Georgia Legal Report

A recent rise in ATV accidents has Dawson County Emergency Services urging riders to take extra precautions this summer.

Dawson County Emergency Services Chief Lanier Swafford made a grave appeal to the public through the Dawson News:

"We've seen an increased number of injuries due to the lack of helmets," he said. "With summer coming on and increased usage of ATVs, bicycles and other outside sports that are maybe considered...above average in danger, like mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing - all of these have recommendations that people wear a helmet. We just encourage them to do that, because certainly head and spinal injuries are very significant, they are life changing and they are very expensive on our society and the health care industry."

Personal injury attorneys at The Murray Law Firm represent many victims of ATV accidents and warn that while safety begins with the rider it is also the responsibility of ATV outfitters, land owners and motor vehicle drivers.

• Outfitters who rent ATVs and manage recreational ATV facilities are responsible for protecting all riders legally using their vehicles and facilities.

• Land owners should take precautions to carefully mark land boundaries with visible markers. Unmarked wire and rope boundaries may be fatal to cyclists and ATV riders.

• Motor vehicle drivers must avoid distractions and watch for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and ATV drivers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following safety tips for ATV riders:

• Always wear protective gear, especially a helmet, when riding ATVs.

• Do not drive ATVS with a passenger or ride as a passenger, as the majority of ATVs are designed to carry only one person.

• Do not drive ATVs on paved roads.

• Do not permit children to drive or ride adult ATVs.

• Over-the-ankle boots, goggles, gloves and long pants and long sleeved shirts are also suggested as additional protective gear when riding ATVs.

We wish all ATV riders a safe and fun summer. If you have been injured in an ATV accident and would like to discuss your legal options with our attorneys, please contact us toll free at 888.842.1616.

Police have cited the young driver who collided with 56-year-old motorcyclist, Seboris Brooks, on Martha Berry Boulevard in Rome Monday.

According to Rome Police, Mr. Brooks, of Baxley, was driving his motorcycle southbound on Martha Berry Boulevard when a Honda Accord pulled out of a CVS Pharmacy and directly into the motorcycle's path. Mr. Brooks crashed into the Honda's driver side door and was propelled from his vehicle onto the roadway.

Mr. Brooks was, thankfully, wearing a helmet at the time. He was transported from the scene to Redmond Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. The Honda driver, 19-year-old Andy Doan, has been cited for failure to yield.

Attorneys at The Murray Law Firm are investigating this accident. As Mr. Doan is apparently at fault in this incident given the citation, Mr. Brooks may elect to hold him civilly liable for all injuries and damages. Such a claim would serve to remind all Georgia drivers of the need to practice caution on and around motorcyclists and to share our roads. Unfortunately, all too often, insurance companies are more concerned with limiting their financial exposure than providing victims with what they rightfully deserve. The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in protecting victims of motorcycle accidents, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise, if needed.

As warm summer weather returns, motorcycle accidents begin to rise. We hope this incident will remind drivers to share the road with motorcycles, avoid distractions, and look twice before entering or changing lanes. A little extra caution may save a life.

If you are seeking further information on this accident, please contact us toll free at 888.842.1616.

Savannah-Chatham Police are investigating the fatal I-516 crash, which claimed the lives of a Brooklet, GA couple, Stephen Carroll Joyner and Camie Barnes Joyner, and injured three others.

According to initial reports, Trever Chase Cannon was driving his Ford F-250 pickup truck eastbound on I-516 when he lost control of the vehicle. The truck overturned into the westbound lanes, striking a motorcycle, driven by Irven Williams, and a Toyota Rav 4, driven by the Joyner family.

Mr. and Mrs. Joyner perished at the scene. Their 3-year-old daughter, Dakota Joyner, was rescued from the accident by witnesses. Emergency crews transported her to Memorial University Medical Center where she was listed in serious but stable condition.

47-year-old motorcyclist, Irven Williams, laid down his vehicle to avoid the overturning truck. He suffered injuries in the fall and has been treated and released from the hospital.

Mr. Cannon, the 22-year-old pickup truck driver, was also listed in serious but stable condition at the hospital.

Savannah-Chatham Police noted Mr. Cannon was driving "at a high rate of speed" when he lost control of the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation and police have not yet released further causes.

Attorneys with The Murray Law Firm are investigating this horrific accident and exploring whether speed or distraction were factors in this tragedy. If Mr. Cannon is found to be at fault in this accident, the family of Mr. and Mrs. Joyner may elect to hold the driver responsible for the loss of their family members. Mr. Williams may also elect to hold the driver liable for his injuries. Such a claim could be worth millions of dollars and would send a clearly needed message to drivers in Savannah and all of Georgia of the importance of safe driving and maintaining speed limits. Although financial recovery is of little importance to a grieving family, a claim should be filed as soon as practicable to ensure all evidence relating to the accident is properly preserved and the family's best interests are protected.

The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in tragic cases such as this and we offer our legal expertise, if needed. If you are seeking further information on this accident, please contact us toll free at 888-842-1616.

With the recent string of alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents occurring on Georgia's highways, our firm would like to remind anyone who has suffered a loss as a consequence of such an accident that there are valuable resources available to assist them. Perhaps the organization most well-suited to offer assistance is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
MADD is an invaluable resource for families who have lost a loved one as a consequence of a drunk driver, and we always urge our Clients who suffered such a loss to contact the organization for assistance. The contact information for the Georgia chapter of MADD is as follows:

MADD
1000 CIRCLE 75 PKWY SE #45
ATLANTA, GA 30339
Phone: 7706153737
Fax: 7706153738
Email: ga.state@madd.org

For additional information on resocurces available to assist families coping with the loss of a loved one, please feel free to contact our firm at any time.

Collision attorneys at The Murray Law Firm of Georgia warn drivers that accidents spike during the holiday season. As holiday driving picks up throughout the state, Georgia car accident attorneys call on the public to protect our roads and families. Please enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.

Liz Fabian of The Macon Telegraph describe's Georgia's new 'Operation Safe Holidays':

Georgia is poised to mark the first increase in state traffic deaths in more than five years which prompts Tuesday's launch of "Operation: Safe Holidays."

"Seat belt use is one of the few things we have control over in our lives," Blackwood said. "Neglecting it should never be a factor in our deaths."

62-year-old Delmar Singleton was killed in a motorcycle accident Saturday evening [November 17, 2012] at the intersection of Davis Drive and Georgia 247 in Warner Robins, GA. According to police, Mr. Singleton was stopped at a red light on his 2012 Triumph motorcycle when a 2005 Chevy Astro Van, driven by 80-year-old James Leroy Edwards, struck the motorcycle, forcing it over 360 feet down the roadway. Mr. Edwards was taken to Houston Medical Center for non life threatening injuries.

Georgia motorcycle accident attorneys investigating this incident caution, "this tragedy serves as a grave reminder for public awareness of motorcycle safety, particularly at intersections and lane changes, where the most serious motorcycle collisions tend to occur."

As it appears Mr. Edwards may be at at fault in this incident, Mr. Singleton's family may decide to hold the driver of the van civilly liable for the wrongful death of their family member. Total recovery could potentially be substantial and, while legal action and financial compensation are certainly of little priority to a grieving family, it is important that an experienced motorcycle collision attorney be retained immediately to ensure that any evidence relating to the incident remains preserved and that the family's interests are protected.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and The Murray Law Firm urge all motorists to stay alert and 'Share the Road' with motorcycles. To avoid more tragic accidents such as this one, please remember the following NHTSA safety tips:

• A motorcycle has the same rights and privileges as any other vehicle on the roadway.

• Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width. Although it may seem that there is enough room in the traffic lane for a motor vehicle and a motorcycle, the motorcycle needs the room to maneuver safely. Do not share the lane.

• Because motorcycles are small, they can be difficult for other road users to see them, or judge their speed and distance as they approach.

• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows motorcyclists to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.

• Because of its smaller size, a motorcyclist can be hidden in a vehicle's blind spot. Always check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.

Anyone seeking information on this incident is encouraged to contact The Murray Law Firm toll free at 888-842-1616.

33-year-old Benjamin Holland of Ty Ty, GA was killed Monday afternoon in a tragic motorcycle collision with a cotton module truck on William Gibbs Rd in Tift County.

According to initial reports, Mr. Holland was driving his motorcycle over a hill when a large Omega Gin Company cotton module truck pulled out of a field onto William Gibbs Rd. Georgia State Patrol Sgt. Stan Stalmaker reports, Mr. Holland "saw the cotton module truck then the motorcycle entered the westbound lane and struck the cotton module truck on the left hand side."

The Georgia State Patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is still investigating. no charges have yet been filed.

Motorcycle collision legal experts at The Murray Law Firm are investigating this accident and believe the Omega Gin Company cotton module truck may possibly be the vehicle at fault in this tragedy. If so, Mr. Holland's family may be entitled to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars in a civil claim for the wrongful death of their family member.

Though the pursuit of a civil claim is certainly of little priority at this difficult time, it is crucial that the family retain a competent law firm quickly to ensure any evidence relating to the incident remains preserved and that the family's interests are protected. Legal experts warn, "We have too often seen evidence critical to a civil claim destroyed by adverse parties who take advantage of a grieving family, and we hope that such a circumstance does not occur in this matter."

GLR investigators will continue to monitor this tragedy. If you have any information pertaining to the incident or are in need of legal assistance, please contact The Murray Law Firm toll free at 888-842-1616.

Our law firm continues to read through statistics recently released by the Georgia Office of Highway Safety relating to motor vehicle collisions in Georgia. One particularly distressing set of statistics indicate that there were a total of 1,703 traffic related deaths in the state last year. As an Atlanta based car and truck accident law firm representing individuals who have suffered the wrongful death of a family member, these numbers are of interest as they evidence just how dangerous Georgia's roads can be.

The Atlanta metropolitan area far and away accounted for the most car or truck accident fatalities within the state last year. Fulton County had 123 deaths, Gwinnett County 93, DeKalb County 85, and Cobb County 65. Adding these figures together, 1 car or truck accident fatality occurred in one of these counties for every 10 throughout the rest of Georgia. Every county in the state had at least 1 motor vehicle death, with the exception of Clay County, Jenkins County, Lincoln County, Miller County, and Wilcox County.

In reading through the Georgia Office of Highway Safety statistics, our firm was interested to learn about the type of vehicles associated with traffic related deaths in Georgia last year. Of all car or truck related fatalities, 1035 involved a passenger vehicle of some sort, while 511 involved a pickup truck. The most alarming statistic, however, related to the use of seatbelts. Stunningly, 301 the 1703 fatalities involved an occupant who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. This accounted for almost 20% of all deaths on Georgia's roadways last year.

The Murray Law Firm was pleased to learn that the Atlanta Medical Center has been designated as a Level I trauma center by the State of Georgia. Many of our most severely injured Clients have received life-saving services at the hospital, and we believe that the Level I designation was well warranted. We congratulate the administrators, physicians, and staff of the hospital on the recognition.

As Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys, we are pleased to report that a man who was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle was awarded $250,000.00 by a Gwinnett County jury following a pre-trial offer to settle of only $2,500.00. This Verdict represents another significant victory for the victims of motorcycle accidents in the State of Georgia.

Our law firm represents Clients throughout the state of Georgia and has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have been suffered an injury as a consequence of the fault of another. Please contact us if we can be of assistance.

Allstate Insurance Company recently released information indicating that the intersection at Peachtree Street and 14th Street is the most dangerous intersection for motorcyclists in Fulton County, Georiga. According to the study, 7 of 18 fatal motorcycle accidents that occured in Fulton County in 2009 occurred at that location. Other intersections in Fulton and Dekalb countied that had high incidents of motorcycle accidents in 2009 include: Barge Road and Campbelltown Roads; Camp Creek Parkway and Welcome All Road; 10th St. and Piedmont Avenue; Bolton Road and Marietta Road; Buford Highway and Peachtree Street; Delmar Lane and Delmoor Court; and, Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Eugenia Avenue.

As a Georgia Motorcycle accident law firm, we are always searching for information to provide to the public which increases safety awareness for motorcyclists. The Rome News Tribune posted the following article on their website recently:

As the weather gets warmer and gas prices get higher, more people choose transportation that has two wheels instead of four.

The efforts included safety education presentations to school, church and civic groups by Georgia State Troopers as well as media outreach.

The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of accidents throughout Georgia. If you or a loved one has been injured at the fault of another, contact our firm for a free case evaluation.

As an Atlanta, Georgia based car accident and workers compensation law firm , we receive hundreds upon hundreds of telephone calls per year from potential Clients who simply ask "how much is my motor vehicle injury or work injury case worth?" In order to better assist our callers, we have created a Free 60 Second Case Evaluation. The process is simple: fill out our quick fill form (click this link) which takes less that 60 seconds to complete, and we'll get back to you within 10 minutes with a preliminary value for your case.

Although we have only recently started offering our Free 60 Second Personal Injury and Workers Compensation Case Evaluations, it has quickly become so popular and useful to potential Clients that we are now on call 24 hours per day. A Georgia personal injury, wrongful death, or workers compensation lawyer will respond quickly with a tentative case value and answer any all questions without cost. For those who wish to speak with our Georgia personal injury and workers compensation law firm immediately, please call 888.842.1616.

Although our firm is based in Atlanta, we have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients throughout Georgia. We handle cases from Dalton to Savannah and Augusta to Columbus. For those potential Clients outside of Georgia, we also offer nationwide attorney referrals for personal injury and workers compensation cases.

As Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys, we are pleased to report that a woman who was a passenger of a motorcycle that was struck by a car was awarded $800,000.00 by a Haralson County jury. The lawsuit was against the driver of the motorcycle who negligently pulled around the car as the driver was attempting to make a turn. This Verdict represents another significant victory for the victims of motorcycle accidents in the State of Georgia.

Our law firm represents Clients throughout the state of Georgia and has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have been suffered an injury as a consequence of the fault of another. Please contact us if we can be of assistance.

Mary Joyce Miller, 74, of Cleves, Ohio, Fatally Injured in June 8, 2011 Motorcycle Accident on I-285 in Atlanta, South Fulton County; Mbemba Saja Touray, 36, Charged with Vehicular Homicide

UPDATE: The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Mary Joyce Miller, 74, of Cleves, Ohio, was fatally injured in this acccident. Her husband, Jerry L. Miller, 62, was operating the motorcycle at the time of the incident.

UPDATE: The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Mbemba Saja Touray, 36, has been charged with vehicular homicide charge in connection with this accident.

Our law firm has learned of a tragic accident occurring on I-285 in South Fulton County on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, which has claimed the life of an innocent motorcyclist. A woman lost her life when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger rear-ended a Ford Expedition as it was stopping to yield to a motorist with a flat tire. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the accident remains under investigation.

The family of the victim has a right to pursue a civil lawsuit against the at fault driver for the wrongful death of their family member. Given our firm's experience in these types of cases, we understand that the pursuit of a civil claim against the at-fault driver is certainly of little priority at this difficult time. It is important, however, that a competent law firm be retained quickly to ensure that any evidence relating to the incident remains preserved and that the family's interests are protected. Our law firm has represented many families who have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident such as this one, and we have recovered substantial awards for our Clients in the process. We have too often seen evidence critical to a civil claim destroyed by adverse parties who take advantage of a grieving family, and we hope that such a circumstance does not occur in this matter.

We extend our sympathies to the family of the victim, and offer our legal experience if needed.