Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

A Troup County Superior Court Jury recently awarded $4 million to the victims of a deadly one-vehcile accident. A 77-year-old man was driving a van loaded with senior citizens when the vehcile left the roadway causing numerous injuries to the passageners, including one death.

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

The Murray Law Firm was pleased to learn that the Atlanta Medical Center has been designated as a Level I trauma center by the State of Georgia. Many of our most severely injured Clients have received life-saving services at the hospital, and we believe that the Level I designation was well warranted. We congratulate the administrators, physicians, and staff of the hospital on the recognition.

As a personal injury law firm that regularly represents Clients who have been injured, or who have lost a loved one, at the fault of an intoxicated driver, we are excited by early reports detailing the development of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS). The following is an article on the technology that was recently posted on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Waltham, Mass. -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland today took a first look at new Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) technology being developed to prevent alcohol-impaired drivers from operating their vehicles while under the influence.

In 2009, 10,839 people died nationwide in crashes involving a drunk driver. These deaths make up 32 percent of all fatal crashes.

With the recent string of alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents occurring on Georgia's highways, our firm would like to remind anyone who has suffered a loss as a consequence of such an accident that there are valuable resources available to assist them. Perhaps the organization most well-suited to offer assistance is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
MADD is an invaluable resource for families who have lost a loved one as a consequence of a drunk driver, and we always urge our Clients who suffered such a loss to contact the organization for assistance. The contact information for the Georgia chapter of MADD is as follows:

MADD
1000 CIRCLE 75 PKWY SE #45
ATLANTA, GA 30339
Phone: 7706153737
Fax: 7706153738
Email: ga.state@madd.org

For additional information on resocurces available to assist families coping with the loss of a loved one, please feel free to contact our firm at any time.

Our personal injury law firm wishes to recognize the efforts of the Georgia Department of Public Safety's TACT Program. Among other aims, the program is designed to identify and isolate hazardous tractor trailers and their drivers upon Georgia's roadways. As a car and truck accident law firm that sees all too many of the accidents caused by these tractor trailers, this program is one that is highly needed. The following post was published recently on the Department's website:

January 24-28, 2011 marked the latest enforcement wave of the Georgia TACT program was conducted last week on I-75 in Catoosa and Whitfield counties. TACT, or Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks, combines enforcement and education to increase driver awareness of the dangers associated with risky driving behaviors around commercial motor vehicles. During the five-day effort, troopers and MCCD officers made 296 contacts that included 123 commercial vehicle inspections, 101 citations, and 72 warnings. Included in the activity were 11 citations and 22 warnings to drivers of commercial vehicles for following too closely. Of the 123 inspections, six vehicles and six drivers were placed out of service with inspections revealing 84 equipment violations and 105 driver violations.

Congratulations to the TACT program, and keep up the good work!

As an Atlanta, Georgia based car accident and workers compensation law firm , we receive hundreds upon hundreds of telephone calls per year from potential Clients who simply ask "how much is my motor vehicle injury or work injury case worth?" In order to better assist our callers, we have created a Free 60 Second Case Evaluation. The process is simple: fill out our quick fill form (click this link) which takes less that 60 seconds to complete, and we'll get back to you within 10 minutes with a preliminary value for your case.

Although we have only recently started offering our Free 60 Second Personal Injury and Workers Compensation Case Evaluations, it has quickly become so popular and useful to potential Clients that we are now on call 24 hours per day. A Georgia personal injury, wrongful death, or workers compensation lawyer will respond quickly with a tentative case value and answer any all questions without cost. For those who wish to speak with our Georgia personal injury and workers compensation law firm immediately, please call 888.842.1616.

Although our firm is based in Atlanta, we have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients throughout Georgia. We handle cases from Dalton to Savannah and Augusta to Columbus. For those potential Clients outside of Georgia, we also offer nationwide attorney referrals for personal injury and workers compensation cases.

A 77-year-old woman was awarded $1.1 million by a Cobb County jury for injuries she suffered after being run over by her own vehicle due to a defective gear shift that moved out of the parking position. The Plaintiff sustained serious injuries which forced her to retire from her job of 30 years. The jury found that the Jasper Jeep Dodge Chrysler was negligent because the Plaintiff's vehicle had been recalled and the dealer had already performed the recall repairs when the accident occurred. This is a significant victory for injured victims in Cobb County, as Cobb County juries have a reputation of being very conservative.

Our law firm represents Clients throughout the State of Georgia, and we have recovered millions upon 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.

We continue to read through new data released by the U.S. Department of Labor relating to work related deaths in Georgia. As an Atlanta work injury attorney, this information is of critical importance to us as it indicates in which industries our Clients are most at risk. The figures also reveal other statistical information, such as the average age of workers in occupational accidents, which assist Georgia injury attorneys in determining which Clients are more susceptible to work accidents.

Georgia workers compensation attorneys may be interested to learn that, of the 171 workers compensation deaths in Georgia in 2008, almost one-third (52) involved workers between the ages of 45-54. This statistical group was followed by 35 fatalities involving Georgia workers ages 35-44, and 30 deaths involving workers ages 25-34. Interestingly, older workers were just as susceptible to work related deaths in Georgia in 2008, as there were 35 deaths involving workers age 55 and older.

Another interesting data set released by the Department of Labor shows that of the 171 work deaths in Atlanta and throughout Georgia in 2008, 78 occurred in goods producing industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing. Another 78 deaths occurred in service providing industries such as banking, leisure and hospitality, and the transportation. The remaining fatalities, 15, were related to government work activity, with 5 occurring at the federal level, and 10 at the local level.

Our law firm was recently hired by a man seeking an Atlanta accident attorney to assist him with his personal injury case. The man was involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving his company's truck. The motor vehicle accident was not his fault, and the man suffered a spine injury as a result of the collision. He contacted us to assist him in his workers compensation claim against his employer. When we informed him that Georgia law allowed his attorney to also pursue a personal injury claim against the at fault driver, he was surprised. Apparently, his employer had told him that Georgia workers compensation law only allowed him to pursue a workers' comp claim.

This story inspired me to offer two lessons to our blog readers. The first lesson is, if you are ever involved in a work accident, be immediately skeptical of whatever advice your employer offers you. Too many times as a Georgia attorney have I seen my workers' compensation Clients misled by an employer whose primary concern is the impact that the work injury will have on its insurance premium. As we have posted in prior blogs entries, the victim of a work accident in Georgia in entitled to a number of benefits ranging from medical care to weekly indemnity checks. The workers compensation system in Georgia is very intricate, and an injured worker should seek the assistance of a qualified Georgia attorney before taking any advice from an employer.

The second lesson is that the workers compensation system is not always the only avenue of redress for an individual hurt in a work accident. It is true that Georgia law includes a statute that is commonly referred to as the 'exclusive remedy doctrine' which prohibits an injured worker from bringing a personal injury action against its employer. This statute does not, however, apply where a third party unrelated to the employer is at fault in causing the work accident. Under such circumstances, the injured worker may also have a personal injury case in addition to the workers compensation claim. Examples of this would be where a company driver is hurt in a car accident caused by another driver (car accident personal injury case), where a worker is hurt by a faulty machine (products liability claim), or where an injured worker slips and falls or is the victim of a violent crime while on a property not owned or leased by the employer (premises liability case).

In order for a victim of a work injury to properly assess any and all claims that are available under Georgia law, it would be advisable for the injured worker to seek guidance from a Georgia attorney. The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for our workers compensation clients, and we would be pleased to answer any questions from potential Clients free of charge. The Murray Law Firm is based in Atlanta, and represents Clients throughout Georgia including Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Dalton, Rome, and Athens.

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.

Continue reading "Atlanta Car Accident Victim Awarded $2 Million for Spine Injury" »

As an Atlanta workers compensation law firm, we are constantly reviewing statistics and data to evaluate where workers in Georgia are most at risk to sustain a work injury. By doing so, we feel that we are better prepared to assist our Clients when they contact us to seek the assistance of an attorney. A review of recent data has revealed some very interesting information.

At the outset, workplace injury data shows that over 4 million workers throughout the county incur a work injury each year. Of those work accidents, over 2 million employees suffer an injury that is so severe that they are required to miss time and seek medical attention. Most injuries occur at companies whose workforce is less than 250, and small businesses of less than 10 people are less likely to have an employee injured.

Although the economy has slowed the pace of construction in Atlanta and throughout Georgia, as work accident attorneys we are always interested in how susceptible our construction worker Clients are to injury. Workplace injury data shows that the construction industry is a highly dangerous field, with 16 deaths per year for every 100,000 workers. This amounts to 20% of all work related deaths per year. Most of these work accident deaths are caused by car accidents, heavy equipment, and falls. A large portion of our workers compensation practice is devoted to representing Hispanic workers, and we were also interested to learn that Hispanics are injured on construction sites at a greater rate than any other demographic.

A jury has awarded the parents of a 16-year old girl killed in a one-car motor vehicle accident $6,000,000.00 for the loss of their child. The accident occurred in November 2003 when the driver of the vehicle, a 16-year-old boy, lost control of the car after reaching speeds approaching 100 miles per hour. After leaving the roadway, the vehicle crashed into a tree causing fatal injuries to the girl who was travelling as a front seat passenger. The Florida jury returned the wrongful death verdict following a one-day trial.

Our law firm has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have been seriously injured, or families who have lost a loved one, in a motor vehicle accident such as this one. We represent Clients throughout the State of Georgia, and offer no charge on-site consultations and case evalautions anywhere in the state.

An Atlanta area Plaintiff has been awarded $7.25 million for a personal injury sustained in a car accident several years ago. The motor vehicle accident occurred when the at fault Defendant left his lane and entered the path of the Plaintiff's vehicle causing a head on collision. The Plaintiff was left paralyzed from the waist down. A sobriety test performed by police at the scene of the accident revealed that the 23 year old at fault driver had a blood alcohol content of .303%.

In circumstances where an individual causes a car or truck accident while under the influence of alcohol, attorneys and lawyers in Georgia may seek an award of punitive damages. Punitive damages may be awarded where a jury finds that the conduct of the defendant was so egregious that it amounted to a reckless disregard for the safety of others. The concept behind an award of punitive damages in a motor vehicle collision is that the defendant should be punished as his or her conduct amounts to more than mere negligence. The conduct almost borders on an intentional act as the defendant entered his or her vehicle with knowledge that he or she would be unable to operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner.

In Georgia, a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher validates a criminal charge of driving while under the influence. Under Georgia law, however, there is also an inference of driving under the influence where a driver is measured with a blood alcohol content between .05 and .08. This inference creates a presumption that the driver may have been impaired by alcohol, and attorneys for the driver are forced to rebut this inference in order to prevent a conviction.