Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

We are pleased to report that the family a murdered woman was recently awarded $1.3 million in a premises liability case heard by a Covington County, Georgia jury. The young mother of two was shot to death in a public housing apartment complex by a resident who was a convicted murderer. The jury found that the apartment complex was negligent in its hiring, training and retention of employees by allowing a convicted murderer to live there.

Under Georgia law, an apartment owner has a duty to keep the apartment complex safe. Where an apartment owner has reason to anticipate criminal activity on its property through prior crime at the apartment or in the surrounding area, the apartment owner must take reasonable steps to provide adequate security. If the apartment owner fails to undertake these steps, he or she is liable for any injuries that occur to its residents as a consequence.

This premises liability shooting case demonstrates that the public has little tolerance for property owners who do little or nothing to protect the security of their patrons. As an Atlanta premise liability law firm, we continue to vigorously represent our Clients throughout Georgia against these negligent property owners.

A Plaintiff and her son were recently awarded $11.5 million for personal injuries sustained in a horrific motor vehcile accident. The catastrophic accident happened when the at-fault Defendant, who was working for the United States Postal Service at the time of the accident, pulled his postal truck in front of a vehicle in which the victim was a passenger. The driver of the vehcile lost control of the car when he swerved to avoid colliding with the postal truck, and then crashed into a wooden fence. A rail from the fence broke through the car windshield and punctured the Plaintiff's abdomen. The Plaintiff was pregnant at the time and was in a coma for nearly five months. Her son survived the incident, but suffered profound brain damage.

Our law firm represents Clients throughout the state of Georgia and has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have suffered an injury as a consequence of the fault of another. Please contact us if we can be of assistance.

As an Atlanta car accident law firm, we were saddened to learn of last week's single-car motor vehicle accident involving 5 Reinhardt University students. According to news reports, on Sunday, December 5, 2010, at approximately 12:44 a.m., the students were traveling in a 2007 GMC Sierra that left the roadway and before striking an embankment in north Cherokee County. One of the students, Mr. Steven Gregory Excell, unfortunately, perished as a consequence of the injuries he sustained. Reports indicate that the four other students were transported to Atlanta Medical Center where, all but one, were treated for their injuries and released. According to statements from the Georgia State Patrol, cras investigators believe that the driver of the vehicle lost control of the automobile before it left the roadway. The investigation remains open, however, and any charges against the driver remain pending.

If the driver of the GMC Sierra is found to have been at fault in causing this accident, Mr. Excell's family may elect to pursue a civil action for the wrongful death of their family member. His family could potentially recover a substantial sum for the loss of their family member, though, the ultimate recovery is dependent upon the insurance coverage held by the driver of the vehicle. In addition to the claim held by Mr. Excell's family, the other passengers of the vehicle may elect to bring independent personal injury actions. Because the insurance coverage may be limited, however, it is critical that the family of Mr. Excell, as well as the other victims, act quickly to ensure that insurance coverage is not exhausted.

It has been a difficult year across college campuses, as car accidents involving students have occurred at an alarming rate. Our firm, in fact, recently successfully represented the family of a Kennesaw State student whose life was lost in a similar incident. We, thus, understand the pain and anguish that Mr. Excell's family and friends are presently experiencing. We extend our condolences his loved ones, and we wish a speedy recovery to the other injured students.

The victim of an Atlanta car crash was recently awarded $2,000,000.00 for a spine injury sustained in a horrific motor vehicle accident involving two tractor trailer trucks. A DeKalb County jury issued the verdict after a lengthy trial in which the accident victim testified as to how a lumbar herniated disc injury suffered in the car accident has significantly impacted his life. The victim incurred medical expenses totaling $155,000.00, and the jury awarded an additional $1,845,000.00 for pain and suffering.

Many of our Clients ask about the differences between a car accident and a truck accident in Georgia. While there are distinct differences, the most important difference to an injured plaintiff is the insurance coverage available for injuries sustained in a trucking accident. While car accidents typically involve private individuals who may have insurance coverage as low as $25,000.00, truck accidents involve commercial vehicles that are insured by polices of insurance that are usually a minimum of $1,000,000.00. This means that a person injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver will usually have the potential for a greater financial recovery.

In addition to the higher level of insurance coverage available in tractor trailer accidents, there are also legal differences between motor vehicle accidents and truck accidents. Truck drivers may be held to higher standards of care depending on the load that is being hauled, and there are limitations on the time that a driver of a tractor trailer may operate the vehicle each day. There are also limitations as to the roadways that a truck may drive on.

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