Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Our Georgia personal injury lawyers are representing two pedestrians run down by an Atlanta driver distracted by using her cell phone and not paying attention to her driving. This car accident was caused by the driver cutting across the wrong lanes of traffic while pulling out of a driveway. Because she was on the phone, she never saw our clients who were lawfully crossing the roadway. Our clients were plowed over and seriously injured and their lives will be changed forever.

If you drive anywhere in metro Atlanta and are paying attention, it seems more drivers than not are on the phone - and most do not have hands free devices. Studies show that drivers using cell phones (whether held by hand or using hands free devices) are significantly more distracted than drivers not on phones. Indeed, we expect the number of accidents in Atlanta and Georgia caused by drivers talking on cell phones will continues to climb because cell phone use has exploded and will continue to rise.

The injury lawyers of our firm have handled many of these types of cases. Numerous cases have involved large SUVs and truckers. Death and catastrophic injuries are often the result when large passenger vehicles and semi trucks are involved. This is especially true when the driver is distracted to the extent that often times he or she is unaware the accident is going to occur until it actually happens.

If you have been injured or a family member has been injured or killed in an accident caused by a driver of a car or truck using a cell phone, please call our offices to talk to one of our injury lawyers about your rights.

It seems new Atlanta clients are calling the Atlanta DUI accident lawyers weekly regarding claims for personal injuries caused in car accidents and trucking accidents where the drivers of the other vehicles were driving under the influence (DUI). There were 2 more this week. The first case involved a client who suffered internal injuries and two broken bones in her leg after the drunk driver ran a red light and t-boned my client's vehicle totaling both vehicles. The other driver had been drinking beer all day while watching college football and had a blood alcohol level that was beyond twice the legal limit.

The second case involved a client who also suffered serious injuries when the other driver slammed into the back of his vehicle while stopped at a red light. The other driver in this case had been taking prescription drugs and drinking beer. Although this driver's blood alcohol level was just beyond the legal limit, the police report narrative indicated that the driver could barely walk upright and had severely slurred speech.

In these types of cases, injured clients are entitled to claim the typical damages for medical bills, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and suffering. But cases involving DUI drivers, whether involving alcohol or drugs, allow for additional punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish and deter the behavior of the drunk driver. Because punitive damages can significantly increase the value of a claim, it is very important to hire an attorney who knows how to properly pursue these damages.

In addition to the facts of the accident at issue with the client, the drinking and driving history of the at-fault party is critical to the value of the case. If the drunk driver has prior or post DUI arrests and convictions, the case becomes much more valuable. Most juries understand the need to send a clear message to the habitual drunk driver that such behavior is not acceptable. Clearly criminal penalties are not causing a change of behavior. The jury can easily understand, therefore, that a significant financial penalty is needed to get the driver's attention that drinking and driving will not be tolerated.

The attorneys in our firm know how to obtain the complete drinking and driving histories of DUI drivers and to most effectively use this information. Please call to talk to one of our attorneys if you have been in an accident and you know or suspect the other driver was drinking or under the influence of drugs. We can help you.

I have received numerous telephone calls recently from individuals who already have hired a lawyer, but who want to get a new lawyer because their lawyer will not return their phone calls. While as an Atlanta personal injury lawyer I am always happy to get calls from potential clients in a personal injury or wrongful death case, these calls disappoint me because it means fellow members of my profession are treating their clients unprofessionally.

If you have hired a lawyer to represent you in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit (this actually applies to anyone who has hired an attorney to represent them for any reason), you have the right to be treated with respect throughout the representation and to have your phone calls and emails returned in a timely manner. You also have the right to have your questions answered and to be updated on the status of your case at regular intervals.

If you are not getting the kind of service you expect from your lawyer, schedule an appointment to meet with him or her in person to discuss your expectations. By meeting with your lawyer and bringing your concerns to their attention, it is likely he or she will be more responsive to your future needs. You definitely want to give them a chance to make things right before finding another lawyer.

Providing superior legal services to the residents of central and north Georgia is my business. If I receive a telephone message or email from a client, if the call or email is not related to an emergency - which I attend to immediately - I try to return the call or email by the end of the same business day. If for some reason I cannot respond by the end of the same day, I respond no later than 24 hours after receiving the message. I understand that being seriously injured or having a family member killed by the negligent acts of others and pursuing a lawsuit to recover damages related to such losses can be stressful and oftentimes very confusing. That is why it is important to have skilled and competent lawyers handling your case and giving you the attention you deserve.