Macon, Georgia A New Bill Shores Up School Bus Safety in Georgia Lawyer

A New Bill Shores Up School Bus Safety in Georgia

As of the end of March 2019, all school bus drivers in Georgia may need to be vetted twice per year by public safety officials. Georgia lawmakers recently passed a bus driver safety bill in the state Senate and House. The Georgia Senate passed the bill unanimously on March 26. The bill would make a new registry of school bus drivers in Georgia, in the Department of Public Safety. The bill, HB 459, would mandate Georgia school districts to turn in the name and driver's license number of each school bus driver before they may drive a school bus. The Department of Public Safety would verify the information on every driver’s license. The agency would then call the local school board if the license was expired, cancelled or suspended. Also [...]...

Macon, Georgia 5 Ways We Can Make Teens Better Drivers Lawyer

5 Ways We Can Make Teens Better Drivers

The vast majority of new drivers are teens, and until they gain some experience, the first few months of driving can be the most dangerous months of a teen’s life. There’s no way to guarantee without any doubt that a teen driver will stay safe. However, with a few little actions you can contribute to greater safety for yourself and your teen driver. 1. Model Good Driving Habits Even before children become teens, it’s important to be a good role model for them. Whether you like it or not, your children are going to imitate your driving habits. Give them a positive model for what is acceptable and they’ll learn to drive responsibly. This isn’t complicated. If you want your children to follow the rules of the road, make sure you[...]...

Macon, Georgia Let’s Talk About Drunk Driving for Alcohol Awareness Month Lawyer

Let’s Talk About Drunk Driving for Alcohol Awareness Month

Excessive drinking is a major problem in the United States. Drinking too much leads to personal injuries, car accidents, violence, drowning, liver disease and even some forms of cancer. But the good news is that all of us can take simple steps to avoid the misuse and abuse of alcohol. During Alcohol Awareness Month in April, all of us can help society by spreading the word about how to avoid alcohol abuse. We also can encourage our families, communities and individuals to get involved in this important public health effort. As personal injury attorneys in Georgia who have seen how drinking can lead to terrible car accidents and injuries, The Mann Law Firm strongly supports Alcohol Awareness Month. We hope this month more people are remind[...]...

Macon, Georgia Three Things Cause 10,000 Road Deaths Every Year Lawyer

Three Things Cause 10,000 Road Deaths Every Year

Bloomberg News reported this month that federal safety officials are targeting the three worst driver habits in the country that are killing at least 10,000 Americans annually: speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving from electronic devices. According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, its list of ‘Most Wanted’ safety improvements on American roads includes a strong focus on three of the 10 behaviors by drivers that are leading to so much carnage. Federal officials say targeting speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving could really make a dent in the 37,000 fatal car accidents that occur in the U.S. each year. The ‘Most Wanted’ list of safety improvements also focuses on such things as fatigued drivers,[...]...

Macon, Georgia Clearing Up Georgia’s Confusing School Bus Passing Law Lawyer

Clearing Up Georgia’s Confusing School Bus Passing Law

There is a bill before Georgia’s General Assembly that would clarify the school bus passing laws in the state. Senate Bill 25 was proposed after a law went into effect last year that caused a great deal of confusion. That law stated that drivers were allowed to pass a school bus, depending upon whether they were driving on a four-lane highway that was separated by a lane for turning. State Sen Tyler Harper said earlier this month that the new bill had passed muster in the Senate Public Safety Committee. He noted that he hopes the new Georgia bill will clear up any possible confusion about when it is safe for Georgia drivers to pass school buses. In the new bill, if the driver is on the opposite side of the road from a school bus engaged[...]...

Macon, Georgia Why You Should Care About Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Lawyer

Why You Should Care About Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Drowsy Driving Week runs from Nov. 4-11 this year and is a good reminder as the holidays approach of the vital importance of staying alert behind the wheel. The American Sleep Foundation reports that 50% of American adult drivers admit that they regularly drive when they feel tired. Approximately 20% admit to nodding off while driving in the last year. At least 40% said this happened to them at least one time in their driving lives. These alarming figures highlight just how dangerous drowsy driving is. If you fall asleep behind the wheel, not only do you risk serious injury or death for yourself -- you also could injure or kill innocent drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. In fact, many pedestrian accident[...]...

Macon, Georgia Georgia Drivers Still Aren’t Getting the Message on Hands-Free Driving Lawyer

Georgia Drivers Still Aren’t Getting the Message on Hands-Free Driving

Drivers in the Peach State seem to be having trouble following Georgia’s new Hands-Free law, according to a recent survey conducted by AAA. Even with the new law that imposes penalties for driving while using a cell phone, it seems that far too many Georgians are addicted to texting and driving. The survey determined that 98% of drivers in the state know about the new law that bans using handheld cell phones while driving. But 30 days after the new law went into effect, Georgia drivers still text and drive. The survey found that 75% of respondents said they saw a driver with a phone in their hand, and 60% said they saw people texting and driving. Georgia Hands Free Law Details All drivers in Georgia should know about the new law that [...]...

Macon, Georgia A Closer Look at Georgia’s Hands-Free Law Lawyer

A Closer Look at Georgia’s Hands-Free Law

If you are one of those Georgians who likes to text, talk and drive while on a cell phone, you will want to know about the new hands-free law that went into effect in the state in May 2018. Signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal, it is now illegal to hold your phone while driving in Georgia. Reading from a phone or using it to record video is also illegal. Drivers caught breaking the new law – even as much as tapping a Play button on a cell phone playlist when the car is in motion – will face a fine of $50. This doubles to $100 for the second offense. According to the governor’s office, the aim of the new hands-free law in Georgia is to reduce the number of driving deaths in the state due to talking, texting, and driving. ‘No on[...]...

Macon, Georgia Tips for Adapting to Georgia's New Hands-Free Law Lawyer

Tips for Adapting to Georgia's New Hands-Free Law

New Georgia Cell Phone Law 2018 As of July 1, 2018, drivers in Georgia will have to use a hands-free electronic device if they want to use it while behind the wheel. Governor Nathan Deal signed the legislation and made it law on May 1. The new law means it is illegal for drivers to hold a cell phone in their hand while they are driving. Also, drivers may not read or text while they are driving. Further, they cannot record/broadcast videos while they are driving. However, the law does allow drivers to touch the phone to make a call, answer or hang up. It also allows them to use a GSP navigator on a cell phone. HB 673 was passed because distracted driving continues to be a huge problem in Georgia and across the country, according to Harris Bl[...]...

Macon, Georgia A Cautionary Tale for Self-Driving Cars Lawyer

A Cautionary Tale for Self-Driving Cars

If you have read national news in the past few weeks, you probably heard about the fatal self-driving Uber car accident in Tempe, Arizona, that killed a pedestrian. It is thought to be the first fatality caused by a fully autonomous vehicle. As self-driving cars become more common, it will be important for drivers and pedestrians to understand the risks and issues involved with these controversial vehicles. They will likely become more prevalent on Georgia roads in the coming years, and it is possible you could even be involved in an accident with one. What Happened in the Crash? A self-driving Uber Volvo SUV ran over a 49-year-old woman in Tempe as she was walking her bike across a road in mid-March 2018.  Preliminary accident informat[...]...

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Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Pay Lost Wages?

Learn What Benefits You are Entitled To

Does workers’ comp pay lost wages? This is an especially important concern for workers who have been injured on the job or who have become ill due to their work. The answer...