Georgia Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Beware When Toy Shopping Says Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer

Published on: December 7, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

More than 262,000 kids were injured last year by toys that were given to them by unsuspecting friends and relatives. If , like most Americans, you’re planning to buy toys for the children in your life this holiday season, there are some important things you need to keep in mind.

The number one injury sustained by children is asphyxiation (often from choking on toy parts, small balls or balloons). Experts warn that if a child is under the age of three, don’t buy him or her anything small enough to fit through the cardboard tube of a roll of paper towels – about 1.25 inches in diameter. Items small enough to fit in those tubes are small enough for little ones to swallow and choke on.

In 2008, there were enough toy-related deaths to cause Congress to enact new legislation that toughened laws on toy manufacturers. Despite that, there are still hundreds of dangerous toys on American store shelves. Particular things to beware of:

Routine Maintenance Tips from Alpharetta Accident Lawyer

Published on: November 7, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

As the fall makes its way toward winter, it’s a good idea to check your automobile maintenance records. It’s become common practice to change the batteries in your smoke detector when Daylight Savings Time ends, and at the Van Sant Law, we like to remind our clients that this time of year it’s important to make sure your automobile is being well maintained.

Slick roads during the winter won’t cause near as much trouble for you this season if you make sure your tires have a good tread and are road worthy. Visit the neighborhood tire shop for a free inspection, and if the technicians say you should rotate your tires, do it! If you need to buy tires, it’s always best to buy four at once. Since that may not be financially feasible, be sure to replace the worst tires first. Many tire stores offer discounts when you buy four at a time, so be sure to check prices to get the best deal.

Good brakes are also a key to safe winter driving, so if you’ve heard some grinding or squealing, or if your car doesn’t always stop as fast as you’d like, it may be time for new pads or shoes. If you are keeping good records on your vehicle, you should be able to identify when the last time you had brake work done. If it’s been a while, or if you have no record at all, it’s worth your safety and that of your passengers to have your brakes checked out.

Get Your Family to Sign a “No Texting” Pledge

Published on: November 5, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

Parents of teen drivers in Georgia should mandate that their children learn the dangers of texting and driving and encourage them to sign a “No Texting Pledge,’ says Alphareeta Accident Lawyer David Van Sant.

Texting while driving requires a lot of attention. It requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, making it is by far the most dangerous distraction to drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed. That’s a very scary thought.

Share this information with your teens. Commit to not texting while you drive, and make sure they know it’s against your rules. When your children are away from home, don’t try to reach them by text if you know there is a chance they are in the car. Try not to call them when they are driving either, and don’t talk on your cell phone when your kids are riding with you. This is a rule you can begin to share with even the youngest of kids.

Contamination of Water Cause for Class Action Personal Injury Suits

Published on: November 2, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

The goal of the team at Van Sant Law, is to protect victims of personal injury as well as keep them up-to-date regarding new cases and changes in the law. In response to a recent case which took place in Charleston, West Virginia, David Van Sant had the following observations. He commented that the attorney in the case filed three personal injury lawsuits because C8 was found in water supplies. It is believed that the local water may have been contaminated by DuPont. If this is the case, the number of incidents will undoubtedly rise as exposure to C8 can lead to a number of different diseases.

In the Wood County Circuit Court, a class action lawsuit has been filed. The lawsuit states that this potentially dangerous substance may have been contaminating water in the area since as early as the 1950s. DuPont manufactures Teflon and other products, products which used C8 in their production. A science panel has found that exposure to C8 can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension, kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and ulcerated colitis. Due to these findings, DuPont is not able to argue that C8 can cause certain diseases.

Attorney Van Sant also stated that in cases involving a class action lawsuit, it is imperative that you have legal representation on your side that you can trust. He also stated that those who have been exposed to toxic substances like C8 may not see the consequences for years. Therefore, just because you may not be showing any symptoms as of yet, it does not mean that it will not happen.

Facebook Photos Cause Questions in Personal Injury Case

Published on: November 1, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

Allied Concrete Company of Richmond, Virginia, was ordered to pay $10.6 million to the widower and the parents of a woman who was killed when a cement truck hit the car the victim was riding in. The concrete company’s lawyers were denied a new trial by Charlottesville Circuit Judge Edward L. Hogshire. The company appealed based on the fact that the woman’s husband had been advised to clean up his Facebook page to eliminate photos of him holding a beer and other pictures that the husband’s attorney told him jurors might find offensive.

The man and his lawyer were sanctioned $722,000 from the $8.6 million he was awarded for tampering with the Facebook page, which was considered to be misconduct. (The parents of the woman each received one million dollars.)

According to court documents, a month before the trial started, the husband’s lawyer requested that 16 photos from the Facebook page be deleted. Among the photos were pictures of the husband with alcohol and a photo of him wearing a t-shirt that said “I (heart symbol) hot moms.”

ATV Accidents Can Be Prevented with Training

Published on: October 25, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

In Georgia, a lot of people like to cut loose on the weekends, and ATV enthusiasts are growing in number. Unfortunately, so are ATV accidents, injuries and even deaths.

It’s funny how we’re very careful with our kids when it comes to driving our cars, but when it comes to things like mini bikes, jet skis, or ATVs, we hand over the keys and watch them speed away.

Making sure children and adults alike know the safety rules around these sorts of “toys” is key to preventing accidents. Boating season should be about over, but a few warm days is all it takes to get the jet skis back on the lakes. All jet ski drivers must complete a boater safety course. Personal flotation devices are required, and you can’t drink and drive. Some jet skis go as fast as 70 mph. Safe operation at all times is the key to safe riding and fun.

Secure Your Child in a Booster Seat While Driving in Georgia

Published on: October 24, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

Atlanta personal injury lawyer David Van Sant is an expert in laws designed to keep drivers safe. As an advocate for children and car accident victims of all ages, he often finds himself speaking with clients about child safety seat requirements.

In 2011 Georgia passed a new booster seat law that requires kids under eight years old to be secured in the back seat of a vehicle on a booster seat with a shoulder belt. The purpose of a booster seat is to raise kids up to a height where the seat belt, which is designed for an adult, fits them correctly.

The state of Georgia passed the law because statistics show that children who use a booster seat are 59% less likely to be injured in the event of an accident.

Football Season May Mean Tailgating, But Drinking & Driving is Out!

Published on: October 23, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

David Van Sant is an Alpharetta Personal Injury Attorney and football fan who says certain times of year definitely are busier in his legal practice. Van Sant works for accident victims, primarily those who have been injured in car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents or multi-vehicle pile-ups. Lately in Georgia there have been numerous accidents involving wrong-way drivers and those who have had too much to drink.

More DUIs During NFL Football Games

With fall football season in full swing, it’s important to recognize that there are times when the chance of meeting a drunk driver on the road are higher. Statistics show that in major cities throughout the United States, there are more DUIs before, during, and immediately after an NFL football game than any other major sport. This doesn’t have to apply to highways and sidestreets near the stadium. Thousands of bars, restaurants and private parties play host to fans and revelers. A drunk driver could be driving anywhere.

Teen Passengers Need Reminder on Rules of the Road

Published on: October 19, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

Teenagers are more likely to be injured in a car accident when they have more than one other teenager with them. That’s the news from the National Transportation Safety Board and Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer David Van Sant.

Teen drivers need to be reminded that driving is a privilege, and parents are responsible for laying the ground rules that help to keep their teen drivers and passengers safe.

If you’re the parent of a teen, and your teen doesn’t drive but is frequently a passenger with other teens, remind her of the “passenger safety rules:”

Safe Travel Tips for Business and Personal Use: Atlanta Injury Lawyer

Published on: October 18, 2012 | By Van Sant Law

Road trips can be a great way to relieve stress in between longer vacations, and some business travelers are even opting to drive short distances because it’s just easier than flying nowadays. But if you’re taking off on a weekend trip or a sales call out of town,review these safety tips:

Plan ahead. Even if the idea is to do something spontaneous that you plan on a Thursday and do on a Friday, at least find a place to stay before you leave town. It’s not uncommon to go off on a trip only to find that everyone else had the same idea, Read online hotel reviews to make sure you don’t end up on the wrong side of town, and make a hotel reservation in advance.
Map your route. Even if you have a GPS, you should know where you are going. Technology can fail, and you don’t want to be relying on your cell phone GPS in an area without service. And yes, those areas still exist where the answer to, “Can you hear me now?” is “No!