cause serious accidents and, as such, a distracted driver who causes an injury accident may still be held liable for victims’ losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Georgia collision involving a cell phone, the experienced cell phone accident lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., can help you pursue compensation from the at-fault party. To speak to one of our attorneys, call us today for a consultation at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513.

Part of the fun during the holidays is decorating the house and, of course, the Christmas tree. But decorations and decorating are not without their risks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) receives hundreds of reports of injury and/or property damage every year during November and December as the result of Christmas tree and candle fires, broken ornaments, and other dangerous situations. In order to help families and their homes stay safe and avoid personal injury this decorating season, the CPSC and Underwriting Laboratories (UL) offer the following decorating tips:

• If you are buying a live Christmas tree, check for freshness. A dry tree is a fire hazard.
• Set up your tree away from heat sources, such as radiators, fireplaces, and vents.
• If you are going the artificial route for a tree, make sure it is labeled as “Fire Resistant.” Remember that this does not mean “fire proof,” however.
• Decorate the tree with ornaments and trimmings that are safe for small children. Nothing sharp, heavy, or inordinately fragile, and nothing with small, easily removable parts that a child could put in their mouth/eat.
• Always supervise burning candles.
• Make sure candles are placed on stable, heat-resistant surfaces that are inaccessible to pets and children.
• Only use lights that have been safety tested by a legitimate, nationally recognized testing lab, such as UL. Lights that have passed the UL safety tests will have the UL holographic label on them.
• Check every set of lights for damage, such as frayed or exposed wires, cracked or broken sockets, or loose connections. Damaged lights should be thrown out.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.
• Make sure you are using the appropriate extension cord.
• Make sure you are using lights as they are intended. Some lights are for indoor use only; others are certified for outdoor use.
• Use caution with “fire salts” that create colorful flames when added to wood fires. They can be very dangerous if swallowed as they contain heavy metals.
• Never burn wrapping paper in the fireplace as they can easily cause a flash fire.

These tips can go a long way in keeping your family and your home safe this holiday season, but, unfortunately, they cannot prevent every injury accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in Georgia as the result of defective holiday lights, decorations, or any other product, the dedicated product liability lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., can help you obtain maximum compensation for your losses. Call us today at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513 to speak to one of our attorneys about your potential claim.

Not everyone comes to the decision to take up motorcycling in the same way, but regardless of why a person decides to learn to ride, there is a proper way to do it. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) offers the following tips for new riders so they may never regret their decision to join the motorcycling world:

1. Get your license, be legal. It’s all about attitude. Both unlicensed and licensed riders may have skill and experience, but licensed riders tend to take motorcycling more seriously, and thus are involved in fewer accidents. Start off right and get your license.
2. Take a training course. Knowing someone who rides is great, but he or she is not usually the best choice when you need someone to train you. Go with an objective and licensed professional.
3. Get an inexpensive, less powerful motorcycle as your first bike. You may have started riding because of that dream bike, but it may not be the best choice for the motorcycle you will be learning on and likely dropping multiple times.
4. Wear the proper gear. This means helmet, gloves, jacket, boots, and riding pants. You don’t have the protection of a car as a motorcyclist. It’s just you and the road, so make sure you’re protected.
5. Ride with others. One of the best ways to develop and improve your own skills is to ride with experienced motorcyclists.

Even if you do everything right, you may not be able to protect yourself from every accident situation. Most motorcycle accidents in Georgia are caused by negligent and/or reckless drivers who do not know how to share the road with motorcyclists. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Georgia motorcycle accident caused by another motorist, the dedicated motorcycle accident lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., can help you pursue compensation from the at-fault party. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us today at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traffic accidents are the leading cause of fatalities in the U.S. among those between the ages of 5 and 34, but, according to a recent announcement by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), traffic fatalities have dropped to the lowest level in the last six decades.

Updated injury and fatality data from 2010 found the total number of traffic-related deaths that year to have dropped to 32,885, the lowest level since 1949, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This decline occurred despite the increase in the number of miles traveled. In 2010, U.S. motorists travelled almost 46 billion miles more than the previous year. Furthermore:

• With a fatality rate of 1.10 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, 2010 has the lowest fatality rate ever recorded.
• Fatalities declined in most categories, including for passenger car and light truck occupants.
• Drunk driving accident fatalities declined 4.9 percent to 10,228.

Although these are very positive trends, not all types of traffic-related fatalities declined. In 2010, fatalities increased for motorcyclists, pedestrians, and occupants of large trucks.

In addition to the aforementioned statistics, the NHTSA also revealed a new measure of fatalities related to distracted driving. According to new data, approximately 3,092 deaths were caused by distracted driving accidents in 2010. This new measure does not allow comparison between past distracted driving statistics because the methodology differs. However, the adoption of the new NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) “distraction-affected crash” is considered a step in the right direction towards distinguishing distracted driving from other issues.

Making a difference in traffic safety is long and complicated process, but it seems that national, state, and local efforts are finally paying off. Part of these efforts is holding negligent or reckless drivers responsible for the crashes they cause. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Georgia auto accident as the result of another motorist’s negligence or recklessness, contact the dedicated traffic accident lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. today at (404) 995-3955 or toll-free at (866) 249-5513. We can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with the American Honda Motor Co., has expanded its June recall of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by a defective driver’s side airbag inflator to about 1,709,477. The expansion includes 272,779 vehicles, 640 defective replacement airbags, and another 603,241 vehicles in which the defective replacement airbags may have been installed.

The defect involves the driver’s side airbag inflator, which could produce an excessive amount of internal pressure in the event of a vehicle crash that necessitates the deployment of the airbag. This buildup of pressure could cause a rupture in the inflator, resulting in the release of metal fragments into the vehicle that can injure the driver and passengers. The affected vehicles include model year(s):

1. 2002-2003 Acura TL;
2. 2003 Acura CL;
3. 2001-2002 Honda Accord;
4. 2002-2003 Honda CR-V;
5. 2001-2003 Honda Civic;
6. 2003 Honda Pilot; and
7. 2002-2003 Honda CR-V.

Owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified and instructed to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer, who will inspect vehicles and replace the defective airbag inflator, if necessary, free of charge. Owners of vehicles in the expansion group will be notified this month. This recall is associated with the following recall campaign numbers: 09V-259, 08V-593, and 10V-041. For additional information, owners can contact Honda at (800) 999-1009.

Airbags are supposed to provide protection for the occupants of a vehicle, not cause them further injury. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective airbag in Georgia, contact the skilled airbag injury lawyers in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., to learn more about holding negligent auto manufacturers responsible for the losses you’ve suffered and how you can obtain the maximum compensation you deserve. Call us at (404) 995-3955, or toll-free at (866) 249-5513 for a consultation.

Commercial trucks go by multiple names: big rigs, tractor trailers, semis, or 18 wheelers. They exist in a special class of vehicles, which weigh up to 80,000 pounds and that are the largest and heaviest on the highways. They are required to operate under strict safety standards set forth by the state and federal government. Any miscalculation or neglect in the operation of large commercial vehicles leaves other motor vehicle drivers extremely vulnerable, and can result in tragic large truck accidents.

A crash is typically classified as a runaway truck accident for a number of factors, all of which usually include problems with speeding. This type of accident happens if the velocity of the trailer in tow does not equal the velocity of the truck. This often results in a loss of steering control, greatly increasing the chance of accidents. And in some instances, the back trailer may come loose from the truck to careen treacherously along the highway, creating deadly threats to surrounding motorists.

Specific causes of runaway truck accidents may include:

• Severe declines in the road
• Dangerous conditions, like bad weather or debris
• Mechanical or equipment problems
• Malfunction or failure of the brakes
• Abrupt turns and/or braking
• Miscellaneous reckless driving
• A trailer that is overpacked and too heavy

In runaway truck accidents, the driver, the truck company, or the city or state may be held legally responsible for damages, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a runaway truck accident in Georgia, contact the Georgia runaway trailer accident attorneys with Wayne Grant at 1(866) 249-5513 for a free case review today.