Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

As we reported earlier today, an Atlanta Police Department off-duty officer was hit this morning while assisting a stranded motorist on I-285. We can now report that an arrest was made in this incident. Timothy Couch was arrested at the scene of the accident on a suspicion of driving while under the influence. The officer, as we understand, remains under observation at Grady Hospital. Per our previous report (click here), the off-duty officer may elect to pursue both a civil personal injury case against Mr. Couch and a workers compensation claim.

Our Atlanta personal injury and workers compensation law firm has learned that a Zone 4 Atlanta police officer was injured early this morning while he was assisting a stranded driver on the ramp from I-285 southbound to I-20 westbound. According the stranded driver, the APD officer was a friend who she had called to the scene because her vehicle had run out of gas. While the officer was assisting her, an apparent drunk driver struck the officer causing head and upper extremity injuries. It is our understanding that the at-fault driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The officer was transported to Grady Hospital for emergency care, and our thoughts are with both him and his family.

The injured officer certainly has a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, and, if the at-fault driver was, in fact, driving under the influence, the officer will have a right to pursue punitive damages. Depending on the extent of the officer's injuries, his case could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Interestingly, the injured officer may also have a workers' compensation claim which also could be worth a substantial sum. The information that we have obtained indicates that the officer was off-duty at the time of the accident, but an argument could be made that he was acting his capacity as a law enforcement officer at the time of the injury.

Our law office represents Clients in both personal injury and workers compensation cases, and given the facts of this accident, it is important that the injured officer retain a similarly structured law firm. The injured officer will want to ensure that the law firm that he retains to assist him has the capacity and expertise to pursue both his personal injury case and his workers' compensation claim.

Atlanta auto accident attorneys obtained a $20 million dollar verdict for the estate of a 62-year-old man who died when his automobile was hit by a tractor-trailer truck. The verdict was obtained in Clayton County, Georgia, and jurors delivered the verdict after only 3.5 hours of deliberation. This is another big jury award for personal injury lawyers, and the verdict shows that Georgia juries are willing to properly compensate plaintiffs and punish defendants when the circumstances are appropriate.

In the negligence case, the estate's auto accident attorneys informed the jury that the decedent had been stopped at a red light when his vehicle was crushed by a truck driven by the Defendant. The lawyers argued that the Defendant was negligent in not keeping a proper lookout, in neglecting to keep his vehicle under control, and in travelling too fast for roadway conditions. The jury accepted these arguments and found that the Defendant acted reckless and with a complete disregard for the safety of others on the roadway.

Prior to presenting the case to the jury, the Defendant's insurance company was only willing to offer $1.5 million dollars to settle the case. The estate's lawyers rejected this offer, and instead trusted that the jury would dleiver a verdict that was just and fair.

Our Atlanta wrongful death law firm reported earlier today on the death of Steven Naraine, an innocent young man whose life was tragically taken this morning at the fault of a drunk driver who entered I-85 travelling in the wrong direction. We are pleased to report that our office has received updated information indicating that the drunk driver, Manuel Rivera, has been arrested by DeKalb County Police and charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving, driving under the influence and driving in the wrong direction. Our firm all too often represents families, such as Mr. Naraine's, who have suffered the loss of a loved one at the fault of a drunk driver. We hope that Mr. Rivera receives the maximum criminal punishment allowed by law, and that his family pursues civil justice against Manuel Rivera for Mr. Rivera's reckless and wanton actions.

Our Atlanta wrongful death law firm has been informed of a tragic accident occurring on southbound I-85 in DeKalb County early this morning. Steven Naraine was legally and lawfully operating his vehicle on the highway when a green BMW entered the roadway at Shallowford Road travelling in the wrong way in a northbound direction. After travelling less than 1/4 of a mile, the driver of the BMW stuck the vehicle driven by Mr. Naraine. Mr. Naraine's vehicle was then struck by two additional vehicles. Mr. Naraine, we are saddened to report, perished as a consequence of this accident. The driver of the BMW was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was listed in serious condition, and the drivers of the two other vehicles were apparently treated and released from local hospitals. DeKalb County Police spokesperson, Officer Jason Gagnon, reported late this morning that the driver of the BMW was "suspected of being under the influence" at the time of the accident.

The conduct of the driver of the BWM was reprehensible, and his actions amount to clear negligence under the laws of Georgia. Mr. Naraine's family will certainly be entitled to a substantial financial recovery, perhaps millions of dollars, for the loss of their loved one. The family will also, almost certainly, be entitled to a punitive damage award for the reckless conduct exhibited by the driver of the BMW. We have recovered millions of dollars for families who have suffered such losses, and, although no figure can be placed on the loss of a life, we hope that this family receives the full compensation allowed by the law. The driver of the BMW deserves to be punished.

This incident is the latest in a string of terrible automobile accidents recently occurring on Atlanta's roadways. Over the last several days, our office has been retained by a number of victims who have suffered disabling injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions which happened within the last 2 weeks.

As an Atlanta work injury law firm, we were saddened to learn of the death of a Douglas County construction worker this afternoon. According to reports that have been passed on to us, the RA-LIN employee was operating a skid steer machine at a construction site in the vicinity of North Douglas Elementary School when the incident occurred. Per witnesses on the scene, the worker exited the skid steer to remove some debris from the front shovel arm when the arm suddenly collapsed causing massive trauma to the worker's head and upper body. The Douglas County sheriff's office and federal OSHA officials are investigating.

The family of the deceased worker will almost certainly be entitled to millions of dollars in compensation as a consequence of this incident. The family will, of course, automatically be entitled financial benefits under Georgia's workers compensation laws. It is important that the family retain a knowledgeable lawyer to assist them in securing these benefits, however, as the workers compensation is complicated. In addition to compensation available under the workers compensation code, the family may have additional claims against the manufacturer of the skid steer. These machines are designed to be ultra-safe, and the collapse of the shovel arm would appear to indicate that there was some form of malfunction. It is important that the family immediately retain a lawyer to assist them with this claim, as pictures and an inspection of the machine will need to be obtained before the machine is repaired. If photographs and an inspection are not obtained before the machine is fixed, the value of the case may decrease significantly.

Our law firm has represented many families in workers compensation cases, and we have, unfortunately, all too often seen the value of these claims compromised as a consequence of a failure to quickly secure the assistance of an attorney. Insurance companies are concerned with limiting their financial exposure, and without a lawyer protecting the interests of these families, insurance companies work quickly to eliminate evidence detrimental to their interests. We hope that familiy's interests in this tragedy will be adequately protected.

As an Atlanta car accident law firm, we were troubled to learn of an unfortunate accident involving several individuals taking a horse and carriage ride through downtown Atlanta on Friday night. According to police reports and witness statements, Donald Borchardt, Carol Knieriem, Andrea Rice and another unnamed female were occupants in a horse drawn carriage when a Lexus, driven by 28-year-old Odom Gerald, struck the carriage. Witnesses suggest that Mr. Gerald may have been racing another vehicle at the time of the accident. One witness to the accident suggested that "It was unbelievable...the carriage was in the right lane and the car was in the right lane and [the car] just drove through [the carriage]."

Mr. Gerald was immediately arrested and has been charged with following too closely, driving with a suspended license, and an open container violation. According to reports, Ms. Knieriem and Ms. Rice have been listed in stable condition at Grady Memorial Hospital, while Mr. Borchardt has been treated and released. The fourth passenger of the horse and carriage, however, has been listed in critical condition.

Given Mr. Gerald's apparent fault in causing this accident, the occupants of the carriage are eligible for significant financial compensation. Based upon the circumstances of the incident, their cases will likely be worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. In light of the multiple injuries, however, it is critical that the victims quickly pursue a claim against Mr. Gerald prior to his insurer exhausting available insurance coverage. Given our firm's experience in handling these types of matters, we realize the vital importance of rapidly pursuing a case against the at-fault party. We hope that the victims of this unfortunate accident elect to pursue a case against Mr. Gerard, and that they receive maximum compensation for their injuries.

A one car accident on Saturday night claimed the life of Mr. Anthony Moss, a 21-year-old resident of Stone Mountain, Georgia. Mr. Moss was driving a Corvette on Peachtree Road near Buckhead when he apparently lost control of the vehicle and struck a utility pole. A passenger in the Corvette was seriously injured, and the passenger was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital. The condition of the passenger was not immediately known. Several witnesses to the accident suggested that Mr. Moss was speeding just before losing control of the vehicle, and one witness said "It was pretty frightening to see that happen."

Based upon witness accounts, it would appear that Mr. Moss was negligent in causing the accident and, as such, his injured passenger would be entitled to a substantial financial recovery. Given this circumstance, it is important that the family of the injured passenger quickly gather all information relating to Mr. Moss' insurance carrier as the law requires that the insurer be placed on immediate notice of the accident. As an Atlanta car accident law firm, we have all too often seen injured car accident victims go uncompensated for their injuries based upon a simple failure to timely pursue a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance carrier. This was a tragic event that could, apparently, have been prevented. As such, we hope that the injured passenger receives the full financial award that he or she is entitled to.

Our Atlanta law firm has learned of another tragic accident occurring on Atlanta's roadways this weekend. At approximately 1:25 pm on Saturday afternoon, a 1996 Cadillac Seville driven by 21-year-old Dan Olsen crossed the center median of the Canton Road Connector in Marietta, striking a Nissan 350z approaching in oncoming traffic. Spencer Davis, a 19 year-old, was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Mr. Olsen. Mr. Olsen was transported via helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital and is listed in serious condition, and Mr. Davis was transported to Atlanta Medical Center where he is listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit. The condition of the driver of the Nissan 350z is unknown.

While it remains to be seen whether Mr. Olsen will face criminal charges for causing the car accident on the Canton Road Connector in Marietta, he will almost certainly face a civil suit from those who have been injured. As a passenger in his vehicle, Mr. Olsen owed a duty to Mr. Davis to operate his vehicle with due care. It appears that this duty was breached, and, as such, Mr. Davis would be entitled to damages worth hundreds of thousands (and perhaps millions) of dollars. The value of Mr. Davis claim may, however, be impacted by the extent of injury suffered by the driver of the Nissan 350z. Mr. Davis' recovery, and the recovery of the injured driver of the Nissan 350z, will likely be limited by the amount of insurance coverage held by Mr. Olsen. Given this scenario, it is critical that Mr. Davis and the driver of the Nissan 350z pursue their civil claims without delay. The party that files the first claim may, possibly, garner the larger recovery.

Ironically, the accident on the Canton Road Connector occurred in a very similar location to a case we handled a little over a year ago. In that case, our Client was driving a vehicle near the Connector when a mini-van crossed the center median and struck her vehicle head on. Our Client and her child suffered extensive injuries in that matter, but we were, thankfully, able to obtain a full recovery for her.