Atlanta personal injury

Published on: June 28, 2013

Motorcycle Fatalities Are On the Rise Across the Nation

While riding a motorcycle is fun, being involved in an accident can result in serious injuries or death.

State by state, the number of bikers meeting their death on the road is on the rise. In fact, one state, Indiana, recently completed a comprehensive survey of the number of motorcycle accidents in 2012.

In 2011, 118 were killed on the road. In 2012, that number was 152 – a cause for concern for traffic safety officials in Indiana, but also a bellwether for other states. Across the nation the death toll for bikers was 2,850 in 2011 and 2,935 in 2012.

Published on: May 29, 2013

Each year, at least half a million people are involved in big rig accidents

By Stephen M. Ozcomert

Being involved in an accident with a big rig can happen on any major road.

We read about motorists being involved in an accident with a semi tractor trailer, or some other large commercial trucking unit, but rarely do we put that one incident into perspective. Across the nation, there are over 500,000 people that tangle with big rigs every year. The outcome is never good and those that survive typically have catastrophic injuries that affect the rest of their lives. It is rare that someone walks away from a big rig wreck unharmed.

What causes so many accidents with 18-wheelers? There are a number of common causes, and some of them may shock you. The number one reason that truckers get involved in an accident is drug use. Recent figures indicate that roughly 26 percent of truckers in an accident are taking prescription or street drugs. It goes without saying that if someone is driving under the influence of drugs, it can impair their thinking, judgment and reaction time.

Published on: May 13, 2013

Police chase results in dead driver

By Stephen M. Ozcomert

A man was fatally shot to death by a state trooper during a chase.

In March of 2010, a 24-year-old father of three became involved in a high speed chase with police, and the pursuit took to a nearby highway. The man was being pursued in relation to a misdemeanor probation warrant, and the two troopers in pursuit called for backup, spikes and a road block along the route the man was fleeing.

While one trooper was chasing the man’s Pontiac Grand Am, the second trooper positioned himself on an overpass under which the fleeing man would pass. The trooper asked his commanding officer if he had permission to open fire on the car. According to the police records of this event, the commanding officer ordered the trooper on the overpass with a rifle to stand down. He felt there was no point in using a weapon to stop the man, as he was heading for spikes and a road block.

Published on: April 24, 2013

Atlanta, Georgia – Deadly Place To Ride Motorcycles

By Stephen M. Ozcomert

Riding a motorcycle is dangerous – period. However, some locations are worse than others for wrecks.

It’s depressing to discover that there are roughly 4,800 bikers killed each year and approximately 88,000 injured while riding that live to tell about it. And yet, bikers still hit the road in the hopes that they will not become one of those numbers. They may not. However, the fact is that the number of bikers maimed and killed is completely skewed when considering other traffic accidents.

The fact is that motorcycle riders are five times more likely to end up dead in a bike wreck that those in a passenger vehicle, which makes sense, since the vehicle has more protection going for it. While wearing a helmet does help save lives, it is still not the be-all end-all, or magic bullet to avoid death or serious injury. Riding in certain locations is also something a biker needs to keep in mind. For instance you might want to take extra care or avoid riding your bike in West Palm Beach, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, New Orleans, Louisiana, Baltimore, Maryland, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Published on: April 9, 2013

An Atlanta Wrongful Death Suit Settles Out of Court, but Legal Issues Remain

By Stephen M. Ozcomert

Out-of-court settlements are good for the plaintiff. They do not mean there was not a case in the first instance.

This particular case captured national media headlines when a former patient of Narconon of Georgia died while in treatment. Patrick Desmond met his death in 2009 as a result of a fatal mix of opiates and booze, while a patient at the Church of Scientology run Norcross drug treatment center.

The long and short of this case was that the treatment facility misrepresented itself as being a residential treatment center that offered in-patient care. In truth, they had no license to offer such services. Desmond was sentenced to six months in such a facility by a court in Florida.

Published on: March 29, 2013

Widow sues police department for husband’s wrongful death

By Stephen M. Ozcomert

Domestic violence calls are often deadly. This one was no exception.

This story began when the wife of the deceased called the local police station to report domestic violence. The officer dispatched to the scene was greeted on his arrival by a knife wielding man. In fear of his life, the officer fired his service revolver. That is what the incident report reflected. What eyewitnesses stated apparently was something altogether different.

The 44-year-old man’s family contacted a personal injury lawyer in regard to filing a wrongful death lawsuit. The attorney handling the case indicated there were many discrepancies in statements and in order to get a much clearer picture of what went on that fatal night, they would be doing an in depth investigation. It is speculated that the man’s death was avoidable.

Published on: March 18, 2013

Biker killed in accident with senior

By Stephen M. Ozcomert

Motorcycles are often involved in accidents with passenger vehicles. This case is no exception to the rule that drivers do not see bikers.

Minor bike/car accidents are exceedingly rare, largely because being on a motorcycle means being exposed to everything coming at you. If you are ejected, there is no such thing as a soft landing. If you are hit, there is no such thing as a minor injury.

Most injuries resulting from a collision between a biker and passenger vehicle result in life threatening, life-altering injuries or death. For this reason, if you survive an accident like this, you will need an Atlanta personal injury lawyer to get you the maximum compensation possible. There is no other way to pay for your medical expenses. If you do not live to walk away from the accident and make a recovery, an Atlanta injury lawyer will work with your family to recover fair and full compensation, by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.