Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Atlanta, Georgia Lawyers Support MADD Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving–and the Injuries and Deaths It Causes

Our personal injury and wrongful death attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia support MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. If you have not done so, please go to Parade magazine’s website at www.parade.com/drunkdriving, and vote “YES” in the poll asking this question: “Should ignition interlocks be mandatory for drunk drivers nationwide?”
MADD’s National President Laura Dean-Mooney has asked that this message (below) be passed along, so we are using our blog to publicize it. Please pass this message along to your friends and family, to help eliminate drunk driving!
Hello! I hope you are having a wonderful Super Bowl weekend. I don’t usually write to you on the weekends, but there is an extraordinary opportunity today and tomorrow to help advance the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving quickly and easily, so I wanted to let good friends like you know.
The Parade Magazine that comes out Sunday, February 1st, includes a short piece on the effectiveness of interlocks. The Parade article highlights the huge reductions in repeat offenses that interlocks can achieve by making it so that drunk drivers can’t drive drunk. The article is up at www.parade.com/drunkdriving and it’s a quick read.
The exciting part is that there is a poll next to the article asking whether these interlocks should be required for all drunk drivers nationwide. We are working to get just such a bill in every state this year and having your voice in this poll would help us convince legislators that interlocks aren’t just the right thing to do, but that they are also the right thing to do politically.
Please take a moment today or tomorrow to go to www.parade.com/drunkdriving and make your voice heard; please help let the politicians know that you want to eliminate drunk driving as soon as possible.
Thank you for your strong support. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
Happy Super Bowl weekend,
Laura Dean-Mooney
MADD National President
PS. Would you please also ask your friends and family to vote? Thanks!

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New Swimming Pool Safety Requirements Help Prevent Drowning

Every spring and summer as swimming pools open for the season, we read about tragic drownings, often involving children. Statistics show that drowning and near drowning are a leading cause of death and brain injury. Many of these unfortunate incidents could be prevented if swimming pools had proper anti-drowning drain covers and suction cutoff devices installed. These covers and suction cutoff devices are designed to prevent children from being caught in the swimming pool drain as a result of strong suction. Under the new
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Bus Accident Near Hoover Dam Kills Seven–And Follows Atlanta, Georgia Bluffton University Crash As Another Example of Why Seat Belts on Motorcoaches Can Prevent Deaths and Serious Personal Injuries

Since our Atlanta, Georgia personal injury lawyers represent the most seriously injured survivor of the Bluffton University bus accident in March 2007, we have written previously why it is an outrage that seat belts are not required on buses in the United States.
Many of the serious injuries and deaths in the Bluffton rollover crash occurred because the bus had no seat belts–and thus passengers were ejected onto the roadway.
Tonight we were saddened to learn that this preventable tragedy has been repeated–once again. A bus travelling near Hoover Dam in Arizona rolled over, passengers apparently ejected onto the roadway, and seven passengers died.
News reports indicate that the bus was heading north on Highway 93 (a four-lane highway), veered right, and then overcorrected. The bus then apparently crossed the median and rolled over at least once.
The victims were Chinese citizens who had traveled from San Francisco to Las Vegas. When the crash occurred, they were returning from a trip to the Grand Canyon.
It is a “no brainer” that seat belts save lives. Most Americans are amazed that buses and motorcoaches are not required to have seat belts for passengers to use. When a bus wrecks, passengers can often be thrown around inside the bus and even ejected, and death or serious personal injury is a near certainty.
We hope the new administration in Washington puts a stop to this recurring tragedy by mandating that buses have seat belts. Ohterwise, the senseless deaths and horrific injuries will continue.

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Nursing Home Rating Scale – A Great Consumer Tool

In addition to representing victims of trucking accidents and automobile accidents, Finch McCranie, LLP also represents victims of nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect. including patients who have sustained decubitus ulcers (bed sores), falls and brutality in nursing homes.
In one case we handled, our client who suffered from Alzheimers Disease was actually struck in the face by one of the caseworkers. When struck the client fell, breaking her hip. She underwent surgery to repair the hip; however, the trauma of the
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Georgia Jury Awards $1.25 Million for Neglect by Nursing Home

The lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP have seen many different types of injuries result from being in various nursing homes. Some injuries are the result of being assaulted by nursing home staff or other patients and others are the result of nursing home neglect. Recently the family of a man who died four years ago at a Georgia nursing home was awarded $1.25 million after the jury found that the nursing home’s neglect was responsible for his wrongful death. Tucker Nursing Center allegedly
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Georgia Senator Introduces a Bill To Regulate Television Advertising By Lawyers

The personal injury law firm of Finch McCranie, LLP has been representing victims of truck accidents and automobile accidents for over 40 years. We do not advertise on television and have no intention of doing so. Unseemly television advertising has damaged the public image of the law profession. One Georgia senator is trying to do something about it; however, in its present form, it is not likely to pass.
Senator Seth Harp, a practicing Georgia attorney, has introduced a bill in Georgia Senate that proposes
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Uninsured Motorist Coverage And Georgia Drivers:

We have blogged before about the importance of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Because of the economic problems being currently experienced by our Country, such coverage is probably now more important than ever. Many people who are experiencing economic problems are cutting back on expenses. Some people are driving with no insurance. When insurance premiums and bills are received they are ignored. In short, people are taking their chances that they won’t be in an accident while driving without insurance. Those who are violating the
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Two Georgians Injured By Peanut Product Salmonella Food Poisoning

Our Georgia injury lawyers know that food poisoning cases can result in serious injury, and sometimes death. Just this week, federal officials announced that two Georgia citizens have been poisoned by salmonella found in peanut products and they warned consumers of dangers associated with more than 125 products recalled as part of a nationwide salmonella-and-peanuts Investigation. The Food and Drug Administration said products affected by the recall range from ice cream to pet foods. A list of recalled peanut products is available on
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Georgia’s Emergency Rooms-A Safe Haven For Medical Malpractice

Georgia injury lawyers are acutely aware of the so-called “tort reform” changes in the law which has limited and in some cases eliminated the rights of victims of medical malpractice. Unfortunately, most Georgia citizens are unaware that since 2005, emergency rooms have been a place where there is no liability for injuries caused by careless healthcare providers. Current Georgia law makes it virtually impossible for an injured patient to seek accountability in the Courts because it requires an injured victim to show by “clear
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Consumers of Dangerous Drugs Have Uphill Battle-Doctrine of Federal Preemption Protects Drug Companies

Like most Georgia injury lawyers, we are seeing more and more dangerous drug cases being dismissed because of the doctrine of federal preemption. An example of this came to our attention recently. A Kentucky man developed a drug-induced neurological disease after using a gastric reflex drug for years. He filed a lawsuit asserting state law products liability, negligence and breach of warranty claims against both the brand manufacturer and the generic manufacturers of the drug, claiming that it caused him to develop the disease.
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How Weather Conditions Influence Truck Accident Liability: What Victims Should Know

Weather is a major factor in road safety, especially for large commercial trucks.

Even mild rain, fog, snow, or wind can turn routine driving into a serious hazard—and complicate questions of legal responsibility.

Truck drivers must be trained to adapt to these conditions, yet many accidents happen because of poor decisions or company negligence.

Proving liability in weather-related crashes is challenging, but with fast action and deep legal knowledge, it’s possible to hold the right
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What Truck Accident Victims Should Know About Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Data

One of the most devastating events on our roadways is a truck accident.

These collisions frequently cause serious injuries or fatalities because of the size and weight of commercial vehicles.

In the aftermath, victims and their families are left not only coping with trauma and medical bills but also searching for answers: What caused the accident? Could it have been prevented? Who is liable?

More precise and fact-based solutions to these problems are now feasible
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Is There a Cap on Wrongful Death Compensation? What Families Should Know About Limits

One of the most terrible things a family can go through is losing a loved one because of the carelessness of another person.

Knowing your legal rights and alternatives becomes crucial during this extremely taxing period, particularly with regard to wrongful death compensation.

Is there a cap on wrongful death damages? This is a question that many families have.

The answer isn’t simple and varies widely depending on where you live and the specifics of your
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Legal Rights of Parents in Unborn Child Wrongful Death Cases

It is an unfathomable sadness to lose an unborn child as a result of someone else’s carelessness.

In Georgia, parents have legal avenues to seek justice and compensation through wrongful death claims.

However, these cases are fraught with complexities, and understanding the legal framework is crucial.

Understanding Wrongful Death in the Context of Unborn Children

Georgia law allows parents to pursue wrongful death claims for the loss of an unborn child, provided certain conditions are met.

Usually at 24 weeks of gestation, the fetus
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Medical Malpractice Settlements vs. Jury Trials: Which Is Right for You?

When a medical procedure goes wrong, the consequences can be devastating—emotionally, physically, and financially.

Victims and families often face a whirlwind of pain, confusion, and legal questions.

One of the most important decisions you’ll face in a medical malpractice case is whether to accept a settlement or pursue a jury trial.

Each path comes with its own risks and rewards, and making the right choice could shape the outcome of your entire case.

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Who Can File a Medical Malpractice Claim? Understanding Your Rights

You may be able to file a medical malpractice claim when you or a loved one experienced harm as a result of a medical professional’s carelessness.

Many people aren’t sure whether they have the right to file or if their situation qualifies as malpractice.

As seasoned medical malpractice attorneys at Finch McCranie LLP, we believe understanding your legal rights is the first step in holding healthcare providers accountable and seeking the justice you deserve.
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How Settlements Work in Medical Malpractice Cases

Without competent legal assistance, allegations of medical negligence can be difficult to handle due to their complexity, emotional content, and difficulty.

It’s essential to understand how settlements in medical malpractice cases work if you or a loved one experienced harm as a consequence of a healthcare provider’s negligence.

Many parties prefer to settle their cases out of court, but it’s crucial to understand what that process involves, what to anticipate, and how an experienced medical malpractice
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What Evidence Is Critical in Truck Accident Injury Lawsuits?

Truck accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities, making it one of the most damaging categories of personal injury incidents.

A accident between a commercial truck and a smaller vehicle can have serious financial, psychological, and physical repercussions.

In the aftermath, pursuing legal action may be the only way for victims to secure the compensation they deserve.

But not every claim is successful. The quality and extent of the evidence acquired nearly totally determines
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The Role of Expert Witnesses in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

In medical malpractice trials, expert witnesses are essential because they help the court make sense of complicated medical data.

With a background in healthcare, they analyze medical records to identify whether the standard of care was breached and explain how such breaches caused harm.

Their evidence enables the holding of negligent medical professionals accountable by translating medical jargon into English that juries and judges can easily understand.

Having worked both as a nurse and now
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How a Surgical Negligence Lawyer Can Help If You Suspect Malpractice

Surgical procedures, regardless of complexity, require absolute precision, coordination, and adherence to medical protocols Patients entrust surgical specialists with their trust and even their lives.

But what happens when that trust is broken? When a routine or high-risk surgery results in unexpected harm, and the cause seems to stem from something more than chance?

If you suspect that your injuries, complications, or unexpected outcome after surgery are due to negligence, it’s essential to take proactive steps.

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