Multi-Car Crashes – Causes and Issues of Liability
Car crashes that involve only two vehicles are often easier to evaluate in terms of determining who was at fault. However, when three or more vehicles are involved in a traffic accident, assessing liability can become a much more complex exercise. In addition, multi-car wrecks often involve a significant amount of damage spread out among…
Read MoreJeffrey R. Harris and Stephen G. Lowry Recognized as “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend
Harris Lowry Manton, LLP is pleased to announce that partners Jeffrey R. Harris and Stephen G. Lowry have been honored as “Legal Elite” by Georgia Trend. Mr. Harris and Mr. Lowry were recognized for their work in the areas of General Practice/Trial Law and Personal Injury/Workers’ Compensation. This is the second consecutive year that both…
Read MoreWhat Are the Levels of Spinal Cord Injury?
The spinal cord is the information superhighway of your body. It carries messages to and from the brain, telling your body how and when to function. When people hear the words “spinal injury,” their first thoughts typically go to the worst-case scenario—wheelchair-bound and/or complete paralysis. However, there are several levels of spinal cord injuries (SCI),…
Read MoreOSHA Imposed the Maximum Penalty in Death of “Walking Dead” Stuntman John Bernecker
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposed a fine of $12,675, the maximum amount allowable under federal law, to Stalwart Films LLC, for “failure to provide adequate protection from fall hazards.” On July 12, 2017, veteran stuntman John Bernecker fell 20 feet onto a concrete floor while filming…
Read MoreWinter Weather in Georgia: Driving Tips for Icy Roads
Although weather in the south is typically moderate, ice and snow do happen. And when it happens out of the blue, it seems chaos takes over on the highways. Many drivers are caught unprepared for winter storms. The weather is getting colder, so it is a good time to talk about winter and driving. The…
Read MoreEmory University and Grady Memorial Hospital to Study Atlanta Car Accidents
More than 1,000 Georgians die in auto accidents every year. In an effort to reduce these fatalities, the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory University, Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, and the University of Michigan are teaming up on a five-year project. Working with a $4 million grant from the National Highway of Traffic Safety…
Read MoreTruck Causes 11-Car Collision on Georgia Parkway
A tractor-trailer failed to stop at a red light on Queen City Parkway in Gainesville, GA and caused an 11-car chain reaction crash, sending nine people to the hospital with injuries. The highway was closed for hours after the accident, which occurred while the area was under a dense fog advisory. As of now we…
Read MoreHave a Safe and Happy Holiday. Avoid These Dangerous and Recalled Toys
Watching your kids open up their presents is one of the best things about the holiday season. Check any social media site you like, and you can find hundreds of videos of children (and adults) opening up The Gift: the perfect game, the brand-new bicycle, or the ideal doll. Some toys and children’s products, however,…
Read MoreVolvo Trucks Announces “Zero Accident Vision” Initiative
Automaker Volvo announced a new initiative at the 2017 American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. Volvo pledged to create technologies and systems with the lofty goal of ending highway fatalities—and, in the meantime, work toward ensuring their trucks are not involved in any accidents at all. Volvo Trucks’ Traffic and Product Safety…
Read MoreMultiple Injuries and Fatalities Reported after Horrific Amtrak Derailment in DuPont, Washington
An Amtrak train traveling from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington has derailed. According to the latest developments from CNN, several fatalities have been reported, and multiple people have been injured. The cars from the train spilled over the tracks and onto I-5 below it. Reports claim that both a car and a semi-truck were crushed…
Read MoreGeneral Motors Agrees To $120 Million Settlement Over Faulty Ignition Switches
Atlanta’s Attorney General Chris Carr announced in October that Georgia and 48 other states, plus the District of Columbia, reached a $120 million settlement with General Motors over safety issues with their ignition switches. The settlement comes after allegations that GM concealed the defect, which caused some vehicles to suddenly lose their electrical systems, resulting…
Read MoreU.S. Army Funding Device to Detect TBIs on the Battlefield
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are different than other injuries. Broken legs or arms typically heal, and you move on with your life. Traumatic brain injuries, on the other hand, can affect you for the rest of your life. Depending on the severity, TBIs can cause headaches, cognitive problems, mood swings, memory loss, abnormal speech, loss…
Read MoreBMW Recalls More Than One Million Cars Because of Electrical Fire Danger
Car and Driver reports that BMW is recalling more than a million vehicles because of the potential for electrical fires. There are two different problems, leading to two different recalls: “740,561 cars [are being recalled for] a positive crankcase ventilation valve heater that can short, melt, and ignite. Also known as a blow-by heater, it…
Read MoreTracking Your Medical Device in Case of a Recall
In 2016, more than 53 million vehicles were recalled in the United States – a record high. In October of this year, Playtex recalled 3.6 million defective children’s plates, cups and bowls. There have been multiple food recalls this year, citing anything from possible listeria contamination to misbranding to “products produced without benefit of inspection.”…
Read MoreIn the Fight Against Dangerous Drugs, an Insurance Company Takes the Lead
As personal injury attorneys, we have seen first-hand how destructive opioids can be. America is currently fighting a dangerous opioid addiction crisis, with drugs like OxyContin at the forefront. Since its release in 1995 by Purdue Pharmaceuticals, Oxycontin has generated around $35 billion in revenue – and sparked an opioid addiction crisis in this country.…
Read MoreTruck Drivers and Consumer Advocates Weigh in on Self-Driving Vehicles
Since long before the cartoon The Jetsons put a clear vision of driverless vehicles in the public consciousness, there has been a feeling that navigation, direction, and piloting transportation would move away from requirements of human input. Even carriage drivers and cowboys historically leaned on the original autopilot functions: horses who knew their routes and…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know if You are Burned on a Construction Site
Construction sites can be dangerous places, which is why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires certain precautions to keep people safe. These rules apply to employees, but they also apply to site visitors, contractors, and the people who pass by construction sites. One of the most common risks involve burn injuries. Aside from…
Read MoreBayer Has Withdrawn Its Essure Implants from the European Market
Health issues with the permanent birth control product Essure have been reported both in the US and abroad. The risks associated with the device, used for female sterilization, have led the Food and Drug Administration to issue the most serious warning available, a black box warning, with each prescription. Are these steps too little too…
Read MoreWhat Parents Should Know about Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an injury to the brain that newborns suffer during delivery when their brain does not get enough oxygen, blood, or both. Also called “birth asphyxia” or “neonatal encephalopathy,” HIE is often fatal. Newborns with HIE often suffer extreme brain damage and developmental difficulties. HIE may be treated through hypothermia therapy, which…
Read MoreGeorgia’s Head-On Collision Prevention
Head-on car accidents remain some of the deadliest types of auto collisions. While advances in auto safety have reduced both the occurrence and death rate of head-on collisions, true progress will most likely come via preventative measures enacted on a local, state, and even federal level. What can Georgia do now to reduce the number…
Read MoreSix Plaintiffs Bring Product Liability Lawsuit Against Tristar Products, Claiming Power Pressure Cooker XL is Defective
Six plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania against Tristar Products claiming that their Power Pressure Cooker XL is defective and dangerous. The plaintiffs claimed that they suffered devastating burn injuries when a Tristar cooker exploded during ordinary use despite Tristar’s claim that the product is safe to use. The Philadelphia lawsuit is one of…
Read MoreGeorgia at the Forefront of Ride Sharing Innovation and Problems
While it is not ideal to be well known for traffic congestion, issues in Athens and Atlanta have led to two novel rideshare data applications. It seems that ride sharing companies are poised to take over the gap between car ownership and public transportation. With ride sharing, however, comes new risks and concerns for passengers.…
Read MoreFamily Members Bring Wrongful Death Action Against the Producers of Tom Cruise Movie American Made
The families of stunt pilot Alan Purwin and Carlos Berl both filed individual wrongful death lawsuits against Imagine Entertainment, Vendian Entertainment and Cross Creek Pictures, after Purwin and Berl died on the set of the new Tom Cruise movie American Made. Neither family named Cruise nor director Doug Liman in the lawsuits, though the families…
Read MorePedestrian Accidents Cause Long Term Physical and Emotional Challenges
Every year, thousands of pedestrians lose their lives when struck by vehicles on the Georgia roadways. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 5,000 pedestrians were killed nationwide in 2015. In addition, more than 120,000 received emergency medical treatment for their accident-related injuries. These victims are forced to endure severe physical harm,…
Read MoreGeorgia Residents Advocating for Underride Guards on Tractor Trailers
Tractor trailer trucks pose extensive dangers to the drivers and passengers around them. One of the most common and deadly types of truck accidents is one involving underride or the lodging of a vehicle underneath a tractor trailer. The height of these trucks creates a substantial risk for drivers traveling behind and beside them, but…
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