Georgia Injury Law Blog

Published on: October 13, 2026

Amusement Park Rides Result in Death and Brain Injuries

Tragedy occurred at Six Flags over Georgia on October 12, when one patron died and several others were injured after a man was ejected from a roller coaster. Cobb County police identified the man as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was riding Six Flags’ Goliath coaster when he was ejected over the top of the hill near the end of the ride, striking other patrons during his fall. CBS reported that one witness, Connor Thompson, was standing in line for the Goliath ride, and said it looked as if the restraint on the seat was unlatched. This same ride was the site of another death in 2006, in which a man had a heart attack on the coaster.

Given the possibility for severe injuries and even fatalities, it is surprising that there is no federal oversight of amusement park rides. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission investigates accidents from machinery, but ever since 1981, Congress ruled that amusement and water parks are exempted from this regulation as long as the rides are “permanently fixed to a site,” such as rides at Six Flags theme parks. The amusement park industry is represented by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, or IAAPA, which spends about $600,000 annually to lobby against federal regulations. These efforts have been successful: legislation has been proposed to restore this oversight since 2001, but as of 2026 nothing has changed. IAAPA conducts their own safety survey, but completing the survey is optional, with only 177 of 436 invited parks participating in 2019.

This lack of oversight results in injured patrons seeking redress through individual lawsuits, rather than broad changes occurring in the industry. For example, another Six Flags location, Magic Mountain in California, has been the site of more than 100 brain injuries after patrons rode the X2 coaster. According to CNN’s analysis of medical records and court filings, patrons have suffered from brain injuries connected to this ride for two decades, resulting in at least two deaths.

Published on: October 12, 2026

Campus Sexual Assault and Violence

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

College provides students learning experiences that go far beyond education. For many students, this is the first time they live away from home and learn to be adults. It is also a time of increased risk as they build new relationships, socialize with new groups of people and join new activities. Unfortunately, some students also experience sexual assaults. These assaults often stem from student activities involving alcohol on campus, which is especially seen with sororities and fraternities. In addition, sexual assaults also arise from the failure of colleges and universities to have appropriate safeguards in place for their students.

According to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, sexual violence is not a rare or isolated problem on college campuses. In fact, the first few months at college are when the risk is especially high for students.

The 2015 Campus Climate Survey found that 11.7% of undergraduate students experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent. The 2019 Campus Climate Survey conducted by the Association of American Universities found that of the schools that participated in both the 2015 and the 2019 Surveys, that number had increased to 13% In 60% of reports of rape involving college-age victims (17 – 24) the perpetrator was known to the victim.

Published on: October 9, 2026

HHS Office of Inspector General Investigation Finds Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Drugs to Treat Dementia Residents in Nursing Homes

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General published a report in March 2026 of a review that highlighted the inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes. Of course, nursing home abuse is a significant issue in the United States and results in a significant number of personal injury lawsuits each year.

It has long been a concern that the sedative effect of antipsychotics may be being used by nursing home staff to control residents’ behavior. This is especially concerning because antipsychotic drugs are not approved by the FDA to treat patients with dementia. In fact, the FDA has imposed a black box warning, the strongest warning, on the use of antipsychotic drugs by elderly patients with dementia. Accordingly, the use of these medications is very often a sign of negligent care and treatment by the nursing home staff. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has put in place restrictions on the use of drugs in nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid, including that residents must be “free from chemical restraints imposed for the purposes of staff convenience.” Additionally, nursing homes must have a documented clinical rational for administering a medication based on the resident’s condition and is consistent with the manufacturer’s recommendations and/or clinical practice guidelines.

The OIG’s review found that nursing homes gave antipsychotic drugs to residents with dementia to manage their behavior for the benefit of staff, even when this behavior posed no risk to themselves or others. Medical directors failed to prevent this inappropriate use of such drugs with one nursing home psychiatrist admitting that “[the] medications are more [for the] benefit of [the] staff.” The review also found that nursing home pharmacists failed to identify medical concerns and did not recommend dosage reductions despite CMS requirements for monthly review of residents’ medication regimens. The failure of a pharmacist to identify these issues may also be found to be negligent conduct. Further, the review found that inadequate policies and procedures undermined safeguards that were meant to protect residents from inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs.

Published on: September 30, 2026

Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents for Seniors

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The US population is aging: between 1980 and 2022, the median age increased from 30.0 to 38.9. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, there are increasingly more seniors when compared with the general population. This increase brings with it the increased potential for fall risks in public spaces. According to the CDC, falls were the leading cause of injury death for those 65 and older, and emergency departments reported about 4.5 million visits from seniors after a fall. While often overlooked, improving protections against fall is an important step in preventing slip and fall accidents, especially in seniors for whom such injuries can be debilitating.

The National Council on Aging created a questionnaire for seniors to check their risk of potential falls. It includes some of the following questions:

Have you fallen in the past year?

Published on: September 18, 2026

Distractions Cause Accidents in Parking Lots

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

When most people envision a motor vehicle accident, they imagine it occurring on a roadway. However, the National Safety Council found that 1 in every 5 crashes occurs in a parking lot or parking garage. In fact, at least 60,000 people are injured and about 500 people die annually in parking lot crashes. Many of these accidents involve distracted motorists. The National Safety Council says that a focus on avoiding distractions in these areas as well as technology that can prevent such crashes could help reduce those accident numbers.

Parking lot accidents often two or more motor vehicles, but they can also involve a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. The latter are very common, and get a lot of attention because the pedestrians in these cases may suffer serious injuries as a result of these accidents. According to a public opinion poll, 66 percent of motorists admit that they use their phone calls for various activities while driving in a parking lot. In addition, respondents said they would use the following programs while driving in a parking lot: GPS (63 percent), texting (56 percent), social media (52 percent), email (50 percent), or even take photos or watch videos (49 percent). The poll found teenagers slightly more likely to do personal grooming while driving, while adults were slightly more likely to talk on the phone.

Why do motorists use distracting devices in parking lots? Unfortunately, many motorists have a false sense of security while driving through a parking lot. Several things contribute, including lower speeds and less moving traffic. However, pedestrians are even more present in parking lots than they are on roadways, including child pedestrians. The risk of a crash increases during busy shopping times and during the holidays. The risks are compounded by the fact that holiday shoppers are usually in a hurry to back out or get home.

Published on: August 27, 2026

Dangers of Mechanical Failure in Motor Vehicles

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Mechanical failures in trucks and other motor vehicles can cause catastrophic accidents and injure vehicle occupants, as well as others at the scene. Just such an accident occurred August 25, 2026, when a dump truck suddenly lost power. The driver was unable to brake or steer, causing him to ram the vehicle into a Super H gas station in Bethlehem, Georgia. A store clerk inside the store was injured and taken to the hospital.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), only about 2% of total crashes in the US are the direct result of a mechanical failure. This statistic does not mean that only 2% of crashes involve mechanical failure; rather, this statistic points to crashes in which the “critical reason” for the crash was mechanical failure. This does not include cases in which mechanical failure led to a driver overcorrecting, slamming on brakes, or swerving in response to a sudden issue with the vehicle. It can also be difficult to attribute 100% of fault in a crash to mechanical failure. Fault in these cases must be determined by post-crash investigation, and this can contradict police reports and witness statements that tend to focus on human error. There are also cases in which the driver ignored warning signs, such as low tire tread or dashboard warning lights, until it was too late.

Brake system failure represents 22% of accidents caused by mechanical failure, by far the most common cause of these crashes. Brake failures are often caused by worn brake pads, corrosion, or a leak in the brake line. These issues worsen over time, and can be easily missed without consistent vehicle checks with a mechanic. Other mechanical issues include tire blowouts or tread separation, steering system malfunctions, suspension system defects, and transmission failures.

Published on: August 13, 2026

How Safe is Your Child’s School Bus?

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As of August 7, public schools were back in session across all Georgia districts. For many students, back to school means riding the school bus, and parents rely on bus drivers to be safe custodians of their children. Unfortunately, accidents can occur. Since school started back in Dougherty County, there have been three accidents involving school buses, although no injuries have been reported. This was not the case in Walker County, where five children were sent to the hospital after a bus accident on September 9, 2025. In this case, the driver went off the road while navigating a curve and struck a tree. Meanwhile, earlier today a Barrow County school bus partially overturned while 34 students were inside, and six students were taken to a hospital. Given these incidents, how safe is it for students to use school-related transportation?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks school transportation related crashes, and puts these stories into perspective. There were 358,460 fatal motor vehicle crashes from 2015 to 2024. Of these, only .3% involved school transportation, with 1069 people killed in school bus accidents, or an average of 107 per year. Of these fatalities, 19% were school age children aged 18 or younger. By comparison, more school-aged children were killed during the same time period as pedestrians, and millions of children ride school buses safely every year. School buses are also designed with safety in mind, which distributes crash forces differently and makes it much less likely to be injured on a school bus than in a passenger car.

Of course, no parent wants their child to be part of that statistic. While some accidents are not avoidable, there are certain tips to help keep children safe while using school transportation. The most dangerous time for children using school transit is not while riding the bus, but while entering or exiting. Parents should teach their children the following rules:

Published on: August 7, 2026

Protect Your Loved Ones from Elder Abuse

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

On Tybee Island, a family is searching for answers after their loved one died in the care of The Rosewood nursing home. Frederick Dillard was a 61-year-old quadriplegic at the time of his death, when he was found half hanging off his bed with his elbow wedged into a half side rail. According to a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) report, he had not been checked on by staff in about four hours. This facility had been previously investigated by local news in 2025, and in response the facility changed their name from Oceanside Care Center to The Rosewood. Such strategies are sometimes employed by long-term residential care facilities following bad press or investigations, making it harder for families to intelligently select a safe nursing facility for their loved ones. Families are encouraged to use the online Medicare search tool to compare facilities, which tracks facilities regardless of whether or how frequently they change their names.

The National Center on Elder Abuse tracks national statistics for elder abuse and neglect. In 2023, they found that US nursing homes were fined $153 million for health violations, which amounts to about $10,000 per facility nationwide. About 10% of Americans 60 or older reported abuse or neglect while living at home, while 16% of residents in long-term care facilities reported abuse. Those with dementia are particularly at risk, with 1 in 2 people with dementia experiencing abuse. One of the causes for abuse is understaffing, which has worsened in recent years, as residents received 3.77 hours of daily care in 2023, down from 4.13 hours of daily care in 2015. This problem is particularly noted at for-profit private nursing homes, which comprise about 69% of nursing homes in the US. In order to maximize profits, for-profit homes are more prone to understaffing.

Signs that a loved one is experiencing elder abuse are diverse. In particular, families should watch out for the following:

Published on: July 24, 2026

Pedestrian Fatalities Still High After Covid

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

In so many areas of American life, there is a before the pandemic and after the pandemic. One of these areas, unfortunately, concerns pedestrian deaths. During and after the pandemic, pedestrian deaths spiked, with 7,485 deaths in 2021, the highest number in 40 years. Thankfully, pedestrian deaths are on the decline. In 2025, deaths per 100,000 population dropped below 2.0 for the first time since the pandemic with a 7% decrease from 2024. Unfortunately, this is still 5% higher than pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 6,732 pedestrians killed by motor vehicles. In addition to the total numbers of fatalities, State Highway Safety Offices’ data was analyzed by Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), and they discovered the following insights about pedestrian accidents and deaths.

More than 1,100 people (15% of all pedestrian deaths) died on freeways and interstates, which aren’t designed for people walking. This number includes people not normally considered pedestrians, such as first responders and tow truck drivers. Many people are also injured or killed when exiting vehicles after an accident or car breakdown. This highlights the need to stay in your vehicle after an accident until first responders arrive, and not to leave the vehicle unless necessary.

SUVs and pickups account for more than half of pedestrian fatalities. In 2024, 50.4% of pedestrian fatalities were related to light trucks, which includes pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans, whereas 40.6% were caused by passenger cars. As more Americans drive large vehicles, pedestrian fatalities are likely to continue rising, even as deaths for auto passengers decline.

Published on: July 15, 2026

Protect Yourself Against Road Rage

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

While driving down the highway, you don’t expect to be the victim of gun violence, but that’s exactly what happened to a man in Troup County on July 14. He was driving on I-85 South near Hogansville when a van in front cut him off. He blew the horn and proceeded to use the Hogansville exit when he was followed and then shot. One of the bullets went through his car and pierced his leg. Police pursued the suspect who was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and discharging a firearm from a moving vehicle. The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Such extreme occurrences are rare, but aggressive driving and road rage are not. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration distinguishes between aggressive driving and road rage. Aggressive driving is a traffic offense, and includes actions such as tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, running redlights, changing lanes without signaling, and speeding in heavy traffic. Road rage, on the other hand, is a criminal charge that includes rude hand gestures, forcing another car off the road, bumping another vehicle, brake checking or flashing lights to intimidate other drivers, confronting other drivers, and physical assault, including physical assault with a weapon. One type of road rage, gun violence in vehicles, has gone up since 2020. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit that measures injuries from gun violence in vehicles, shows that injuries and fatalities rose after 2020, peaking in 2022 with 148 people killed and 421 injured.

Exact statistics of road rage can be difficult to determine, as states measure it differently or apply instances of road rage to other criminal categories. As of July 2026, only ten states have laws directly penalizing road rage. In Georgia for instance, there is no law specifically against road rage, so prosecutors apply laws against aggravated assault, terroristic threats, reckless conduct, criminal damage to property, and weapons offenses. However, the Department of Transportation does track fatal crashes caused by poor driving. While Georgia is not one of the top states, the city of Macon, Georgia was cited in 2021 for being the top fourth city in the U.S. for these fatalities, with 10.2 fatal crashes per 100K people. This city’s rate of aggressive driving is also double the national average.