Nobody wants to think about a fire destroying their home and potentially harming their family. This Fire Prevention Week, be sure that your family’s plan for a fire emergency is well practiced and known by all your family members.

 

1. Ensure everyone in your family knows what the smoke alarm sounds like and the difference between a loud beep (indicating a fire) or a chirp (indicating that the batteries need to be changed right away). All smoke detectors need to be replaced every 10 years.}
2. Create a home fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. Draw a map of the inside of your home and mark where the exits are for each room (including windows and doors).
3. Make sure that any people with disabilities, older adults or children know the plan and how to get assistance if they need it—use the buddy system! There are special fire alarms to help people with hearing loss who cannot hear the beeping of fire alarms.
4. Be sure to close doors behind you as you leave to delay the spread of any fire.
5. Create a meeting place outdoors for the family to go to after leaving the home that is far enough away from your home to ensure safety (a mailbox or road sign).

 

While the colder weather lends itself to bonfires for a nice autumn evening, be sure to follow all county guidelines if hosting a bonfire. Ensure that a water-charged hose is also on hand and ready to be used to extinguish or limit the fire. Always remember to check that it is not too windy to safely have a bonfire.

Using a bicycle to get to and from work or school or as a fun way to burn off some extra calories and see the sights throughout Georgia offers many advantages. Many bike riders, however, have struggled with maintaining a high degree of safety on the roads. In many cases, bicyclists feel unsafe as drivers pass far too close to them, even when they occupy a bike lane or legally occupy a lane of traffic.

A new Georgia law aims to help increase biker safety and increase driver awareness.

The New Georgia Law

• 40-6-56 (as of July 1, 2021) states:

(a) The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a bicycle shall approach the bicycle with due caution and shall proceed as follows: 1) Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the bicycle if possible in the existing road and traffic conditions; or   (2) If a lane change under paragraph (1) of this subsection would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be at least ten miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or 25 miles per hour, whichever is more, and proceed around the bicycle with at least three feet between such vehicle and the bicycle at all times.

What Does the New Law Mean For Drivers?

When it comes to passing bicycles safely, the new law means several things for Georgia drivers who must share the roads with cyclists.

Increase Awareness

Thanks to the new law, many drivers will find that they need to pay more attention to the other vehicles around them. Bicycles fit a different visual profile than motor vehicles, which may make it harder for the eye to note them as you head out on the road. However, paying careful attention to bicycles can prove critical to your ability to spot them and keep them safe.

Change Lanes if Possible

If you have the option to change lanes as you approach a bicycle and get in a lane that is not directly adjacent to the bicycle, you should do so. In some cases, however, you may not have the option to change lanes. You may, for example, not have a second lane to move into, or heavy traffic may make it impossible for you to change lanes in time, especially if you wait too long to note the bicycle around you and make the change.

Slow Down

If you note that you cannot change lanes safely, you must slow down as you approach the bicycle. The new Georgia law requires drivers to slow down to at least ten miles per hour below the posted speed on the road to pass a bicycle. If the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less, drivers can continue at their normal rate of speed while passing the bicycle.

Leave Enough Room

Georgia law has always required drivers passing cyclists to allow at least three feet of room when passing the bicycle. The new law, however, adds the additional note that drivers can pass over a double yellow or white line briefly, as long as they can do so safely, in order to give them the space necessary to safely and legally pass the bicycle. If you do not have room to move over the yellow line before a car in the opposite lane comes up to you, you may need to slow down behind the bicycle and wait until you have adequate passing room.

Sharing the road safely with cyclists has become increasingly important. Each year, bicycle riders account for about 2.2% of motor vehicle deaths. Over the past several years, Georgia has continued to pass resolutions aimed at creating a higher degree of safety for bicyclists and others on the road. Those resolutions have helped bring down cyclist deaths and injuries–and new laws like this help aid Georgia drivers in maintaining safe roads for everyone.

After a Bicycle Accident: What Should You Do?

As a cyclist, you may spend a lot of time out on the road, surrounded by cars. As vehicles whiz by you, you may feel threatened and unsafe. If one of those unsafe drivers causes an accident, you may end up with serious injuries. As a cyclist, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself following a serious accident.

1. Report the accident.

Like a car accident, a bicycle accident should always be reported to the police. Calling 911 will also summon an ambulance to the scene of the accident, if necessary.

2. Seek medical attention immediately.

Even if you think you sustained little more than bumps and bruises, or perhaps some road rash, you should always seek medical attention following any serious bicycle accident. A doctor can help evaluate and document your injuries, then help you get the care you need. Follow all instructions given to you by medical professionals to help you minimize injury and streamline your recovery as much as possible.

3. Collect evidence, if you can.

If possible, you may want to snap a few photos from the scene of the accident. Do not put yourself in danger or worsen your injuries to do so. You may want to document the driver’s license, his vehicle, and any damage to you and your bicycle.

4. Get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney.

As soon after the accident as possible, contact a personal injury attorney to learn more about your right to compensation. An attorney can help investigate your claim, give you a better idea of the compensation you should expect, and provide you with more information about how to move forward after your accident.

At The Law Offices of Kyle E. Koester, LLC, we focus on helping our clients understand the compensation they deserve and fighting to maximize that compensation. If you suffered serious injuries in a bicycle accident, particularly due to someone breaking these new laws, contact us today.

Hitting the road, you never expect to get hit by another car. While traffic deaths nationwide are on the decline, there are still many car accidents that lead to serious injuries, leading to victims having to alter their lives drastically.  

 If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, you may be unsure of what comes next. You may also have serious concerns about how you pay your medical bills and get back to your regular life. 

 Many car accident victims believe their insurance company or the insurance company of the at-fault driver will help them in their time of need. The fact is that this isn’t usually the case. 

 Car Accident Injury Costs 

Most auto accident injury victims are unaware of how much money they need to recover for injuries sustained in the accident. Many people are unaware of just how expensive medical care has become today. 

 When you suffer injuries in a car accident, you may require: 

• Multiple surgeries 
• Extended hospital stays 
• Time off work

• In facility rehabilitation 
• In home care 
• Ongoing medical treatment 

 Each of these items greatly increases the potential expenses you face. Even minor injuries can cause tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. This is not a burden you should bear. 

 Someone else’s negligence caused your car accident. They should be on the hook for your medical expenses and your lost wages, if you have to spend time out of work because of your injuries. It is in your best interest to talk with an experienced car accident injury lawyer today about how you can hold the negligent party responsible for your expenses. 

 Settlement Offers May Come Fast 

Settlement offers help you move on with your life while also giving you money to cover your medical expenses. But you should meet quick settlement offers from the insurance company with caution. 

 Several days after your accident, the insurance company of the at-fault driver may contact you and offer you a settlement. You want this tragic situation to be a distant memory. Your medical expenses are mounting. The insurance company is ready to take advantage of you. 

 Their initial offer is a lowball offer intended to make you go away for as little money as possible. The insurance company does not share your goals. These companies don’t care whether you pay for your own medical expenses. They want to keep as much money as possible in their pocket. 

 Taking the quick settlement offer is often what the car accident victim does, especially in cases where a lawyer isn’t consulted first. When you sign a settlement agreement, you waive your right to bring any future claims against the insurance company for this accident. Months or years later, when the settlement funds have run dry but you still have bills related to this accident, it will be too late. 

 Negotiating the Right Settlement for You Takes Time 

When you get the first settlement offer, you may be excited. You have anticipation that this terrible life experience will soon be in the past. Unfortunately, that excitement may lead to disappointment when you see the amount of the initial offer. 

 To fully understand what you need to recover, the guidance of a skilled Woodstock Ga car accident injury attorney is invaluable. Together, you can create an accurate estimate of your future needs. You may see your medical bills piling up on the kitchen table, but the vast majority of your medical expenses may come in the future, something many accident victims do not realize. 

 Your lawyer’s relationship with medical experts can be crucial to securing you full compensation. Your lawyer can help you determine what expenses you may have ahead, including lost income from being out of work. Putting all of that together, you can see clearly just how much money you will need to recover from the negligent driver and their insurance company. Nothing is worse than having to spend your own money on medical expenses as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault. 

 Ultimately, everyone involved is motivated to settle your case. But a lawyer’s job is to make sure the insurance company does not take advantage of you. Some accident victims fear they will not receive a large settlement if they work with a lawyer. You may even be able to recover more money by working with a lawyer; and, a lawyer can speed up the process of settling your case. 

 Through your lawyer’s investigation of your accident, they can present a clear case to the insurance company, showing just how much money it will take for you to recover. Ultimately, the amount of time it takes to settle your case depends on many factors, but most car accident injury cases settle within a few months. The more complex and serious your injuries, the higher your settlement amount may be, and the longer it takes for the settlement to finalize and for you to get your money.