Atlanta Personal Injury Law Blog

The importance of a home electrical inspection

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Negligent Maintenance on Friday, May 25, 2018.

Between 2010 and 2014, there were 45,210 fires in homes caused by electrical problems, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Therefore, it is important to conduct a safety check before moving into a home in Georgia or any other state. The first step in such an inspection is to check the outlets to be sure that they have plates, and outlet plugs can be purchased to prevent small children from getting hurt.

Outlets and switches should not be loose or broken. If they are, they should be fixed immediately as such issues could be signs of a significant electrical issue. Next, be sure to check the electrical panel in the home. Doing so allows a homeowner to check if fuses or circuit breakers are the right size. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) can help trip circuits when too much electricity is passing through them. Individuals should check for them as part of an electrical panel inspection.

Bounce house accident leaves 9-year-old with injuries

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Georgia parents may be interested to learn that a 9-year-old California boy suffered minor injuries in a bounce house accident on May 12. California authorities said that strong winds caused the bounce house to fly up into the air with the child inside. It landed about a quarter mile away from the child's backyard. It struck a car that was traveling on Highway 395; however, the boy fell out of the bounce house before the collision.

This is not the first case where strong winds have caused bounce houses to go airborne with children inside. In New York in 2014, for example, two young boys were thrown from a bounce house after it had been swept 20 feet into the air. One boy, age 5, struck his head on a parked car while the other boy, age 6, suffered broken bones after falling onto a street. Another incident that occurred in South Carolina in 2017 resulted in injuries to five children.

Trampolines and their associated safety risks

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

Families in Georgia who own a trampoline or are thinking of buying one may be wondering what the safety risks are. One pediatric orthopedic surgeon says that trampolines should not be regarded as a "toy," claiming that they are responsible for thousands of emergency room visits every year in the U.S.

A study from Indiana University shows that trampolines caused 288,876 fractures between the years 2002 and 2011, costing victims and their families more than $1 billion in medical expenses. The majority of fractures occur at the forearm, elbow and wrist as well as the legs and ankles. Dislocations are also common. Most who suffer from these injuries are children under 16.

Did you suffer in a crime due to a lax in apartment security?

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC on Monday, May 7, 2018.

Looking for a new place to live can be an exciting experience. Whether you are looking to live away from your parents for the first time or have simply decided to move to another location, you may consider living in an apartment complex due to the ease of renting, at least for the time being. Of course, you likely also have considerable concerns regarding the safety in the place you choose to call home.

Most apartment complexes have some security measures in place. These features could include gates with keycard or coded access, lights to keep parking lots or other areas well-lit at all times, security personnel to patrol the premises or other measures that could help keep you and other residents or visitors safe. Of course, some property owners or managers could become lax in their safety features, and you or someone else could end up the victim of a crime as a result.

In wake of Parkland shooting, father files wrongful death suit

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Inadequate Security on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

Many Georgia residents were shocked by the school shooting that occurred back in February in Parkland, Fla. The shooter faces 17 charges of murder and 17 charges of attempted murder. In addition, two lawsuits have been filed on behalf of the victims. The first was filed in early April by the parents of a student whose injuries now confine him to a wheelchair. The second is a wrongful death suit just recently filed in a Broward County court.

The plaintiff is the father of one of the victims, and the eight defendants from whom he seeks an unspecified amount of damages include the shooter, three mental health centers that treated the shooter and a deputy sheriff. The deputy, who was assigned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as an armed resource officer in 2009, stands accused of failing to carry out his duty.

What to know about dog bites and homeowners insurance

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, April 26, 2018.

There are roughly 4.5 million dog bites reported in Georgia and throughout the United States each year according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. With 6,244 incidents reported in 2017, postal workers were bitten the most often. Roughly 20 percent of bites require treatment in an emergency room. In 2017, the average dog bite homeowners insurance claim cost $37,051, and claims related to dog bites made up one-third of all homeowners insurance claims.

The severity of injuries and the associated medical costs are among the reasons cited for why the cost of such claims rose 11 percent in 2017. The cost of a dog bite claim has gone up 90 percent between 2003 and 2017. There are ways in which a dog owner can minimize the odds that their pet will bite someone. For instance, owners can reward the dog with treats when it behaves properly as opposed to punishing it for doing something wrong.

Hurt in a parking lot? You may have a claim to compensation

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in blog on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

If you suffered harm in a Georgia parking lot either because of a crime committed against you or because of an accident, you have the right to seek financial compensation through a civil claim. However, it can be difficult to prove these claims, and many victims of parking lot accidents may feel unsure if they have a valid claim.

Victims of premises liability incidents or parking lot accidents may find it beneficial to seek help regarding their legal options. With quick action, it is possible to gather the appropriate evidence necessary to build a strong claim against the liable parties. The business owner or another third party could be responsible for your physical suffering and your financial harm.

Trial against David Copperfield and MGM Grand Casino begins

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, April 19, 2018.

Georgia fans of star magician David Copperfield might be interested in a slip and fall lawsuit that is pending against Copperfield and the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. A jury trial began in the case on April 13.

The lawsuit was filed by a British tourist who was randomly selected from the audience to participate in a disappearing act. The man claims that he was injured during the act in a slip and fall accident. The incident reportedly happened on Nov. 12, 2013, and the lawsuit was filed in 2014.

Trump Tower lacks sprinklers in its apartments

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, April 11, 2018.

Georgia residents may have heard about the fire that broke out in Trump Tower at about 5 p.m. on April 7. The fire resulted in six firefighters sustaining injuries and one person dying. According to authorities, there was no sprinkler system at the time of the blaze. The building is the same one in which President Trump has a residence, and neither the president nor any family members were in the building at the time of the fire.

Trump Tower was built in 1983 before there were any requirements to have sprinkler systems in place. However, older buildings are required to have them installed if major renovations take place. While there have been calls for all buildings to have them installed regardless of age, cost concerns have been cited as a reason why this has not been done.

Waterslide designer charged in boy's death

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Friday, April 6, 2018.

Georgia readers may remember hearing about the death of a 10-year-old boy on a Kansas waterslide in 2016. On April 2, one of the ride's designers was arrested for his role in the fatal accident.

The 72-year-old defendant has been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated endangering a child. According to court documents, he and another designer rushed to get the waterslide, called the Verruckt, up and running at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City. Authorities say that neither designer had the engineering expertise required to build an amusement ride. Several others also face charges, including the second designer, the construction company that erected the ride, the co-owner of Schlitterbahn and the park's former operations manager.