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According to the Bleacher Report, former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock surrendered himself to authorities this month. Blaylock has been charged with vehicular homicide after being blamed for a head-on accident. The NBA player reportedly blacked out before the crash, which reports indicate may have potentially been caused by a seizure.  

Our Atlanta car accident lawyers know that many medical conditions can make driving unsafe or impossible. If someone has a medical condition that could cause him to black out and he makes a decision to drive anyway, that individual could be considered legally negligent and civilly liable for the damage caused.

NBA Player Causes Fatal Head-on Crash

The Bleacher Report indicates that the fatal crash involving the NBA star occurred on May 31. Blaylock was driving his Cadillac Escalade when he apparently blacked out behind the wheel. The Escalade went over a median and hit a van head-on. There were two passengers in the van.

One passenger, a 43-year-old-woman, died at the hospital hours after the crash. The other passenger, the husband of the deceased, was rushed to Atlanta Medical Center in critical condition. His condition has slowly improved and it is now looking as though he will make a recovery.

The two innocent victims hit by the Cadillac Escalade suffered unimaginable loss because of the accident. An attorney for the NBA player indicates that Blaylock's blackout may have perhaps occurred because of a seizure. The Jonesboro Police Chief had indicated to a local TV station that Blaylock had a history of seizures and police were investigating whether a seizure may have been the cause.

Blaylock has a long history of driving problems. He is wanted in another state for failure to appear on a DUI charge, and police in this case not only charged him with vehicular manslaughter but also with driving on a suspended license; driving over a median and making an improper lane change. The criminal penalties for the combined offenses, especially for the vehicular manslaughter, mean that the Blaylock may be sentenced to serve prison time if convicted.

Blaylock could also face civil liability, which means that the injured husband could sue to recover for his own injuries and could sue for wrongful death for the loss of his wife. In order for a lawsuit to be successful or for the criminal charges to stick, however, Blaylock must have done something wrong.

Drivers are liable for accidents they cause if they act in an unreasonably careless way,  likely because they did something negligent or dangerous that put others at risk. In this case, civil and criminal authorities will be looking to determine whether his dangerous or careless actions were caused by driving with a seizure disorder and a history of blacking out or driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

Our Atlanta car accident attorneys know that many drivers make a lot of dangerous and careless choices behind the wheel. Despite the safety laws that are in place in Georgia, drivers continue to do things that put themselves and others at great risk of becoming involved in a car wreck. While there are a lot of different kinds of dangerous behavior that drivers engage in, two of the most risky behaviors behind the wheel include speeding and driving drunk. Georgia law enforcement is targeting both of these behaviors as part of the "100 Days of Summer HEAT."

Georgia Police Crack Down on Drivers

According to CBS Local Atlanta, all 159 counties throughout Georgia will be participating in the program called "100 Days of Summer HEAT." The program will kick off toward the end of May and is timed to coincide with the period when kids are out of school, when tourists come to visit, and when people throughout Atlanta are out doing activities in the warm weather.

The purpose of the Summer HEAT program is to save lives and to encourage drivers to avoid the riskiest types of driving mistakes. A spokesperson for the Governor's Office of Highway Safety was interviewed by CBS Atlanta and reiterated the focus on saving lives, indicating that the purpose of the targeted police effort is not just to issue tickets but is instead to actually make people safer during the summer driving season.

If drivers do not speed and/or if they do not drive drunk, then far fewer fatal crashes will occur as a result. Police hope that a statewide crackdown will discourage these behaviors. Drivers who are aware of the added police enforcement will ideally think twice before getting behind the wheel drunk or before driving aggressively fast and causing a crash.

Speeding and Drunk Driving are Top Accident Causes

Both aggressive speeding and drunk driving cause thousands of accidents and hundreds of deaths each year. Unfortunately, the risks of these dangerous driving behaviors are not limited to the person who made the choice and took the risk of driving drunk or going too fast. Innocent victims are often caught in accidents with aggressive or drunk drivers.

Drunk drivers or speeding drivers are more likely to:

• Veer out of their lanes, causing head-on accidents if they cross into oncoming traffic or side-swiping vehicles traveling beside them.
• Lose control of their vehicles, especially around curves. Drivers who take curves too fast increase their chances of roll-over accidents.
• Become involved in a high-speed, high-impact crash. A drunk driver may become involved in a high speed accident because the driver doesn't have the reflexes to slow down quickly enough when an accident is impending. A speeding driver is also unlikely to be able to slow the momentum of the car down in any significant way when a crash occurs.
• Disobey traffic signals or right-of-way rules.

Strict laws exist to prevent drunk driving and to ensure compliance with maximum speed limit rules. Unfortunately, police cannot be everywhere at all times, which means drivers still get away with breaking these laws and endangering themselves and others. The "100 Days of Summer HEAT" will hopefully reduce the dangerous behavior on the roads, and everyone will be safer this summer.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

For every parent, the day his or her teen starts to drive is a frightening one. Parents have good reason to be nervous about their young driver. After all, the IIHS indicates that drivers ages 15-19 make 70 percent more insurance claims for auto accidents than drivers in any other five-year age group. Further, as CNN reports, car accidents are the leading cause of death for kids ages 15 to 20.

Unfortunately, parents now have a new and even greater reason to be worried. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) indicates that the number of teen car accident deaths rose significantly in 2012 based on preliminary data. Our Atlanta, GA car accident lawyers know that if the trends continue in the final data, 2012 will be the second year in a row that more teens died in car wrecks than the year before.

Teen Car Accident Fatalities on the Rise
The GHSA collects information on fatal car accidents from members in all 50 states who report crashes. The data is then assembled to determine total fatalities as well as to determine how many people died in each state. GHSA compares the data to information from prior years to identify trends in car accident deaths.

In February, GHSA released a report indicating that the data for the first six months of 2012 did not look good. When considering deaths of 16- and 17-year-old drivers, the data showed a dramatic 19 percent increase in car accident fatalities as compared with the first half of 2011. Unfortunately, this preliminary data suggests that there will be an overall increase in the number of car accident fatalities for these young drivers. There was also an increase when comparing 2011 to 2010. The two consecutive years of increases come after eight years of decline.

The data in the state of Georgia was, however, better than average. In Georgia, six teens ages 16 and 17 years old died in the first six months of 2011 and five teens lost their lives during the same time period in the beginning half of 2012. While this was still five too many tragic losses, at least the state did not experience an overall increase in the number dead as so many other states did.

The good news for Georgia shouldn't be taken as a sign that Atlanta residents don't have to worry about teen car wrecks. GHSA indicates that small statistical changes from year-to-year shouldn't necessarily be considered indicative of any particular state policy since the sample sizes are simply small and thus prone to minor changes.

The overall increase in the number of teen deaths, which is so troubling, is important to focus on from this report even if Georgia was lucky enough not to experience an increase in deaths last year. GHSA believes that the overall increase has been driven, in large part, by more drivers on the road due to the better economy and by the fact that states are no longer really making improvements to graduated licensing programs. These factors suggest that the trend of more teen car accident deaths is not necessarily going to be resolved in a positive way any time soon.

To try to bring this number down, parents should make a point of talking to their kids about safe driving and law enforcement, and legislatures should continue efforts to pass and enforce safe driving laws to try to curb the rising tide of teen car accident fatalities.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

CBS Atlanta reported that a 14-year-old-South Georgia boy was recently killed in a bicycle accident. This young man, who was hit by a car on Monday morning, is one of many children who will lose their lives or suffer serious injuries as a result of a bicycle crash this year.

Our Atlanta, GA accident attorneys know that the number of bicycle accidents increases as the weather gets warmer and as more bike riders take to the roads to enjoy balmy days. We urge every bike rider to remember some basic safety tips in order to avoid becoming the victim of a bike accident this spring or summer.

Bicycle Accident Causes Child's Death

The bicycle accident that resulted in the death of the 14-year-old boy occurred when the victim was hit by a Chevrolet Suburban. The boy was riding on the road when he was approached by two cars from behind. The boy apparently believed that there was only one car that had come up behind him, as he reportedly switched lanes right into the path of the second car.

The Chevrolet Suburban hit the boy who had crossed over into his lane. The boy was knocked into a ditch as a result of the impact, and he was subsequently pronounced dead at the accident scene. According to CBS Atlanta, no charges are likely to be filed as a result of the accident.

Avoiding Bicycle Accidents

The bicycle accident in this case was tragic because it could perhaps have been avoided if the bike rider had been aware of the car behind him or if he had been riding on the sidewalk or the road shoulder instead of in the street.

Having proper bicycle lanes and a safe place for bike riders is one major thing that city officials can do in order to protect bicycle riders. When there are no safe lanes or spaces for bike riders, then cyclists should either refrain from riding or should be especially careful in traffic. The truth of the matter is far too many of these collisions are caused by drivers. An independent investigation can help determine all of the causes of a traffic collision.

Bicycle riders can also take other steps to try to stay safe from bicycle accidents including:

• Making sure they are visible to drivers by choosing bright clothing.
• Avoiding riding a bicycle during times of low visibility, such as at night time or in bad weather.
• Adding a bicycle light to their bikes for use when riding during fog or rain or for use when riding at night time.
• Making sure their bicycles are in good working order, with sufficient air pressure in the tires and working pedals and brakes.
• Wearing a bicycle helmet every time they ride.
• Staying in designated bicycle lanes or on sidewalks or the road shoulder.
• Avoiding wearing head phones, talking on a cell phone or doing any behavior that creates a distraction or reduces the chances of seeing approaching cars.

By following these steps, bicycle riders can hopefully stay safer and avoid bike accidents. Drivers also need to be aware of how to safely share the road with riders and can be held legally responsible if they make negligent or careless choices that endanger a cyclist.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta bike accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

Car accidents have an impact on almost everyone in the United States. In fact, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, almost one out of every three people in the U.S. has had a friend or relative who was seriously injured or killed in an auto accident. Many of these accidents are caused by preventable dangerous driving behavior that most people know to be risky. Yet, despite the fact that people know of the dangers of certain behaviors, many engage in risky acts behind the wheel anyway.

Recently, our car accident attorneys in Atlanta, GA took a closer look at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's 2012 Traffic Safety Culture Index. The index reveals important information about people's attitudes toward safe driving as well as how people's behavior is affected by their attitudes.

How Attitude Affects Driver Behavior
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

• Virtually every driver responding to the AAA survey indicated that driving drunk is a very serious threat and a behavior that is met with widespread societal disapproval. Yet, 2.1 percent of the drivers surveyed said they may have driven while over-the-limit at least once in the past month. Fourteen percent said that they may have driven drunk in the past year.
• Two out of every three drivers responding to AAA said they thought there should be a ban on the use of handheld devices when driving and 48.6 percent supported a complete ban on cell phone use. Yet, more than two-thirds of drivers said they'd chatted on their phones as they drove during the past 30 days.
• Almost all drivers say that texting and driving is unacceptable behavior and a serious safety threat. Yet, only one out of six said society looks down on the behavior, and one out of four said they'd texted or emailed as they drove in the past 30 days.
• Speeding on highways is widely viewed as acceptable, and most drivers also didn't see a big problem with speeding in a residential neighborhood, although speeding in a residential neighborhood was seen as worse than on a highway. Almost half of drivers admitted to going too fast (15 mph over the limit) on highways, and almost half said they'd gone 10 mph or more over the limit in a residential area.
• Although 38.4 percent of drivers said they'd rolled through a recently changed red, the vast majority of drivers responding to the survey saw a problem with running a traffic signal.
• Drowsy driving is also viewed by almost all drivers as an unacceptable risk. Again, though, behavior doesn't follow this belief. Almost one out of three drivers said they'd continued driving in the past month even as they fought to stay awake. Almost half of the total number of drivers surveyed said they'd fallen asleep one or more times in their life when driving.

Unfortunately, these statistics show that people can know a driving behavior is dangerous and still do it anyway. This type of disconnect between attitude and behavior needs to be addressed and people need to start doing what they know is right if the number of auto accidents is ever going to be significantly reduced.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

On February 6, 2013, USA Today reported on a crash on Interstate 16 in Laurens County, Georgia. The crash was a multi-vehicle accident involving more than a dozen cars including a FedEx truck and a tanker truck. Tragically, the accident caused a fire that resulted in four deaths.

Our Atlanta, GA accident attorneys were sad to hear of this tragic collision and of the loss of life that followed. Unfortunately, highway accidents are one of the top causes of fires and burn injuries and many people die each year as a result of fires caused by auto accidents.

The Georgia Auto Accident Fire
The recent Georgia auto accident reported by USA Today actually involved four different crashes. Tragically, at least six of the vehicles caught on fire, and firefighters from multiple departments arrived at the scene to try to handle the blaze.

While the fire originated with the oil tanker, the tanker itself did not explode. The cab of the truck was, however, on fire and the cars immediately surrounding it were ablaze as well. There was extensive smoke. Witnesses who observed the accident commented to USA Today that the accident scene  looked as though it was a war zone.

The fire was a tragic event that made headlines because of its size and the involvement of multiple commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, highway vehicle fires are not uncommon, and thousands occur each year in Georgia and throughout the United States.

Fires Caused by Auto Accidents
While the fire in this recent Georgia accident is believed to have originated from the tanker trunk, any auto accident can cause a fire due to the combustible nature of gasoline in vehicles. In fact, fires are very common when car accidents occur. Fires in cars can also occur for reasons other than accidents and can be just as dangerous.

The US Fire Administration reports on some important statistics related to auto accident fires and burn injuries. According to their data:

• Approximately one out of every six reported fires starts in a vehicle. However, this figure does not include the many thousands of fires that occur at the site of highway accidents that firefighters are called to fight.
• 84 percent of the fires that occur in highway vehicles originate in passenger cars.
• 62 percent vehicle fires that start in cars and 34 percent of fatal highway car fires start in the vehicle's engine.
• Mechanical failures are the cause of 47 percent of fires where highway vehicles ignite.
• In 28 percent of highway vehicle fires, insulation around the electrical wiring is cited as the cause of the blaze.
• In 21 percent of highway vehicle fires, flammable liquids in the engine are the cause of the fire.
• Collisions cause 57 percent of fatal fires in vehicles.

As these statistics show, fires happen regularly both because of accidents and because of problems with vehicles. In fact, according to The US Fire Administration, an estimated 258,000 fires occurred in highway vehicles annually between 2004 and 2006.

The fires cause billions in losses not to mention extensive pain for those left with disfiguring injuries or for those who lose loved ones in tragic fires.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

COLUMBUS, GA - Northside High student, 16-year-old Hannah Gilmer was killed in a car accident on County Line Road back on June 15, 2012. According to police records, Hannah's 17-year-old boyfriend, Clayton Qualls, was driving her 2006 Toyota Scion under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of the car before spinning out, flipping the car several times and eventually striking a tree.

The accident occurred at a little after 11 o'clock on Friday night, June 15, 2012.

Ms. Gilmer was ejected from the car during the accident and, according to the accident report, neither of the teens were wearing their seat belts.

Qualls survived the accident but Ms. Gilmer was pronounced dead just after 1AM on June 16, 2012.

Clayton has been charged with numerous traffic charges, which include 1^st degree vehicular homicide, DUI, and improper lane change.  The underage drinking charges are not the first Qualls has faced. On June 4, 2012, he was arrested on charges of DUI under 21 and minor in possession of alcohol.

"My heart goes out to this young woman's family. This is such an awful tragedy. I know the family is suffering a tremendous loss," said attorney Gary Martin Hays.

This wreck really points out some important lessons for parents and their teenagers.  "People should never get behind the wheel and drive a vehicle after they have been drinking, and in the case of this 17-year-old boy, he should never have been drinking at all." Hays stresses how important it is to talk with your children about the dangers of under age drinking.

It is also extremely important to remind people to always wear their seatbelts. According to the CDC, "Seat belt use is on the rise. Laws, education, and technology have increased seat belt use from 11% in 1981 to nearly 85% in 2010, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Yet, about 1 in 7 people still don't buckle up."

Gary Martin Hays is a very active supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D) and has served on the state advisory council in Georgia. He has also sponsored a fundraiser for M.A.D.D , Strides for Change, in support of their mission.

If a drunk driver is negligent in causing an accident, their insurance company is responsible for compensating the victims of the accident. In a case such as this, the family may pursue a claim for wrongful death and seek punitive damages since the defendant was allegedly driving under the influence. Other parties that may be responsible for compensating victims could include an establishment that served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated individual or a homeowner who hosts a private party where the drinks/drugs were served.

Fatal accidents such as this can cause extreme emotional and financial stress. The unexpected loss and sudden grief can be devastating to the victim's loved ones. It is very important that families of the victims know that they have every right to seek legal advice and they may be eligible for financial compensation.

Here at the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays, we have an expertly trained staff of professionals ready to assist you in your wrongful death claim. We have recently expanded our offices from Atlanta to Savannah, making our services available to all Georgia residents. Call us today for your FREE legal consultation: 1-800-898-HAYS.

According to the New York Times, each year in the United States around 60 million prescriptions for sleep aids are filled. Sleep aids are taken by men and women of all ages and are intended to help people suffering from insomnia and other sleep problems to get a good night's rest.

Recently, however, the FDA has expressed concerns about some of the most popular prescription sleep aids. Our Atlanta, GA personal injury lawyers want to make sure that everyone who takes a prescription sleeping pill is aware of the FDA's new recommendations so they can stay safe.

The FDA's Recommendations on Prescription Sleep Aids

The FDA specifically targeted one of the most popular sleep aids on the market: Ambien. Other versions of the drug also include Zolpimist, Edluar and generic versions. The FDA issued a release on January 10th warning that these popular medications might be staying in the body longer than anticipated.

The problem is specific to women, according to the FDA's release. The issue is that women's bodies are not processing and removing the Ambien as quickly as expected. As a result, women may be very groggy the next morning. This can interfere with their ability to drive safely on their commute to work and, in some cases, could interfere with their ability to perform their job safely.

To address this problem, the FDA has mandated lower doses of the drug in all prescriptions to women. For those women who were previously prescribed 10 milligram doses of Ambien or related drugs, the new recommendation is that they be prescribed only 5 milligram doses. Women who were previously prescribed the extended release doses, which contained 12.5 mg, will be prescribed extended release pills that contain only 6.25 mg.

By lowering the active dose of sleep medication, the hope is that women will be able to safely excrete the drug from their body before morning. This will allow them to get the good night's sleep that Ambien is supposed to provide but without putting them at risk of becoming involved in an auto accident the next morning due to still being drowsy from the drugs.

The FDA did not change the mandated dosage of Ambien for men, who process the drug differently. However, in the news release, the government did urge everyone to take the lowest possible dose of sleeping pills that is necessary to be effective. The FDA further reiterated that Ambien and related sleep medications do contain warnings that they can cause fatigue.

Anyone who is taking Ambien or other sleep medications should be aware of the risk that can come from driving while groggy or impaired by a sleeping pill. As the Huffington Post points out, several recent high profile accidents have occurred when people were on prescription sleep medications, including a crash involving Tom Brokaw and one involving Kerry Kennedy. Anyone is at risk of becoming involved in a crash while they are affected by sleep medications and drivers who are too tired or impaired to drive safely put themselves and everyone else on the road with them in danger.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.

The winter months are officially upon us here in Georgia so we thought we would share some great tips on how to avoid car accidents out on the roadways.

Start with the condition of your car:

According to the American Safety Council, you should "Schedule a maintenance check-up for your vehicle's tires and tire pressure, battery, belts and hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers and ignition system."

Tire pressure typically will be lower in the winter and higher in the summer. Check your tire pressure consistently throughout the winter season to insure they are at recommended levels for your make and model of tire.

While you are driving:

Slow Down - This goes without saying, but it is vitally important not to speed when the road is wet or even icy. This will allow you enough time to slow down and stop. Even if you are in a hurry, take caution and drive slower than normal. It is also advised to not use cruise control when in these conditions.

Understand Your Brakes - If you find yourself stopping on the ice, you should know what type of brakes are on your car. If the car has standard brakes, you should lightly pump the brakes until the car stops. If you have anti-lock brakes, you should not pump the brakes, but rather, apply steady pressure on the brake as you come to a stop.

Lights On - Even if it is the middle of the day, you should keep your lights on if there is inclement weather, especially if it is raining or snowing.

Low Gears - If you keep your car in low gear you will be able to handle the car with more control and have better traction on the ground.

Skidding - If you start skidding you will want to take your foot off the gas. If your back wheels are skidding, turn the wheel of the car in the direction you want the car to go. Alternately, if the front wheels skid, put the car in neutral and don't move the wheel until the car gains traction, then you can steer the direction you want to go and put the car back in drive.

We hope these tips can help you avoid having a bad car accident during the winter months around Atlanta, Georgia. Please also be aware that many car wrecks out on the roads will be due to negligence, distracted driving, drunk driving or drug related driving scenarios.

We hope you never have to deal with being involved in a car wreck of this nature, but if you do, please do not hesitate to call Gary Martin Hays, Personal Injury Lawyer.

If you've been injured, call the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates. Call 1-800-898-HAYS for a free consultation.

The holidays are always a dangerous time for drivers because there are more people on the road and because far too many people have a few celebratory drinks and get behind the wheel. While police always make extra enforcement efforts over the holiday season to stop drunk and dangerous drivers, this year Georgia is placing even more emphasis on the importance of safe driving.

Our Atlanta car accident attorneys want to remind drivers of the increased dangers of holiday driving. We also want to urge drivers to stay safe, avoid drinking and driving and do everything possible to get through the holiday season without becoming the victim of a car wreck. With Georgia on track to have more accident fatalities this year than last, exercising caution is essential to staying safe.

Georgia On Track to Increase Accident Fatalities

According to WSAV3, law enforcement has made it a priority in recent years to enforce zero tolerance policies in an attempt to prevent drunk driving accidents over the holidays. This season, however, WSAV3 reports that there is an increased sense of urgency when it comes to preventing holiday crashes. Preventing accidents is especially important this year because the state is on track to have an increase in traffic accidents in 2012. This increase is the first time in six years that the number of auto accident deaths has increased.

According to the current data on car accidents in Georgia, if fatalities continue to occur in the state at the current rate, Georgia traffic accident deaths will exceed the 2011 rate of 1,226 car accident deaths. To prevent this from occurring, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety Patrol (GOHS) is taking extra measures to prevent holiday crashes.

In addition to their normal zero tolerance rules and increased police presence on key holidays, GOHS has also launched a public campaign called Operation Safe Holidays. The purpose is to remind drivers to be safe and not to drink and drive.

Staying Safe Over the Holidays

The increased risk of holiday auto accidents normally extends from the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving straight through until January 2, with Thanksgiving eve and New Years Eve among the most dangerous days. During these key holiday times and throughout the holiday season, motorists should follow these safe driving tips:

• Don't go faster than it is safe to go given the current conditions. In some cases, you may even need to drive below the speed limit if the weather is bad or if there is lots of traffic. So you aren't tempted to speed, leave your home early with plenty of time to get to your destination even taking into account holiday traffic.
• Don't drive if you are too tired. If you are going to be traveling for long distances to vacation or see family, switch off on the driving or take rest breaks so you do not become fatigued.
• Take a designated driver with you every time you go out. If you are with friends, don't let them drink and drive. Parents should also remind teens that they can call for a ride at any time rather than get into a car with a drunk driver.

By following these safety tips and paying attention to the Operation Safe Holidays campaign, you can hopefully stay safe and avoid a devastating car accident over the holidays.

If you have been injured in an Atlanta car accident, contact Gary Martin Hays & Associates at 1-800-898-HAYS.