2012 February Archive

The American Trucking Association (ATA) recently asked a federal court to review the new hours of service (HOS) rules passed recently by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The new rules restrict the total number of hours drivers can work. Previously, drivers were allowed to drive 11 hours per day and to be on duty for a total of 14 hours. They could not drive more than 80 hours in 7 days, and were expected to rest for at least 34 hours before starting a new “countdown.”

The new rules leave the 11-hour and 14-hour requirements in place, but limit the total hours to 72 in 7 days, with a 34-hour rest period in which drivers are required to sleep between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Drivers are also required to take half-hour breaks at least once every 8 hours.

The ATA’s brief asks the Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to review the rules to determine if they are “arbitrary and capricious.” The ATA argues that they are, and that the new limits are not based on any scientific or factual basis. The FMCSA, however, disagrees, saying the new rules are based on the latest research into human sleep patterns and preventing truck driver fatigue – a key source of truck and bus accidents.

Truck accidents can cause serious injuries. When a large truck collides with a small car, those in the small car often suffer the worst of the damage. The experienced Atlanta truck accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. have the legal resources and courtroom experience to help injured drivers. To learn more, call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Sixteen children were taken to local hospitals to be checked out after a bus accident in northern Georgia recently, but all were released to their parents and are expected to make full physical recoveries from the crash, according to a recent news report from Access North GA.

The accident occurred on East Hall Road as the bus was transporting students from the local high school. The bus rolled off the side of the road and came to rest on its side against a tree. Investigators say that they do not believe another vehicle was involved. Rather, they suspect that the driver of the school bus had a medical episode which caused him to momentarily lose control of the school bus.

About 22 high school students were on the bus at the time. Sixteen were taken to local hospitals for examination of their accident injuries, mostly bumps and bruises. The others were released to attend classes at the local high school or to go home with their parents, according to school officials. The bus driver’s medical condition is unknown; although he was not seriously injured in the crash, the condition that caused him to lose control of the bus may still be present.

At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., we understand that nothing is more important than the safety of your children – including ensuring that they get the best medical care so they can recover completely when an injury occurs. That’s why we’re dedicated to representing those injured in Georgia bus accidents and their families. To speak to an experienced Georgia personal injury lawyer, call our office today at (404) 995-3955. The initial telephone consultation is free and completely confidential.

Hybrid cars seem to offer slightly better protection from death or serious injuries in vehicle crashes, according to a recent study from the Highway Loss Data Institute (part of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). However, they are also involved in slightly more pedestrian accidents. Researchers believe the particular qualities of hybrids – additional weight and less noise, respectively – are responsible for these results.

Hybrids offered a 25 percent reduction in serious injury risk in motor vehicle crashes when compared to similar vehicles that only had conventional internal combustion engines, according to a recent study. Researchers believe this added protection comes from the fact that hybrids, which carry a battery system in addition to a standard gas engine, are slightly heavier than conventional vehicles of the same size, making them less likely to be pushed into other cars or objects.

However, in the same time period, hybrids were also involved in 20 percent more pedestrian accidents than standard vehicles, according to the HLDI study. Here, researchers believe the hybrid’s electric motor, which is far quieter than a standard gas engine, is to blame. Pedestrians who can’t hear a hybrid coming are more likely to step in front of it, and the driver may not be able to stop or swerve in time to avoid a crash.

At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our experienced Georgia pedestrian accident attorneys have the legal resources and courtroom experience to represent injured people and their families in all pedestrian accident cases. To learn more, call our office today at (404) 995-3955 for a free consultation.

The winter has been record-breakingly mild in many parts of the United States this year, grounding snowplow drivers and reducing the number of weather-related accidents nationwide. However, recent snows in Georgia and surrounding areas have caused some serious accidents, and meteorologists predict that more dangerous winter weather is on its way, according to a recent article in USA Today.

Throughout last weekend, snowplow crews worked in northeastern Georgia to clear roads, and rescue teams worked to pull drivers from accidents. Although most accidents were slide-offs, a few serious collisions caused auto accident injuries in various parts of the state, mostly in the northeast.

Luckily, rising temperatures at the end of the weekend and through Valentine’s Day were expected to take away much of the snow and ice hazards, but meteorologists say this squall might not be the only one Georgia sees.

If you’re driving in snow or ice, stay safe. Slow down, leave extra space between your car and the one ahead of you, and remember that you need plenty of extra distance to stop safely. Always wear a seat belt, and make sure children are securely strapped into appropriate child seats.

If you or someone you care for has been injured in an accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Atlanta traffic accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. We can help you with every step of the post-accident process, from filing an insurance claim to holding any negligent parties accountable for their actions in court. Let us lend a hand, so you can focus on healing. For a free consultation, call us today at (404) 995-3955.

Group B Strep (GBS) is a type of infectious bacteria carried by up to 25 percent of American women of childbearing age. For most of these women, GBS causes no symptoms – it simply rides along in the body. Many other women experience recurring vaginal yeast infections or urinary tract infections without realizing these are caused by GBS. However, GBS can cause serious and life-threatening harm to a developing baby or newly-born infant if it is not treated.

Mothers who have high fevers or recurring vaginal or urinary tract infections should have a urine test performed for GBS. Even if the test comes back negative or the mother is not tested, she should alert her doctor immediately if she goes into labor before 37 weeks, goes more than 12 hours between her water breaking and delivering the child, or experiences a fever over 100 degrees at any point during her pregnancy.

GBS can be treated at any time during the pregnancy, birth, or after birth by administering antibiotics to the mother, infant, or both. Infants born to GBS-positive mothers should also be treated with penicillin or another antibiotic as soon as possible after birth – preferably, within an hour.

Injuries caused by prenatal infections can permanently change the course of a child’s life. If your child has been injured by a prenatal infection or other birth event, the dedicated Georgia birth injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call our Atlanta office at (404) 995-3955 today.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced two recalls that may affect hundreds of drivers in Georgia and across the United States. Both tire manufacturer Toyo and car seat manufacturer Britax have coordinated with the NHTSA to alert consumers about possible car product defects.

Toyo sold its Extensa A/S series tires between September 2009 and November 2010, but is now recalling them because a manufacturing defect in the tire can cause it to go flat. A sudden flat while driving may cause the vehicle to swerve out of control, especially in a high-speed environment like a freeway. Toyo offers information on how to get these tires replaced free of charge through its toll-free number, 1(800) 442-8696. NHTSA also offers the information on its website, www.safercar.gov.

Britax’s “Chaperone” line of child safety seats was sold between September 2010 and April 2011, but these seats have defective straps that can come loose, allowing the child to fall or escape from the seat which increases the risk of child injury. Britax will send a free repair kit to families who own the affected car seats. Families can request the repair kit by calling 1(888) 427-4829 or visiting www.britaxusa.com.

At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our dedicated Atlanta product liability attorneys have the legal resources and practical courtroom experience to help you through everything from filing a claim to holding negligent parties accountable in court. For a confidential, free telephone consultation, call our office at (404) 995-3955 today.

February is “Heart Health Month” in the United States. If you have risk factors for heart disease, or don’t know your heart disease status, now is a great time to see your doctor, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It’s also a good time to get a second opinion if you suspect your heart disease has been misdiagnosed or isn’t being treated properly.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, especially those over age 55. Each year, heart disease takes more lives than every form of cancer combined. Heart disease occurs when the heart or the blood vessels that feed it are damaged, often by the buildup of plaque that narrows the blood vessels. Narrow blood vessels means the heart gets less blood in and out with each beat, forcing it to work harder.

If heart disease isn’t treated properly, the heart may fail, resulting in a heart attack. Blood clots may also occur, causing stroke, pulmonary embolism, or other potentially fatal conditions. Even people who survive a heart attack or stroke may suffer permanent disabilities. Although there is no cure for heart disease, early diagnosis and treatment can keep it under control, decreasing your risk for heart attack or stroke.

Heart disease can cause serious health problems, especially if it is not properly diagnosed or treated. If you or someone you love has suffered a heart attack or other serious injury or illness due to a failure to diagnose or treat heart disease, the experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorneys at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help. Call us today for a free consultation at (404) 995-3955 to learn more about your legal rights and options.

Super Bowl parties will be taking place all over Georgia this weekend, as people gather together to enjoy food, drinks, and the big game. While you can make smart choices to prevent yourself from driving while impaired by alcohol, you can’t make all other drivers make the same smart choices.

To raise awareness of drunk driving and the serious auto accidents it can cause, the NFL (National Football League) offers the following facts:

• Over 10,000 people lost their lives in drunk-driving accidents in 2010. These accidents involved both car drivers and motorcyclists.
• A designated driver should be over the age of 21, have a valid driver’s license, and promise not to drink alcohol before or during the game. Showing your appreciation for a designated driver by picking up the tab or offering to pay for gas is one way to encourage people to volunteer as designated drivers in the future.
• Making sure everyone has a sober ride home before breaking out the alcohol can help protect not only your friends, but others on the road as well.
• So far, a record 175,000 NFL fans have pledged to be designated drivers as part of the NFL’s “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” program. It’s not too late to join them!

Car accidents can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Georgia car accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. We can help you protect your legal rights and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a free consultation by phone, give us a call today at (404) 995-3955.

Endoscopes are used to examine the workings of the digestive system and other organs to make sure these systems are healthy or to check on the progression of certain diseases. While uncomfortable, an endoscopy is far less invasive than surgery, especially when physicians only need to observe conditions inside the body. When endoscopes and similar equipment are not properly cleaned, however, serious consequences can result.

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine tracked cases in which patients developed various infections after undergoing an endoscopy or similar procedure. The study looked at cases in which the disease could be tracked to improperly sterilized equipment. The most common type of infection transmitted was salmonella poisoning, followed by tuberculosis caused by improperly-sterilized bronchoscopy equipment used to examine the inner workings of the lungs. One case of hepatitis B, a liver disease, was also documented in the 400 cases the researchers examined

The researchers noted that endoscopy equipment can be difficult to clean properly, making it more likely than other types of equipment to transmit infectious bacteria. They recommended a multi-step sterilization process designed to double- and triple-check equipment so as many bacteria as possible are neutralized before each procedure.

Proper cleaning and sterilization of medical equipment and facilities is key in providing patient care that minimizes the risk for secondary infections, some of which can cause serious complications. At The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., our experienced Georgia medical malpractice attorneys are dedicated to representing those who have been injured by medical negligence. To learn more, call us today at (404) 995-3955 for a free telephone consultation.