Georgia Injury Lawyers Blog

Most Common Accidents on Cruise Ships

October 31, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

A large cruise ship on turquoise water As winter approaches, many of us take to the high seas to escape the winter gloom. A week of relaxation, great food, and a beautiful view can be just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately, accidents can and do happen on board cruise ships, and can result in serious injury. If you’ve been injured on a cruise ship as a result of the cruise line’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorney’s at Slappey & Sadd can evaluate your claim, explain your options, and get you the help you need.

Common Cruise Ship Injuries

Many of the most common accidents on cruise ships are the same as accidents that can happen anywhere else. On a cruise ship, however, the injuries can be more severe due to the nature of the environment. To make matters worse, treatment options are limited and may be delayed until you can make it to port.

State Farm Settles Class Action Lawsuit for $250 Million

October 30, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Two books and a gavel resting on a desk.

“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” But do good neighbors try to cheat you out of coverage that you paid for, and then rig the courts to avoid responsibility? This is the exact scenario that was alleged in some litigation filed on behalf of millions of policyholders. The litigation was settled last month for $250 million dollars.

Round One: The Original Claim

When Elders Are Victims of Neglect

October 28, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Older man resting his hands on a cane. Elder abuse is a tragic topic – no one wants to think about our seniors suffering abuse at the hands of those who are supposed to be taking care of them. But it’s important to remember that elder abuse isn’t limited to physical abuse. Elder abuse also includes neglect.

Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and even in-home care services are contractually obligated to ensure that those in their care are receiving proper care. When they fail to provide medicine, food, or simply fail to make sure their needs are being met, they may be held liable for their neglect.

What Neglect Looks Like

Viral Illnesses and Health Care Facilities

October 27, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

virus-1812092_1920-300x150 An alarming tragedy is unfolding in New Jersey – nine children have died as a result of a viral outbreak at a nursing home in Haskell, New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Health has prohibited the facility from admitting any new patients until the outbreak has been resolved.

A Virus Associated with Communal Living

The illness that has caused the outbreak is an adenovirus, which is a virus that infects the linings of the respiratory tract and other membranes. It is believed that this particular strain of adenovirus is one that flourishes in communal living environments. It is reported that a total of 25 patients at the New Jersey facility have been diagnosed with adenovirus, which manifests itself as mild to severe cold-like illness. Unfortunately, adenovirus can then cause other illnesses, such as bronchitis, diarrhea, and even pneumonia.

When You’re Injured While Flying

October 26, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

inside-2601081_1920-300x200 Most of us are pretty excited to board a plane, especially when you’re flying to a vacation destination. Even when traveling for work, flying to another location often brings a welcome change of scenery. For some of us, however, flying brings some nervousness and anxiety – it’s hard not to worry about a plane crash or some other serious incident. That said, we tend to forget about the run-of-the-mill accidents that can happen while flying. Even though these aren’t as scary as a plane crash, these accidents can lead to serious injuries. If you do get injured while flying, the airline may be responsible for your medical bills and other losses, so it’s important to speak to an attorney after you’re injured on an airplane.

The Airline’s Duty to You

It’s important to understand that the airline has a responsibility to ensure that you are safe while on the plane. If the airline fails to take steps to ensure your safety, they have been negligent and may be held liable for your injury. Here are some ways that airlines may fail to ensure the safety of their passengers:

The Moment of Impact: The Forces at Work in Car Accidents

October 23, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

Red car with dented door and front fender Getting into a car accident is a traumatic event, even if you sustain only minor injuries. Because we all drive cars every day and to almost everywhere we need to go, we tend to forget just how serious a car accident can be. Cars are heavy, high-mass objects and are capable of generating a tremendous amount of force. Thankfully, modern safety features do a tremendous job of keeping us safe, but injuries can and do still occur. In this post, we’ll break down some of the forces involved in the most common types of car accidents.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions with another vehicle are perhaps the scariest car accident to be involved in. The impact can look and feel like an explosion – the force of each vehicle is being exerted against the other, essentially doubling the energy produced by the collision. Imagine what it would be like to drive into a brick wall at 30 miles per hour – a head-on collision with another vehicle traveling at the same speed would be twice as bad. As a result, head-on collisions can result in very serious injuries – broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, and even death.

Slip, Trip, and Fall Injuries at Entertainment Venues

October 18, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

An overhead view of a baseball stadium It’s October – college and professional football seasons are in full swing, and the Braves are in the playoffs! Concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment events can be a great way to spend time with friends and family. Unfortunately, accidents happen, and some accidents can result in serious injury. If you’ve been injured at a stadium, arena, nightclub, or other entertainment venue, you may want to speak with a lawyer in order to understand your rights.

The Venue’s Obligation to Keep You Safe

Just like any other property owner, the venue owner has a duty to maintain and operate the venue so as to ensure the safety of the guests. This includes things like fixing broken railings, broken seats, and repairing other hazards, but also placing the appropriate signage concerning potential hazards that can’t be removed. When the venue owner fails to do these things, the owner may be potentially liable for any injuries that result due to their failure to maintain and operate the property appropriately.

$31 Million Verdict due to Circumcision Injury

October 18, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

A stethoscope hanging on the wall We’ve written before about birth injuries, but a recent case from Columbus, Georgia serves as a reminder of how often these occur and how serious they can be. The case arose from a circumcision performed in 2013 where there were a number of failures on the part of the OB/GYN practice – (1) the nurse-midwife accidentally amputated the tip of the boy’s penis; (2) they failed to take steps for it to be reattached in a timely manner; and (3) they failed to inform the boy’s mother of the amputation or that it could be reattached. The plaintiff’s attorney argued that the boy will face a lifetime of complications as a result of the injury.

We’ve been raised to trust our doctors, and the vast majority of those medical professionals are truly deserving of our trust. However, even good doctors can make mistakes. Some are reckless in caring for their patients, such as the “dancing doctor” that we covered earlier this summer. Sometimes a skilled physician makes a mistake, but then goes out of his way to cover it up and thereby further jeopardizes his patient’s health. The bottom line is that these cases happen more often than you think and can lead to a lifetime of health problems and even death.

Birth Injury Statistics

Big Pharma and Drug Liability Cases

October 15, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

A pile of various pills You may have recently seen in the news that Fulton County has sued the opioid industry, following in the footsteps of more than 800 cities and counties that have filed suit. Since filing, more than 70 other cities and counties have filed similar suits. The theory of these cases is simple – pharmaceutical companies sold these drugs to consumers knowing that there was a very dangerous likelihood of crippling addiction.

These cases serve as important reminders that the pharmaceutical companies may not always have consumers’ best interests at heart. FDA-approved drugs are recalled fairly frequently. It is ultimately a profit-driven industry, with immense pressure to get to market in order to recover significant research-and-development costs. Studies and testing get curtailed, concerns over side effects are pushed aside, and dangers get downplayed. Unfortunately, consumers ultimately pay for the industry’s greed.

If you or someone you love has been suffering as a result of their medication, you need a lawyer who can help you get some answers and put your life back together.

What We Can Learn From the Scholarie Limo Accident

October 12, 2018 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

A firetruck parked at an intersection You have no doubt heard about the horrible tragedy in Upstate New York – on the afternoon of October 6th, 20 people were killed when a limousine failed to stop at a T intersection while traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver and all 17 of his passengers were killed, as well as two pedestrians at the scene of the accident. Among the passengers were four sisters and two brothers.

Questions are swirling around the accident, which has received national attention. The owner of the limousine company remains overseas, but the operator of the company, his son, has been arrested and charged with negligent homicide.

Concerns with the Vehicle