When the Georgia summer rolls around, temperatures in large facilities can soar, putting workers at risk for suffering heat stress and illness. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will issue citations to employers who do not properly protect their employees against heat-related illnesses. In some cases, a fine could be as high as $70,000.
GA child fatality statistics resulting from car accidents
A study covering the period of 2010 to 2014 and conducted by researchers at Harvard University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that Georgia was the fifth in the nation for the most childhood deaths from crashes on the state's roadways. The report indicates that 130 children under the age of 15 died because of motor vehicle accidents in the state during that period.
New device can check phones for texting, other actions
Law enforcement in Georgia will be better able to determine whether an accident was caused by a driver using a cellphone phone if the state adopts a new device called the textalyzer. Named because it is modeled on the Breathalyzer test, the textalyzer connects to a phone. With the tap of a button, the last activities will be displayed. The textalyzer can detect taps, swipes, open apps, and determine whether the use of the phone was hands-free. However, civil rights advocates have expressed concern that the device might violate a person's privacy.
PTSD and lawsuits related to car accidents
Georgia residents who have been injured in a car accident caused by another motorist might also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. It is possible to file a lawsuit that asks for compensation for their physical injuries as well as the PTSD, but there may be some additional challenges involved in proving the PTSD and its relationship to the accident.
How distracted driving impacts everyone
Georgia residents may be accustomed to seeing drivers on their cell phones as they pass by. Although using social media or sending text messages may seem normal these days, it is dangerous to do so while driving. The number of traffic fatalities increased from 2014 to 2015, which reversed a trend dating back to 2007. In 2016, it is believed that there were more traffic deaths than any other year since 2008.
Determining fault in failure to brake accidents
Numerous Georgia car crashes are the result of someone failing to brake or braking too late. There are several reasons why a motorist may not be able to stop in time to avoid an accident. Some of the most common are human errors, such as failing to pay attention to what the driver in front is doing or following another vehicle too closely so that there is not enough time to stop even if the brakes are applied.
3 steps to take after a bus accident
Accidents involving public transportation can result in serious consequences. In 2016, there were multiple accidents involving MARTA, including a fatal crash in October. Public transportation is a convenient way to get to work, go to the store or visit a friend, but bus accidents can have particularly tragic consequences because of the weight and size of busses and the number of passengers.
Autonomous cars may cause claim trends to change
Georgia drivers who have heard about some of the autonomous vehicle prototypes that have hit the roadways may be interested to learn that they could change the type of claims that get filed. Because these autonomous vehicles have the ability to take driver error out of the equation, claims may shift from personal injury lawsuits to product liability claims.
Gwinnett County Pedestrian Accident
In late January, a Gwinnett County Police Officer was attempting to pass another vehicle when he, apparently, lost control of his patrol car, jumped a curb and hit two teenagers. These teens were pedestrians walking along the sidewalk.
What to do in a hit-and-run accident in Georgia
Do you know what to do if you get in a hit-and-run accident? The steps you need to take are similar to those for any other type of motor vehicle accident, so if you know those, then you are already mostly prepared. There are only a few differences you must be aware of to raise your chances of receiving the best financial outcome possible.
