Finch McCranie, LLP

Bike Injury Patterns

Bicycle injuries and fatalities are an increasing problem. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is a program of The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center in cooperation with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. It is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
Statistics published by the Center reveal patterns of biking fatalities and injuries. Using 1999 data, there were 750 bicycling fatalities and 51,000 bicycling injuries resulting from traffic crashes in the United States. Bicyclist fatalities accounted for 2 percent of
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Motorcycle Crashes: 85,000 More Troubling Statistics

In 2006, approximately 5,000 people lost their lives and 80,000 were injured in motorcycle crashes. We have blogged before about the staggering number of statistics when it comes to those killed or injured while riding motorcycles. Obviously, riders must wear protective gear to protect themselves with defensive driving since they have little other protection in the event of a crash. What the statistics show, however, is that motorcycle injuries and fatalities are on the rise. In 1996, 2,161 people were killed in motorcycle crashes. In
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Bicycle Accidents Increasing

Bicycle accidents are increasing at an alarming rate as the popularity of road biking has increased over the last few years, and, as more people are turning to bikes as a means of transportation to save fuel. With the increase of bike riders it is only natural to assume that injuries would increase as well.
Our attorneys and staff are reviewing many of these matters. We are seeing the expected increase of injuries from the failure to wear a helmet and from improper positioning of
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Motorcycle Crashes and Helmets: Statistics Prove that Helmets Save Lives

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued statistics indicating that in 2006 helmets dramatically saved lives in motorcycle crashes. The NHTSA estimates that had all motorcyclists involved in collisions worn helmets in 2006, 752 more people would have survived their injuries. As it was, in 2006 it is estimated that motorcycle helmets saved 1,658 lives. Over 4,800 motorcycle riders died in 2006.
Obviously, in those states that require helmet use, the number of riders wearing helmets are greatly in excess of those in
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Chilling Statistics for Motorcycle Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (a division of the United States Department of Transportation), in the calendar year 2006, 4,810 people died in motorcycle crashes. This number was up over 5% from those killed in 2005 (4,576). The number of those killed in 2006 were at their highest levels since 1981. Additionally, according to the statistics maintained by the NHTSA, motorcycle fatalities have increased every year for the past consecutive 9 years.
Of course, there are more motorcycle riders on the road
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The Blufton Bus Crash: “An Accident That Did Not Have To Happen”

According to investigators for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the March 2, 2007 Blufton University bus crash that killed 5 members of the Ohio Blufton University baseball team and injured 28 others was “an accident that didn’t have to happen.” After a year long investigation, investigators for the NTSB concluded that driver error, confusing highway signage and a lack of passenger safety features in the bus carrying the baseball team were all contributing factors in the collision which also claimed the lives of the bus driver and his wife.

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Medication Errors Still Occurring in Hospitals

A baby in a Corpus Christi, Texas, hospital neonatal intensive care unit has died after receiving an overdose of the blood thinner heparin. The baby was one of up to 17 babies in a neonatal intensive care unit receiving overdoses heparin. Heparin is an anticoagulant often used to clean the IVs of patients and prevent blood clots from forming in the lines.
The problem with heparin overdoses of infants in hospitals entered the public arena last year when the twins of actor Dennis Quaid almost
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Motorcycle Accidents and Uninsured Motorist Coverage

This past year our firm handled several motorcycle accidents involving wrongful deaths and serious injuries. What we see in these cases is the importance of a motorcycle rider having uninsured motorist coverage to protect their interests. Even where a motorcycle rider is doing everything right, is wearing a helmet and is operating the motorcycle safely, it is not uncommon for us to see wrongful death and serious injury cases in such contexts. For whatever reason, many people pull right out in front motorcycle
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Police Chase Cases and Innocent Passengers

Since the seminal case of Scott v. Harris as decided by the U. S. Supreme Court there seems to be a prevailing mood that “the gloves are off” and the police can chase a suspect who defies their orders to pull over for as long as possible notwithstanding the dangers to the public. Fortunately, even though this has been the reading by some of the Supreme Court Opinion, the legal landscape is hardly as bleak as some would think. Indeed, state laws like that enacted
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Surgical Checklist For Reducing Errors

The World Health Organization issued its first guidelines on Tuesday aimed at reducing complications and deaths from the rising numbers of operations now being performed. Many who read the checklist will react by wondering why hospitals and surgeons have not been doing this for years.
The guidelines are a list of simple safety checks that the health organization said could halve the rate of surgical complications. The list is intended to improve anesthetic safety practices, avoid infections and improve communication among members of surgical teams.
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Georgia Patients Denied Recovery For Medical Malpractice

Georgia medical malpractice cases have become increasingly difficult to bring as the legislature enacts more and more restrictive laws. A fact which many do not know is that patients injured by highly negligent actions in Georgia emergency departments have no right of recovery. This is due legislation which established a gross negligence standard which governing the actions of emergency room personnel.
This standard has been interpreted by the Georgia courts as requiring almost intentional conduct.
The extreme unfairness of this law is illustrated by a
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The Summer Motorcycle Season Has Begun In Georgia

Anyone who spends time in the mountains of Georgia or North Carolina knows that the summer motorcycle season is here. It is time for many of us to hit the open road once again. Before you do, we suggest you review some important safety tips, that may help keep you safe this season. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 5,100 people died in motorcycle crashes in 2007. This alarming statistic is the highest level since the Department of Transportation began collecting data in 1975.
Many bikers take precautions to avoid accidents, but even when all safety precautions have been made, other driver’s make mistakes that cause serious injuries. A Georgia man lost his foot as a result of an inattentive driver who ran a traffic light; a North Carolina man lost his life when a tractor-trailer turned left into his right of way; and a Florida man suffered a traumatic brain injury when the defendant driver ran a red light. The fact is that there is no way to completely eliminate the risk, even for the most skilled bikers but staying alert and ride defensively can help.

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The Federal Tort Claims Act: Determining The Law Of Liability

When a claim is asserted against the United States government, the claim is based on the alleged liability of the United States in accordance with the law of the place where the negligent act or omission occurred. As an example, if a postal truck runs over someone in the State of Georgia, the laws of the State of Georgia will control whether the acts of the postal carrier driver were negligent. The liability of the United States as stated in other entries is the same
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Motorcycle Accident Result in Serious Injuries

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have represented many motorcycle riders over the years who have been seriously injured in collisions involving automobiles. A few months ago we settled a case where our client sustained very serious injuries to his leg and foot when his motorcycle was hit broadside in an intersection by a doctor who ran a red light in her SUV. Although the motorcycle was not demolished, the injuries were devastating. As a result of the injuries he sustained, doctors had to amputate several toes and part of his foot. In this case and most others, the motorcycle rider was obeying the law and did nothing to cause or contribute to the collision.

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Serious Burn Injuries In Georgia

Georgia injury lawyers know that accidents involving serious burn injuries are more common than one might think. The American Burn Association estimates that 1.1 million significant burn injuries occur every year in the United States. Most commonly, burns are caused by: automobile accidents, gas and other flammable liquid fuel explosions, scalding/hot water, electrical accidents, industrial accidents, gasoline spills, building fires, defective candles, lighters and matches; however, the causes are numerous. We have seen cases involving propane powered forklifts which leak gas inside
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The Federal Tort Claims Act: Where To File And Who To Sue

Assuming an administrative claim is properly submitted and is denied and a lawsuit is thereafter commenced, the lawsuit must be filed in United States District Court, not in a state court. One advantage of proceeding under the Federal Tort Claims Act is that such a suit can be brought in the Federal Judicial District where the plaintiff resides or where the negligent act or omission occurred. Thus, if a person is traveling, as an example, and is hit by a postal carrier running a stop
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Dog Bite Cases In Georgia

Georgia injury lawyers see numerous dog bite cases every year. More than 4.7 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs every year. Nearly one out of every six bites are serious enough to require medical attention.

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The Federal Tort Claims Act: No Right To A Jury Trial

Under the specific provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) there is no right to a jury trial. See 28 U.S.C. § 2492. This is one of the disadvantages of suing the United States government but because the FTCA is a limited waiver of sovereign immunity, the provisions of the Act control. Simply stated, the limited waiver provisions provide that there is no right to jury trial when suing the United States government. What this means is that once the case is assigned to
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New Georgia Laws In Effect To Curb Automobile Accidents and Truck Accidents

Beginning today, several new Georgia laws intended to reduce automobile accidents, tractor trailer truck accidents and motorcycle accidents go into effect. One of these is the Texting While Driving law. Georgia drivers under the age of 18 will be charged if they talk or text on a cell phone while driving. Under this new law, all drivers, regardless of age will be charged if they write, send or read a text message, email or access the Internet while driving. If found guilty a motorist will be fined $150.00 and will be assessed 1 point on his or her driving record.

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Georgia Bicycle Accidents

The Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP represent clients who have suffered personal injuries from bicycle accidents or who are survivors of cyclists killed in accidents caused by the careless or negligent conduct of others. Surprisingly, many of these bicycle accidents do not involve other drivers but were caused by the negligence of road contractors, construction companies, and even public utility companies. Injuries suffered as a result of these types of accidents can be severe and life altering. Most common are nerve damage, broken or dislocated bones, and injuries to the neck, back, brain, or spinal cord. Sadly, some of these bicycle accidents result in the wrongful death of the cyclist.

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