As part of the exposé, the team at ProPublicainvestigated coroner and medical examiner’s office records, and looked at the number of sudden and unusual fatalities at several nursing homes. They found in their investigations that in cases involving seniors who die suddenly, or under any kind of suspicious circumstances, there is no guarantee of any investigation into the death. ProPublicahas reached several conclusions that point to systemic flaws.

For instance, when a senior death is reported as natural, coroners and medical examiners very rarely investigate it. However, the fact is that very often, doctors make errors in judging whether a death is natural or not. In one study conducted in 2008, approximately 50% of doctors were not able to correctly identify the cause of death for an elderly patient who had died after a brain injury that occurred as a result of a fall accident. What this means is that an unknown number of deaths in nursing homes are probably being classified as natural deaths, when they are anything but.

Also, in many states, doctors are allowed to write out a death certificate without even seeing the body. In one case that the ProPublicateam came across during this investigation, a Pennsylvania doctor reported that a 83-year-old person had died of natural causes, when in fact, the death had been the result of beating by nursing home staff. The doctor never saw the patient, and never noticed the bruises on the man's body, that would've alerted him to the fact that this was not a natural death.

All this means that too many suspicious, unnatural deaths in nursing homes are probably not being investigated and not being reported. The persons responsible for the negligence or neglect that resulted in these deaths are also not being held accountable for their actions. 

ProPublica’sfindingsare even more concerning when you consider that the baby boomer population is aging rapidly, and is expected to soon enter its 70s. Nursing homes in Georgia and around the country are likely to operate at full capacity, as families and caregivers look for homes for aging loved ones. From this report, it seems that there are too many flaws in the current system to handle an increase in the population of senior citizens in nursing homes.

The nursing home abuse attorneys at the Katz Law Firm represent persons who have been injured, or family members of persons who have died as a result of nursing home abuse in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation, a total of 1,244 people died in car accidents in Georgia last year. That was a drop of 3.7% from the previous year, or 48 fewer fatalities. In 2009, the number of people killed in auto accidents was 1,292. The number has been dropping steadily since 2006.

To understand the kind of progress that has been made in keeping motorists safe on Georgia roads, consider this - in 2005, there were 1,744 deaths in traffic accidents in Georgia, compared to 1,244 in 2010. In just 5 years, transportation safety agencies and law enforcement in Georgia have been able to reduce the number of people being killed in preventable traffic accidents.

What's more, there may be more good news as 2011 winds up. According to Georgia transportation safety officials, the number of people killed in traffic accidents in 2011 is likely to be lower than the number last year.

Georgia's laws against texting while driving are fairly new, but are also being enforced. It's still too early to tell how many of those 1,244 fatalities that occurred in Georgia last year were the result of distracted driving. However, last year, a total of 3,092 fatalities nationwide were linked to distractions at the wheel. 

Atlanta car accident lawyers believe that for more progress to be made in keeping motorists and passengers safer, and reducing traffic accident numbers further, authorities in Georgia need to be cracking down harder on cell phone use while driving. Georgia's texting while driving laws are still fairly new, and we still see far too many people texting while driving. In fact according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the use of handheld devices while driving is on the rise around the country. There's no reason to believe the situation is very different in Georgia.

The Atlanta car accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

Additionally, Virginia Tech will also place a memorial plaque honoring Daniel Sun Kim somewhere on campus. The university will also enact a policy that will require that parents and guardians of students who are considered to be suicidal, be informed of this.  As part of the settlement, the University does not admit any wrongdoing in Kim's death.

As a wrongful death attorney, I recognize that the amount is not substantial relative to the loss suffered by the family. It is likely the family decided that the non-monetary portion of the settlement (ie: change in policy, scholarship fund and plaque honoring their son) allowed for a more appropriate conclusion of the case. I very much respect and applaud their decision. The change in the policy of the university will likely save lives of students in the future. It is unfortunate that the university did not choose to also provide the family with a more appropriate level of financial compensation for their loss rather than only implementing a policy that should have already been in effect for the safety of their students.

On December 9, 2007, Daniel Sun Kim committed suicide by shooting himself sitting in his car in a parking lot. There were visible signs before his suicide that should have alerted University officials about potential trouble. According to fellow students, he was apparently distraught over talk that he resembled Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech student who was involved in a rampage in 2007 at Virginia Tech. Cho killed 32 students, and left several injured. 

The assistant director of psychiatry services at the university’s counseling center did recommend that Kim be invited for a meeting to discuss the situation. That meeting was never held, and the case was officially closed in November 2007. Barely a month later, Kim was dead.

In 2009, his family filed a lawsuit against Virginia Tech, demanding to know why the university did not follow its own protocols and respond to warnings that their son had been suicidal. They were never notified about the friend’s e-mail to university officials, and were never given any information about the university's investigation of their son and his suicide plans. 

This is one of at least 3 high-profile cases involving students who died violent deaths at Virginia Tech. There are at least 2 wrongful death lawsuits that claim $10 million each, filed by parents of women who were killed in the Virginia Tech attacks of April 6, 2007.

The Georgia wrongful death lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent families of persons who have been killed due to the negligence of others, helping them recover compensation for their losses. If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of others, speak with a Georgia wrongful death attorney at our law firm.

According to police, the head-on car accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a Chevrolet Malibu crashed into a Ford Focus. Police say that the Malibu suddenly crossed the centerline, sideswiped a pickup truck and then crashed into the Focus. The driver of the Ford Focus was killed in the accident. The driver of the Malibu sustained personal injuries, and was taken to the hospital. There were two adults and a toddler in the Focus, and they were injured too. 

Often, when a car veers across the centerline, or off the lane, it's usually the result of distracted driving or inattention behind the wheel. Atlanta car accident lawyers expect to see more such accidents caused by inattention as students get back to school and their parents are trying to manage their ever busier lives.

Atlanta's motorists are likely to have more than safety on their minds.   These are some of the busiest days for motorists, and drivers will find more than the usual quota of speeding and reckless drivers. With the added stress of kids and work, the number of DUI motorists in the evenings are likely to increase.

As Georgia wrongful death attorneys, we often find that survivors of car accident victims may be a little reluctant to file a claim for damages. It's important to make it very clear right at the very outset that no amount of compensation in the world could ever make up for the loss of a loved one. However, financial expenses could place an additional strain on survivors after the death of a loved one. Survivors find it overwhelming to deal with their emotional trauma, and financial stresses only make it worse.

Moreover, when the deceased is the primary breadwinner of the family, the survivors may be faced with immediate expenses related to the day-to-day running of the household after the death. There may also be long term expenses. For instance, if the deceased has left behind children, there are college and education expenses to consider. A wrongful death lawsuit can help you recover compensation for all damages, and while the compensation cannot make up for the death of a loved one, it will ensure that survivors have few financial concerns to worry about.

The Atlanta wrongful death lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others across the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

The stage collapse accident occurred at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis on August 13. Rigging on the stage collapsed in the late hours of the evening, killing 4 people immediately. One other person died the morning after the accident, and 2 other persons died in the days after the collapse. More than 40 persons were injured in the collapse. Just before the collapse, fair organizers and security officials had noticed strong winds measuring 77 mph, and had even been considering postponing the concert by Sugar Land that was due to take place. However, those plans to postpone the concert never materialized.

Under Indiana's liability laws, the state’s liability in an accident like this is restricted to $5 million. Now, the state has proposed its plans to divide the $5 million. The state is offering a settlement of $300,000 to the families of each person killed in the collapse. Families of victims, who had been hospitalized before their deaths, are likely to receive additional compensation. More than 60 other persons were injured in the collapse, and they will be compensated from the remainder of the $5 million fund. The compensation for those were injured in the accident, is likely to depend on the severity of the injuries. Some of the injured are being offered settlements that amount to just about 60% of their total documented medical expenses. One of the injured, who was left paralyzed, has been offered compensation of $500,000.

According to the Indiana Atty. Gen., its office found it a challenge to decide on the amount of compensation to each of the victims. The Atty. Gen.'s Office has had some assistance in designing the compensation plan from Kenneth Feinberg, who helped design the compensation plans after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the Virginia Tech Shootings. 

The Atlanta personal injury lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons who have been injured due to the negligence of others in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

According to DeKalb police, the driver of a westbound vehicle crashed into a sports utility vehicle that was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes. The driver of the westbound car sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The wrong way driver also suffered injuries in the auto accident.

Investigations into the car accident have begun, and investigators now believe that the driver of the sport-utility vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction. These investigations are likely to also include blood-alcohol tests to determine if the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Many wrong-way driving accidents that Atlanta car accident attorneys come across involve people who have been driving under the influence of alcohol, and make a wrong turn. In fact, according to some estimates, alcohol use is a factor in between 50% and 70% of all wrong way driving accidents.

Some of the most frequent wrong way driving scenarios involve a motorist turning onto a one-way street in the opposite direction, or driving on the wrong freeway entrance ramp. A wrong way driver may also drive on the wrong side of the road or highway with terrible consequences. Wrong way driving is strongly linked to intoxicated driving. That is the reason why so many of these accidents occur at night, because most drunk driving also takes place at night. Such car accidents can also be blamed on failure to notice highway signs and signals. Visibility is poor during the night time, and moreover, an intoxicated motorist may not be able to see signs that say “Wrong Way” or “Do Not Enter.”

Unfortunately, in many these situations, there is little that other motorists can do to avoid an accident. At freeway speeds, a vehicle going the wrong way may collide with your vehicle before you even have time to react. This is especially so because many wrong way driving accidents occur at night. Moreover, other motorists are not prepared for the sight of a vehicle barreling down towards them, and may be unable to react in time.

The Atlanta car accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia. If you have been injured in a car accident in Atlanta, speak with a car accident attorney at our firm.

The driver of the station wagon suffered injuries, and was taken to the Atlanta Medical Center. Police are still trying to determine whether to press charges against her. Georgia's laws allow survivors of victims of a car accident to file a claim for wrongful deathdamages. Under Georgia's laws, only certain individuals can file a wrongful death claim for monetary damages. For instance, in the case of an adult victim, his spouse and children have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim, but the spouse controls the any lawsuit. However, when the deceased is a child, the parents have the right to file a claim. When a person dies in a car accident and does not leave behind parents, spouse or children, then his estate has the right to file a wrongful death claim against the motorist responsible for the accident.

In addition to a wrongful death claim, the heirs may also pursue a separate “estate claim.” A wrongful death claim allows a person to recover for the full value of someone’s life, while an estate claim permits the estate to recover for economic losses such as medical expenses and funeral bills as well as for pain and suffering. In some cases, an “estate claim” may also include a claim for punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded in rare circumstances where the defendant has been found to have acted intentionally, willfully or with a conscious disregard for the consequences of their conduct. Most punitive damage claims fall in this last category. 

Wrongful death claims and “estate claims” can be complicated to file because of the challenges involved in attaching an appropriate monetary value to the person’s death and due to the need to make certain that you recover all economic and non-economic losses. An Atlanta wrongful death lawyer will consider a number of factors before attaching a monetary value to your claim. These factors will include the severity of the injury, the other party's liability in accident, and the kind of losses that have been sustained.

It's important to understand that the loss of a loved one can leave survivors not just with an emotional and spiritual void in their lives, but also financial insecurity and uncertainty, especially if the victim was the sole breadwinner of the family. While monetary compensation cannot make up for the loss of a loved one, it can help relieve many of the financial worries and stresses that can be expected in the future.

The accident occurred on October 1, 2006 when the man ran a red light and crashed into a taxicab.   The crash killed a thirty-one-year-old woman and left two men severely injured. The victim left behind a three-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.

The lawyer pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle while driving under the influence. It later emerged that he had four prior DUI offenses on his record. In fact, on the day of the accident, he was on probation from a previous DUI, and had been ordered not to drive.

In the year 2009, there were 1,284 traffic accident fatalities in the state of Georgia. Out of these, 394 deaths occurred in drunk driving accidents. That is approximately 31% of traffic accident fatalities traced to drivers under the influence of alcohol. Out of these, 331 deaths involved accidents in which the driver was driving with an alcohol level of or greater than .08%, which is the legal limit for alcohol intoxication. 

It's no secret that drunk driving accident deaths have been down over the past decade. We have law enforcement to thank for that. Increased enforcement, more effective use of sobriety checkpoints and initiatives by local and state agencies supported by the federal administration, have meant a decline in wrongful deaths occurring from intoxicated driving. Additionally, there has been an attitude change as far as drunk driving is concerned. There is now lowered acceptance of driving under the influence of alcohol. 

However, every year, far too many people die in accidents that are caused because motorists could not resist driving after a few drinks. Driving in an intoxicated state can leave a person with severely inhibited response times. A person driving under the influence of alcohol is less likely to be able to respond quickly to important visual cues, like a pedestrian appearing in a crosswalk in front. 

Additionally, alcohol clouds a person's judgment, and leaves an individual incapable of judging important accident risks, like the speed and behavior of other motorists. Alcohol has another even more deadly impact on a person’s driving skills. It can increase a person's feelings of recklessness, and lowered inhibitions. A person may be more likely to engage in reckless driving practices like speeding, tailgating and may be more susceptible to road rage.

The Atlanta car accident lawyers are at the Katz Kaw Firm represent persons injured in automobile and car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

According to police, Johnson had been talking on a cell phone at the time of the accident. She had also taken antidepressant medications just before the accident. She now faces a number of charges, including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, and hit and run. Police also believe that she was driving under a suspended license. Additionally, she faces charges of reckless driving as well charges related to cell phone use while driving and lack of insurance. Personal injury attorneys have repeatedly warned about the dangers of distracted driving as well as driving under the influence of medications. Unfortunately, these tragedies will continue to occur until we toughen our laws in these areas.  

According to one of her friends, at the time of the accident, she was on the cell phone having a quarrel with her husband. The friend has confirmed that she had taken antidepressants before she started driving, and had been impaired at the time of the accident.

It'll take more than a single blog post to enumerate the risks that Atlanta's pedestrians face on a daily basis. However, one of the biggest challenges is the one posed by impaired drivers. Most people assume that impairment is the result of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs. However, a motorist can be impaired when he is driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Such dangers are especially high in older drivers, who may be on more than one medication for a number of health ailments. Antidepressants, for instance, can leave a person suffering from insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dizziness. A person might suffer from severe hand tremors. All of these symptoms can severely impact a person's ability to drive safely.

The Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers at the Katz Law Firm represent pedestrians injured in accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

The circumstances surrounding the incident further explain why the law has been hailed as a breakthrough regulation by many personal injury attorneys, who hope to see the law being picked up by other states and foresee its enforcement successfully increasing the safety of the state’s public highways.

The law is named for Hailey French, a woman who was severely injured in a head-on collision. The driver responsible had been arrested for DUI and released by law enforcement officers less than two hours earlier. The lawsuit brought against the driver and Washington officials alleged that officers failed to install a court-ordered alcohol ignition interlock device in the driver’s car after her previous DUI arrest.  Instead, the arresting officer drove her home, and handed her the car keys with a warning to sober up. After he left, the drunk driver took a taxi back to her car, got back on the road, and crossed the center line before hitting Hailey French. 

 “We all know to take away the keys of a person who is drunk. This law, finally, does that,” said French’s attorney, Dean Brett.    As a  car accident attorney in Atlanta  who is well-versed with the statistics of fatality car crashed involving DUIs, I would have to agree. It’s definitely a move that jails both the drunk driver and his mode of transportation. The 12 hour impound requirement, in theory, really forces the driver to take time to “cool off” and sober up before getting back behind the wheel and on the road. I would suggest that the period should probably be at least 24 hours and the person should have to undergo a breathalyzer before getting the keys back.

Just last week, a bicyclist was killed in an accident in Richmond County. That death followed another bicycle accident in which the bicyclist suffered serious personal injuries. There were thirty-seven accidents involving bicyclists in Richmond County last year. Out of these, one ended in a death. In 2011, there have been thirty bicycle accidents, with more than four months to go to the end of the year. If things continue in the same vein, then Richmond County looks sets to beat the fatality toll in 2010. 

Unfortunately, as with motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents, most bicycle accidents also occur as a result of motorist error or negligence. A bicycle has a narrow frame, and a person driving an automobile is likely to miss a person riding a bike unless he is being alert and vigilant. Unfortunately, as Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers notice, there are far too many motorists who don't bother to stay alert and look out for bicyclists. 

This is in spite of the fact that Atlanta is seeing an increase in the number of bicyclists. Bicyclist numbers have increased further in recent weeks because of the increase in gas prices. Additionally, there is now a nationwide focus on reducing obesity through activities like bicycling and walking. The result has been an increase in the number of people biking across Atlanta.

Other accidents occur because motorists did not notice the bicyclist until it was too late to avoid an accident. In such cases, Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers often find that motorist distractions were a factor in the accident. There are more numbers of distracted drivers in the United States now than there have ever been in our country's history. People distracted by smart phones or texting devices, or by any number of distracting activities, are less likely to see a bicyclist until it is too late.

Besides, Atlanta bicyclists face dangers from intoxicated motorists, and speeding drivers. A motorist driving under the influence of alcohol is less likely to spot a bicyclist in time. Speeding drivers may not be able to avoid a serious accident with a bicyclist.

In an accident involving a bicyclist and an automobile, it is the person on the bike who has a serious risk of being injured or dying in the accident, which is all the more reason why drivers need to be alert for bicyclists at all times.

The Atlanta bicycle accident attorneys at the Katz Law Firm represent persons injured in bicycle accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.

It may seem like there's been much progress in reducing accident numbers in the United States. After all, auto accident wrongful death numbers in this country have been on the decline over the past decade, and last year, were at their lowest levels since record keeping began. With statistics like this, it's easy for Atlanta car accident lawyers and motorists to become complacent, and believe that American drivers are much safer than anywhere else.  

That’s not true at all. A look at the safety records and accident prevention efforts in other countries indicates just how much more progress the U.S. needs to make.

The fact is that many other countries have lower accident fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled. Additionally, other countries are seeing a much more drastic drop in auto accident fatalities, compared to the United States. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that there are several factors contributing to this wide chasm between the United States and other countries. 

There are other differences between the United States and other countries when it comes to saving lives in accidents. For instance, almost every country in Europe mandates motorcycle helmets for all motorcyclists. Additionally, Australia, Japan, Canada and New Zealand also have mandatory motorcycle helmet laws for motorcyclists. In the United States however, there are at least thirty states that do not mandate motorcycle helmet laws.

Seat belt use has been increasing steadily in the United States, hovering at a respectable 84%. However, even here, countries in Europe have made dramatic progress. Seat belt use rates in those countries are much higher than in the US. 

Other countries also believe strongly in using frequent sobriety checkpoints to reduce drunk driving. With more checkpoints, law enforcement can easily haul drunk motorists off the streets. Additionally, many European countries have a much lower threshold for blood alcohol level. In Canada, Japan, Australia and in most European countries, the maximum threshold is.05% or below. In the United States, the legally allowed blood alcohol limit is .08%. That might explain the lower numbers of auto accident deaths in European countries.

The USA Today Investigation focused on bus accident deaths between 1995 and 2009, and found more than a few accident fatalities that went missing from the federal data. The investigation found that overall, at least 42 deaths went missing from the official federal data. The investigation also found that since 2003, at least 32 bus accident deaths were not included in the final federal data.

In addition, there were 42 fatalities that occurred on midsize buses which were not accounted in the federal data either, because these buses are not included in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s definition of a motor coach.

This is not just a slight oversight on the part of the federal administration. These are glaring errors that have emboldened the bus industry to claim that buses in the United States are much safer now than they have ever been. During recent congressional hearings, the bus industry touted the safety record of its buses, citing decreasing accident fatalities. As the USA Today investigation indicates, the fatalities have probably not declined that much. Dozens of fatalities are missing from federal estimates which means that the actual toll is much higher.

As Atlanta accident lawyers know, bus safety is a serious issue in Atlanta. Memories of the Bluffton University bus accident of 2007 are still fresh in our minds. Five members of the Bluffton University baseball team were killed in that accident.   The bus driver and his wife also died. 

Some of these accidents have been devastating in their impact. In May, 14 people were killed when the bus they were traveling in flipped over and crashed into a signpost in New York. The impact of the accident severed the vehicle into two, and killed most of the victims instantly. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief has been concerned enough about the increasing numbers of accidents to call for additional funding for her agency in order to step up impromptu safety inspections and checks. Anne Ferro, the chief of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spoke to Congress last month, asking for additional funding to conduct surprise checks, as well as to conduct annual inspections of every long-distance bus. She also wants to increase fines for safety violations. The bus industry has been able to resist these measures, touting its “safety record” to support its arguments. See, USA Today article on bus safety

According to authorities, the entire accident was triggered when a piece of metal pipe fell from the ceiling of the addition, and crashed into the lift which was holding the worker. The impact caused the lift to jerk, and the worker fell about 20 feet below onto the pavement. He sustained serious injuries, and died.

According to news reports, the victim worked for a subcontractor on the project. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has begun an investigation into the accident. In the meantime, the site has been temporarily shut down. See Worker Killed in Fall.

The construction sector is one of the most dangerous workplaces for workers in the United States.   Out of every three worker accident deaths every year, one occurs in the construction industry. There are a number of ways that a worker could be injured on a construction site. Workers may be injured in slip and fall accidents, or by falling debris. They may be injured in accidents involving construction equipment, like forklifts.  Construction workers are also at a higher risk of electrocution involving high-tension overhead and underground power lines. 

No matter how your construction fall accident occurs, you may be eligible for compensation under Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Workers’ Compensation laws do not require that your accident be the result of your employer’s negligence or the negligence of your coworkers for you to be eligible for compensation. Every injured worker is entitled to Workers’ Compensation benefits.

However, it is important for you to begin the process of filing your Workers’ Compensation claim as quickly as possible. As soon as you have been injured, make sure that you receive proper medical care and attention for your injuries. Your injury must be treated by a doctor or physician who has been approved by your employer to treat injured workers. 

Make sure that the injury is reported to your supervisor immediately. If you fail to report the injury in a timely manner, you may not be eligible to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits.After you have received medical care, complete the paperwork that is necessary to make a Workers’ Compensation claim and submit it. 

In addition to having a workers’ compensation claim, if a third party who is not your employer or someone employed by your employer caused the injury, you also have a right to sue that person or company. A “third-party” action will allow you to recover pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses. If a co-worker or your employer caused the injury, you are only entitle to workers’ compensation benefits.

Unfortunately, disagreements over Workers’ Compensation arise far more frequently than workers know. That's why it can help to seek the counsel of an Atlanta Workers’ Compensation lawyer before you begin filing your claim.

Motorcyclists in Georgia are at a greater risk of collisions with motorists this summer, when more numbers of drivers and motorcyclists can be expected to share the road. Not only are motorcyclists dealing with a large population of adult drivers on their way to holidays distracted by their families and their holiday plans, but they are also sharing the highways with larger numbers of teen drivers. 

Summer is when the total number of teenage drivers on the road is higher, and the months of June, July and August see 40% more driving by those teen motorists. These are inexperienced drivers, who may fail to practice basic motorcycle safety behaviors, like looking out for motorcyclists at intersections. This accident illustrates how necessary it is for motorists to be extra cautious when approaching an intersection, and look out for motorcycles. Many young and teen drivers tend to think of summer as a long, extended weekend, and fail to prioritize traffic safety rules. 

Additionally, motorcyclists are also likely to be at great risk from drivers who are distracted. A motorcycle has a narrow frame, which makes it easy to miss. The risks of missing a motorcyclist are even greater if you're talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. Unfortunately, Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys expect to see more such reckless and distracted driving during the summer.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, most of those deaths occurred on Atlanta streets. Out of the 18 deaths, 11 occurred in Atlanta. At least some of those accidents also involved motorcycle deaths and pedestrian accidents resulting in deaths. In Atlanta, a student at Georgia Tech was killed in a motorcycle accident when his motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver. Another motorcycle accident was recorded in Lilburn over the weekend. 

Heavy traffic and motorists rushing to get to their destination during the holiday were responsible for many of the fatalities. In one accident, a 19-year-old motorist escaped injuries when his car flipped over. As he was standing outside the car checking out the damage, he was struck by a passing vehicle. He died at the scene.

Some deaths this holiday were linked to red light violations. A 16-year-old driver in Roopville allegedly ran a red light and struck another vehicle. Both the teen driver and the occupant of the other vehicle were killed. 

There has been no official word about the reason for the dramatic spike in auto accident fatalities and injuries this Memorial Day weekend over the last year. However, as Atlanta car accident attorneys, weare already concerned about the fact that the year’s peak travel season has only just begun. Hopefully, the Memorial Day death toll won't be an indicator of what we can expect over the next three months. To everyone out there - drive safely, do not drink and drive, and switch off your cell phone while driving.

The study conducted by researchers at Australian National University, studied 266 volunteers aged between 70 and 88. The volunteers were required to take a driving test, with a driving instructor and an occupational therapist in the vehicle.

17% of the drivers in the study made critical driving mistakes, like veering or failing to check in their blind spots. The risk of making critical driving errors increased with age. For instance, drivers between the age of 70 and 74 made an average of one driving error. Drivers between the age of 85 and 89 however made an average of four critical driving errors. Additionally, those drivers who had been involved in an accident over the past five years were also much more likely to make driving errors.

There were no differences between men and women in the number of critical driving errors made. The most frequent driving error was failing to look in blind spots, veering across lanes of traffic and failure to use signals while turning.

According to statistics by the US Census Bureau, elderly drivers above the age of 75 are involved in 7.5% of the total number of fatal car accidents that occurred in the US in 2008. They were also involved in 3.1% of all car accidents that year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that in 2009, the number of elder drivers above the age of 65 in the country spiked to 33 million people. Those numbers are expected to increase further, increasing concern about the crash risks of these drivers.

The legislation, called the Safe Roads Act, has been introduced by US Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman. The legislation would implement the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office, advising the establishment of a driver test database. The database would contain information about positive drug test results from commercial truck and bus drivers from around the country. 

The database can be used by trucking companies before they hire a prospective employee. Doctors, trucking companies and service agents would be required to furnish updated and accurate information about positive drug test results. With accurate, reliable and frequently updated information available, trucking companies would be able to make safe hiring decisions, thereby reducing the risk of trucking accidents involving one of their vehicles.

Currently, truck drivers with a drug use history are able to find employment because they conceal this information from their future employers. Often, trucking companies do not have access to the information they need to hire a safer driver. Both of these problems can be solved with the establishment of the database. 

Commercial motor vehicle drivers are at a high risk of drug use and abuse. The trucking industry has always denied that there's a problem with truck drivers who are able to find jobs at trucking companies even with a prior history of drug use. However, Atlanta truck accident attorneys have been aware for a while that the current system is rife with loopholes that fail to keep such drivers out of the system.

Many accidents that Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers come across occur because drivers fail to look out for motorcyclists, especially when they are making lane changes or entering thoroughfares. Look especially closely for motorcyclists in your mirrors during these times. Here are some basic tips for motorists.

When you are sharing the road with a motorcycle, do not try to pass the motorcycle in the same lane.

Don't follow too close to a motorcycle in the front. Allow at least 4 seconds following distance. Remember that a motorcycle can come to a stop much quicker than your car can. In a pinch, you could end up hitting the motorcycle in front, causing serious injuries to that person.

Look extra carefully for motorcyclists before you open your car door next to traffic. 

Look carefully for motorcycles in your blind spots

Look out for motorcycles, and check their possible speed before you make a turn. 

Lane sharing is not safe. Always try and allow motorcycles a full-lane width.

Remember that motorcycles may seem like they are traveling much faster than they actually are.

Motorists can do their part to help reduce the numbers of people being killed in motorcycle accidents every year.

The young woman had been driving a Toyota Safari, which was struck by an Infiniti. The woman had a green light at an intersection, when the Infiniti driver ran a red light and broadsided the Toyota. The Toyota driver suffered serious injuries, and was rushed to the hospital. However, she died two days later.

The Infiniti driver now faces misdemeanor charges. However, the parents of the young woman want felony vehicular homicide charges to be brought against the man. Vehicular homicide charges can only brought in cases where the motorist was driving under the influence, was driving at excessive speeds or was on the run from police. This particular accident doesn't seem to meet any of those criteria, and therefore, it isn't very likely that felony charges will be filed here.

Every accident that ends in a death is a tragedy, especially when it is a fatality that is so preventable. Unfortunately, as Atlanta car accident attorneys, we often see that everything which could be done to prevent these accidents has not been done. Although Georgia's system of red light cameras is helpful in preventing these types of accidents, it has been the target of plenty of criticism and scrutiny. This is in spite of the fact that there are studies to indicate that red light camera systems reduce the incidence of red light violations, and prevent the devastating accidents that result from these violations. 

These accidents are devastating because they involve a car running a red light and broad siding, or crashing into the side of another car. The kind of side-impact injuries that result from these accidents are often severely injurious or fatal.