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. 

Woman Survives After Tree Falls on Car, Piercing Windshield

WSB-TV reported on Sunday morning emergency crews rescued a woman trapped inside her car when a tree fell on it. The accident happened on Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway before 8a.m. The road was closed between Alta Place and South Eugenia Place as crews worked to remove the woman form her car safely. Firefighters were able to rescue the woman who sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Firefighters claim that the tree missed the woman’s head by a mere few inches. Video shared by Atlanta Police shows a massive tree limb plunged through the driver’s side of the car’s windshield. A man who lives in the area, Cherard Simmons, told WSBTV’s Kristen Holloway that he had walked outside right as the tree crashed down. Simmons said “The car was coming up the street and the tree fell right on her car. I heard somebody say, ‘Help! Help! and I just dialed 911.”

Simmons claimed trees fall in the area all the time and that a tree fell in the same spot three months ago. “I think they need to cut those trees down in these areas,” Simmons said. “One even hit my car right there. I got a little dent in my car.” Simmons also said that someone needs to address the issue. “In another couple weeks, if a bad storm comes through, it’s going to be the same thing.” Georgia Power and a tree service were able to clear the road safely.

Schedule a Consultation with Woodstock, GA Personal Injury Attorney Kyle Koester

If you or a loved one are suffering injuries caused by the negligence of another driver, contact the Law offices of Kyle E. Koester, LLC. Kyle Koester specializes in personal injuries from car accidents, truck accidents, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). To schedule a consultation, call us at (770) 744-5250 or reach out to us online. With over 7 years of experience in the personal injury field, Kyle Koester aggressively advocates for his clients to receive the compensation they are owed for their injuries and pain and suffering.

COVID-19 has created immense changes across the country and around the world. It has not, however, caused car crashes and severe brain injuries to stop. People have continued to suffer injuries during car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, and tractor trailer crashes.  

 What should you expect from your personal injury claim as a result of COVID-19? Talk to an attorney to get more specific information about your claim or to explore your options for compensation.  

 Personal Injury Claims Face COVID-Related Delays 

As a result of COVID-19, many things have faced delays and cancellations–and personal injury claims are no exception. Many courts across Georgia, for example, closed for months in response to pandemic concerns. Even as they slowly reopened, the procedures created to help maintain safety for as many people as possible made it difficult for personal injury claims to process smoothly and effectively.  

 Other challenges have also created delays in processing personal injury claims throughout the pandemic.  

 Fewer People in the Office 

Like the courts, many insurance companies and even law firms shut down for a period during the initial stages of the pandemic. In many cases, this led to a backlog of cases and issues to deal with once those offices did open back up. As law firms and insurance companies alike opened back up, they did so cautiously, with many employees working from home. As a result, processing claims proved more difficult than before.  

 More Difficulty Collecting Evidence 

Many things can take place virtually, including several strategies for gathering evidence related to your personal injury claim. Unfortunately, pandemic precautions and challenges have led to several types of delays and challenges in evidence collection. Hospitals, for example, have been overwhelmed in the face of pandemic needs, which means many of them have struggled to quickly turn around requests for records. Many businesses needed to focus on providing a high standard of cleanliness and safety for current customers, rather than seeking records or looking for video evidence for workers or visitors injured in the workplace.  

 As a result of these challenges, it can take longer to gather the evidence needed to put together a solid case. You may, in many cases, want to avoid submitting your claim without that evidence in place, which can further delay the processing of your claim.  

 Courts are Processing Criminal Cases Before Civil 

While the courts are back up and running, albeit with pandemic precautions in place, personal injury cases and other civil claims are not proceeding as quickly as they did prior to the pandemic. Instead, courts are prioritizing the processing of criminal cases in an effort to clear that backlog before they move on to the needs of victims who may have serious personal injury claims to contend with. While this strategy does allow the courts to move through their backlog efficiently, it is also creating a new backlog of personal injury claims that will need to be dealt with before fresh personal injury cases move up in line. 

 What this means for you is that you may have a long wait for a court date if you cannot reach an agreement with the insurance company that covers the liable party. Your attorney can provide you with more information about how long you can expect to wait for a court date and how that wait will impact your personal injury claim.  

 Insurance Companies are Issuing Lowball Offers 

Dealing with an insurance company after a severe injury can prove difficult at the best of times. Insurance companies often utilize several tactics to help decrease their financial liability following a serious accident. One of those tactics includes issuing a low initial settlement offer: an offer that reflects neither the actual value of the insurance policy that covers the liable party nor the compensation you really deserve for the serious injuries you suffered in your accident.  

 Now, insurance companies are sending out low offers, not just as part of an initial settlement package, but as negotiations continue for the compensation you deserve. Normally, insurance companies will work with you to reach a settlement agreement, especially once they realize you plan to take your quest for compensation to court if necessary. Unfortunately, with court cases getting delayed, many insurance companies are continuing to send out low offers in the hopes that desperate accident victims will accept them to get the funds they need in hand faster.  

 What Do COVID Claim Delays Mean For You? 

If you need to file a personal injury claim in the midst of COVID-19, you may face a very different experience from the one you would have had a year ago. Consider these key details as you move forward with your claim.  

 1. You should contact an attorney as soon after your accident as possible. 

If you need to file a personal injury claim, an experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal system, including the additional challenges COVID-19 has brought to the personal injury landscape. An attorney can also make sure that you fully understand the compensation you deserve and the options you have, including when you may want to accept a settlement offer.  

 2. Be prepared, BEFORE the delay. 

Personal injury claims may feel like a “hurry up and wait” process. You may go through long periods where you can only wait for what comes next. Thanks to COVID-19 related claim delays, you should prepare for a long process. That means prepare now. Hire a good attorney with experience harvesting digital evidence that can find and interview witnesses. Get recorded statements early in the investigation. Photograph everything. -The cars, the intersection. Believe it or not, these things change over time. Most importantly, get the doctor immediately. Many doctors now offer telemedicine, so you don’t have to wait in the emergency room.  

 3. Know your goals. 

Work with your attorney to assess how much compensation you deserve and when you will accept a settlement offer. Keep in mind that in many cases, waiting a little longer, continuing to negotiate, or even preparing to take your claim to court if needed can help increase the compensation you ultimately receive, which may improve your financial future.  

 

In the immediate aftermath of an auto accident, it can prove difficult to know just how badly you got hurt. Sometimes, you may think that you came out just fine. You have no obvious signs of injury, and no more than usual pain. Surely you can save yourself a trip to the emergency room, right? 

 Unfortunately, that line of thinking can lead to severe complications following any type of accident. Auto accidents are terrifying, and the mental effects of being involved in an accident may make it difficult to recognize when you have sustained injury. 

 The Role of Adrenaline After an Accident 

Many accidents result in an influx of adrenaline and other hormones throughout your body. In the immediate aftermath of an auto accident, you may feel shaky and unsteady, or brash and over-confident, depending on your usual response to adrenaline. Those hormones, however, also serve one dangerous function: they help suppress pain. 

 In the immediate aftermath of extreme trauma, this lack of pain can prove vital to your body’s survival. Failing to feel the pain of serious injuries can make it possible for you to get the help you need before the pain sets in with a vengeance.  

 Unfortunately, it also means that you may miss even serious injuries in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Slip and fall victims, for example, may stand up and walk away, only to realize later that they suffered severe back or neck injuries that should have received prompt medical attention. Worse, their symptoms may worsen over the following days, especially if they continue to ignore the need for medical attention.  

 Car accident victims may leave the scene of a car accident with traumatic brain injury, but fail to realize its severity. You may have broken bones concealed by the adrenaline coursing through your body. You may have suffered severe internal damage, including internal bruising or bleeding, but not realize the severity of your injuries until much later. The most effective means of diagnosing these injuries is visiting a doctor before more serious symptoms show up.  

 Going to the Doctor Ensures Prompt Treatment and Evaluation 

Going to the doctor to treat your injuries helps ensure that you will receive prompt, full evaluation of all your injuries and provides you with much-needed treatment. A doctor can ensure that you get the emergency surgery you need, that broken bones get set promptly, or that you have the right care instructions to help you get better quickly. 

 Failure to visit the doctor, on the other hand, could also mean failure to treat those injuries. As a result, you could lengthen your recovery or worsen the severity of your injuries, which could cause you unnecessary suffering. Many people walk around with severe injuries because they chose not to seek treatment, increasing the pain they face because they chose not to see a doctor.  

 A Doctor’s Report Provides Vital Evidence for a Personal Injury Claim 

Following many types of severe injuries in an accident, you may need to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for financial losses related to the accident. Suppose, for example, that you suffered injuries in a car accident. As part of your accident claim, you may need to seek compensation for medical expenses and lost wages related to your injuries. Car insurance policies contain separate sections for property damage and bodily injury protection, which means that you can expect some compensation for financial losses related directly to your injuries. 

 The insurance company, however, may try to fight your claim–and failing to promptly seek medical treatment can make it more difficult for you to provide the evidence you need.  

 Suppose, for example, that you suffered traumatic brain injury during the accident, but did not go to the emergency room or urgent care immediately. Days later, you realized that the brain fog had not lifted and that you struggled to complete normal tasks or bring forward critical memories. You ended up missing months at work while recovering, in addition to suffering serious medical expenses.  

 Unfortunately, since you did not go to the doctor for several days after the accident, you may not have evidence that directly links your injuries to the accident. The insurance company may try to argue that you may have suffered those injuries at another time, which would mean that the company is not liable for paying for any of your expenses.  

 You May Inadvertently Worsen Your Injuries If You Do Not Visit the Doctor 

In many cases, accident victims who do not recognize the severity of their injuries inadvertently make them worse by failing to treat them immediately after the accident. Walking on a broken bone, for example, could cause you to worsen the break, turning it from a minor break that would heal with casting and rest to a severe injury that might require surgery to treat properly. Failure to treat internal bleeding could lead to severe injury and, in some cases, even death.  

 Not only does worsening your injuries mean more pain and a longer recovery, it could mean that you cannot receive compensation for the additional trauma you faced. If the insurance company that covers the liable party can prove that your actions made your injuries worse, you may not receive any compensation for that percentage of your injuries.  

 Virtual Visits: One Option for Medical Treatment 

In the case of severe injuries, you may need to visit the emergency room directly for treatment. Severe injuries may require direct, immediate intervention from a doctor: surgery, setting broken bones, or conducting scans and evaluations that can only be performed in a medical setting. In other cases, however, you may be able to use a virtual or telehealth visit to connect with a doctor and receive a basic evaluation of your injuries and information about how to treat them. Sometimes, a doctor can offer diagnostic information or advise you about your next steps without needing you to come in personally.  

 

Driving in severe weather can be scary and hazardous. Winter storms and dangerous road conditions contribute to nearly half a million crashes and 2,000 each winter according to research done by AAA. Even in north Georgia, drivers aren’t exempt from dangerous traveling conditions throughout the winter. If you’ve been through a Georgia winter, chances are that you’re already familiar with icy road conditions during the cold winter months. Its important for all Georgia drivers to be aware of some basic winter safety driving tips.

Check your tires at the beginning of winter. Its important for your tires to be properly inflated and have the proper amount of tread.

Stay alert and don’t use cruise control. Using cruise control can be extremely dangerous in icy road conditions.

Drive slowly. Even though you may be very familiar with the roads you’re traveling, its important to drive more slowly than normal.

Leave extra space between you and the cars in front of you. Its much more difficult for your car to come to a complete stop in wet and icy road conditions, making it more likely for you to rear end the car in front of you without proper distancing.

Don’t accelerate up hills. Accelerating up hills will only make your tires spin. If you see a hill coming up try to speed up and gain some inertia before and let your inertia carry you up the hill.

Don’t leave home if you don’t have to! Our most important tip is to stay home if you don’t absolutely have to go out on wet and icy roads.

If you have questions about a vehicle accident and would like to speak to an experienced auto accident attorney, you can call Kyle today to schedule your free consultation!