Georgia Personal Injury Law Blog : Atlanta Georgia Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Jason R. Schultz Law Firm : Wrongful Death, Malpractice, Car Accidents : Georgia

Political gridlock in the nation’s capital has led to thousands of Department of Transportation employees being furloughed without pay, and has cut off essential funding to state highway and auto safety programs. As an accident lawyer in Atlanta, I am very concerned at how long this impasse will continue, and how badly it will affect motorist and trucking safety in Georgia.

On Sunday, the DOT issued a statement saying that it would be furloughing up to 2000 workers belonging to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The stalemate also affects highway funds that the federal administration provides to states to conduct safety programs.

The deadlock began when Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning blocked a piece of legislation that would've extended highway programs and unemployment benefits to transportation workers. It is likely that this deadlock will soon be resolved, but states around the country are already sending out distress signals about their fears over slashed highway safety funds. According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, if the funding cuts go on past the middle of this week, it will impact trucking safety. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is comprised of police officers who are specialized in trucking enforcement. This sub agency is funded in part by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. With funding now hanging in a state of limbo, several states will be impacted adversely. Smaller states will bear the brunt of the blocked federal funding.

Atlanta accident lawyers will also be concerned about motorcycle safety programs, drunk driving crash prevention measures and efforts against distracted driving, which will now be impacted by the funding standoff.

It's unfortunate that political bickering is threatening the safety of ordinary Americans.  It is my hope that this crisis is resolved soon and funding for essential safety programs is resumed quickly.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Keeping their premises safe is not something even the famous can neglect. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper is being named in a lawsuit filed by a New York interior designer, who claims that she fell through a hole in the floor of his new home.

The designer, Killeen O’Brien, says the accident occurred in the anchor’s newly purchased house, which used to be a fire house. The fireman’s pole had been removed, but the hole remained uncovered. O’Brien says she fell though the hole, a fall of close to 17 feet. She is naming Cooper, as well as Cary Tamarkin, who is the developer of the property, in the lawsuit.

A 17 feet fall is no laughing matter. Injuries sustained in a fall this high can be serious, or as O’ Brien’s lawsuit says, even fatal. Injuries in such falls range from broken bones, head/brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and even death. 

You don’t expect to trip, slip and fall in someone else’s property. Property owners are required to keep the premises safe and well maintained to prevent injuries and accidents. Keeping a property safe doesn’t mean that a visitor or guest is not expected to exercise reasonable care for themselves on the premises. However, it does mean that the property owner must take reasonable care to safeguard the property.

Here are a few things you can do to avoid coming up against an Atlanta premises liability lawyer.

• Make sure that walking surfaces are slip resistant and free of obstructions. For instance, shopping aisles must be from free of cartons and boxes lying unattended on the floor.
• Make sure that walking surfaces are free of grease and water spills. If you’re a retailer, must make sure than any accidental spills are cleaned up as quickly as possible.
• Provide firm and strong handrails and guardrails for support.
•  Waking areas must be well illuminated
• Stairways must be well it.
• Care must be taken to stack merchandise safely to avoid these falling on top of shoppers.
• Snow and ice must be removed from the steps and front of buildings or commercial premises.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

A few weeks ago Atlanta motorists were struggling with relatively rare weather conditions, as several inches of snow fell on much of Atlanta and northern Georgia. Those who aren’t prepared for driving on slick, snow covered streets must exercise extra caution.

One woman was killed in North Atlanta on interstate 75 when her car slid off the slippery roads. Icy roads have also been blamed for a multi vehicle accident involving 29 cars near Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. Three people were injured in that crash.

Department of Transportation officials encourage people not to go out, unless it is absolutely necessary. Dozens of flights in and out of Atlanta were cancelled, and schools were shut down for several days. The snow fall here is nothing compared to the record breaking blizzard that raged through Washington, New Jersey and other parts of the country during Christmas time and left hundreds of accidents in its wake. But for those who are accustomed to sunny skies and clear visibility, these conditions can be intimidating.

As an Atlanta car accident lawyer, I would advise motorists to take special care while navigating snow covered streets.

• Avoid driving like transportation officials have advised, unless it’s an emergency, or absolutely essential. Many Altantans don’t have much experience driving on snow-covered streets, and a freak snow storm is not the right time to learn how to drive in bad weather.
• If you absolutely have to drive, drive at slow speeds.
• Remember that any potholes on the road will be covered by snow.
• Before you drive, check your tire pressure. The pressure can drop in freezing weather. Also check the tire tread depth.
• Clear all ice and snow from your vehicle, including car windows and roof.  
• This will allow you to see clearly.
• Keep sufficient distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you.
• If you feel your car is skidding, don’t slam on the brakes or step on the gas pedal in panic. Instead, pump your brakes, take your foot off the accelerator and steer till you regain control.
• Keep your headlights on.  This will not only allow you to see the roads, but will allow other motorists to see your car.
• Make sure you’re updated on weather predictions to avoid getting caught in a possibly dangerous situation.

Jason Schultz is an Atlanta Personal Injury and Wrongful Death attorney helping victims of auto and truck accidents in the metro Atlanta area receive compensation for serious injuries.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks