Marietta Injury Lawyer Blog

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other organizations have been compiling Toyota unintended acceleration data for years. The following is the most up to date data I could find of reported Toyota incidents from 1999 to present:

Total Incidents - 2262
Crashes - 815
Injuries - 341
Deaths - 19

As a Georgia Product Liability Lawyer, I've been extremely interested in the massive Toyota recalls due to runaway vehicles. As the owner of a Toyota and a father of two, I've been more concerned with what I should do if I experience unintended acceleration. Consumer Reports Magazine and Toyota have recommended the following strategy if your vehicle experiences sudden acceleration:

1) Push the brakes hard and hold
2) Do not pump brakes
3) After hitting the brakes, shift the vehicle in neutral
4) If you can't get the vehicle in neutral, turn the vehicle off
5) If you turn the vehicle off, leave the key in the ignition
6) Pull safely off the road
7) Turn off the car and park.

ABC news reports that Toyota has just announced a recall of an additional 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking acceleration pedals. This announcement follows the already massive recall launched this past fall involving 4.2 million cars. Numerous deaths and injuries have been reported as a result of Toyota vehicles unexpectedly accelerating. Initially, Toyota claimed the acceleration problem was the result of defective floor mats. Toyota is now acknowledging the problem is not limited to floor mats. The newest Toyota recall is confined to the following vehicles:

• 2009-2010 RAV4,
• 2009-2010 Corolla,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• 2007-2010 Camry,
• 2010 Highlander,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Following the first recall, many drivers insisted floor mats were not the cause of their acceleration issues. For the longest time it appeared Toyota did not want to acknowledge the acceleration problem could be bigger than floor mats. Even with this new recall, many are skeptical fixing acceleration pedals will solve the problem. As a Georgia Product Liability lawyer I've reviewed some of the first hand accounts of runaway Toyota vehicles and many are certain the gas pedal was never stuck during their incident. Hopefully, with all the evidence piling up at their feet, Toyota will take the necessary steps to fix this deadly problem.

Since the beginning of the year I've noticed an increased number of police catching speeders on the interstate and I think I know why. On January 1, Georgia's Super Speeder law, and it's new hefty fines, went into effect. A couple of people have asked me about the Super Speeder law this week so I thought I would explain it

It is pretty simple really. If you are caught speeding 75 mph or more on any two lane road or 85 mph or more on the interstate you will have to pay an additional $200 fine to the State. This $200 fine will be added on top of the local fines and penalties. Getting a super speeder ticket is going to be a very expensive mistake.

According to the official press release of the Governor's office, sixty percent of all trauma patients in Georgia are crash related and on average there is a speed related death a day in Georgia. The Governor's office goes on to say, Super Speeder will save lives and change the behavior of speeders in Georgia. As a Marietta Injury Lawyer that has seen too many lives ruined by truck and car collisions, I hope this new law will have the desired effect. Please slow down, you will be safer, and your bank account will thank you.

Insurance companies are waging war on the American Civil Justice System. They consider the Right to Trial by Jury and the Rule of Law unnecessary speed bumps reducing insurance company profits. Insurance companies began their organized attack on the constitutional right to a trial by jury since before this Georgia Injury Lawyer started practicing law, over ten years ago. In recent years, Insurance companies in Georgia have been specifically targeting victims of medical malpractice.

Luckily, many still believe the American Civil Justice System is still the best system in the world and have taken up the fight to defend the Right to Trial by Jury. Recently, a leading civil justice blog addressed the question how many hoops should medical malpractice victims have to jump through to obtain justice? It is an excellent read.

On December 24, 2009 a black Honda struck and overturned a bus carrying developmentally disabled adults. All 13 passengers and the driver of the bus were injured. At least two of the passengers were ejected and all were taken to Atlanta area hospital. According to news reports, the driver of the black Honda was seen driving erratically before the collision and left the scene of the accident before the police arrived.

As an Atlanta Injury Lawyer that often represents DUI victims, I pay attention to news reports of collisions caused by drunk drivers. However, this story was particularly disturbing when I read about the bus passengers. The passengers were members of a group called Just People that provide support for adults with developmental disabilities. The group was on their way to an art class when the horrible collision occured. It just boggles the mind that someone could cause that kind of carnage on the interstate and then leave the scene. I was pleased to read in a follow-up news report that the suspected drunk driver was located and is being held without bond with charges of Felony Hit and Run and Driving Under the Influence.

Continue reading "Woman that Caused Violent Gwinnett County Bus Collision Charged with DUI and Held Without Bond" »