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Action Needed for Georgia Highway Trucking Accidents

For the second time in less than one month, five innocent lives were lost on Georgia’s Interstate 16 when the driver of a tractor-trailer failed to stop — or even apply the brakes — before slamming into helpless drivers trapped in standstill traffic in front of them. These tragic crashes occurred just miles apart and have eerie similarities that highlight one very stark reality: lives are being lost at an alarming rate due to the recklessness, carelessness or otherwise lack of awareness by tractor-trailer drivers in Georgia and across the nation, and we as a country are not doing enough to change that.

For years now, highway safety advocates have called on Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to address the disturbing number of commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries across the country. And, while incremental progress has been made in certain areas, there are still many options readily available that would immediately and significantly make our highways safer for everyone.

Already among the top priorities of highway safety advocates, it is universally agreed upon that requiring the installation and use of forward collision avoidance and mitigation systems and speed governors on all tractor-trailers would reduce the number and severity of truck crashes on our highways and, most importantly, save lives. Here’s how these low-cost and easily implemented systems work:

Forward Collision Avoidance Systems: This technology, which works by alerting the driver and taking over the brakes and engine of the tractor-trailer when an imminent collision is anticipated, is already fully developed and comes as a standard feature on most new automobiles. It is estimated that it would cost less than $500 per vehicle to retrofit current tractor-trailers to meet this standard. On average, according to NHTSA, two to three rear-end collisions involving tractor-trailers occur somewhere in the U.S. every hour.

Speed Governors: Every tractor-trailer manufactured since 1992 comes from the factory with a speed governor installed as standard equipment, which works by setting a predetermined speed limit that the vehicle cannot exceed. Unfortunately, many truck companies and individual truckers opt not to use them, choosing instead to put profits ahead of safety by racing the clock and risking countless lives in the process. However, the companies that voluntarily require the use of speed governors in their trucks report that, in addition to being safer on the roads, their tractor-trailers also are more profitable due to saved fuel, last longer because of the reduced wear-and-tear on the trucks and have lower liability costs as a result of the reduction in the number and severity of crashes.

The numbers don’t lie. Georgia is currently among the top five states in the U.S. in truck-related fatalities, and it is estimated by the U.S. Department of Transportation that there are nearly 100,000 injuries and 4,000 deaths nationwide each year as a result of tractor-trailer crashes.

How many more lives must be lost as a result of the under-regulated tractor-trailers on American highways before our leaders get serious about holding the trucking industry to the highest standards of safety? It is the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s top priority to save lives, and I am confident that requiring the use of forward collision avoidance systems and speed governors on all tractor-trailers would be counted among the most significant safety improvements to our highways in American history.

Written by: Darren Penn

Darren Penn serves as president of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. He is a partner with the law firm Harris Penn Lowry LLP in Atlanta and Savannah.

Source article from Macon.com

Insight by Atty. Jeff Powers:

What a tragedy to those families who lost their children in South Georgia on I-16. Unfortunately, the trucking company only has $1 million in insurance coverage. None of those families will be fully compensated for the horrific accident.

June 1, 2015/by Powers Law Group

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Insurance Subrogation: Insurer Taking Money From Beaten Fan

How an Insurer Is Taking Money From the Fan Beaten at Dodger Stadium

First he was assaulted for wearing the wrong team’s clothes. Then he was sucker-punched by the insurance system.

Dave Stow, 71, strains to push the wheelchair carrying his 250-pound son, Bryan, up a series of ramps and into the basement of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Capitola, Calif., for its Friday fish fry. Bryan Stow is greeted by ladies who kiss him, men who hug him, and a 103-year-old woman who grabs his hand and asks if he is walking yet.

Four years ago, Bryan Stow was a strapping paramedic who spent his days off biking with his son and daughter. That was before March 31, 2011, when he and three friends made the mistake of wearing San Francisco Giants garb to an Opening Day game against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. They were harassed and threatened in the stands. Afterwards, two Dodgers fans beat Stow so savagely in a parking lot that doctors had to induce a coma to save him. He was hospitalized for seven months.

The damage to Stow, 46, remains unmistakable. A scar runs from the left side of his forehead to the back of his head. On the right side, a shunt used to drain fluid from his brain protrudes from his skull. The thick black hair he once fussed over is now patchy and thin. Special stockings on his legs prevent life-threatening blood clots.
The beating of Stow drew national attention to sports hooliganism. It’s also brought to light a virtually unknown aspect of the legal system that cuts compensation to victims. In effect, Stow was sucker-punched twice: first by his assailant and then by his health insurer.

Read Full Article: How an Insurer Is Taking Money From the Fan Beaten at Dodger Stadium

April 15, 2015/by Powers Law Group

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$375,000 Verdict in Bibb County Car Wreck Trial

Congratulations to Jeff Powers and Adam Beecher for receiving a $375,000 jury verdict in Bibb Superior this afternoon!The plaintiff was a 69 year old man who had a “train wreck” of a back (2 prior surgeries) and was on disability when the 2011 wreck occurred. This information was presented to the jury at the start by Powers and Beecher, and they let every medical record go into evidence.The plaintiff’s vehicle was hit by a sales-rep for Source Care Management, when she ran a stop sign in Dublin while checking her navigation system.The medical costs were around $170,000 (including the cost of a lumbar discectomy and fusion), and there were no lost wages.The final offer at mediation was $75,000. Wallace Miller (representing Source Care) and Bill Shelton (for the driver) defended the case, which was before Judge Ennis.

The defense argued the injury was preexisting and that the defendants were not responsible for surgery due to the condition of his back.

In closings, Jeff used a timeline to display the fact that their client had no treatment for back issues in the 10 years before the 2011 wreck, and deposition clips were played of the plaintiff’s treating physician and of the defense’s expert physician, both of which were particularly compelling.

It was obvious to anyone in the courtroom that Adam and Jeff believed in their client, and their preparation and presentation was outstanding. I look forward to hearing more of the details from them both. I understand it was a battle up to the very end!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Laura K. Hinson

INSIGHTS BY ATTY. JEFF POWERS

Mr. Curtis Isaac was one of 12 children born to two hardworking parents who were sharecroppers in Dublin, Ga. He dropped out of the 8th grade to help his parents work on the land they lived on which consisted of picking cotton, soybeans and tobacco crops. After several years of living with his family he went to work in Detroit for Ford Motor Co and then came back to Dublin to work for a construction company. In 1967, he began working for Roche Farm & Garden doing heavy manual labor. He worked there for 32 years until severe lower back pain at L4/5 levels forced him to quit. He filed a worker’s compensation case against his employer for a fictional date of injury. He retired from Roche in 1999 and had a microdiscectomy and then another in 2001 at the same level. The SSA determined him disabled because of his back problems in 1999. Having worked his whole life, he didn’t like not working so he worked odd jobs with his brother-in-law, such as raking pinestraw, cutting grass. He also worked as a helper for his brother-in-law’s masonry business. Mr. Isaac never earned much at these odd jobs, and we didn’t ask for any lost wages since he was getting SSDI.

On September 12, 2011 Mr. Isaac was injured in a car accident. At the time of the accident, he was 65 yrs old, driving to see a friend in downtown Dublin. The defendant was an employee of Source Care who was driving her personal car. She was traveling to Hawkinsville and was looking at her GPS. She didn’t see the stop sign and ran into Mr. Isaac. They admitted fault for causing the wreck. The driver was very nice and made a great impression. I crossed her for about 3 minutes.

The paramedics who treated Mr. Isaac at the accident scene and took him to the hospital noted that he complained of back pain that day. After the wreck, most of the treatment Mr. Isaac had was for his neck and shoulders. It was 7 months later when his lower back began hurting again. That’s when Dr. Pollydore ordered a lumbar MRI. Defense attorney used a fax cover sheet from Dr. Stefanis’ office that said patient was not surgical 3 months after wreck. Dr. Stefanis, however, had never examined Mr. Isaac. Pollydore recommended injections and Curtis returned to Dublin to see Dr. Hardmann, who began giving him these 1 yr after the wreck. This went on for another year and then Hardmann sent him to Dr. Holliday in Feb. 2014 when he was finally worked up surgically. In April 2014 he had a fusion at L4/5 which was the same level that was operated on in 1999 and 2001. We agreed to tender all the medical records to the jury.

Judge Ennis allowed the evidence of him being on SSDI because Dr. Holliday testified he suffered a 23% impairment from the fusion at L4/5. I told the jury in voir dire, opening, and closing that Mr. Isaac was on disability, but that he didn’t deserve this “sentence of pain/surgery given to him by the Defendants.” Dr. Holliday did a great job causally linking the surgery to the wreck, but under cross exam he began to criticize President Obama. We filed a MIL to keep out his comments but somehow the statement, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat and I don’t agree with anything Pres. Obama does….” came out during trial. In his closing, the defense counsel reminded the jury of this. He said, ” which doctor did you like better – Gorum or Holliday? And why was Dr. Holliday so ornery during the deposition? You heard those comments he made about President Obama.” I said that it doesn’t matter who the doctor votes for for President – that’s what is great about our country – we can vote for anyone we want. You are here to decide the harm done to Mr. Isaac, not what opinion a doctor has of the President or his policies.

We had a pretrial conference and there was some preliminary discussion that we were going to be prevented from telling jury she was working when the wreck happened. Fortunately, after filing a brief in response to the Defendant’s motion in limine, the Court went our way and allowed the testimony.

Defendants hired Dr. Michael Gorum in December 2014, who testified that he agreed surgery was necessary but the reason he had it was due to DDD and not trauma. He said our client had pain from wreck but his foot drop and need for surgery was anatomically caused by a “glacial change in his back from years of hard work, (cigarette smoking) and him being overweight.” They then redeposed him one week before trial to show him the films from 2001 which the doctor said “it was the biggest herniation in Mr. Isaac’s back that he’s seen in 25 yrs of being a neurosurgeon.” Gorum also said that his vertebrae was bone on bone and there were osteophytes growing in his spine which is why Dr. Holliday operated.

Defendants argued that this was a very complicated medical case with a bunch of long words and confusing testimony. I said it is not complicated. He was not treating for back pain for 10 years after he had the second microdiscectomy until they crashed into him. If was in such dire straights where are the medical records showing that his back hurt? People go to the doctor if they are in pain. They don’t go get their DDD checked if it is asymptomatic. People go see their doctor if it’s a routine physical, an OB GYN appt, or the dentist.

We are so humbled by and appreciative of your nice comments. I have known Mr. Isaac for over 14 years and it was a true honor to represent such a wonderful and deserving person. We mediated the case with Tommy Greer in November and, after many hours, it went nowhere. It seemed we were mediating two different cases. Adam Beecher did an incredible job with doing a lot of the work and helping me prepare. He did a great job of the client’s direct and redirect of Curtis and the character witness. We interviewed more character witnesses but they were not very strong. I am grateful for advice and help from Jarome Gautreaux, Rick Sizemore, Laura Hinson, and finally my neighbor, Charlie Cork who assisted us with the motion in limine.

March 20, 2015/by Powers Law Group

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OSHA Report Echoes ProPublica and NPR’s Workers’ Comp Findings

Separate investigations into changes in the workers’ compensation system nationwide found that cutbacks were hurting injured workers and their families. Separate investigations into changes in the workers’ compensation system nationwide found that cutbacks were hurting injured workers and their families.

Nearly a year ago, ProPublica set out to investigate the extent of changes to America’s workers’ compensation system and the impact they were having on injured workers.

Around the same time, researchers at the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration independently decided to do the same thing.

On Wednesday, to our surprise, we published our story and OSHA released its report. Both detailed a system decimated by state lawmakers across the country.

Our investigation, in partnership with NPR, found that since 2003, more than 30 states have cut workers’ comp benefits, created hurdles to getting medical care or made it harder to qualify. The changes have resulted in devastating consequences for some of the hundreds of thousands of workers who suffer serious injuries at work each year.

The reductions in benefits have been driven largely by big businesses and insurers, which cite out-of-control costs. But we found that businesses are paying the lowest rates for workers’ comp insurance since the late 1970s. The costs are being shifted to taxpayers, who shell out an estimated $30 billion a year in medical costs and lost wages not covered by workers’ comp.

Read full story

March 10, 2015/by Powers Law Group

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Injured Workers Suffer As ‘Reforms’ Limit Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Over the past decade, states have slashed workers’ compensation benefits, denying injured workers help when they need it most and shifting the costs of workplace accidents to taxpayers.

Dennis Whedbee’s crew was rushing to prepare an oil well for pumping on the Sweet Grass Woman lease site, a speck of dusty plains rich with crude in Mandaree, N.D.

It was getting late that September afternoon in 2012. Whedbee, a 50-year-old derrick hand, was helping another worker remove a pipe fitting on top of the well when it suddenly blew.

Oil and sludge pressurized at more than 700 pounds per square inch tore into Whedbee’s body, ripping his left arm off just below the elbow. Co-workers jury-rigged a tourniquet from a sweatshirt and a ratchet strap to stanch his bleeding and got his wife on the phone.

“Babe,” he said, “tell everyone I love them.”

It was exactly the sort of accident that workers’ compensation was designed for.

Until recently, America’s workers could rely on a compact struck at the dawn of the Industrial Age: They’d give up their right to sue. In exchange, if they were injured on the job, their employers would pay their medical bills and enough of their wages to help them get by while they recovered.

No longer.

Continue reading article

Insight by Powers Law Group

We help people like these every day. The “working poor” have no power in our state legislatures and can’t compete with the insurance lobby, which pumps millions into the campaign coffers of our elected representatives. We are the workers’ representatives.

March 4, 2015/by Powers Law Group

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Medical Malpractice in Georgia

When you’re sick or injured badly enough, it’s natural to want to seek qualified medical care. Like most people, you probably assume the doctors and other medical professionals who care for you are competent and competent enough to diagnose the issue and help you get healthy again. Although the vast majority of medical professionals are talented and go to great lengths to provide meticulous care, they’re still only human. Mistakes happen. When they do, malpractice could be involved. If you live in Georgia and feel you may be the victim of malpractice, it’s crucial to seek legal help immediately.

How common is malpractice in Georgia?

You’re hardly alone if you are the victim of malpractice by a medical professional. Every year in the United States, between 15,000 and 19,000 suits are filed against physicians by people who were injured or killed due to alleged malpractice. Every year, as many as 98,000 people in the U.S. die in hospitals due to medical errors. Incredibly, 1.3 million people per year are inured due to medication errors alone. These sobering statistics highlight the very real fact that doctors are not perfect.
The state of Georgia sees its own fair share of malpractice suits every year. When a doctor is investigated for suspected malpractice, the state board pulls a licensure report for him or her as a part of its investigation. According to a 2006 report that was created from information collected by the National Practitioner Data Bank, 1,242 licensure reports were pulled in Georgia in 2006. 1,110 of them were pulled in conjunction with malpractice investigations. Nearly 90 percent of all licensure actions in the state of Georgia, then, are related to malpractice. There’s no doubt about it: Malpractice is a serious issue.

Statute of Limitations

Every state in the country has its own statute of limitations regarding medical malpractice. At just two years, Georgia’s is very prohibitive. The two-year countdown begins on the date on which a person is injured or killed due to suspected malpractice. All too often, people are unsure about how to proceed and wait so long that there’s nothing more to be done. Ideally, malpractice suits should start being developed at least six months to a year before the two-year mark arrives. This allows attorneys plenty of time to build a strong case. Moreover, you must get a signed affidavit from the same medical specialty who believes that the conduct was below the standard of care. This affidavit must be filed simultaneously with the lawsuit or it will be dismissed by the Court.

Filing Malpractice Suits in Georgia

Proving malpractice against a medical professional is very difficult. The process tends to take huge amounts of time and requires exorbitant amounts of money to prosecute. Indeed, it’s not unusual litigation costs related to such suits to meet or exceed the $100,000 mark. When combined with the fact that the evidence that is presented must be extremely clear, convincing and unambiguous, it’s little wonder that many people are reluctant to move forward in the first place. That’s too bad, though, because anyone who is injured or killed due to the negligence of a medical
professional deserves to have his or her rights protected to the fullest possible extent. Further, medical professionals routinely have the right to object to settlement of a case even if the insurance company decides to do so.

Medical Malpractice Trials

Some malpractice suits are settled out of court. The majority, however, end up being tried in court. Hospitals and other medical facilities tend to be quite confident about allowing such cases to go to trial because the evidence must be incredibly compelling. Still, that’s not to say that such cases aren’t won on a regular basis. The average Georgia malpractice verdict or settlement is approximately $306,000, which is the seventh highest average settlement in the country. Medical professionals need to be held accountable when they violate the standard of care and cause injuries and death, so be sure to seek legal help right away if you believe you are a victim of such negligence.

October 22, 2014/by Powers Law Group

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Personal Injury Attorneys in Macon GA Represent Distracted Driver Victims

There has been a recent trend for people to stay connected through a growing number of great innovations that include everything from mobile phones to online social networks. Unfortunately, this has also led to several tragedies. Motorists distracted when texting and driving are becoming increasingly more responsible for highway accidents. With this in mind, several years ago the state of Georgia passed legislation banning the practice to help reduce roadway deaths and injury.

Latest statistics for Georgia indicate there were approximately 4000 motor vehicle crashes last year directly attributed to distracted drivers. Driving a vehicle and texting is an enormous distraction. The motorist must take their eyes off the road and at least one hand off the wheel. This significantly increases the odds of an accident occurring and puts fellow motorists and innocent bystanders at risk. If you are a victim of a distracted driver it’s imperative to seek out the services of an attorney that specializes in personal injury. A qualified law firm can handle everything from personal liability cases to workplace injuries in Macon GA.

Workers compensation in Macon GA legal representatives have extensive experience dealing with distracted driving accidents and negligent injury claims. When you have a competent and aggressive personal injury and workers compensation lawyer on your side, you can rest assured they will take any legal action necessary to obtain compensation that covers economic and other damages. Many studies have shown that texting while driving can cause as much impairment as a legally intoxicated motorist.

Texting drivers that cause accidents leading to injuries and other losses should be held legally responsible for pain and suffering. A personal injury and workers compensation lawyer stands up for those who become injured in Georgia because of reckless and negligent behavior. The legal definition of texting while driving is anyone that is sending, writing, reading or receiving text messages on a mobile device during the operation of a motor vehicle. It is unquestionably one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving that people engage in.

Whether you are seriously hurt due to the actions of a distracted driver or suffer workplace injuries in Macon GA, your first step should be contacting a skilled personal injury lawyer. You might be entitled to receive compensation for lost income, medical expenses and property damage. There are specific laws that allow workplace and roadway injury victims to receive accident and workers compensation in Macon GA. Therefore, make certain your legal rights are well protected in these situations.

June 13, 2014/by Powers Law Group

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Get the Money You Deserve: Punitive Damages From Drunk Driver Injuries

We have all heard the saying “Don’t drink and drive”. Yet, despite how often this phrase is repeated and how much evidence there is to prove drunk driving is not just serious but possibly deadly, thousands of drivers get behind the wheel each day after consuming alcohol. Drunk drivers are a very real threat on the road, contributing to one out of every three car crash related deaths. On average, once every 53 minutes, somebody in the United States is killed in an alcohol related crash. There were 299 drunk driving deaths in the state of Georgia in 2011 alone. These are staggering statistics for a culture who is educated about the dangers of drinking and driving beginning at a very young age.

If you or somebody you love has been injured or killed as a result of an alcohol related crash, that person should be forced to take responsibility for the harm they caused. Contacting a drunk driver collision attorney can be the first step in making the at-fault driver accountable for the crash they caused. Financial restitution in the form of medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress are typically awarded to the victim of a drunk-driving related crash. Punitive damages may also be awarded, and a drunk driver collision attorney can help obtain punitive damages to the victims of these accidents.

Drunk Driving Victim Attorney in Macon Georgia

What Are Punitive Damages? They are additional monetary compensation awarded as a means of making an example of an at-fault person. They are to punish the defendant and are additional funds above and beyond compensatory damages. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to prove punitive damages are due to the victim and are seldom awarded. However, in the event of drunk driving related crashes, punitive damages are necessary to punish and deter the defendant driver.

A qualified drunk driver collision attorney can help victims of drunk driving crashes to be awarded the additional punitive damages. Specializing in recovering as much monetary compensation as possible through their knowledge of precedent and statute, and will do whatever they can to help get victims of drunk drivers the compensation they deserve.

Drunk drivers are a threat to themselves and everybody on the road. Attorneys who specialize in drunk driving related crashes are dedicated to keeping people who drink and drive off the roads. Recovering punitive damages on behalf of victims of alcohol related crashes is one of the ways drunk driver collision attorneys punish drunk drivers. Not only does the awarding of punitive damages set an example for those who may consider drinking and driving, it gives the victims and the families of the victims a full measure of justice.

September 16, 2013/by Powers Law Group

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Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?

When you have been in a serious car accident that involved injuries and damages to your vehicle, the last thing that you need is to fight with the insurance company. The stakes may be high with large medical expenses and even permanent injury. In such cases it’s usually a foregone conclusion that a car accident lawyer can help you. A skilled legal expert can help you deal with the laws, medical expenses and safeguard your rights.

But sometimes it may make sense to hire a lawyer even for accidents involving minor injuries. For instance, if the out of pocket claims that your insurance will not cover exceeds an amount that you’re comfortable handling on your own, you should call a lawyer. You may be able to handle claims of $2000 or $3000 yourself, but any claim as large as $10,000 or more may need the skill of a lawyer experienced in dealing with such cases.

If you’re settling out of court or in a small claims court, then you may be able to handle the proceedings yourself. But if your case goes to court, then you may need a lawyer who knows how to try a case.

Whether the fault is yours or that of the other party involved in the accident, if you cannot prove it, you recover nothing. If the fight goes to court, then a lawyer can help you deal with the rules of evidence and procedure.

Another reason many people hire a car accident lawyer after a wreck is because they want to save time. Learning about routine cases and then presenting your claim can take dozens of hours. That is the kind of time many people do not have, and they choose to hire a lawyer as quickly as possible. A lawyer’s experience gets the job done quicker and without hassle.

June 7, 2013/by Powers Law Group

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Q&A: Lost Job Due to Injury in Georgia

Question:

Injured my hand on a machine. I was send to the doctor and was told I had fractured my knuckle. Almost four weeks later I did a follow up and was told there was no fracture to begin with. I was released to go back to work. Then I was called from work and told not to return because they had filled my position.

Answer:

You can request to see another doctor on the employer’s panel of physicians even if you are fired from that job. If the employer has less than 6 different doctors on the list, you can select any doctor you want to treat with. Unfortunately in Georgia, the employer can terminate you for any reason or for no reason since we are an “at will” state. ~ Atty. Jeff Powers

Read original discussion at Lawyers.com: Workers Compensation

April 1, 2013/by Powers Law Group

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10 Tips for Driving in Really Wet Conditions in Macon GA

The current rainy weather in Macon, Georgia causes a lot of automobile accidents. In fact, 1.5 millions highway accidents in Georgia take place during this rainy weather every year. The rain causes the road to get wet, forming a layer of water and grease, which makes the tire lose traction, making the vehicle prone to roll of control. It is also difficult to drive in the rain as rain decreases visibility and efficacy of headlights as well as reflectors. For this reason, we need to be extra cautious when driving in rainy weather. Below are 10 tips for driving in rainy weather in Macon:

1. Slow down
It’s critical to reduce your speed when driving in the rainy weather. You need to be especially cautious when approaching puddles. You can lose control of your vehicle by hitting puddles when speeding. Driving at a low speed during rainy weather may help you avoid debris that may be carried by the rain to the roadway.

2. Keep a good distance between your own vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.
The proper distance between your own automobile and the automobile ahead of you should be a three-second distance under normal conditions. However, during rainy weather this distance should be at least six seconds or more.

3. Do not over-use brakes.
If possible, lower your speed by lifting your foot off the gas pedal instead of using the brakes. When braking, aim to brake as soon as possible to warn drivers behind you that you are reducing your speed, and then slowly apply firm pressure.

4. Make use of the middle lanes
Rainwater is more prone to accumulate on the edges of the roads creating dangerous conditions. So try as much as possible to drive in the middle of the road. Avoid driving or straddling the yellow lines becoming a danger to automobiles around you.

5. Hit your brakes after crossing over a puddle
Using your brakes after crossing over a puddle will help get rid of some of the excess water on the rotors.

6. Be cautious of water gathered on the road
Don’t drive over moving water which you cannot make out the ground below as your vehicle can get swept off the road. Moreover, keep off big puddles in general since driving through deep water or submerging your automobile can lead to substantial damage to your vehicle.

7. Use your headlights every time it rains, but not your high beams
Make sure you turn on your headlights every time it rains as this will assist you to see other drivers and enhance your own visibility. However, never switch on your high beams as doing so can cause the light to spring back particles of water in the space, creating a blinding impact to other drivers.

8. Never engage cruise control
Hydroplaning at the same time as the cruise control is engaged can really make your car to speed up. This can be very dangerous.

9. Be conscious of hazardous driving conditions
Any rainstorm which follows a lengthy dry period leads to the roads being more dangerous. The residual grease and rubber-dust which has collected on the roads will combine with the water to create a very smooth, skid-fabricating mixture. This slick residue mostly forms in junctions as well as other places where automobiles have to rest for duration of time. For this reason, avoid driving at the onset of rainstorms which follow dry spells. However, if you have to drive you need to be extra cautious.

10. Regularly maintain your automobile
Be sure to replace old, weak windshield wipers, as they worsen the poor rainy weather visibility. Test out your brakes and make sure your tires are properly inflated on a regular basis. Keep a clean windshield and utilize the windshield defroster to keep your interior windows free from moisture.

Regardless of your driving skills, driving in wet conditions can be very challenging and dangerous. May these tips help you drive safely during the rainy season.

February 22, 2013/by Powers Law Group

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What to Do After a Workplace Injury

Getting injured in the workplace is more of an issue than many people think. If you get injured at work, it can lead to embarrassment, difficulties with management, and a legal hassle with the workers compensation insurance company. Although you may think that you will never have to deal with a workplace injury, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 3.4 cases per 100 Georgia workers every year. Although the aftermath of a workplace injury can be troubling, there are solutions to your problems. If you have recently been injured at work, the most important tip is to remain calm and seek legal counsel.

Immediately after a workplace injury, seek the medical attention. Leave no stone unturned as this is your highest priority. If your injury is not an emergency, file a report with your employer first because your employer may have a preferred doctor that you should see. In Georgia, you must inform your employer within 30 days of the injury. Even if your injury happened at the end of a work shift, tell a supervisor where on your body you have pain. If your injury is an emergency, do not hesitate to call for an ambulance or to have a coworker do the same.If you see a doctor before reporting your injury, make sure to report your injury as soon as possible thereafter. Workers compensation insurance companies will give you more problems when handling your claim if you took too long to report your injury to your employer. Make this your second highest priority in the process of responding to any workplace injuries in Georgia. It is a good idea to give the Employer written notice of the injury and always keep a copy of anything you give to another person.After reporting your injury, you should talk to a lawyer who handles work accident cases. You may even choose to hire a lawyer before reporting your injury if you have reason to believe that you will need legal representation from the start. In most cases, however, you do not need legal help until you begin preparing for a claim. Remember that a claim is different than a report. You report your injury to your employer, but you file a claim with the workers compensation insurance company as soon as you need help paying your medical bills.

Workplace injuries in Georgia are difficult to navigate, but the good news is that your employer is required to have workers compensation insurance if they employ three (3) or more employees. Of course, you need a good workers compensation lawyer to help you exercise all of your rights. This area of law is complex, and so it is quite helpful to have someone on your side who can counsel you about your legal options and who can represent you when communicating with the insurance company.

The most important thing to remember about hiring a workers compensation lawyer is the principle of promptness. If you do not file your claim in a timely manner, any insurance company providing workers compensation in Georgia will question the relation between your injury and your visit to the doctor. They may accuse you of being hurt outside of work to pay for a non-work related medical bill. By hiring a lawyer as soon as possible, you can know that your claim will be handled in the ideal manner.

The legal matters associated with workers compensation in Georgia are complicated, but with the help of a lawyer, you can receive the benefits to which you are legally entitled. Our workers compensation lawyers deal with these issues every day and at Powers Law Group we are here to help you. There is no reason for you to go through a workplace injury alone.

February 4, 2013/by Powers Law Group

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Damages Cap Case Pending in the Georgia Supreme Court

There is a case pending in the Georgia Supreme Court that will address the constitutionality of the cap on damages in medical malpractice cases. Please share this link with others. Please consider encouraging everyone to watch the video and to pass on positive comments to your legislators.

Update:

Caps on Non-Economic Damages Held Unconstitutional

May 7, 2012/by Powers Law Group

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How I Obtained Justice for My Client

Obtaining Justice Jeff Powers Jeff Powers writes in the VERDICT magazine about his exemplary premises liability case for U.S. Air Force serviceman Sean Shockley, who suffered a serious injury while staying at the Days Inn in Warner Robins.

On January 7, 2007, Sean Shockley’s life was forever changed. He lives by the United States Air Force Code, which is integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do. Tim Hall and I were given the opportunity to represent Mr. Shockley in this case.

Mr. Shockley joined the United States Air Force in 1987. He was born into living the Air Force life as his father was a serviceman in the USAF and moved Sean’s family around the country. The Air Force was in his blood. Mr. Shockley married Michelle the same year he joined the USAF and they had three children. On January 6, 2007, Sean drove from Virginia to Warner Robins, Georgia to attend a conference at Robins Air Force base. Upon arriving for the conference, he checked in to the Day’s Inn a few miles from the Base.

On Sunday morning, January 7, 2007, Mr. Shockley’s son, Chad, went to go eat breakfast at a local I-Hop with his father. They then parted ways so Mr. Shockley could work on his conference program. While working in his motel room, Mr. Shockley’s pen ran out of ink, so naturally he thought to go to the lobby to get another one. He walked out of the room, down the center staircase and when he was almost at the bottom, his feet shot out from under him without warning. He landed on concrete shattering his left elbow into tiny little pieces.

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May 7, 2012/by Powers Law Group

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Coliseum Family Health Day

Coliseum Health System’s Community Benefit Report

Annually, the system provides a free health screening day at the campus of Coliseum Northside Hospital. This year, over 1200 people participated in the event, which included more than 25 booths of free screenings, health information, food and children’s activities.Local Macon attorney Jeff Powers has run in marathons. He’s competed in triathlons. He even swam across the Alcatraz Bay in San Francisco during one competition.

Needless to say, he’s not someone who expected to find that he had high cholesterol – an early warning sign for heart attack or stroke.

“I decided to go to one of the Coliseum Health Fairs and they were doing a variety of free health screenings, so I took advantage,” Powers said. “When they sent me the results I was very surprised about my cholesterol level.”

Powers, who is married and has a nine-year-old and seven-year-old, worked on changing his diet and getting more exercise. “I am eating better and trying to make sure that I exercise regularly.” Powers said. “My cholesterol is where it needs to be now.”

Powers credits the Coliseum with doing its part to keep the community healthy.

“Coliseum is fantastic,” he said. “They are very beneficial to the community in what they are doing inside and outside the hospital. The screenings and lab work that I had would have cost hundreds of dollars if I would had it done in the physician’s office. Coliseum did all that for free and helped to make sure that I stay healthy for my family.”

May 4, 2012/by Powers Law Group