Vehicle types and their commonly associated injuries

SUVs and passenger vehicles:

• whiplash
• quadriplegia

Semi trucks:

• paraplegia

Delivery vans:

• disc bulge
• disc burst fracture

What are some spinal cord injury symptoms?

• Loss of your gross or fine motor functions
• Complete or partial loss of sensation
• Numbness or tingling in your extremities
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of bladder control
• Muscle spasms

How is a spinal cord injury typically diagnosed?

When spinal cord injury is suspected, immediate medical attention is imperative.  Usually, spinal cord injuries are diagnosed by seeing which vertebrae of your spinal cord were injured or disrupted.

Initial evalution – Your physician will likely perform x-rays, a CT scan, and probably an MRI.  Fractures are shown on plain radiographs. CT scans and MRIs are used to evaluate the soft tissues in the spinal column.  A myelogram may be performed to identify and evaluate any spinal cord lesions caused by the accident.

Neurologic evaluation – This is where your physican will do a thorough assessment of your symptoms.  They will likely examine your mental status, as well as your motor and sensory functions.  Once the evaluation is complete, your physican will be able to make a proper diagnosis.

Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia) -  The partial or complete loss of feeling and use of all limbs and torso.

Paraplegia – The loss of motor or sensory functions below the waste.

What can an attorney do for me?

• Help you determine the economic loss associated with your back damages
• Offer advice on special care and treatment, as well as other economic needs
• Work with your doctor to help document evidence for the most accurate prognosis and diagnosis
• Help you and your family cope with the grief and trauma of the accident

If you have a spinal cord injury as a result of a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact Bruce A. Hagen, your personal injury attorney in Atlanta, Georgia.

Earlier this month, a 27 year old man died from injuries sustained in an Atlanta hit and run accident.  Mr. LaJuan Washington was killed after being hit by a car on Highway 166 West near Interstate 285.

Losing a young person in a motor vehicle accident is always tragic for a family.  A hit and run accident, however, adds another layer of anger and grief to the already devastated loved ones who are left behind.  Many people, incorrectly, assume that because the driver left the scene of the accident that there is no way to recover damages for the victim’s medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.  However, that simply isn’t true.

Hit and run accident victims, or their survivors, may be able to collect damages through their own insurance company if the driver responsible for the accident is not identified.  Of course, insurance companies are not always willing to pay fair damages in hit and run accidents.  Often, they need to be persuaded by experienced personal injury lawyers who  understand how to negotiate with car insurance companies.

Don’t let a hit and run accident devastate your family any more than necessary.  Contact a personal injury lawyer and discuss your options for financial recovery for the expenses and suffering that you incurred as a result of someone else’s negligence.

Dolan Law Offices represents victims of hit and run accidents throughout the state of Illinois.

Although seldom talked about, every 15 seconds, one person in the US suffers a TBI, and close to 5.5 million Americans are living with a disability resulting from a TBI.  The price for treating, rehabilitating and caring for people with TBI costs the U.S. an astounding $30 billion each year, approximately.

Surprisingly though, only 1-3 Americans are actually familiar with the term “Brain Injury,” deeming it the “silent” epidemic.

Some TBI Statistics

Traumatic brain injury affects all ages, but there a certain age ranges that are more affected than others. Common Ages for TBI:

• 4 years old and under – Due to a high risk of falling
• Between the ages of 14 and 19 – Due to risky behavior
• 75+ – Due to a high risk of falling
• Males are More Likely to Sustain TBI Than Females:
• Males are more likely to be involved in risky behavior than females, resulting in a greater chance for this type of injury.  Males also have more successful suicide attempts than women – many of them caused by gunshot wounds to the brain.

Cars, Motorcycles, and Alcohol:

A majority of TBIs occur from car and motor motorcycle accidents, and it is estimated that about 50 percent of all traumatic brain injury involve the consumption of alcohol.

TBI Symptoms

Traumatic brain injury symptoms are wide-ranging and can be cognitive as well as physical.  TBI suffers may have one or more of these symptoms, but may include others, as well:

• loss of memory
• difficulty with normal bodily movement
• speech difficulty
• seizures
• mood swings
• change in overall personality
• impairment of attention, problem solving, and planning
• loss of sense of taste and smell

Closed Head Injuries VS Penetrating Head Injuries

closed head injury – Brain damage at the site of impact, and damage on the other side of the brain due to the momentum that the brain gains from the impact.  This often occurs when someone’s head hits a steering wheel or dashboard.

penetrating head injury – When the outer layer of the meninges (a system of membranes that protects the brain) is passed through or opened (often by gunshots, and other projectile objects).

Rating The Severity of TBI

The Glasgow Coma Scale is the common scale used in assessing the severity of traumatic brain injury.  Scores range from 3-15, with 15 being the mildest traumatic brain injury, and 3 being the most critical.  People with scores of 3-8 are commonly in a coma.

TBI Recovery

Recovery from TBI varies widely depending on the severity of the injury the individual has suffered.  It’s often difficult to predict the exact degree of TBI recovery, but if it’s possible, recovery can takes months, or even years.

Prognosis Factors (According to Traumatic Brain Injury.Com:

• Post-traumatic amnesia – shorter the amnesia = better prognosis
• Amount of time in the coma – shorter the coma = better the prognosis.
• The patient’s age -  Individuals younger than 2 and older than 60, have those worst chance for recovery.

In Closing

Traumatic Brain Injury is a very serious, and unfortunately, a common injury we deal with every day. If you or a loved on has suffered a TBI injury due to the negligence of another (car accident, boating accident, etc) we are ready to take your case and fight for your rights. The Law Offices of Bruce Hagen will not rest until you get the justice you are legally entitled to.

A wrongful death is a death that is caused by someone else’s negligence, such as: carelessness, incompetence, or failure to act. For example, a situation in which a person who is legally crossing the street, and happens to be killed by a drunk driver is considered a wrongful death.

Loved ones of the departed can file wrongful death personal injury lawsuits on their behalf. These sorts of lawsuits assist loved ones in recovering losses for pain and suffering, stress, monetary loss, medical bills, and other costs.

Are You Eligible to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

In Georgia, surviving spouses may file the claiming. If there is no spouse of the departed, the children may file the claim. If these two parties do not exist, then the parents may pursue the claim. If the deceased was under age 18 at the time of death, then the parents usually are the proper parties to pursue the wrongful death claim. If the departed has none of these, then administrator of the departed’s estate may file the wrongful death claim.

Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer!

Discussing your case with a knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer is a must!

Wrongful death lawyers can:

• help you understand the law
• help you collect evidence for your case
• complete complicated but necessary paperwork
• construct a persuasive court case
• reduce your anxiety about the situation
• allow you to focus on your grieving and healing, comforted by the knowledge that there’s someone working for you to pursue your rights.

Get Justice for Your Wrongful Death Case!

According to Georgia law, the claimant may recover:

“the full value of the life of the decedent without deducting for any of the necessary or personal expenses of the decedent had he lived.” This refers to the departed’s lifetime income and general enjoyment of life. The claimant may also seek damages like costly medical and funeral bills.

How Long Can You Wait Before Making a Claim?

Under Georgia law, the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases varies widely. Generally, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is 2 years, while in some circumstances it might be shorter or longer. The age of the plaintiff, whether the negligent party is a governmental entity, the state in which the negligent act occurred, and the cause of the wrongful death are just a few factors that determine the length of time the plaintiff has to make the claim. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can further assist you with this.

How Long Does A Wrongful Death Case Take?

A majority of all wrongful death cases are settled prior to trial, and some are even settled before even filing the lawsuit. It is not uncommon however, for a wrongful death case to take several years to come to fruition. It is important that you be aware of the time consuming commitment you might have to make in order to see the case to the end.

What It’s Going to Cost You

At the law office of Bruce A. Hagen, all of our cases are handled on a contingent fee basis, meaning that there is no fee required to retain the lawyer. Fees are a percentage of any recovery that’s made. Typically, all costs of pursuing that action are also covered by the attorney, so you don’t have to come out of pocket for any costs.

We understand how difficult a time it can be for the loved ones of the departed in a wrongful death case. Don’t hesitate to contact Bruce A. Hagen, your wrongful death attorney in Atlanta, Georgia.

Because you are likely to be involved in a car accident at some point in your life, the tips below will be crucial in guiding you through what to do after the accident, and how an attorney fits into the equation.

Things Not To Do After the Accident

Give a recorded statement – It is vital that you discuss the case with an attorney first, to make sure you don’t say anything that might negatively affect your case, in the circumstance that you decide pursue a claim.

Write about the accident on your blog or social networking site – unless you get prior approval from your attorney, you should not share information about the accident with anyone, let alone an entire community of online readers.

Authorize the release of your medical records – Never sign anything pertaining to your car accident without first talking it over with your auto accident lawyer. It is crucial that you understand your legal right, before you authorize your medical records.

Write about the accident and your injuries in your diary – Although written information on the web can be a bit more elusive, you’re diary is a solid piece of tangable evidence, that could possibly hurt your case. Even if you don’t currently plan to file a claim, it’s never good to keep a record of the accident before consulting a car accident attorney.

Accept an injury settlement until your injuries are fully healed – Many times, people are pressured to settle, before they have fully healed, resulting in them receiving less money than they should. In most cases, a good attorney will advise against this.

Things To Do After the Accident

Gather Witness Information – Get names, addresses, phone numbers and emails for anyone who saw some or all of the incident.

Take pictures of the damage – Even though it’s the last thing you might think about, it is crucial to get some detailed pictures of the scene from many angles and directions. General pictures of the scene are not very useful, but up-close shots of the wreckage, car debris, skid marks, street signs of the intersection, and any other landmarks close by, are great documentation to have available.

Call the police – It’s important to dial the police so that they can direct traffic away from the scene of the accident, but refrain from giving them a record of everything that happened, before discussing it with an auto accident lawyer.

Seek medical help – Because your body has a natural way of coping with pain and trauma through bursts of adrenaline, you might feel fine after the accident. Still, it is important to examine your body for obvious physical injury. Whether injury is apparent or not, you must be looked at by a medical professional.

Return for Check-ups – Many times, car accident injuries are internal and cannot be seen outside the body, requiring the doctor to run thorough examinations, in order to get the proper diagnosis. Remember, “doctor knows best.”

Have all your medical bills billed to your health insurance provider – The at-fault insurance company will eventually pay the bills, however, that doesn’t happen until the case is settled. While you’re waiting, your health insurance company will handle your medical expenses.

Car accidents are simply a fact of modern life. Nobody’s perfect, and sometimes the accident is beyond anyone’s control. Whatever the case might be, it is important to stay informed on what to do when you’re faced with the inevitable.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and you’re thinking about filing a claim, don’t hesitate to contact Bruce A. Hagen, your Atlanta, Georgia car accident attorney.

Most importantly, you should do your best to minimize the amount of income that you lose. To the fullest extent possible, the law requires you to mitigate your damages by returning to your work as soon as you are physically able.

However, if your injuries are such that you cannot safely perform your job without risking harm to your health and well being, then you have no choice in the matter. In the event you are missing time from work, be sure that your doctor provides you with written authorization to be out of work. Also be sure to have sufficient documentation of your usual rate of pay and the number of hours that you end up missing from your job.

If you have the sort of injury that will disrupt your income for a significant period of time, your attorney can help you make sure that you do everything necessary to present that claim in the strongest light possible.

Your Job Mobility

The mobility of your job is another gray area that your attorney will consider when constructing your case. Some jobs have the potential for extremely high mobility, like government or law positions, while others remain pretty stagnant, like secondary school teachers. It is obviously not possible to accurately predict your ability to be promoted within a field, but when combined with averages and subtracted from your current abilities and opportunities to work, the court can arrive at a relatively fair compensation, considering those circumstances.

Documenting a “Permanent Injury” Case

For example, you are a brilliant graduate student who is about to receive a Phd in Physics. Currently, you are getting paid a nominal fee as a Teacher’s Assistant, grading papers and occasionally teaching classes. Unfortunately, you suffer severe brain damage and lose much of your ability to do math and think abstractly – leaving your work options to bagging groceries or working in fast food. The personal injury attorney would argue that had the accident not occurred, you would have become extremely successful in your physics career, making a substantial yearly income for a long period of time. Your doctor, your colleagues, and even an economist would be at the trial to further testify this to be an accurate prediction.

Because calculating lost wages is not always an exact science, the success of your case will rely heavily on the persuasiveness of your attorney!

If you have any questions on how to calculate lost wages due to personal injury, don’t hesitate to contact Bruce A. Hagen, your personal injury Attorney in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Dunwoody Police Department recognizes the tragedy of lost and altered lives, and is determined to try to help ensure the safety of teen drivers and those who share the roads with them. As part of its efforts, the Dunwoody Police Department will begin conducting “Collision Avoidance Training” this summer. The program is intended to provide young people with sound knowledge and safe driving skills that will make them better drivers for the rest of their lives.

“Reducing these premature deaths is a priority in our community,” Dunwoody Police spokesperson Sgt. Mike Carlson says about the disturbing teen driving statistics. “To help ensure that we reach our goal, we have adopted the Collision Avoidance Training program for teenage drivers, and will plan many of our traffic safety initiatives around this program.”

The program is free of charge and includes seven monthly sessions, with the first session being held on June 5, 2010. It is open to all teenage drivers, regardless of whether or not they reside in Dunwoody.
Space in the “Collision Avoidance Training” program is limited, so early registration is encouraged. To register your teen, call 1-800-656-6507. Questions about the program should be directed to Dunwoody Police Department Lt. William Hegwood at 678-382-6904.

Last Friday night, two gunmen forced their way into a home on Claire Drive just before 9 p.m. They burglarized the home and shot a woman in the leg with her petrified son nearby.

Early Saturday morning, just before 2 a.m., a home intruder shot and killed a man in the bedroom of a Lawrenceville home. Three other people were in the home at the time of the shooting, and the gunman fled shortly afterwards.

When the men responsible for these crimes are captured and brought to justice, Atlanta’s streets will be a little bit safer. Unfortunately, for their victims and their families, the pain and terror they inflicted that night could live on for a very long time.

What are these victims’ rights? The state of Georgia will prosecute the perpetrators for their actions in criminal trials, but the only things their victims stand to gain from those trials are the satisfaction of seeing these men brought to justice, and peace of mind if they spend some time behind bars.

But what about their medical bills? What if their injuries caused them to miss work? What if their injuries were life altering, and they were unable to work the job they had been trained in – or any job – ever again? What if they were unable to cover their monthly expenses due to missed work and were forced into foreclosure, eviction or auto repossession? What if they now require long-term or life-long care because of their injuries? What about mental anguish, post traumatic stress disorder and any counseling costs incurred as they try to piece their lives back together?

And what about the family members of the man who died? In addition to the emotional devastation of losing their loved one, they must deal with the medical bills resulting from his emergency treatment, as well as his funeral costs. If he had children or a spouse who relied on him for financial support, who will take care of them now, and how?

Like the victims of other crimes, these victims and their families should be compensated for their losses. They have every right to seek compensation, both from the perpetrators and from insurance companies, who most likely will try to shirk their responsibilities.

Further, if the victims rented their homes, and if those homes were in areas known for violent crime, the victims might have a claim against the property owners if those owners did not take reasonable actions to provide for the safety and security of their tenants. Not every criminal act results in a civil cause of action, however there are many instances when a criminal act is the foreseeable result of a property owner’s negligence and in these cases, the victims have a right to compensation.

Have you or someone you love been the victim of a crime? If so, it’s important that you know what you are entitled to, so that you don’t get lost and further victimized in a system that doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Learn your rights and get the compensation you justly deserve with the experienced and compassionate team at the law office of Bruce A. Hagen. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

The first bill for the Georgia Senate, titled Senate Bill 306, was affirmed by Senator Bill Heath (R-Bremen) and will adjust the current cell phone laws so that hands-free devices are permissible and no longer a violation of the law.  The law currently states that any device which impairs hearing or vision is not permissible.  It is being changed to exempt headsets which are used for communication purposes.  This means that cell phone use while operating a vehicle will be allowed with either a Bluetooth, ear piece or ear phone device.  This bill is on the fast-track for becoming law so that drivers are safer on the road and can focus their attention on the operation of their vehicle.

Currently, hands-free devices are illegal and there is confusion as to why this safe practice of driving is being punished.  Many citizens wonder why texting while driving is legal but hands-free devices are not.  Heath understands that as the law stands, it is not clear and still allows for officers across the state to issue citations to drivers using them.

Heath feels that this bill should have no problem passing into law because everyone agrees that using a hands-free device makes overall sense because it makes driving safer.  Heath’s bill received a 48-0 vote in its favor and will move to House of Representatives.  The bill has a proposed effective date sometime in July of 2010 and will be applicable to all offenses on or after the set date.

References:

http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2010/01/28/senate-passes-bill-to-allow-use-of-hands-free-devices-while-driving/

http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/search/sb306.htm

http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/versions/sb306_As_passed_Senate_5.htm

Frequently Asked Questions about Truck Accidents

Q: What is a “commercial truck”?

A: A commercial truck is a vehicle used in the course of business and/or for the transport of commercial goods. Examples are 18-wheelers, tractor trailers, tanker trucks, dump trucks, delivery vehicles, semi trucks and other large freight trucks.

Q: How are traffic accidents involving trucks different from accidents involving passenger cars?

A: Accidents involving trucks are typically more catastrophic than accidents involving cars due to the sheer size of a truck. A typical fully loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Due to this size disparity, and the basic laws of physics, any collision between a commercial truck and another vehicle is likely to result in serious, even fatal, injuries.