Marietta Injury Lawyer Blog

Two UGA Students Killed in Car Crash

January 31, 2023 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Two other students were seriously injured in the wreck that followed Georgia’s celebration of back-to-back national football championships. Investigators believe that speed was a factor in this wreck.

The single-vehicle crash happened near the intersection of Stroud Road and Barnett Shoals Road in Athens. A 20-year-old offensive lineman and 24-year-old recruiting staffer died in that wreck. In a statement, UGA acknowledged that it owned the 2021 Ford Expedition, but denied responsibility for the crash.

“The car driven in the accident was one of several vehicles leased by our athletic department for use during recruiting activities only. Policies and expectations that were well understood by athletics staff dictated that such rental vehicles were to be turned in at the immediate conclusion of recruiting duties,” the University said in a statement. “Personal use was strictly prohibited. Therefore, the continued use of the leased car by our staff members after their recruiting duties ended earlier that evening was unauthorized.”

What are the Three Kinds of Negligence in a Car Crash Case?

January 27, 2023 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

As outlined below, the three kinds of negligence in a car crash claim are basically the three major types of driver mistakes. Driver error causes over 98% of car crashes in Cobb County. Generally, that error is negligence, or a lack of care.

If negligence caused a car accident, a Marietta personal injury attorney can obtain compensation for that accident in court. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Environmental

Five Things to Do Following a Truck Crash

January 20, 2023 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Truck crash claims in Georgia are almost overwhelmingly complex. The respondeat superior rule is a good example. The shipping or transportation firm that owned the cargo or employed the driver, usually an out-of-state holding company, is often financially responsible for truck crash damages. When a problem seems complex, it’s best to break things down into small steps.

These small steps begin almost immediately after the wreck. If victims say and do the right things at this critical time, it’s much easier for a Marietta personal injury lawyer to obtain maximum compensation later. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Wait for Emergency Responders

Legal Options in Dog Bite Cases

January 13, 2023 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Every year, dogs bite an estimated 4.5 million Americans. Most of these victims are children. Because they have such small brains and bodies, these victims usually sustain permanent emotional and physical injuries. The lifelong costs associated with these injuries are extremely high. Fortunately, most homeowners insurance policies have high coverage limits, which means substantial compensation is usually available.

A Marietta personal injury attorney works to ensure that these victims get the compensation they need and deserve. Victims need this compensation to pay medical bills and other accident-related costs. They deserve this compensation because, in most cases, that’s the only way that a young dog bite victim can possibly live the rest of their life with some sense of normalcy.

Georgia’s Dog Bite Statute

Common Causes of Accidental Death in Georgia

January 6, 2023 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Most untimely deaths are not accidents. Instead, negligence, or a lack of care, usually causes such incidents. In Georgia, drivers and property owners usually have a duty of reasonable care. This legal responsibility is loosely based on the story of the Good Samaritan. Just like this man went out of his way to help an injured traveler, individuals must go out of their way to avoid hurting other people.

When negligence causes a wrongful death or another personal injury, a Marietta personal injury attorney can obtain the compensation these victims need and deserve. No amount of money, no matter how large, could begin to fill the emotional void that a wrongful death creates. However, financial compensation helps these survivors carry on with their lives. At this point, that’s the best possible outcome.

Car Accidents

Top Five Injuries in Fall Injury Claims

December 30, 2022 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

The average injury-related hospital stay costs over $10,000 per day. This figure does not include follow-up care, physical therapy, and ancillary expenses, such as medical devices, transportation expenses like ambulance costs, and prescription drugs. When all these costs are added up, they could easily exceed $100,000. Many of these expenses are related to one of the five fall injuries listed below.

Most families cannot possibly afford to pay these bills out of their own pockets. So, they rely on a Marietta personal injury attorney to obtain necessary compensation in court. A lawyer also obtains compensation for emotional distress and other noneconomic losses. Injury victims shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. These damages normally prompt nursing home owners and other property owners to change the way they do business and make the personal safety of their guests a higher priority.

Traumatic Brain Injury

What Causes Bicycle Wrecks in Georgia?

December 23, 2022 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Every year, serious bicycle crashes cost over $23 billion. Misinformation contributes to this high total. Bicycle helmets are a good example. When drivers see helmeted riders, drivers subconsciously think the riders could survive crashes. Therefore, many drivers take unnecessary chances. These unnecessary changes often mean severe or catastrophic injuries for bicyclists. These wounds usually include head injuries, broken bones, and serious internal injuries.

Only a Marietta personal injury attorney can obtain the financial compensation these victims need and deserve. Bicycle crash victims need money to pay medical bills and other accident-related expenses. They deserve this money because they must find some way to move on with their lives. Perhaps more importantly, damage awards send a strong message to motorists and encourage them to share the road with bicyclists.

Aggressive Driving

Fatigued Driving in Georgia: A Closer Look

December 16, 2022 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

People who would never drive while under the influence of alcohol routinely drive while they are seriously fatigued. Scientifically, intoxication and fatigue are closely related. Driving after 20 hours without sleep, which is like driving home after not sleeping well at night and working a full day at the office, is like driving with a .08% blood alcohol content (BAC) BAC level. That is above the legal limit in Georgia. Shortcuts, like blasting the air conditioner or radio, only help people feel more alert. They do nothing to address clouded judgment, delayed reactions, and other effects of fatigue.

Other than distraction, fatigue is one of the most common and dangerous kinds of driver impairment. Arguably, fatigue-impaired people know they should not drive. But they get behind the wheel anyway and intentionally put other people at risk. As a result, a Marietta personal injury attorney can usually obtain substantial compensation in fatigue-related crashes. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Evidence of Fatigue

Alleged Drunk Driver Kills Teenage Girl

December 9, 2022 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

A 21-year-old man, who was allegedly intoxicated, lost control of his pickup, killing a 16-year-old high school cheerleader.

The girl, a junior at Mill Creek High School, was the front-seat passenger in a pickup truck heading north on Sugarloaf Parkway toward State Route 316, authorities said. The driver, a 21-year-old male, failed to navigate onto the ramp and struck a concrete barrier. “Gone from our sight, but never our hearts,” a tribute posted on the school’s Facebook page reads. “… Our deepest condolences go out to her family and we hope the many happy memories she has left behind will offer some peace in this difficult time.”

The driver now faces several criminal charges, including driving under the influence, failure to maintain a single lane, and first-degree vehicular homicide.

Common Insurance Company Defenses in Car Crash Cases

December 2, 2022 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Plaintiff’s winning percentage in court has declined over the last several years, mostly because insurance company revenue has skyrocketed over this same period to more than $1 trillion per year. As a result, these companies can now hire more effective lawyers and allow them to go to trial if necessary. Usually, the insurance company’s trial strategy in a vehicle collision claim revolves around one of the three defenses discussed below.

Back in the day, when the plaintiff’s winning percentage was high, and insurance companies had limited resources, almost any lawyer could successfully handle a vehicle collision claim. In the current environment, only a Marietta personal injury attorney can obtain the best possible result in such claims. That result usually includes maximum compensation for the victim’s economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Last Clear Chance