Atlanta Personal Injury Law Blog

Pools and spas are the top threat for toddlers in summer

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Georgia residents who own a swimming pool or spa may be looking forward to the summer. However, they should keep in mind that pools and spas can pose a safety hazard, especially for toddlers. In June 2019, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission came out with a report saying that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among 1- to 4-year-olds in the U.S. As for those aged 5 to 19, the leading cause is transportation accidents.

Between 2014 and 2016, the CPSC discovered that there were 363 pool- or spa-related drowning episodes in the U.S. that involved children under 15. Of the fatalities, 74% were children under 5. June, the month that the CPSC released its report as well as the beginning of summer, sees the highest rate of drowning fatalities.

Gunshot wounds are costly injuries

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Most people go through life never imagining they will become the victim of a crime. You may see news coverage of such events in other states. Even if a tragic crime occurs near your Georgia home, it may still be too terrible to conceive that you may be involved in a similar incident.

Nevertheless, if the unthinkable has happened and you are recovering from a gunshot wound you received when someone else was committing a crime, you may have many questions about your options and concerns regarding your future. Gunshot wounds can quickly cause devastating injuries, and the cost of treatment and recovery can be astronomical. Knowing what you are up against may help you make some important decisions about how to move forward.

Easy safety measures to keep parking lots safe

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

Employers in Georgia or anywhere else may be liable for injuries that occur to employees in parking lots. Therefore, it is important that they take steps to ensure that workers are as safe as possible while on a lot or in a parking garage. One way to accomplish this goal is to ensure that everyone knows where they should be driving or walking. Bright paint, physical barriers or large signs can help direct traffic in a lot or in a garage.

Any surface that a person may walk on should be properly maintained. This can prevent a person from tripping or falling because of a crack or the presence of a pothole. It may also be necessary to make sure that paint has not cracked or faded. Employers should make sure that a parking lot or garage has sufficient lighting. This makes it easier for both drivers and pedestrians to see each other and avoid an accident.

What courts look at in bedbug lawsuits

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Generally speaking, there are no laws that regulate how a hotel must protect a guest against bedbugs. However, the operator must still make a good faith effort to prevent them from infesting a guest's room. Ideally, a hotel in Georgia will implement a program to ensure that bedbugs don't have the ability to enter a building or spread from room to room. In addition to protecting an establishment from a lawsuit, this can help to preserve a hotel's brand as well.

At a minimum, customers should be warned about the presence of bedbugs or the potential that they may be in a room. Using active mattress liners can also help to prevent bedbugs for up to two years at a time. Rooms should be inspected for signs of an infestation on a regular basis. Doing so can help an establishment be proactive in protecting their guests and reduce its liability at the same time.

Are you vulnerable to theft or assault at a cash machine?

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

You may be like many who enjoy the convenience of going cashless. Even small purchases of a dollar or two are easier with a debit card, and you can keep track of your purchases when you check your bank statement. However, there are times when you need cash. When the bank is closed, you may have to use an ATM to access your cash. Unfortunately, this may mean placing yourself in harm's way.

Safety tips regarding the use of ATMs after hours often include ways to keep your PIN secure and watch for skimming devices that can rip you off. You hear advice to cover your PIN, check your balance and put your money away immediately. A more important precaution to consider, however, is your physical safety when you use an ATM.

Supermarket chain virtually eliminates slip-and-fall accidents

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Slip & Fall Accidents on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Retailers in Georgia and around the country tend to view slip-and-fall accidents and the lawsuits that they give rise to as an inevitable part of doing business, but a Pennsylvania-based supermarket chain has virtually eliminated slip-and-fall injuries at its 57 warehouse and convenience stores by making both employee and customer safety a top priority. Redner's Markets has achieved this by adopting a comprehensive strategy that includes frequently checking store floors for spills or other hazards, providing all workers with thorough safety training and placing adhesive-backed floor mats in high-risk areas.

Redner's safety program uses barcode technology to refine and improve existing safety protocols. Workers use barcodes to log their activities when they check floors for dangerous conditions or clean up spills. Managers then check these records to ensure that high-risk areas have not been neglected. Barcodes are also used during safety walks that are designed to identify areas that could be made safer.

Preventing dog bites and what to do when prevention fails

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Every year in Georgia and across the U.S., over 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs. This results in some $600 million in medical claims. Yet most dog bites can be prevented if people understand that dogs are liable to attack when they are sick, they get overexcited during play, they are startled or the safety of their owner, food, toy or territory appears to be threatened.

Since children comprise most of the victims in dog bite cases, parents should consider the following tips. They should teach their children not to interact with dogs that are strangers. They should never reach out to a dog, especially if it is through a fence, but rather let the dog approach them. They must not bother dogs that are hiding, sleeping, eating or playing with a toy.

Risk of fractures higher at trampoline parks than at home

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has found that the percentage of severe injuries incurred at trampoline parks and jump parks is higher than on home trampolines. Georgia residents should know that this includes both children and adults. The most frequent injuries were fractures, especially lower extremity fractures. Open fractures and fractures requiring surgery are more common in these parks.

The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission estimates that in 2014, there were more than 100,000 cases of trampoline users visiting the emergency department. Trampoline parks, according to the study, have shot up in popularity over the past five years, so that number is likely much higher now.

Dodger Stadium assault case scheduled for mediation

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC posted in Premises Liability on Friday, May 3, 2019.

Sports stadiums can be the site for many preventable accidents, which, in turn, may lead to premises liability claims. Georgia residents may want to know about one such case where a man was assaulted just outside of Dodger Stadium back in 2015. His complaint was filed in 2017, and now the Los Angeles Superior Court has scheduled the case for mediation in February 2020.

The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff was leaving Dodger Stadium around 10 p.m. when he was approached by two individuals, a 52-year-old woman and her son. The two began to shout vulgar language at him. Upon reaching the handicapped parking area, he was then physically assaulted by the two. He lost consciousness and continued to be kicked. He suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result.

Amusement parks aren't always fun

On behalf of Isenberg & Hewitt, PC on Monday, April 29, 2019.

As you begin to make your summer plans, you may think about visiting one or more of Georgia's amusement and theme parks. Spending a day or more at one could provide your whole family with lots of fun.

However, your trip could also end disastrously. Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries at these parks across the country. In fact, in 2016, no fewer than 30,000 people suffered injuries, most of which may have been preventable. A survey conducted by a children's hospital revealed that one out of every five parents fails to discuss park safety with their children.