Atlanta premise liability

Published on: July 3, 2011

Atlanta Seniors at Higher Risk of Injury in Slip and Fall Accidents

Seniors in Atlanta are at a high risk of suffering serious injuries in a slip and fall accident because of their age, gait, vision problems and a number of other factors.A new study conducted in the UK focuses on how a senior’s direction of gaze and walking style affects his risk of a fall accident.

The research is being funded by the Age UK, and is probing the link between vision and a slip and fall accident.Researchers are specifically looking at the theory that a person’s risk of a fall accident increases when he is looking straight ahead, and not down at obstacles that are in front of him.According to the research, older adults who look directly ahead at obstacles in the distance may be at a higher risk of a fall accident than those who look at obstacles in front of them.

Age UK is planning more studies into the prevention of fall accidents involving the elderly.Soon, the group will initiate a new study involving people over the age of 65.Researchers are currently looking for subjects who will participate in this new research.The research will involve a four-hour experiment during which the subjects must walk over a 7 m walkway.The participants will be required to take precise steps on a target marked on the road, as well as over a series of marked obstacles.While they walk, a number of variables will measured, including the participants’ eye and body movements.Saliva samples will be tested.Participants will also be surveyed about their experiences while walking.Through this study, the researchers hope to determine safer ways of walking for senior adults.

Published on: June 7, 2011

Atlanta Hotel Window Safety in Question after Fatal Fall Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Window safety at an Atlanta hotel, which was the scene of a horrific fall accident that killed a young woman, is now under scrutiny.Questions are being asked about how the hotel’s windows failed to prevent an accident caused by “horseplay” which resulted in the wrongful death of one woman and serious injury to another woman. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I would thoroughly investigate the manner of installation of the windows, the design of the windows and window frame as well as any prior complaints or problems with the windows.

The victim, Lashawna Threatt and her friend were in the room on the 10th floor of the W Hotel in Atlanta.They were part of a group that was celebrating Threatt’s 30th birthday.According to the friend, Threatt and her friend were play fighting in the room when they suddenly crashed through the window.The two landed on a sunroof adjoining the hotel, and while the friend suffered injuries in the accident, Threatt died as a result of her injuries.She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Questions are being asked about how the two women could simply fly through a hotel window while they were playing.At this point in time, police are not investigating the safety of the hotel’s windows.They are calling this an accident.A criminal investigation is also underway.There are also indications that the family of the victims is planning a lawsuit against the hotel.

Published on: April 1, 2011

No Injuries Reported in Atlanta area Nursing Home Roof Collapse

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

More than 100 residents of a nursing home in Gwinnett County, Georgia were moved to another facility last week, after the roof of their nursing home collapsed.Fortunately, the 109 residents did not suffer injuries during the collapse. As an Atlanta injury lawyer, I have seen a number of roof collapses that did not turn out nearly as well. When it comes to nursing homes, we are generally more focused on nursing home abuse issues.

According to news reports, the collapse occurred around 10 AM on Thursday at the Golden Living Center at 213 Scenic Highway in Lawrenceville.According to facility staff, workers were in the process of replacing the entire roof of the building when the collapse occurred.Apparently, the workers were engaged in removing and replacing roofing materials at the time of the collapse.The collapse occurred in the dining area of the facility.

Fortunately, none of the residents were in the dining area during the collapse.However, there could have been serious injuries if the collapse had occurred later in the day.Just a short while after the collapse, the residents were scheduled to spend some time in the dining area.The residents have now been shifted to other living facilities.

Published on: January 5, 2011

Beware of Atlanta Slip and Fall Accidents This Winter

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Slip and fall accidents cause significant and permanent personal injuries to individuals. Retailers and other property owners have a responsibility to keep their premises safe for their visitors. Likewise, visitors have a responsibility not to walk in areas that are clearly hazardous. The recent winter weather has greatly increased the risk of slip and fall accidents. The initial snow freezes and turns to ice. Likewise, we see a great deal of black ice in the winter in Georgia. Black ice is a thin layer of ice that forms on top of pavement. Unfortunately, retailers are often not very good at identifying and removing black ice that is not readily visible to visitors. The result is a significant number of slip and fall accidents that could be prevented.

Some parts of Georgia, like Haralson County, have recorded a 2-inch accumulation of snow, and in some of these areas, it has been the first such recorded heavy snowfall in years. For instance, in Haralson County, it has been the first such snowfall recorded in more than 129 years. While the snow has meant a picture-perfect Christmas to Georgia residents, it is also important to know that these beautiful snowy conditions can contribute to a slip and fall hazard.

You can avoid many of these accident hazards, simply by wearing sensible footwear during such weather. Put away your stilettos and party shoes, and wear winter shoes or boots to avoid a fall. You can also use clamp-on accessories that can offer better grip to prevent a fall. Be especially careful when you step out of the main door every morning, and look out for treacherous ice. Most of the fall accidents during this weather occur because people aren’t used to such icy conditions, and forget that they need to take special precautions when they walk in such weather.

Published on: July 1, 2009

Search Efforts Continue after Atlanta Parking Deck Collapse

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Two days after a fourth level parking deck in Atlanta collapsed, damaging several cars, and resulting in, miraculously enough no injuries, rescue personnel were still not willing to take chances. Rescue efforts continued through Tuesday as Fire and Rescue personnel used cranes, dogs and thermal cameras to comb through the debris to search for any injured persons who could be trapped inside.

So far, there have been no reports of missing people, and the extent of the damage seems to have been restricted to the at least 38 vehicles that were damaged in the collapse. The deck in Midtown district collapsed at around noon on Monday.What caused the sudden collapse is still largely unclear.However, the company that acted as a general contractor and oversaw the construction of the deck was the same one that has been involved in another high profile, but far more serious accident last year.

As we have discussed in this blog earlier this year, the company Hardin Construction Company is the same company that was involved in the construction of the pedestrian walkway at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in December last year. Yes, the very same walkway that collapsed while concrete was being poured, leading to at least eight people with injuries and one contractor dead.Earlier this month, in fact, Hardin was fined for its role in that collapse. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company for failure to see that the towers were properly braced, fining it $6,300.

Published on: January 23, 2009

Atlanta Residents Continue to be in Danger of Escalator Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Even after new safety standards were introduced and added to building codes in the country, children in Atlanta continue to be in danger of escalator injuries caused when their shoes or clothing get snagged in the gaps at the sides of the escalator.

A report last month highlights some of the most dangerous areas in Atlanta that have escalators concealing a high risk for accidents and injuries to children.These include Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (“MARTA”), as well as numerous malls where a number of these injuries occur every week. It’s not just children who have been at risk for injuries caused by escalators.Teenagers and adults have had their shoes and clothing snagged in the gaps.People have been dragged down when the edges of their coats were caught in these gaps, ending in a dislocation of the shoulder, and in other cases, have lost their balance and fallen over. Toes and feet have been badly mangled when their shoes have been caught in these gaps.

Many of these accidents have involved children’s shoes, especially Crocs. The problem has been severe enough for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to even warn about these, and confirm that these shoes had been worn by an overwhelming majority of people involved in escalator accidents.The shoes now come with a safety tag warning for such injuries.