Georgia Injury Law Blog

Three People Killed in Truck-Ambulance Accident in Georgia

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:55:00 -0500

An out-of-control truck is being blamed for a deadly accident in Irwin County in South Georgia recently that killed three people. The accident killed two paramedics and a patient who was being transported to the hospital.

According to reports, the accident occurred on GA 32 in Irwin County when the tractor-trailer and the ambulance were traveling on the highway. The tractor-trailer jackknifed and the trailer collided with the ambulance in a deadly head-on collision that proved devastating for the occupants of the ambulance.

The Georgia State Patrol's Special Crash Reconstruction Team has begun investigating the accident. No charges have been filed yet, and charges will be filed only after the completion of the investigation.

At this point in time, it seems fairly certain that this accident was caused because the tractor trailer went out of control in the middle of the highway. Jackknifing occurs when a tractor-trailer skids out of control. In such cases, the trailer swings out and into itself at a 90° angle. Keep in mind this is a massive trailer that poses a serious injury risk. The trailer can collide with other vehicles and motorcyclists, crushing them.

When trucks jackknife, they can also be at a much higher risk of flipping over, with devastating consequences not just for the occupants of the truck, but for other motorists in the vicinity. A truck that is flipping over can cause havoc, not to mention the spillage of toxic materials that can be expected if the truck is transporting hazardous or toxic substances at the time.

Very often, jackknifing is the result of sudden and inappropriate braking of the truck when the tractor-trailer is traveling at high speed, and the truck driver slams on the brakes. A tractor-trailer does not operate like a regular passenger car. These are large vehicles, and the tractor is dragging a trailer that can weigh tens of thousands of pounds. When a driver slams on the brakes, the events often lead to tragedy.

While not always the case, truck jackknifing is often traced to trucker error or poor driving skills. That is the reason why trucking companies are required to hire skilled, trained and experienced truck drivers. Truck drivers must be 100 percent attentive while driving, and take great care to minimize the risk of dangerous accidents.

Fatigued Driving Causes More Fatal Car Accidents Than Earlier Believed

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:03:18 -0500

Drowsy driving is one of the most underestimated causes of accidents, especially since it’s difficult to determine exactly how many motorists dozed off at the wheel just before the car wreck. However, one fact is clear. These accidents are much more widespread and common than believed, and the number of people being killed in these crashes is much higher than the official estimates. A new study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute seems to confirm that fact.

The naturalistic study which focused on 100 cars involved in accidents, found that driving under the influence of fatigue contributed to as many as 20% of all accidents. Earlier estimates had pegged that number at just 2-3% of all accidents.

The naturalistic study is believed to be one of the first times that this major accident factor has been studied in depth, and in a naturalistic environment. The study found that drivers 18- 20 years of age had some of the highest risks of being involved in drowsy driving accidents, accounting for more accidents than any other age group.

Sleep experts have determined that teenagers may be at a much higher risk of sleep deprivation because of biological changes in their sleep patterns. Changes in sleep patterns cause persons who enter their teens to sleep later than usual, which means that the teenager is getting an insufficient amount of sleep. These bad sleep habits continue while the person grows into his teen years, and enters early adulthood.

At the other end of the spectrum are older drivers, who also seem to be at a high risk of fatigue-related accidents. Among these people, sleep deprivation is the result of late-night shifts and early work times. Older drivers may also be on more than one medication, and these drugs may interact with each other, causing drowsiness.

However, the most disturbing fact that emerged from the study was that drowsy driving is such a frequent and common factor in accidents. Most drowsy driving-related accidents seem to involve people who found their judgment impaired, or their reflexes slowed as a result of extreme drowsiness. Many drowsy driving-related accidents also seem to occur in the daytime, and not at night. In fact, the study found that most of these accidents occurred during the day.

More Effort Needed to Reduce Georgia Bicycle Accidents and Fatalities

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:24:05 -0500

Bicyclists in the metro Atlanta region continue to remain at high risk for injuries and fatalities. New data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that there were 14 “pedalcyclist” accident fatalities reported in Georgia in the year 2011. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts bicycles, unicycles, and other non-motorized vehicles in a single group called “pedalcycles.”

Those figures account for approximately 1.1% of the 1,223 traffic accident fatalities reported in 2011. Overall, Georgia had a bicyclist fatality rate of approximately 1.43 fatalities for every 1 million population.

Statistics were not much better across the rest of the country. In fact, there was actually an increase of 9% in the national bicycle accident fatality total for 2011. Overall, there were 677 pedalcyclist fatalities in the United States in 2011. These accidents also contributed to more than 48,000 injuries.

The majority of pedalcyclists killed in fatal accidents in 2011 were males, accounting for 85% of the fatality toll. About 70% of the pedalcyclists who were injured were also male. Males between the age of 45 and 54 seemed to be at the highest risk of dying in a bicycle accident. Approximately 130 bicyclist fatalities in 2011 were from this age group.

In fact, the pedalcyclist fatality rate in 2011 was as much as 6 times higher in the case of males, as females. In the case of injuries, the rate was almost 4 times higher for males. That could possibly be because there are more male bicyclists on the road than female bicyclists. However, it is also a fact that male bicyclists may be more likely to ride at night, which is a riskier practice.

The highest number of bicycle accident fatalities, 30%, occurred between 4 and 8 p.m., while the 2^nd highest number of bicycle accident fatalities, 21%, occurred between 8 p.m. and midnight.

The data provide conclusive proof to Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers that federal, state and local agencies need to increase efforts to keep bicyclists safer. Many of these accidents occur because motorists fail to respect the rights of bicyclists, and fail to look out for bicyclists, especially at intersections and other areas which are bicycle accident magnets. When you're driving, look out for bicyclists, especially those who may be riding right behind your car. Look out for bicyclists at intersections, signs and signals, and especially while making turns.

High-Risk of Car Accidents with Hands-Free Communication Too

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:54:59 -0500

For some time now, supporters of hands-free texting and voice-activated texting technologies have insisted that these technologies help reduce the risk of accidents because they do not require the use of hands and fingers to type text messages. However, a new study debunks that fact. The study shows that persons who use hands-free tools are just as much at risk of being involved in a car accident as persons who manually type text messages.

The research was conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University recently. According to researchers, it does not matter whether you use a hands-free texting technology or voice-activated system to dictate text messages, or manually type a text the old-fashioned way using your fingers. The risk of distraction is just as strong in the former method as in the latter one.

It’s estimated that Americans exchange as many as 6.1 billion text messages every day. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers also believe that many millions of those texts are exchanged by people while driving. With those kinds of staggering numbers, it is very important that motorists not be lulled into the false assumption that they're protected from accidents if they're using a voice-activated texting system. That may not be true at all.

In the study, researchers used a tracking device to measure the level of distraction when a person uses a voice-activated texting technology. They measured how many times the person looked at the road while dictating or reading text messages, and how long it took the driver to complete each text. Researchers also focused on how long the drivers took to respond to a light that flashed periodically.

They found that voice-activated technologies and applications do not necessarily minimize the risk of accidents, compared to manual texting. The researchers focused their test on two voice-activated systems that have been developed for the iPhone and android devices.

This research supports what many roadway safety experts have been saying all along-the distractions when you text while driving do not come merely from the use of fingers to type messages on your keypad, but also from the lack of cognitive focus and concentration on the task of driving. When you're typing a text message, your mind is focused on the message, and not on looking out for accidents in your driving environment, or watching out for pedestrians or objects that create dangerous situations.

The results of the study are very disturbing, because surveys do seem to indicate that many Americans are now using voice-activated technologies to type texts. Texting while driving also seems to be widespread, with as many as 35% of drivers recently admitting that they had read a text or e-mail while driving, while 26% admitted to typing a text while driving.

Summer Means Increased Risk of Dog Bites Involving Georgia Children

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:26:25 -0500

Warm Georgia weather brings more children out to play in parks and playgrounds, as well as an increased number of dog owners walking their pets. Unfortunately, this combination always increases the number of dog bites involving children.

In addition, the issue of dog bites and children is likely to be more prominent in our state after a recent incident involving a pet store altercation where a small child was bitten by a dog. The child and his mother were at the store when the child reached out to pet a little dog. The animal attacked him, leaving the child with serious injuries, including 9 stitches on his nose.

When a witness tried to stop the two men who owned the dog from leaving the store, one of them allegedly brandished a weapon, and threatened him before they drove away.

This incident illustrates two common characteristics of dog bite events. First, children are at particular risk of being attacked because they cannot recognize the risk. They are also less able to defend themselves after an attack begins. Second, pet owners are often very protective of their animals, and refuse to accept that their loving dog or cat is to blame for attacking another person.

However, statistics prove that children are the largest victims of dog bites in the United States. There are approximately 4.7 million Americans attacked by dogs annually, suffering injuries that are serious enough to require a visit to the hospital. Out of these, 600,000 involve children.

Please take time this spring to talk with your children about the risks that exist with all animals. Also, protect yourself by always having your pet on a leash, and avoiding stressful situations that may cause an animal to react differently than normal. If you or a loved is injured by an animal, contact the dog bit attorneys at Katz Stepp Wright & Fleming, LLC for help.

Research Recommends Drastic Measures to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:27:31 -0500

The distracted driving problem in Georgia and across the country has resulted in federal and state transportation agencies, safety advocates, and Atlanta car accident lawyers pooling in their efforts to come up with ways to reduce the numbers of distracted motorists on the roads. A number of strategies are currently being used to reduce the effect of distracted driving on highway safety. However, a new report released by researchers at West Virginia University recommends some dramatic new ways to reduce the impact of distracted driving.

The report was released by scientists at West Virginia University, and is titled Keeping an Eye on Distracted Driving. The report has been published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

According to the report, there is no doubt that distracted driving is one of the key threats to motorist safety in the United States. Every year, distracted driving causes more than 300,000 injuries on our roads, and as many as 2,600 fatalities. According to the report, the numbers of injuries and fatalities linked to distracted driving increased significantly between 2005 and 2009.

Young drivers have been found to be at special risk of distracted driving, because their use of cell phones is much higher than older drivers. Younger drivers are also at a higher risk of such accidents because they lack experience, and may also lack the skills necessary to be able to focus on both the task of driving as well as their cell phone conversations.

Clearly, this is a problem with no immediate and permanent solution in sight, and the numbers of people injured in distracted driving-related accidents has actually increased over the years.

That is the bad news. The good news is that the researchers believe that there is a permanent solution to distracted driving, which would involve curtailing a person’s ability to send and receive text messages and have conversations on a cell phone while their car is in motion.

This is where the auto industry comes in. The researchers believe that automakers must invest in technology that would limit, or even completely eliminate a person's ability to make cell phone calls, or receive or send text messages or e-mails while the car is in motion. In fact according to them, the technology must go so far as to make sure that motorists cannot even operate their cell phone to use an app, while the car is in motion.

And there may be other options for using technology, for example using red light cameras to also ticket motorists for texting while driving. One of the challenges of enforcing texting while driving laws is proving that the driver was actually texting while driving. It’s difficult for a traffic officer to see inside a vehicle and accurately determine what someone was doing on their phone. Roadside cameras may help prove that a person was violating the law by texting, or even discourage someone from doing it. (Insurancequotes.org recently posted a great article on red light cameras.)

It's quite apparent to our Georgia auto accident attorneys that legislation, education campaigns and enforcement actions are having a limited effect on distracted driving. Technology that will cut off a person’s ability to use a cell phone while the car is in motion could be the key.

Truck Underride Guards May Not Protect Against Accident Injuries

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:24:03 -0500

The angle of a passenger vehicle that is involved in a rear ender accident with a tractor-trailer could mean the difference between life and death for the occupants of the vehicle. This is because the underride guards that are located at the back of the tractor-trailer to protect the occupants of the passenger vehicle from serious injuries when it hits a truck don't perform so well in many situations.

The study was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which found that the underride guards located on the back of tractor-trailers, don't always perform as well as expected in reducing the risk to passenger car occupants.

In some situations, these underride guards did a fairly good job. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study, the researchers found that when the full width of the car hit the center of the trailer, the underride guards in all trucks prevented the front portion of the passenger vehicle from sliding under the tractor-trailer. A situation like this can mean almost instantaneous death for the occupants of a passenger vehicle, who may suffer serious head or neck injuries, or even decapitation.

In the 2^nd test, only about half of the car’s width hit the back of the tractor-trailer, and in such cases, almost all of the tractor-trailers passed the test.

However, when only 30% of the car’s width hit the back of the tractor-trailer, the results were devastating. In these cases, the front portion of the car was almost entirely destroyed. The researchers believe that if this had been a real-world crash, the occupants of the vehicle could have suffered serious or fatal head and neck injuries. It is highly likely that these people would have died from their injuries.

What is so worrying is that another study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety back in 2011, had found that as many as 50% of all tractor-trailer accidents in the real world involved a car width of 50% or less crashing into the back of the tractor-trailer.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is committed to protecting the lives of occupants of passenger vehicles that are involved in accidents with tractor-trailers, and is looking at the issue of underride guard safety. The agency is currently probing the possibility of making changes to existing federal safety standards to make truck underride guards safer and more effective in reducing injury and fatality occurrences.

In the meantime, motorists must avoid driving too close to a tractor-trailer. Keep plenty of stopping distance between your car and the truck in front of you to avoid an accident.

Comparison Study Finds High US Traffic Fatality Rates

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:20:37 -0500

Americans seem to spend more on road transportation, but don't necessarily drive on the safest roads in the world. According to a new report by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, the United States has a per capita accident fatality rate that is approximately 3 times greater than the rates in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Sweden.

Researchers analyzed fatality statistics, and tried to determine why there was such a huge disparity between the numbers in the United States as compared those in Europe. They found that there are a number of factors that contribute to a higher U.S. accident fatality rate.

These include much more relaxed laws regarding seatbelt use, speeding, and drunk driving enforcement. When researchers analyzed road safety laws in both the United States and European countries, they found that the U.S. was definitely behind in the types of laws most likely to help prevent accidents.

For instance, permissible blood alcohol levels here are much higher than in some European countries. In addition, Americans tend to have lower rates of seatbelt usage compared to the European countries in the study. Speeding rates are also much higher here, and drivers in the U.S. drive much faster than motorists in Europe.

Some believe that European countries have fewer accident fatality numbers because they have lower populations. The fact is that even when you compare fatalities per million people, the United States does worse. The fatality rate per million people is about 124, compared to an average rate of about 40 fatalities per million people in the other countries.

The researchers found that another major factor was that Americans simply drive a lot more than their European counterparts. This country generally does not have a culture that promotes walking or bicycling as efficient ways of getting around. The United States suffers from an auto-centric culture, and motorists here simply drive much more than people in other countries.

Also, the researchers found that Americans drive much more on urban roads, which accounted for approximately 12,500 fatalities in 2009. That was more than one third of the total annual fatality numbers that year.

Our Atlanta motor vehicle accident attorneys believe that we can improve our accident and fatality rates if we commit to passing and enforcing the laws designed to make roadways safer.

Investigations Continue into Fatal Cobb County Teen Driver Car Accident

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:02:01 -0500

Investigations into a fatal accident in Cobb County that killed 2 teenagers are still being conducted. Investigators are looking at whether vehicle speed played a role in this particular accident.

The accident occurred about 10 days ago, when the driver of a Volvo lost control of his car. The car crashed into a brick sign, and exploded into flames. In the car were the 19-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger. Both were killed instantly.

So far, Cobb County police do not believe that alcohol or drugs were factors in this accident. However, toxicology tests will be conducted on the deceased driver.

In general, our young drivers tend to have some of the highest accident risks among all categories of motorists on our roads. This is due to a number of factors, including lack of driving experience, peer pressure, technology distractions, and impulsiveness.

Parents, schools and other communities can help reduce the risk of teen driving accidents. If you have a teenage child, it is important that you discuss safe driving with him or her. Place special emphasis on avoiding dangerous driving behaviors like texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. In fact, our Atlanta car accident lawyers recommend the installation of cell phone blocking and call blocking technologies to restrict your child's use of the cell phone while driving. Many companies now offer such GPS and sensor-based technologies, which make it impossible for your child to open a text message or receive a cell phone call when the car is in motion.

Also have dedicated rules about driving, and preferably have these rules spelled out clearly in a parent-teen driving contract. This contract should cover the responsibilities and duties of your child, and must also include penalties that will be imposed if he or she breaks the rules. It’s also good to have things that you will commit to do, such as pick them up from any place at any time if they have been drinking or are a passenger in a car with someone who is not capable of driving safely.

Increase in Georgia Car Accidents Linked to Icy Conditions

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:58:02 -0500

Transportation officials across Georgia have been busy over the past few weeks as winter weather continues to create additional dangers for motorists. Over the past few weeks, icy weather conditions have been reported across several counties in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and its 1,500+ employees have been closely monitoring the weather as temperatures dip, and roads freeze. Our Atlanta vehicle accident attorneys have also been reminding people to stay safe on the slippery roads.

Transportation officials have already blamed icy weather for some accidents on Georgia highways this winter. None of these accidents resulted in fatalities, but they did lead to injuries and roads being shut down. Most of the accidents are being blamed on automobiles that hit a patch of ice, or vehicles that went out of control on roads made slippery by melting ice.

GDOT has increased travel warnings for Georgia motorists. Drivers are being asked to be very cautious while on the road, and to watch out for ice patches on interstate ramps and before and after bridges.

It’s obviously best to avoid driving at all when conditions are likely to cause ice. However, if you are driving and the road becomes slippery, slow down. GDOT has also announced that it will be trying out some new strategies to reduce the risk to motorists from slippery roads, and to make the roads safer. For instance, officials have confirmed that they will be experimenting with a salt-brine mixture. The belief is that this mixture will prevent ice from bonding to the roadways. They have also built 11 new staging areas that will house salt and stone along Georgia’s major interstates.

The risk of accidents is likely to continue through February and into March as the cold weather persists in and around Atlanta and North Georgia. The most sensible thing that you can do as a motorist is to drive very cautiously. Drive at safe speeds, and avoid driving at above the posted speed limits.

Also, make certain your vehicle is primed for driving in rough weather. Icy roads provide perfect conditions for a rollover accident. So it goes without saying that your tires must have plenty of tread and be properly inflated.

Avoid following too closely. Increase the amount of distance you normally would allow for safe stopping. Also, winter driving demands 100% concentration. Switch off your cell phone while you're driving. And most importantly, make sure that you and all passengers are safely buckled in while the car is moving.

Investigations Rule Out Brake Failure in Newton School Bus Accident

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:40:27 -0500

Investigations into the recent school bus accident in Newton County are continuing. However, as of now, it does not appear that brake failure was a reason for the accident that injured more than 40 children.

The accident involved 2 school buses. According to the Georgia State Patrol, one of the school buses rear-ended the other, which had stopped to drop off children on Georgia Highway 162. Both of the buses were carrying students from Rocky Plains Elementary School.

Thirty four injured students and one of the bus drivers had to be rushed to the Newton Medical Center. Six other students were injured and taken to another hospital. Although the children had to be hospitalized, none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

The Georgia State Patrol has already conducted a preliminary inspection of the 2 vehicles involved in the accident. The agency has concluded that brake failure was not a factor in this accident. According to the Newton County Public School System, the inspection did not reveal any signs of any mechanical defects in the bus that rear-ended the other vehicle. There were also no signs of any braking or skid marks at the site of the accident.

Officials from the Georgia State Patrol and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division of the Department of Public Safety have conducted a complete mechanical inspection of the school bus that rear-ended the other bus. The driver of the bus which hit the other bus is on medical leave, and a disciplinary action is pending. Investigations will continue.

School bus accidents are relatively rare, but every time one occurs, it is a matter of grave concern to our Atlanta bus accident lawyers as well as parents. You don't expect your children to be injured when you see them off at the bus stop every day, especially when federal as well as state rules require that strong precautions be taken in matters related to school bus operations.

Rear-end accidents, or accidents that occur when a vehicle hits another vehicle from behind, are typically the result of failure to maintain an appropriate distance from the vehicle in front. It can also be the result of lack of attention to the task of driving. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute released in 2006 found that even 2 seconds of attention diverted away from the task of driving can be sufficient to cause an accident. However, only a complete investigation will reveal whether distractions caused this particular accident, or some other reason.

The bus accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in bus accidents, including charter, tour and school buses, in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you have been injured in a mass transit accident, call our office today for a free consultation.

National Safety Organization Ranks Georgia Highways

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:22:28 -0500

National safety organization, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, recently released its 2013 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws, which rates states on how they performed on the enactment of 15 basic traffic safety laws. The laws include everything from text messaging bans, to graduated driver’s licensing programs for teen drivers. While these types of reports don’t do much to help accident victims, our Atlanta car accident attorneys believe there is value in reviewing the results and how our state’s legislature is performing.

AHAS ranked all 50 states and the District of Colombia. The bad news seems to be that many states have regressed as far as passing important and effective highway safety laws are concerned. In 2011, 16 safety laws were passed by states, while 22 laws were passed in 2010. However, in 2012, states passed just 10 highway safety laws.

The report was based on whether states had enacted important traffic safety laws, including those related to seatbelts, booster seats, motorcycle helmets, driving requirements for teenage drivers, driving while impaired, and laws that ban texting while driving for all motorists. States were given 3 color-based ratings - green, yellow or red. Green denoted the best performance, and indicated that the state has significantly advanced towards adoption of all recommended highway safety laws. Yellow indicates a state that is working towards enacting many of these laws, but still has a lot of work to do. However, a classification of red indicates that a state is dangerously behind in the adoption of key traffic safety laws that can keep motorists safe.

Georgia was ranked as a green state, because the state has enacted most of the traffic safety laws recommended by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Georgia was one of 14 states that were rated as green. According to the report, in 2011, there were 1,223 motor vehicle accident fatalities in Georgia, and the 10-year fatality total in the state was 15,067. The annual economic cost from car accidents in Georgia is approximately $7.85 billion.

However, the organization wants Georgia to enact and implement several other laws, including stricter graduated driver’s licensing laws that would affect the minimum age for a learners permit, and nighttime driving and passenger restriction restrictions for teenage drivers. The organization also recommends that Georgia enact all-DUI offender ignition interlock laws.

These laws would help save more lives in accidents in Georgia every year, because they are aimed at reducing the number of people killed in teen driver-related and drunk driving accidents. These 2 categories account for a high proportion of fatalities in accidents every year.

Winter Weather Increases Slip and Fall Accident Hazards

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:52:32 -0500

Over the next few months, Atlantans will find themselves at an increased risk of suffering a fall accident. Icy roads, sidewalks, and parking lots pose a serious walking challenge for people.

Our Atlanta slip and fall accident attorneys see many injuries that are the result of business owners failing to maintain a safe environment for visitors. However, in the winter months, we tend to see an increase in slip and fall accidents that may have been prevented with a bit more attention to the dangers that exist when ice is present. Below are some friendly reminders of how to stay safe this winter season.

The most important thing to do is wear smart and appropriate winter footwear while walking outside. Wear flat shoes or boots that have non-slip or high traction soles. Avoid wearing footwear that has smooth slippery soles. Also avoid stylish stiletto heels or other footwear that is impractical for walking on slick surfaces.

Also, avoid taking long steps or walking quickly. Take small, precise steps, and change your gait, in order to compensate for the slippery walking conditions. Bend your knees slightly, and walk slowly. Avoid carrying heavy loads while walking in winter conditions. Carrying heavy loads prevents you from modifying your gait, and can also inhibit your ability to see danger ahead. Avoid stuffing your hands in your coat pockets to keep them warm while walking. You may need your hands to grab onto something if you slip, or to break your fall.

Last, please don't underestimate the risk of a fall accident indoors. When you come in from outside, make sure that you wipe your soles well on a mat or carpet. And don’t expect that the property owner has properly cleaned the surface of water or ice.

If you or a loved one has suffered a fall, contact the Atlanta slip and fall accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm as soon as possible. We can help you determine the best course of action for your recovery.

National Seat Belt Usage Rates at Record Highs in 2012

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:19:57 -0500

Across the country, approximately 86% of all motorists buckled up before driving in 2012. That was a record high for seat belt usage in the U.S., and marks a significant improvement over the past decades.

The data came from a new study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which found that national seat belt usage rates are at an all-time high of 86%. The National Occupant Protection Use Survey finds that the use of seat belts here has increased steadily since 1994. That has coincided with the fact that many states across the country, including Georgia, have enacted stricter seatbelt laws that require all motorists to buckle up.

In many states like Georgia, seat belt laws are primary enforcement laws, which means that a police officer who sees a motorist driving without wearing a seatbelt, can simply pull him over, without finding any other infraction. Primary enforcement laws are much more stringent, because they lead to stronger enforcement of the laws. Not surprisingly, the study found that states like Georgia that have primary enforcement laws have much higher seatbelt usage rates compared to states that have secondary enforcement laws.

In Georgia, motorists above the age of 18 are required to wear a seatbelt while driving, or riding in the front seat. Failure to wear seatbelts can result in a penalty of $15. However, Georgia does not require all occupants of a passenger vehicle to wear seatbelts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is very encouraged at the growing use of seat belts across the country, and believes that the results of the survey are especially encouraging during the holidays, when more motorists are expected to drive across the country.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local agencies in Georgia have been very proactive in promoting seatbelt usage. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration partners with local agencies in Georgia to conduct the Click It or Ticket campaign every year. The campaign is typically conducted during holiday seasons, and is aimed at enforcing seatbelt laws, and encouraging motorists to buckle up while driving.

Wearing a seat belt takes just a few seconds of your time, but could actually save your life in an accident. Seatbelts are some of the most basic as well as some of the most effective safety features.

Please Buckle Up!

Georgia Officials Warn of Increase in Car Accident Fatality Numbers in 2012

robertkatz@mindspring.com (Robert Katz) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:31:49 -0500

Georgia state officials are warning about a possible increase in the number of auto accident-related fatalities for this calendar year. The numbers are expected to rise in 2012, which will be the first time the state has seen an increase in more than 5 years.

The Commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Public Safety recently announced that there has been a spike in traffic accident fatalities in the state this year. According to statistics, the state has already surpassed the accident fatality toll during the same period of time last year.

What is even more concerning to our car accident attorneys is that we are still in mid-December, and have not yet started the busiest travel season of the year. As we approach Christmas and New Year's, there will certainly be more motorists on the road. And unfortunately, too large a percentage of these motorists will be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Others will be speeding to get to their destination or party on time, and texting while driving remains a big problem in Georgia and across the country.

But there are ways you can reduce the risk of being injured in an accident. First, always wear a seatbelt while driving, and make sure that everybody else in your car is also safely buckled in. According to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010 seatbelts saved more than 12,500 lives across the country.

Second, arrange for a ride prior to going out if you know you will be consuming any alcohol at all. Drivers are much less likely to call for a cab when they are under the influence than when they plan ahead.

Finally, avoid driving late at night. Not only is visibility limited at night, but there are less impaired drivers on the road earlier in the day and evening.

Georgia state law enforcement officials have already kicked off the Click It or Ticket campaign that is meant to enforce seatbelt laws across the state. The campaign will continue to remain in force as we progress through the holiday season.

Drive safe this holiday season and always!