Atlanta Injury Law Blog

A developer of Global Positioning System (GPS) software has developed a time-tracking system that would let truckers use a cell phone to log their Hours of Service. However, the FMCSA requires tracking systems for HOS purposes to be connected to the truck’s engine. Xora, a Mountain View, Calif.-based developer of wireless technology software, has requested…

A thoughtful article in RedNova fairly explores the complexity of medical economics that the tort reform advocates in the legislature often overlooked. One quote from an Atlanta physician: “My problem with [Georgia’s tort reform] is doctors have been pitted against lawyers, when it’s really a case of insurance companies against patients. If anything, doctors should…

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has launched a Spanish language web site. With a shortage of truck drivers, young Hispanics a rapidly growing portion of the work force, and Mexican truckers coming into the US under NAFTA rules, it makes sense. See article and web site. By law, truck drivers must be able to…

Corporate Counsel has an article about hte use of “black box” electronic data recorders tracking truckers’ driving hours, speed, etc., and the resistance of truckers to having an “electronic spy” in the truck cab. Thanks to John Day for pointing it out. The Shigley Law Firm represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases…

As often as I call attention to news stories of horrible crashes caused by the negligence of trucking companies and their drivers, I must point out that they are not always at fault. At 2 AM today, July 5th, a tank truck driver was shot in the head with a bottle rocket by one of…

On I-4 in Tampa, a tractor trailer crossed the median of I-4 and killed an occupant of an oncoming vehicle. The news story does not tell the reason the trucker crossed the median. Investigation should include possible violations of Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations related to fatigue , possibly related to hours of service violations,…

When an Illinois mom pulled her minivan off on the shoulder of I-24 to attend to a colicky baby, a trucker from Tennessee drifted out of the traffic lanes and stuck the minivan. Two siblings, aged 11 years and 7 weeks, were killed. The mom and two other children were injured. The truck driver was…

The driver of a tractor trailer has been charged with vehicular homicide, DUI and reckless driving after a fatal crash on I-285 during Friday afternoon rush hour, that killed three and reportedly injured seven others. See Channel 2, Channel 11 , and AJC coverage. Police said Monday that investigators now believe the tractor-trailer struck one…

Brunswick, GA, 6/17/05. Karissa Wetzel of Brunswick was killed when a dump truck traveling next to her blew a tire and struck her. The pickup in which she was traveling overturned several times, and she was ejected. See Jacksonville Channel 4 news story. This report does not say whether the dump truck was an interstate…

A friend whose two children both have heart defects recently passed along to me waht he has learned about a couple of obscure options for somewhat affordable health care coveage. First, the Insurance Commissioner’s Office has an Assigned Risk program. My friend pays $440 per month for family coverage; the plan pays 70% of charges…