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. How Drowsiness Affects Our Driving Ma[...]...

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 wen[...]...

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 one w[...]...

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 information[...]...

Macon, Georgia Aggressive Driving Laws Plus a Few Safety Tips Lawyer

Aggressive Driving Laws Plus a Few Safety Tips

Readers probably recall hearing back in the 1990s about ‘road rage,’ the new term for aggressive driving. An increasing trend of reckless, aggressive driving in the U.S. caused Georgia and other states to pass laws targeting ‘road rage.’ Since those days, the issue has faded from headlines. Aggressive driving is of course still common across Georgia; who doesn’t recall another driver flashing their lights at them, ‘flipping them the bird,’ or tailgating? Most of these incidents do not escalate beyond words and gestures, but things have been known to get out of hand. Sometimes ‘road rage’ can even lead to the use of weapons, as happened last month in Columbus, Georgia. Three men were involved in a two-vehicle road rage inci[...]...

Macon, Georgia Concussions Can Affect Driving Performance Even After Symptoms are Gone Lawyer

Concussions Can Affect Driving Performance Even After Symptoms are Gone

The prevalence and consequences of concussions in professional American football have been all over the news in recent months. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed, alleging that the NFL knew about the risks of repeated concussions but hid that knowledge in order to get players back on the field faster. Currently, a settlement has been approved that could result in the NFL paying $1 billion over 65 years. Athletes across many sports and all skill levels are indeed susceptible to concussions, but they aren’t the only ones. Suffering a concussion in a vehicle accident is extremely likely and can stem from even a minor fender-bender. Falls are also a common cause of brain injury. Damage to the brain is not always immediately obvious. Becaus[...]...

Macon, Georgia Passenger Vans: More Room, More Risk Lawyer

Passenger Vans: More Room, More Risk

After a few false starts, the modern van made its first noteworthy appearance in 1983. The Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models manufactured by Chrysler that year made these roomy vehicles a more affordable option for families. With the ability to easily reconfigure seating to handle varying volumes, vans effectively replaced station wagons in the automotive market. A popular subcategory, 15-passenger vans are widely used to carry athletes, schoolchildren, scouts, church members, campers, seniors, travelers, and other groups. But is the convenience worth the risk? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 15-passenger vans are a safety threat due to a high rate of rollover accidents. The problems stem fro[...]...

Macon, Georgia How to Handle Insurance Adjusters After an Accident Lawyer

How to Handle Insurance Adjusters After an Accident

If you’ve been in an accident where some damage has occurred, chances are you will have to deal with an insurance adjuster. There are three different types: independent, public, and claims. All three primarily do the same thing, which is to investigate the accident, advise the insurance company, determine the compensation needed, and negotiate for a settlement. The claims adjuster may be an attorney, but they have the same power as a standard adjuster and cannot make you do anything against your will. How do you handle dealing with an insurance adjuster? There are many horror stories about insurance adjusters, with quite a few of them true. If you do not have an attorney representing you, here are a few things you should know: Do not s[...]...

Macon, Georgia What Happens When You’re in an Accident in the Company Car Lawyer

What Happens When You’re in an Accident in the Company Car

Being furnished with a company car is often among the benefits listed in a typical job description. Jobs from a wide range of industries may require employees to travel, including salespeople, cab drivers, tour guides, home health care workers and delivery drivers. Anyone who uses a vehicle for work is subject to the same challenges faced by all drivers – and accidents happen. There are many factors that have to be considered in determining responsibility to employees and for employees who are involved in a wreck while driving a company-owned vehicle. The general rule in Georgia is that employers are liable for mistakes made by employees under a legal theory known as “respondeat superior.” Employers can be held vicariously liable for [...]...

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How Many Children are Injured by Toppling Furniture?

Every home should always be a hazard-free safe haven for the children who live there. Many parents take time and extra precautions to ensure their children are not in harm's way. They believe their homes are safe because they don't realize the potential danger...