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 Outdoor Workers Should Be Extra Careful This Year Lawyer

Outdoor Workers Should Be Extra Careful This Year

Disease cases due to bites from mosquitos, ticks and flea bites more than tripled from 2004-2016 in the U.S., according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Outdoor workers are at higher risk for serious health problems from these insect bites. The CDC stated that cases of serious domestic diseases, such as dengue fever, Zika, Lyme and plague occurred more than 640,000 times in this time period. The CDC notes that state and local health departments, as well as vector control organizations, are the major defense against spread of these diseases. But it noted as well that 84% of these organizations lack vital core competencies to reduce incidence of disease: Regular mosquito surveillance with standard trapping and spe[...]...

Macon, Georgia Legal Options After Being Injured in a Bar Fight Lawyer

Legal Options After Being Injured in a Bar Fight

When bars, restaurants and nightclubs serve alcohol, they must be very careful. First, they must serve enough alcohol to earn a profit for their business. But they also cannot serve so much that they endanger patrons. After all, when people drink too much, they often get aggressive and confrontational. If you are injured in a bar fight, do you have a possible legal claim? In some cases, yes, you do. The Mann Law Firm is experienced in pursuing bar fight lawsuits. Contact us for a free consultation. Bar and Restaurant Duty of Care Bars and restaurants have what is called a duty of care. This means the owner must have a safe environment for guests and workers on the property. This includes not just maintaining the property to prevent accid[...]...

Macon, Georgia Why Motorcycle Safety Month Should Matter to All Drivers Lawyer

Why Motorcycle Safety Month Should Matter to All Drivers

When the weather warms in spring across Georgia and the South, motorcycles are everywhere on our roads.  That is why May is recognized as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This month with warm, sunny weather is an appropriate time to remind all drivers to be on the alert for motorcyclists. With so much motorcycle traffic on the roads, serious accidents are more likely. In 2016, 4,976 motorcycle drivers and passengers died in accidents, and 88,000 were injured. For 2009, the most recent data available, there were 140 motorcycle fatalities in Georgia. Fatalities for motorcyclists have risen 3% since 2006, and 8% since 2015. The National Safety Council also reports these concerning statistics about motorcycle accidents: Motorc[...]...

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[...]...

Macon, Georgia Will Sidewalks Make Hollingsworth Road Safer for Pedestrians? Lawyer

Will Sidewalks Make Hollingsworth Road Safer for Pedestrians?

If you are a pedestrian around Macon’s Hollingsworth Road, you know this can be a hazardous spot. Fortunately, new sidewalks are coming to the road to increase public safety. Bibb County, Georgia, commissioners recently approved addition of a sidewalk on the busy road between Log Cabin Drive and Robinson Road. At least one local resident is glad of the coming change. Marcus Thomas stated in a recent newspaper article that he depends on his bike to get around Macon. But Hollingsworth Road has been a problem because there is no sidewalk there currently. Thomas lives off the busy road, and whenever he leaves home, he must ride in the street with traffic. Thomas said the cars are numerous and travel very fast. Another local resident, Christ[...]...

Macon, Georgia When A Bar is Responsible for Bar Fights Lawyer

When A Bar is Responsible for Bar Fights

It is not unusual for the consumption of alcohol to lead to disagreements or fights in a bar or restaurant. These altercations can lead to serious injuries, and even death in rare cases. Premises Liability Law in Georgia A key issue to consider in a bar fight is whether the establishment is liable for negligent security under the premises liability law in Georgia. If the bar had security personnel in adequate numbers, it is possible that the fight could have been broken up before anyone was hurt. Businesses such as bars and restaurants do owe their customers a duty to be on guard against dangerous conditions. In fact, some courts have even found that business owners are liable when they do not provide a reasonable amount of security to [...]...

Macon, Georgia Can a TBI Cause Dementia? Lawyer

Can a TBI Cause Dementia?

The brain is a fascinating structure, the complexities of which science continues to explore. “The boss of the body,” it’s the control center for thinking, emotions, perception, learning, language, remembering, and more. Damage to this essential organ can result in an assortment of physical and psychological problems. When a sudden bump, blow, or jolt to the head disrupts the brain’s functions, it is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a “traumatic brain injury” (TBI). Ranging from mild to severe, TBIs commonly arise from vehicle accidents, slip and fall accident injuries, assaults, and sports. Symptoms of a TBI are not as evident as broken bones or dislocations. They can involve vague issues such as co[...]...

Macon, Georgia 13 Tips For Home Fire Safety Lawyer

13 Tips For Home Fire Safety

Here Are Some Tips for Home Fire Prevention and Safety Have working smoke detectors on every floor of your home. Test monthly. Develop and practice fire escape drills with your family. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Never leave cooking food or a burning candle unattended. Don’t throw water on a grease fire (cover it with a lid instead). Keep combustible objects at least three feet away from space heaters, furnaces, fireplaces, and wood stoves. Use only space heaters that are UL listed and have tip-over protection. Clean out the dryer lint tray after every load. Clean out the dryer vent once a year. Avoid extension cords. Teach children that fire is a tool, not a toy, and keep matches and lighte[...]...

Macon, Georgia Crumb Rubber Artificial Turf: When the Injury Comes From the Field, Not on It Lawyer

Crumb Rubber Artificial Turf: When the Injury Comes From the Field, Not on It

Athletes know that intrinsic in every sport is the risk of getting hurt. Swollen muscles, sprains, strains, dislocations, fractures and concussions happen frequently in sporting contests. Definitely not on the list of common injuries is cancer, but recent headlines have raised concerns that the thousands of artificial turf fields at schools, parks, and stadiums across the country pose an elevated cancer risk. Gaining in popularity since it was used in the 1960s at the Houston Astrodome, artificial turf is made up of synthetic fibers that are easier to maintain and more durable than natural grass. Infill systems were added as cushioning in the 1990s, and consist of a layer of tiny granules of rubber, sand, or other material between the turf[...]...

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8 Laws Georgia Drivers Should Know

It can be hard to remember every single driving law that exists, especially if it’s been many years since you attended your driver’s education class. Georgia periodically updates its laws,  which means there’s a good chance that some of the state’s...