January 26, 2012

Pain Management For Personal Injury Or Worker's Compensation Claimants

What is pain management?
Pain management is often required whenever injuries involve serious injuries such as herniated discs, ruptured discs, bulging discs, facet syndrome, and other serious neck and back injuries. Pain management normally is provided after conservative treatment such as physical therapy or chiropractic has failed. It is usually a last attempt to relieve the pain before a surgical evaluation is recommended. Pain management often includes prescription pain medications and injections such as trigger point injections, epidural injections, nerve blocks, etc. Experienced personal injury attorneys and worker's compensation attorneys can be excellent sources for knowing more about the medical providers that have good reputations for providing outstanding treatment to their patients.

Are there any dangers to long term narcotic pain medications?
1. Erectile dysfunction/reduced libido is common;
2. Sleep disorders requiring medication to fall asleep and then to remain awake are common;
3. Chronic constipation on some days followed by uncontrollable diarrhea on other days is common;
4. Many drug regiments are “off label” and not FDA approved for your diagnosis;
5. Long term use of narcotics can lead to an increase in pain due to “pain rebound”;
6. Indigestion and acid reflux issues are common;
7. Accelerated aging is common;
8. Depression is common;
9. You may never work again; and
10. A reduction in your life expectancy is likely.

Are there lower risks to pain management injections than long term use of narcotics?
Many doctors prefer the use of injections in the long term pain management since there is no risk of addition with injections. There are risks and complications with injections, but long term use of narcotics for pain can result in addictions and dependencies which can ruin lives and hurt the long term health of the patient. Injections when required often increase the value of personal injury and worker's compensation claims since it is evidence that the injuries are causing so much pain that the injured victim is seeking painful injections to help deal with the uncontrollable pain.

How do you know what treatment you should have?
It is normally a good idea to seek out second opinions before deciding on evasive medical treatments. Asking questions and research the known risks on your own is a good idea. You an also ask your worker's compensation attorney or personal injury attorney their opinion when deciding on which doctors to treat with.

How can you get the medical treatment when you have a personal injury case even if you do not have health insurance?
Experienced personal injury lawyers are able to recommend doctors who will treat on a doctor lien. A doctor lien is an agreement that the doctor will provide the treatment, but will not seek payment for the treatment received until the claim is settled or litigated. Doctor liens do not remove the patient's obligation to pay for the medical treatment regardless of the outcome of the personal injury claim, but it does delay when payment is due. Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin law Firm, P.C. has also been able to use medical funding companies when his personal injury claimants require extensive pain management, neurological evaluation and treatment, and even surgeries such as spinal fusion surgeries. The medical funding company pays the surgeon, the hospital, the anesthesiologists, and other charges at the time the surgery is provided. Then the medical funding company is assigned the right to be paid for the full medical procedure from the future settlement or verdict.

What is the procedure for getting the medical treatment you need in a worker's compensation claim:
In Georgia, worker's compensation claimants are usually allowed to select a doctor from their employer's Posted Panel Of Physicians. The worker's compensation claimant is also allowed one free change of authorized treating physicians to another panel doctor. Sometimes seasoned worker's compensation lawyers can invalidate the Posted Panel if it is not properly posted and explained or if it does not include the required medical doctors. Attorney Richard Griffin has been able to invalidate many Posted Panels for his worker's compensation clients which then allows them to go to a doctor of their choice. If the worker's compensation claimant has received income benefits in the last 120 days, then they are allowed to select any doctor of their choice for a one time independent medical examination (IME). As long as the medical treatment is authorized, then the worker's compensation insurers should be paying for the medical treatment, the prescriptions, and for the worker's compensation claimant's mileage to and from the doctors or pharmacy.

How can you get a free legal consultation for your personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security disability claim?
You can call Attorney Richard Griffin at 866-847-6545 or use the following link to submit your personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security disability case for a free evaluation: [FREE CASE EVALUATION]

Continue reading "Pain Management For Personal Injury Or Worker's Compensation Claimants" »

January 7, 2012

$156,000 Personal Injury Verdict For Foot Injury

Attorney Richard Griffin is often asked by potential personal injury clients, "Do I have a case?". Georgia personal injury claims require the plaintiff to prove that the defendant caused his or her injuries due to negligence. The burden of proving negligence is required to establish that the defendant is liable for the plaintiff's injuries regardless of whether the personal injury is based on any of the following:
(1) auto accident personal injury claims;
(2) truck accident personal injury claims;
(3) motorcycle accident personal injury claims;
(4) bicycle accident personal injury claims;
(5) pedestrian accident personal injury claims;
(6) premise liability personal injury claims;
(7) slip and fall personal injury claims;
(8) trip and fall personal injury claims;
(9) dog bite personal injury claims; or
(10) negligent security claims.

In a recent auto accident lawsuit tried in Fulton County, Georgia, an out-of-town visitor sued for his injuries to his foot (Tony Cacciotti v. Margaret Roth, Case Number 2009EV008694H). In this personal injury claim the plaintiff suffered serious injuries to his foot when the car he was entering drove forward before he was able to get in the vehicle. The defendant's car ended up running over the plaintiff's foot causing a torn tendon in his right ankle. The plaintiff's foot required a cast and physical therapy. The jury deliberated for four hours before awarding a $156,000 jury verdict for this foot injury.

As this case and the jury verdict research used by Attorney Richard Griffin demonstrates, personal injury claims can be worth a great deal of money if handled by a seasoned and experienced personal injury lawyer. Without the representation of a good personal injury attorney, many personal injury claimants recover nothing or far less than their case is worth.

If you or someone you know has a personal injury, worker's compensation, wrongful death, or social security disability claim, then Attorney Richard Griffin strongly recommends that you contact a personal injury attorney for a free consultation.

Continue reading "$156,000 Personal Injury Verdict For Foot Injury" »

December 8, 2011

Does Driving While Talking On The Cell Phone Create Punitive Damages For Car Accident Claims?

texting.jpgWhen are punitive damages usually allowed?
Punitive damages are the damages that are allowing in personal injury cases when the negligent driver is guilty of conduct that is beyond just negligence but constitutes a reckless disregard for human life. Traditionally punitive damages in personal injury claims and wrongful death claims have only been available for driving while intoxicated (DUI), hit and run, racing, and other similar conduct. The purpose of punitive damages is to make a defendant pay an additional damage above and beyond the actual damages (medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering) to deter the defendant from engaging in the bad conduct in the future.

Can a personal injury claimant recover punitive damages if the negligent driver is talking on a cell phone when the accident occurs?

This question was answered by the Georgia Court of Appeals in a recent Atlanta car accident case called Lindsey v. Clinch County Glass Inc. No A11A1313. This case is being appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court, but it is unlikely that it will be overturned.

This Court of Appeals opinion for this case can be viewed at the bottom of this blog.

In this case (Lindsey v. Clinch County Glass Inc. No A11A1313), the court held that a personal injury defendant talking on cell phone when a car accident occurs does not create punitive damage exposure. Attorney Richard Griffin believes that the court's decision was in part due to the fact that talking on a cell phone while driving is not illegal even though there are many studies which show that driving while on a cell phone does create a driver who is far less aware of his or her environment. Some studies even suggest that driving while talking on a cell phone causes a driver to be as dangerous as a drunk driver. This is based on the fact that talking on a cell phone while driving causes a driver's reactions to be impaired or delayed. Examples would be delays in braking, stopping, steering, and other safety measures drivers need to be ready to make at a moment's notice.

Can a personal injury claimant recover for punitive damages if the negligent driver is texting while driving?
This issue was not ruled on by the Georgia Court of Appeals in the Lindsey v. Clinch County Glass Inc. No A11A1313 ruling. Attorney Richard Griffin believes that the argument for punitive damages being allowed for texting while driving is much stronger since texting while driving is currently against Georgia law. Arguably breaking the law by texting would show a reckless disregard for human life since it is common knowledge that texting and driving is very, very dangerous. Many studies have shown that texting while driving is more dangerous than talking on a cell phone while driving because texting requires the driver to take his or her eyes off the road. Since there have also been many public safety campaigns warning of the dangerous of texting and drive, it could be argued that the driver is making the conscious decision to put the lives of others at risk by breaking the on texting while driving law. There is no disputing the fact that texting while driving has caused many serious injuries and deaths in catastrophic car accidents, big truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents.

Do you need to hire a personal injury attorney?
Attorney Richard Griffin has successfully represented thousands of personal injury and wrongful death clients since 1994. He truly believes that anyone who is hurt in an accident should seek out the representation of an experienced personal injury lawyer to make sure their rights are protected and that they are fully compensated for their damages. Free consultations are available to get answers to your legal questions, to know your rights, and to find out what your personal injury, wrongful death, or worker's compensation claim may be worth.


To read more about texting while driving being illegal in Georgia please use the following link:
Georgia Texting While Driving Could Impact Personal Injury Claims.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LINDSEY v. CLINCH COUNTY GLASS INC

LINDSEY et al. v. CLINCH COUNTY GLASS, INC. et al.


No. A11A1313.

-- September 14, 2011


John Craig Cotton, Saleem David Dennis, for Lindsey.William H. Hedrick, for Clinch County Glass, Inc.

Appellants Rebecca Joyann Lindsey and Ted Lindsey brought suit against appellees William Holtzclaw and Clinch County Glass, Inc. after Holtzclaw's truck collided with Rebecca Lindsey's vehicle while she was stopped at a red light, causing her to strike the vehicle in front of her. In addition to seeking general and special damages for Rebecca Lindsey's alleged injuries and loss of consortium, the Lindseys also asserted a claim for punitive damages. The defendants filed a motion for partial summary judgment on the punitive damages claim, and the trial court granted the motion as to that claim only. The Lindseys appeal.

The pertinent facts are undisputed. At the time of the accident, Holtzclaw was the principal of Clinch County Glass, which is a glass installation company. Holtzclaw spent about eight to ten hours of his working day driving; he traveled approximately 100,000 miles a year. Holtzclaw often used his phone while driving and had installed a desk in his truck and mounted his phone on the desk, allowing him to talk hands free into a speakerphone.

At the time of the accident, Holtzclaw was driving his truck to meet a contractor and had started manually searching for a number to call after completing another call. Because he was being inattentive, he failed to notice that traffic was stopped at a red light in front of him until it was too late to avoid colliding with Rebecca's car. Holtzclaw admitted to the responding officer that he was looking for a number on his phone at the time of the collision and not paying attention; defendants admitted being at fault for the collision in the answer they filed to the complaint.

In Georgia, “[p]unitive damages may be awarded only in such tort actions in which it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences.” OCGA § 51–12–5.1(b). And it is well settled that “negligence, even gross negligence, is inadequate to support a punitive damages award․ Something more than the mere commission of a tort is always required for punitive damages. There must be circumstances of aggravation or outrage.” (Punctuation and citations omitted.) Brooks v. Gray, 262 Ga.App. 232, 232–233(1) (585 S.E.2d 188) (2003). In cases involving automobile collisions, punitive damages are authorized when the accident results from a pattern or policy of dangerous driving, such as excessive speeding or driving while intoxicated, but not when a driver simply violates a rule of the road. Id.; Miller v. Crumbley, 249 Ga.App. 403, 405 (548 S.E.2d 657) (2001); Carter v. Spells, 229 Ga.App. 441, 442 (494 S.E.2d 279) (1997).

The Lindseys argue that the evidence that Holtzclaw frequently used his mobile phone while driving although he knew it was dangerous, as demonstrated by the fact that he instructed company employees not to talk on their mobile phone while driving, coupled with the fact that he admitted that he was distracted by looking up a number on his phone at the time of the collision, would authorize a jury to find the requisite pattern or policy of driving dangerously. The Lindseys also argue that defendants conceded in their trial court brief that several studies have shown that talking on a mobile phone while driving is dangerous, perhaps as much or more dangerous than driving while intoxicated.

In Georgia, the proper use1 of a wireless communication device while driving does not constitute a violation of the duty to exercise due care while operating a motor vehicle. OCGA § 40–6–241. Although Holtzclaw admitted that he was not paying attention because he was distracted by looking up a number and thus was not exercising due care at the time of the accident, as stated above, mere negligence, even gross negligence, is not enough to support a claim of punitive damages; there must be clear and convincing evidence of a pattern or policy of dangerous driving. Brooks, 262 Ga.App. at 232. In this case, there is no evidence that Holtzclaw was speeding, driving while under the influence, or that he had a history of distraction-related accidents, traffic violations, or other evidence that would show a pattern of dangerous driving or other aggravating circumstances so as to authorize an award of punitive damages. Brooks v. Gray, 262 Ga.App. at 233–234 (crossing center line and operating vehicle without a proper license did not warrant imposition of punitive damages); Miller v. Crumbley, 249 Ga.App. 405 (no evidence of pattern or policy of dangerous driving where tortfeasor failed to keep a proper lookout and pled guilty to following too closely). Compare Langlois v. Wolford, 246 Ga.App. 209, 210(1) (539 S.E.2d 565) (2000) (punitive damages authorized where tortfeasor left the scene of an accident, was intoxicated, and had a history of prior DUI's and traffic violations). Although there was evidence that Holtzclaw had a pattern of regularly talking on his mobile phone while driving, as stated above, the proper use of a cell phone while driving is permissible in Georgia, and thus the evidence of mobile phone use did not, without more, establish a policy or pattern of dangerous driving. However, in so holding, we would stress that our opinion in this case should not be read for the proposition that punitive damages are never available in a case where a driver causes an accident because he or she was distracted while talking on a wireless communication device.But in this case, where there is no evidence of a policy or pattern of dangerous driving or other aggravating circumstances, the trial court correctly granted partial summary judgment to the defendants on plaintiffs' claim for punitive damages.

Judgment affirmed.

FOOTNOTES

1. Subject to certain exceptions, reading, sending or writing text based communications while driving is now prohibited in Georgia, OCGA § 40–6–241(2), and drivers under age 18 are prohibited from all forms of wireless communication while driving, except in certain specified situations. OCGA § 40–6–241.1

ADAMS, Judge.

BARNES, P.J., and BLACKWELL, J., concur.

Continue reading "Does Driving While Talking On The Cell Phone Create Punitive Damages For Car Accident Claims?" »

December 7, 2011

Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin Featured on Trust Dale TV

Attorney Richard Griffin is the featured Atlanta personal injury lawyer several episodes of Trust Dale TV. The Trustdale television show airs on Saturdays and Sundays on Fox Channel 5 in the Atlanta television market.

In the above episode Attorney Gary Martin Hays (the host of the legal segment on Trust Dale) and Dale Cardwell (the host of the Trust Dale television show) ask insightful questions about personal injury claims that arise from car accidents. In the engaging interview, Attorney Richard Griffin of the Griffin Law Firm explains the following:

(1) It is dangerous to represent yourself in a personal injury claim.
(2) Personal injury attorneys help you recover greater settlements because they know the value of your case and can litigate if needed to get it.
(3) Personal injury lawyers can help you get the medical treatment you need even if you do not have health insurance through the use of doctor liens and funding companies.

What types of cases does Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm handle?
(1) car accident personal injury claims;
(2) big truck accident personal injury claims;
(3) motorcycle accident personal injury claims;
(4) bicycle accident personal injury claims;
(5) pedestrian accident personal injury claims;
(6) wrongful death claims;
(7) worker's compensation claims;
(8) social security disability claims;
(9) slip and fall premise liability personal injury claims;
(10) dog bite cases;
(10) negligent security personal injury claims;
(11) diminished value property damage claims; and
(12) total loss property damage claims.

For a Free consultation, please call Attorney Richard Griffin at 866-847-6545 or submit your case for a free evaluation to [FREE SETTLEMENT EVALUATION].

Continue reading "Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin Featured on Trust Dale TV" »

December 5, 2011

Not Knowing The Policy Limits Almost Cost A Personal Injury Claimant $70,000

Not Knowing The Policy Limits Almost Cost A Personal Injury Claimant $70,000:
Recently a potential new personal injury client called me, Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin, about his personal injury case that arose from a motorcycle accident at University of Georgia. The Athens motorcycle accident occurred when a negligent driver pulled out in front of him causing him to crash his motorcycle. He suffered a fractured ankle that required extensive orthopedic surgery costing $20,000.

He had attempted to represent himself thinking that the insurance company would do the right thing and pay him what his case was worth. The insurance adjuster told him that the liability policy limits for his case was $30,000, and he offered to settle the case for the full $30,000.
The potential caller wanted to know if this was a fair offer? As an experienced personal injury lawyer I explained that there are two important factors when settling a personal injury claim. These factors include:

(1) What are the policy limits of all insurance policies that cover the claim?
(2) How much is the case worth based on the facts of the case (medical expenses,
lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages if applicable)?

I explained to the caller that his case was likely to be worth a great deal more than $30,000 in light of the ankle fracture that required surgery. I further recommended that we verify the correct liability policy limits to make sure we were exhausting the policy limits. I further explained that if he settled his personal injury case for a penny less than the full policy limits, then he would lose his under-insured motorist claim. An under-insured motorist claim allows you to stack the policies to provide additional settlement funds to pay whenever a personal injury claim was worth more than the liability policy limits.


How do you find out the true policy limits for a personal injury claim?

The caller with the motorcycle personal injury claim thought he could trust the adjuster to verbally convey the policy limits of the claim. I explained to him that this was risky and could result in a great deal of lost settlement dollars. The Griffin Law Firm (a Georgia personal injury law firm) always sends certified letters pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 33-3-28(a) which require the insurance adjuster to provide a sworn affidavit of coverage (the policy limits) within 60 days.

How much money would the motorcycle accident personal injury claimant have lost if he had settled for $30,000?

We accepted the caller's Georgia motorcycle personal injury claim and requested the policy limits the appropriate way under O.C.G.A. Section 33-3-28(a). The liability policy limits turned out to be $50,000 and not the $30,000 that the adjuster had verbally stated was the policy limits. This meant that the motorcycle accident personal injury claimant would have settled for $20,000 less than the actual policy limits. However, if the client had settled for $30,000, then he would have not only lost the $20,000 of additional liability coverage, but also the additional $50,000 in add on (excess) under-insured motorist coverage. Trusting the adjuster at his word and attempting to represent himself would have resulted in a loss of up to $70,000.

Why should you hire a seasoned personal injury lawyer?
(1) Experienced personal injury attorneys will negotiate or litigate to make sure you are fully compensated for your personal injury or wrongful death claim.
(2) Seasoned personal injury lawyers can identify all of the insurance policies that cover your claim, they can verify the policy limits, and they can properly stack the policies so that you can recover the full available coverage for the large personal injury claims.

Call Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm today at 866-847-6545 for a free no pressure consultation or submit your case to FREE CONSULTATION:

The information is free, but the advice is priceless.

QR%20Code%20JPEG%20file-%20Home%20Page.jpg

Continue reading "Not Knowing The Policy Limits Almost Cost A Personal Injury Claimant $70,000" »

October 19, 2011

"Lawyer Talk" Features Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin

Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin Of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. was the featured legal expert on the new legal talk show on CW Atlanta called, "Lawyer Talk". The 30 minute episode with Attorney Richard Griffin and host Adam Goldfein aired on 10/22/11.

The show focused on personal injury claims that arise from many different types of accidents:
(1) car accidents,
(2) big truck accidents,
(3) motorcycle accidents,
(4) bicycle accidents,
(5) pedestrian accidents,
(6) slip and fall accidents,
(7) dog bites,
(8) negligent security,
(9) punitive damage claims (DUI and hit and run), and
(10) other premise liability claims.

You can see this episode on YouTube.com at the following link:

YouTube Video: Richard Griffin on Lawyer Talk


How can I be better prepared should I have a future personal injury or worker's compensation claim?
Viewers were encouraged to save The Griffin Law Firm, P.C.'s telephone number 866-847-6545 in their cell phones so that they could call the personal injury lawyers for immediate assistance and for a free consultation if they are in a future motor vehicle accident.

Free Consultations: Attorney Richard Griffin will provide you with a free consultation is you have a personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security disability claim through the following ways:
(1) Free Phone Consultation: 866-847-6545;
(2) Free Internet Consultation: Free Settlement Evaluation;

How can I hire The Griffin Law Firm for my personal injury, worker's compensation, wrongful death, or social security disability claim?
(1) Office Appointment: If we accept your case, then you can schedule a in office appointment for the intake sign up.
(2) Home or Office Appointment: If we accept your case, then we will send a representative to your home or doctor's office for the intake sign up if you would prefer.


October 18, 2011

Attorney Richard Griffin Featured As the Personal Injury Expert on CW Atlanta's "Lawyer Talk" Show

Attorney Richard Griffin will be the featured personal injury lawyer on the new television show called "Lawyer Talk" on C.W. Atlanta (channel 69). The 30 minute legal talk show will air on 10/22/11 at 11:30am on channel 69. The host of the show is Adam Goldfein, who is also the host of Autoscoop and the Adam Goldfein radio show on WSB. Attorney Richard Griffin has recently been featured on many different television shows (Autoscoop, Trustdale, and Lawyer Talk) as an expert in personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, and social security disability. This new show, "Legal Talk", appears to be a fresh approach to dealing with legal issues that affect people every day throughout Atlanta and the rest of the state of Georgia.


What topics will be covered by Attorney Richard Griffin during the upcoming "Lawyer Talk" show?

(1) Why is it important to hire a personal injury attorney?
(2) What damages can you recover in a personal injury claim?
(3) How can a personal injury attorney help their client get the medical treatment they need even if they do not have health insurance?
(4) Should you let the adjuster take your recorded statement about how the accident occurred and about your injuries?
(5) How can jury verdict research help get higher personal injury and wrongful death settlements?

What future practice areas will Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. address in upcoming "Lawyer Talk" shows?
(1) Personal Injury Claims (auto accidents, big truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, dog bite cases, and negligent security claims).
(2) Wrongful Death Claims;
(3) Worker's Compensation Claims; and
(4) Social Security Disability Claims.

If you would like a free consultation from The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. regarding your personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security disability claim, then you can call 866-847-6545 or use the following link: [FREE CONSULTATION]

October 8, 2011

Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin Regularly Featured On The TrustDale Show

Personal%20Injury%20Attorney%20Richard%20Griffin.jpgAttorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. was interviewed again on the TrustDale Show. Gary Martin Hays and Dale Cardwell asked personal injury Attorney Richard Griffin about the following aspects of personal injury claims:

(1) How does it help to hire a personal injury attorney more shortly after the car wreck?
Attorney Richard Griffin explained that good personal injury lawyers will conduct a through investigation of the accident immediately as soon as possible. This generally includes taking the recorded statements of witnesses while the information is still fresh in their minds, as well as, taking photographs of the accident scene, property damage, and any visible injuries to the personal injury claimant.

(2) What does the insurance company do immediately after the accident is reported?
The adjusters are trained to take recorded statements of the injured party as soon as possible. During this recorded statement the adjuster is hoping to get information from the personal injury claimant that will hurt their case. This could include statements regarding how the accident occurred or how the accident may have been prevented. Even worse, the adjuster sometimes will offer very small personal injury settlements in exchange for a General Release of all claims. Quick settlements can be a disaster for the injured party who may settle for pennies on the dollar of what the claim is worth.

Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin further explained that if you settle before your injures are fully treated and diagnosed, then you will never be fully compensated for your personal injury claim. Nothing is sadder than hearing from a potential client that they have signed a general release and now are being told that they need an expensive injection or even surgery.

(3) How can a personal injury lawyer help their client get medical treatment even if they do not have health insurance?
Personal injury lawyer Richard Griffin explained that personal injury attorneys can often get their clients to doctors who will treat on a lien. This means that the doctor will wait for payment until the personal injury case is resolved. Personal injury attorney Richard Griffin further explained that he even has been able to get expensive pain management, diagnostic testing, and even surgeries funded through the use of medical funding companies that will wait to be paid until a personal injury recovery is obtained.

(4) Should someone who is injured in a car wreck ever represent themselves?
Personal Injury attorney Richard Griffin explained that this is always a bad idea. If you do not know your rights (the laws), how much your case is worth, and have the ability to litigate if needed, then it will be almost impossible to receive a fair settlement unless you have a good personal injury lawyer.

Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. has been the featured attorney for personal injury, worker's compensation, wrongful death, and social security disability on the following shows:
(1) Autoscoop (Television Show on CW Atlanta, channel 69);
(2) TrustDale (television show on Fox, channel 5);
(3) Attorney Talk (Television Show on CW Atlanta, channel 69)
(4) Autoscoop Radio Show (formerly on V103)

Continue reading "Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin Regularly Featured On The TrustDale Show " »

October 6, 2011

How Do I stack My Auto Insurance Policies For A Personal Injury Claim?

What does it mean to stack insurance policies?
Stacking auto insurance policies means that you can recover the policy limits from more than one policy rather being limited the policy limits of only one policy. Usually Georgia law requires that you exhaust the liability auto policy limits by negotiating a policy limits recovery before you can seek additional recoveries against umbrella policies or uninsured motorist or under-insured motorist policies.

Personal injury lawyer Richard Griffin warns that if the policy limits are not stacked correctly, then an unrepresented personal injury claimant could mistakenly release or waive their rights to recover against additional insurance policies that also cover their claim.

Why is stacking the auto insurance policies vital in large personal injury claims?
Large personal injury claims are often worth more than available liability policy limits of the negligent driver. This creates a huge problem and a sad reality when there is not even enough money to cover the past medical expenses, lost wages, . Personal injury lawyer Richard Griffin explains that personal injury attorneys can make a huge impact on the net recovery for his clients be doing the following:
(1) Identifying all insurance policy (negligent driver, owner of vehicle, and employers).
(2) Obtain the policy limits of all liability policies, umbrella policies, uninsured motorist policies, and under-insured motorist policies.
(3) Negotiate or litigate to get the highest personal injury recovery possible.
(4) Use of proper limited releases rather than a general release.
(5) Stacking of all policies to get the maximum settlement or verdict recovery.

Why is it risky to represent yourself and attempt to stack insurance policies yourself?
(1) Without an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney it will be almost impossible to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement.
(2) If the adjuster negotiates unfairly, then a personal injury claimant does not have the ability to litigate the personal injury and wrongful death claim. Without the legitimate threat of litigation, the adjusters will attempt to save their employers (the insurance company) money at your expense.
(3) Personal injury claimants and wrongful death claimants will normally not be able to identify all insurance policies that cover a claim and verify the policy limits for each.
(4) Personal injury claimants and wrongful death claimants will not know what should and should not be in the limited release which could jeopardize their ability to obtain additional recoveries from the other insurance coverage that covers their claims.
(5) Personal injury claimants and wrongful death claimants do not have the experience of the seasoned personal injury lawyer to know the real value of their claims. They also do not have the resources needed to make certain the injuries, the treatment, the prognosis, the future treatment plans, and any permanent impairment is properly documented.
(6) Further, strong personal injury lawyers have the ability to conduct jury verdict research to better establish the actual value of each personal injury or wrongful death case based on the specific facts of each case. This is an expensive research that is normally not available to people who are not attorneys.

What types of accidents can personal injury, worker's compensation, and wrongful death claims arise from?

(1) Auto Accidents;
(2) Truck Accidents;
(3) Motorcycle Accidents;
(4) Bicycle Accidents;
(5) Pedestrian Accidents;
(6) Premise Liability Accidents;
(7) Slip and Fall Accidents;
(8) Dog Bit Incidents;
(9) Negligent Security Incidents; and
(10) Any on the job injuries (mainly for worker's compensation claims).

How can I get a free consultation regarding my personal injury, worker's compensation, wrongful death, or social security disability claim?
(1) Free phone consultation: Call The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. at 866-847-6545.
(2) Free email and internet consultation: Use this link: [FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION]
(4) Free office consultation: We will schedule this for any potential client that has a personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security disability claim that we believe has merit.

October 4, 2011

Attorney Richard Griffin Appears On Trust Dale T.V. Show As Personal Injury Expert

Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. was the guest personal injury expert on the Trust Dale Show. The episode aired on October 2, 2011. The topic was "Why hire a personal injury attorney?". Attorney Richard Griffin explained that without a personal injury lawyer, personal injury claimants were at the mercy of the insurance adjusters and their attorneys. Attorney Richard Griffin went on to explain that

"Taking on the insurance companies alone is like trying to play chess against a world chess champion. The result is always the same, you loose every time."

The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. was founded by Attorney Richard Griffin to help injured victims and their families be fully and fairly compensated for their personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, and social security disability claims. Our firm specializes in these areas of the law rather than dabbling in all areas of the law like some lawyers try to do. Different legal strategies are often needed for personal injury claims depending on whether they arose from a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident, or pedestrian accident.

The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. consist of what type of attorneys?
(1) Personal injury lawyers;
(2) Wrongful Death Lawyers;
(3) Worker's Compensation Lawyers;
(4) Social Security Disability Lawyers;
(5) Property Damage Lawyers (Diminished Value and Total Loss)

If you or someone you know would like a free consultation from Attorney Richard Griffin and his personal injury law firm, call 866-847-6545 or use the following link:

[FREE CONSULTATION]

September 22, 2011

How Do I Settle My Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury claims can be settled in Georgia by signing a General Release:
Personal injury claims are not hard to settle in Georgia. In fact insurance adjusters will often attempt to get personal injury claims from auto accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents settled very quickly after the accident by offering small settlement offers of $500 or so. If the injured victim accepts their offer and signs a General Release of all claims, then the personal injury claim is normally settled. Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. has received many calls every year from injured victims that accepted very small offers and signed General Releases only to realize later that their injuries were more serious than they had originally thought. If the General Release is signed, then this usually bars the personal injury claimant from any additional recovery.

Why is it risky to accept a quick personal injury settlement?
The severity of the injury is sometimes hard to determine at the beginning of the personal injury case. Attorney Richard Griffin often sees personal injury clients that appear to have soft tissue injuries, but later after conservative treatment fails and after additional diagnostic testing such as a MRI or CT scan are done, the injuries are diagnosed as disc herniations or traumatic closed head injuries. Attorney Richard Griffin explains that the value of a personal injury claim involving a herniated disc, spinal injury, traumatic head injury, or other permanent and debilitating injury often be $25,000 to $1,000,000 based on the facts surrounding the case. This is, of course, a great deal more than the settlements for most soft tissue (neck and back) sprains or strains. Therefore, if you accept a quick settlement before your injuries have been fully diagnosed and treated, then you may be very, very disappointed that you have settled your case for pennies on the dollar of what it is actually worth. Anyone who has a personal injury claim from an auto accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident, pedestrian accident, or slip and fall should always contact an experienced personal injury lawyer for a free consultation and free settlement evaluation.

How do I get a fair personal injury settlement?
Fair personal injury settlements do not usually happen by accident. Usually a fair personal injury settlement occurs when the personal injury victim is represented by an experienced and successful personal injury lawyer. One recent study found that personal injury claimants who were represented by an attorney recovered three times more than those who represented themselves.

An experienced and good personal injury attorney will do the following:
(1) Accident investigation.
(2) Witness recorded statements.
(3) Photograph property damage.
(4) Photograph injuries.
(5) Identify and notify all insurance carriers who cover the claim.
(6) Obtain the policy limits information and stack the insurance policies when possible.
(7) Assist the client in getting all of the medical treatment the client needs.
(8) Prepare a settlement demand package that fully documents all of the medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages if applicable.
(9) Negotiate a fair settlement that fully compensates the personal injury client.
(10) Litigate the claim whenever the adjuster is not negotiating in good faith by making unreasonable offers.

Why is it important to hire a personal injury attorney?
It is important for every personal injury victim to be represented by a personal injury lawyer because:
(1) The personal injury victim does not know the value of his or her case.
(2) The personal injury claimant does not know how to properly document the damages in a personal injury claim.
(3) The personal injury claimant does not know how to get the treatment they require even if they do not have health insurance. In this tough economy many people simply do not have health insurance.
(4) The personal injury victim does not know how to litigate so the adjuster will often convey low ball offers knowing there is not much the claimant can do on their own.

How can an experienced personal injury attorney help their client get the needed medical treatment?
A good personal injury lawyer is able to make sure their client gets the medical treatment that they need to recovery from their injuries and to document the injuries even if they do not have health insurance. This can be done in the following ways:
(1) Med Pay: Assist the personal injury client is using his or her Medical Pay Coverage (med pay).
(2) Doctor Lien: Assist the personal injury client in finding a doctor that will treat on a lien. The client can get the treatment needed without paying for the treatment has he or she is receiving it. These doctors agree to wait for payment until a personal injury recovery is reached. Doctors will only do this if they know and trust your personal injury attorney.
(3) Medical Funding Company: Assist the personal injury client in the use of a medical funding company that will pay for specialists such as pain management doctors, neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, neuro-surgeons, etc. The doctor is paid by the medical funding company and then they are paid from the future personal injury settlement. Medical funding companies will only do this if they know and trust your personal injury attorney and if there is sufficient insurance coverage to insure they will be repaid.

How can I get a free consultation for an experienced personal injury lawyer?
You can call the experienced personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. at 866-847-6545 or submit your personal case for a free evaluation to the following link:
FREE SETTLEMENT EVALUATION:

September 8, 2011

Low Impact Auto Accident (Low Property Damage) Results in A jury Verdict of $3,294,456 In Dekalb County

A huge personal injury jury verdict of $3,294,456 (less 2% for comparative negligence) was returned for two Dekalb County personal injury victims on 11/18/2010. The case was Carolyn Loggins and Williamston Loggins v. Jonathan Coradin (Case Number 08A93987-5). This was an amazing recovery for these plaintiffs which means the personal injury lawsuit was tried very, very well.

How did the car accident occur?
Mr. Loggins was driving on a two lane road in Dekalb County. Ms. Loggins was a passenger in his car. The plaintiffs alleged that they crashed due to the negligence of another driver, Jonathan Coradin when he negligently entered their lane causing minimal-contact with their vehicle. They further allege that the impact was enough force to cause them to swerve off the road and flip their car. Mr. Loggins was ejected from the car and suffered cervical facet fractures, resulting in spinal cord deformity which required a laminectomy and fusion spinal surgery. Ms. Loggins suffered soft tissue injuries to her neck and back that required physical therapy. Mr. Loggins's medical bills totaled $100,000.00.

What was the alleged negligent act?
Mr. Loggins alleged that this car wreck was caused by the defendant's failure to maintain their lane.

What is Comparative Negligence?
The jury awarded $3,294,453 less 2% comparative negligence. This would result in a reduction of the amount received by the personal injury plaintiffs by $65,889.06. Comparative negligence is the negligence that the defendant alleges the plaintiff was guilty of in the car wreck In this case the defendants alleged that it was the plaintiffs who failed to maintain their lane causing this car crash. Another argument might be that the plaintiffs were negligent by overacting or yanking the steering wheel which could arguably be the cause or at least a contributing factor to the plaintiffs' car driving off the road and flipping. Lane change cases can be difficult for the plaintiff to prove liability unless there is an independent witness who can testify to what actually happened. In this Dekalb County personal injury lawsuit, it is clear that the jury thought that Mr. Loggins was slightly to blame for this accident (2%), but that the majority of the blame (98%) was due to the Defendant's negligence.

Could this 3 million dollar plus settlement have been achieved without a personal injury lawyer?
There is absolutely no way this $3,000,000 plus dollar personal injury recovery could have been obtained by a pro se plaintiff. A pro se plaintiff is a plaintiff that is not represented by an attorney. Clearly with the potential pit falls in proving liability in a lane changing case, a personal injury claimant without a seasoned and successful personal injury lawyer would have been offered little or nothing. Most adjusters would simply deny liability and refuse to pay anything. A three million dollar recovery for a Dekalb County personal injury claim that did not involve a wrongful death is a very, very good recovery indeed. For this to happen, Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. knows that this jury must have really liked and believed the clients and the litigating attorneys.

How can I get a free consultation or settlement evaluation from a seasoned and experienced personal injury attorney or wrongful death attorney?
Anyone who has a personal injury or wrongful death claim should call or submit there case for a free settlement evaluation to the following link:
FREE SETTLEMENT EVALUATION

Continue reading "Low Impact Auto Accident (Low Property Damage) Results in A jury Verdict of $3,294,456 In Dekalb County" »

October 21, 2010

Can you have Worker's Compensation Claims and Personal Injury Claims From the Same Accident?

Can a person injured in an accident in Georgia have both a worker's compensation claim and a personal injury claim? Yes. Georgia personal injury lawyers and Georgia worker's compensation lawyers should always evaluate the accident to see if both personal injury and worker's compensation claims exist. Atlanta worker's compensation attorney, Richard Griffin, stated, "if a worker is injured on the job and the accident was caused by the negligence of a third party, then you can have both a worker's compensation claim and a personal injury claim. The easiest example would be a truck driver that is involved in a truck accident due to the negligence of another driver who is not a co-worker. If the truck driver is an employee and is on the job when the motor vehicle accident occurs, then he or she has a worker's compensation claim against his or her employer and their worker's compensation insurance company. The truck driver would then also have a personal injury claim against the negligent driver for his or her medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages (examples DUI, hit and run, etc.). Under Georgia Worker's Compensation laws, the injured worker or worker's compensation claimant could seek treatment with worker's compensation doctors and have his or her worker's compensation related treatment paid for as the treatment is provided. Lost wages under worker's compensation are paid as you go in the form of temporary total income benefits and temporary partial disability benefits.

Georgia law provides for worker's compensation to be the "exclusive remedy" employees have against their employers. However, this "exclusive remedy" does not apply to people who are not co-workers or the injured victim's employer.

Attorney Richard Griffin of Firm, The Griffin Law, P.C. stated that it is very important that you seek the advice (free consultation) of an Atlanta worker's compensation lawyer and an Atlanta personal injury lawyers as soon as possible after you are injured. In this way you can learn about your rights and can understand what actions need to be taken to protect and process your Atlanta personal injury claims and Atlanta Worker's Compensation Claims.

Continue reading "Can you have Worker's Compensation Claims and Personal Injury Claims From the Same Accident?" »

October 10, 2010

Client Reviews Are Helpful In Finding Great Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have a personal injury case or wrongful death case, then selecting the right Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney is probably the most important decision you will make. Good personal injury lawyers take the pressure off of the injured victim and make sure that a fair and reasonable personal injury settlement is reached. However, not all personal injury lawyers or wrongful death lawyers have the same level of experience, resources, work ethic, and commitment to obtain the great results that you deserve.

So how can you make sure you are hiring the best possible injury lawyer for your case?
Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer, Richard Griffin, says that prior client reviews or client testimonials can be extremely helpful when you are deciding which personal injury attorney or wrongful death attorney to hire. Many client reviews or client testimonials can be found on the law firm’s website or at the firm’s listings on Google, Yahoo, and other directories. Atlanta personal injury attorney Richard Griffin "believes that the tremendous growth and success of his firm (The Griffin Law Firm, P.C.) has been his commitment to offering the best customer service possible". For examples of client testimonials that may help prove the law firm is qualified to provide you with great representation you can read real client testimonials at the following link [CLIENT TESTIMONIALS]. Clients should feel like the law firm cares about them and that they are being kept informed about their case. Another important factor in client satisfaction is was the recovery fair and reasonable. Happy clients will eagerly send everyone they know to you if you treat them right because they want the best for their friends and family that have personal injury or wrongful death claims. The opposite is also true. Unhappy clients will tell even more people about a firm that did not provide the representation that they needed and deserved.

Continue reading "Client Reviews Are Helpful In Finding Great Personal Injury Attorneys " »

September 3, 2010

Study Found That Atlanta Drivers Are Among The Most Dangerous

There was a very interesting article in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution on September 3, 2010 that concluded Atlanta drivers are amount the "least safe" in America. This study found that the average driver in Atlanta will be involved in a car wreck every 8.2 years. The study was commissioned by Allstate Insurance and ranked Atlanta as number 146th on the safest driving cities. This means that there are 145 cities that are safer to drive in than Atlanta.

Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. is not surprised by this study. He stated, "As a personal injury law firm based in and around Atlanta, we receive calls on a daily bases from people who are injured in car wrecks, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other personal injury accidents." Clearly the roads and highways in Atlanta have heavy traffic. The commutes (driving to and from work) are often long since people who work in Atlanta may live an hour away from Atlanta.

This means that if you have not been involved in a car wreck lately, then you are likely to be involved in one over the next 8 years. If you are in a car wreck caused by a negligent driver and are injured, then speaking to an experienced personal injury attorney is not only wise it is really essential. Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers will be glad to provide you with a free consultation. In this free consultation, you can obtain important information about the following:

(1) Your Personal Injury Rights;
(2) What to do when you have a personal injury case;
(3) What your case is likely to be worth; and
(4) What is the Statute Of Limitations (deadline for pursuing your personal injury case.

Speaking to a personal injury attorney about your personal injury case is always a great first step. The phone call is free, but the advice is priceless.

Continue reading "Study Found That Atlanta Drivers Are Among The Most Dangerous" »

June 26, 2010

Georgia Texting While Driving Could Impact Personal Injury Claims

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue just signed Georgia Senate Bill 360 into law this week. This law bans drivers in Georgia from texting while driving. A recent report on Fox 5 news on June 26, 2010, reported that texting while driving has lead to approximately 6000 deaths in motor vehcile accidents in Georgia last year alone. There have been many studies which found that driving while talking on your cell phone causes a driver to be as dangerous and as impaired as a DUI driver. As you can imagine, a driver looking down and entering letters to text would be even more dangerous because they often travel distances on the road without having their eyes on the road. If drivers are not watching or are distracted, then they often are unable to react to the actions of other drivers around them. This clearly is a good law which is needed to discourage this dangerous practice of driving while texting.

The Georgia law banning texting while driving [Senate Bill 360] places the fine for this traffic offense at up to $150. Further, if any teenager is guilty of this offense twice in one year, then that teenage driver could have his or her driver's license suspended for one year per Fox 5 news.

Attorney Richard Griffin of the personal injury firm The Griffin Law Firm stated that personal injury victims of negligent drivers guilty of texting while driving may be entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are allowed under Georgia law when a negligent driver's conduct is not merely negligent, but also, conduct that shows a reckless disregard for human life. These damages are intended to discourage this type of conduct by offering these additional punitive damages to punish this conduct. Personal injury claims have a much higher value when there are punitive damages in addition to the compensatory damages which include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Traditionally punitive damages in Georgia have involved DUI driving, racing, reckless driving, and hit and run (leaving the scene of an accident).

Car wreck victims should always consult with experienced personal injury attorneys and wrongful death attorneys whenever they are seriously injured in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident, or pedestrian accident. The personal injury lawyers and wrongful death lawyers at www.injuryatlanta.com have had experience handling thousands of claims every year.

Continue reading "Georgia Texting While Driving Could Impact Personal Injury Claims" »

March 26, 2010

Recent Big Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Verdicts In Georgia

Attorney Richard Griffin specializes in personal injury and wrongful death claims. As a part of his practice, he routinely monitors Georgia jury verdicts in order to better serve his clients and to inform the public on the potential value of their personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and social security claims. Jury verdict research helps in two important ways. First, it allows the personal injury and wrongful death attorney to educate the client regarding the likely value of his or her claim. Second, it allows the experienced personal injury lawyer and wrongful death lawyer to negotiate higher settlements from the adjuster and defense attorneys by providing evidence of how much a jury verdict would likely be for a specific case.

One source of jury verdict research is The Georgia Trial Reporter. According to The Georgia Trial Reporter, Vol. 21, Issue(s) 8, 11, for June and September 2009, several civil juries returned high dollar verdicts in several Georgia counties for cases involving personal injury claims and wrongful death claims. Some of these cases involved truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and car-wrecks which involved head-on collisions, t-bone collisions, and rear-end collisions. Some of these cases also involved drivers who were distracted by cell phone use or even DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).

Some of the recent large settlements published in The Georgia Trial Reporter include:

(1) In Bulloch County Superior Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $1,160,000.00 for pain and suffering and $75,000.00 for loss of consortium damages in a trucking accident.

(2) In Chatham County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $90,000.00 for damages suffered in an auto-accident when the Defendant rear-ended the Plaintiff’s vehicle, while picking up a cell phone.

(3) In Clayton County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff 17,716,401.00 in compensatory damages for an auto-accident involving a head-on collision and a design defect.

(4) In DeKalb County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $6,100,000.00 for damages suffered when the Defendant negligently inserted a needle into the Plaintiff’s neck causing pain and limited paralysis.

(5) In DeKalb County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $1,300,000.00 in wrongful death damages resulting from an interstate auto-accident.

(6) In Fulton County State Court, a jury awarded a Plaintiff $5,835,000.00 in wrongful death and pain and suffering damages in a auto-accident involving a drunk driver.

Great jury verdicts usually involve plaintiffs who are like-able and believable, as well as, injuries that are serious. The pain and suffering damages are determined by the jury and often include permanent restrictions on the injured victim's personal or work activities. Jurors are often extremely motivated by the testimony of before and after witnesses who describe how the plaintiff's life was disrupted by the injures. Before and after witnesses that can describe the negative impact on the plaintiff from different view points and with specific details work best. For example a neighbor who explains how they no longer can job or exercise with the plaintiff is much more effective than someone who just says the plaintiff was generally less active. Good before and after witnesses can include family members, friends, co-workers, and any one else that has had significant contact with the plaintiff.

Continue reading "Recent Big Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Verdicts In Georgia" »

March 22, 2010

Personal Injury News: Legal and Safety Issues Continue to Mass for Toyota

In recent months, the public has watched Toyota’s seemingly innocent story about slipping floor mats unravel into a story about known mechanical defects that endangered the lives of millions of drivers. Attorney Richard Griffin has spent his entire professional legal career handling personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and social security claims, and Attorney Richard Griffin is closely monitoring Toyota’s major safety recall.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration(NHTSA) website, on February 09, 2010, the NHTSA released a Consumer Advisory for Toyota owners, for gas pedal entrapment by floor mats and sticky gas pedals for most of Toyota’s vehicle line-up for models ranging from 2005 to 2010. If you are an owner of an affected vehicle, Attorney Richard Griffin advises you to follow the NHTSA advisory.

On February 16, 2010, the NHTSA posted a news release announcing a probe into the timeliness of Toyota’s recent recalls. The probe involves three recalls for Toyota and Lexus vehicles, including the September 26, 2007 and October 6, 2009, recalls related to the entrapment of gas pedals by floor mats which were expanded on January 29, 2010, and the January 21, 2010, recall for sticking gas pedals. According to David Strickland, an administrator for the NHSTA, “our top priority is safety and we expect that all manufacturers address safety issues quickly and in a forthright manner.”

According to a USAToday.com report, Toyota is the first automaker to be involved in a major safety recall since stricter criminal penalties were enacted following the Ford Explorer rollover recalls over a decade ago. The above mentioned NHTSA press release also announced that if the NHTSA finds that Toyota has “violated its statutory obligations, the manufacturer could be liable for a maximum of $16.4 million in civil penalties.” However, Attorney Richard Griffin notes that it is sometimes difficult to uncover all of the evidence needed for civil penalties so it will be very interesting to see how this Toyota investigation pans out.

According to a USAToday.com report, the stricter criminal and civil penalties may have had the unintended consequence of automakers purposely limiting the number of test results or conclusions that are put into writing by company engineers. Attorney Richard Griffin believes such practices hamper the ability of a victim of an automaker’s negligence to recover damages in court.

Recently, Attorney Richard Griffin read a report that further strengthened his suspicions. According to a CNN.com report, a former Toyota in-house counsel quit in 2007, because of alleged “criminal acts” committed by the automotive giant. The CNN.com report further uncovered that, Toyota allegedly had a “pattern and practice of not producing memos, minutes, reports, and email’s,” during the course of discovery, according to former in-house counsel Dimitrios Biller. If true, Attorney Richard Griffin advises that such an abuse of the laws of discovery is criminal and highly unethical and cannot be tolerated.
Attorney Richard Griffin will continue to follow any new developments in the Toyota story. Attorney Richard Griffin advises that owner’s of the affected vehicles should contact their dealership and make sure that their vehicle is safe to operate, and owner’s should continue to follow Attorney Richard Griffin’s blog for any new developments. If you have been the victim of an accident involving a recalled vehicle or believe such, Attorney Richard Griffin advises you to seek legal counsel immediately to make sure your rights are protected.

Continue reading "Personal Injury News: Legal and Safety Issues Continue to Mass for Toyota " »

March 22, 2010

Personal Injury News: Legal and Safety Issues Continue to Mass for Toyota

In recent months, the public has watched Toyota’s seemingly innocent story about slipping floor mats unravel into a story about known mechanical defects that endangered the lives of millions of drivers. Attorney Richard Griffin has spent his entire professional legal career handling personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and social security claims, and Attorney Richard Griffin is closely monitoring Toyota’s major safety recall.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration(NHTSA) website, on February 09, 2010, the NHTSA released a Consumer Advisory for Toyota owners, for gas pedal entrapment by floor mats and sticky gas pedals for most of Toyota’s vehicle line-up for models ranging from 2005 to 2010. If you are an owner of an affected vehicle, Attorney Richard Griffin advises you to follow the NHTSA advisory.

On February 16, 2010, the NHTSA posted a news release announcing a probe into the timeliness of Toyota’s recent recalls. The probe involves three recalls for Toyota and Lexus vehicles, including the September 26, 2007 and October 6, 2009, recalls related to the entrapment of gas pedals by floor mats which were expanded on January 29, 2010, and the January 21, 2010, recall for sticking gas pedals. According to David Strickland, an administrator for the NHSTA, “our top priority is safety and we expect that all manufacturers address safety issues quickly and in a forthright manner.”

According to a USAToday.com report, Toyota is the first automaker to be involved in a major safety recall since stricter criminal penalties were enacted following the Ford Explorer rollover recalls over a decade ago. The above mentioned NHTSA press release also announced that if the NHTSA finds that Toyota has “violated its statutory obligations, the manufacturer could be liable for a maximum of $16.4 million in civil penalties.” However, Attorney Richard Griffin notes that it is sometimes difficult to uncover all of the evidence needed for civil penalties so it will be very interesting to see how this Toyota investigation pans out.

According to a USAToday.com report, the stricter criminal and civil penalties may have had the unintended consequence of automakers purposely limiting the number of test results or conclusions that are put into writing by company engineers. Attorney Richard Griffin believes such practices hamper the ability of a victim of an automaker’s negligence to recover damages in court.

Recently, Attorney Richard Griffin read a report that further strengthened his suspicions. According to a CNN.com report, a former Toyota in-house counsel quit in 2007, because of alleged “criminal acts” committed by the automotive giant. The CNN.com report further uncovered that, Toyota allegedly had a “pattern and practice of not producing memos, minutes, reports, and email’s,” during the course of discovery, according to former in-house counsel Dimitrios Biller. If true, Attorney Richard Griffin advises that such an abuse of the laws of discovery is criminal and highly unethical and cannot be tolerated.

Attorney Richard Griffin will continue to follow any new developments in the Toyota story. Attorney Richard Griffin advises that owner’s of the affected vehicles should contact their dealership and make sure that their vehicle is safe to operate, and owner’s should continue to follow Attorney Richard Griffin’s blog for any new developments. If you have been the victim of an accident involving a recalled vehicle or believe such, Attorney Richard Griffin advises you to seek legal counsel immediately to make sure your rights are protected.


Continue reading "Personal Injury News: Legal and Safety Issues Continue to Mass for Toyota " »

September 8, 2009

Personal Injury News: "MyKey" Is New Technology Designed To Protect Teenage Drivers

Ford will put a safety feature on many of their new cars called "MyKey". Since Attorney Richard Griffin has spent his entire professional legal career handling personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and social security disability claims, he is always interested in any new safety features on automobiles. Since Attorney Richard Griffin is proud father of four daughters, he understands that there is nothing more important than protecting your loved ones from being injured or killed.

It is astonishing to think about how many car wrecks occur each year in Georgia and throughout the U.S. Some of the mind boggling statistics about car accidents are:

(1) In 2006 there were 500,000 DUI related car wrecks in the U.S.
(2) In 2006, 17,000 innocent drivers died in those 500,000 DUI related car wrecks.
(3) In 2006 there were 392 deaths caused by DUI related car wrecks in Georgia.
(4) In 2007 there were 2,575,000 car wrecks that occurred in the U.S.
(5) In 2007 42,000 people lost their lives in those 2,575,000 car wrecks.
(6) Over 55% of the fatalities involved drivers or passengers not wearing seat belts.
(7) Tragicly, DUI related accidents increased in 2007 to 17,600 throughout the U.S.

Clearing driving in Atlanta, Georgia or throughout Georgia, can be dangerous even for drivers who are alert and safety minded. However, when you think about inexperienced teenage drivers behind the wheel, the risk of car wrecks increases even more. This is why Attorney Richard Griffin is very excited about the new “MyKey” feature that Ford will feature on many of Ford's new cars being released. “MyKey” is a new technology designed to help parents control some of their teen drivers’ behaviors in an attempt to keep them safe.

Andrew Sarkisian, the safety manager at Ford, was recently quoted in a USA Today article as saying, “We wanted to find a way for parents to virtually be in the car with their teens, like they’re sitting in the passenger seat coaching them along.” Attorney Richard Griffin whole heartedly agrees that parents need more tools to help them make sure their teenage drivers are driving safely. Attorney Richard Griffin stated that “teenagers often do not fully appreciate the risk of dangerous behavior which can sometimes lead to tragedies when they are behind the wheel of an automobile. Teenagers often feel invensible which can result in driving too fast or driving while distracted by cell phones, Ipods, GPS systems, or even just their radios.” The worst worst nightmare for parents would be being informed that their daughter or son involved in a serious car accident, motorcycle accident, or truck accident. Attorney Richard Griffin knows that no amount of money from a personal injury or wrongful death claims can replace the value of having your loved ones safe and healthy.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did a recent study which concluded that
(1) 4,497 young drivers ages 16 to 20 died in car accidents” in 2008.
(2) The leading cause of death for drivers who are ages 16 to 20 is car wrecks.
(3) Teenagers make up 10% of the total drivers, but they account for 12% of car fatalities.

So what does MyKey do to help parents protect their teenage drivers?

(1) Parents can limit the maximum speed their teenage drivers can drive to 80 mph.
(2) Parents can set chimes to warn their teenagers when the speed increases to 45 mph, 55 mph and 65 mph.
(3) Parents can set a chime if their teenage driver has not buckled their seat belt
(4) Parents can have the audio system disabled until the teenage driver buckles their seat belt.
(5) Parents can limit the maximum volume on the radio.
(6) Parents can keep track of their teen driver's mileage
(7) Parents can set the low fuel warnings to warn at an earlier fuel level.

The driving statistics clearly show that teenage drivers are at the greatest risk of having a car wreck the first year of they are driving. Since nothing is more important than keeping our children safe, Attorney Richard Griffin believes that many parents may choose Ford cars with MyKey over other cars just for this safety feature alone.

The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. (Attorney Richard Griffin's law firm) has handled thousands of personal injury and wrongful death claims with incredible results. To read more about how happy our personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, and social security clients have been with our legal representation click on the following link: [Client Testimonials].

If the negligent driving of someone else has caused you to be injured in a car wreck, truck accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident, or pedestrial accident, then call our experienced attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. today for a free consultation.

Call our personal injury lawyers and wrongful death lawyers for for a free settlement evaluation at 866-847-6545.

You can also click the following link to submit your personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, or social security disability questions to our experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney’s at the following link: FREE SETTLEMENT EVALUATION.

Our firm's mission statement is "To protect the rights of injured victims and to maximize the personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensation, and social security disability recoveries for all of our clients."

September 3, 2009

Returning Troops Bring Back Dangerous Driving Habits

Anyone who serves in the armed forces to protect our country is a hero in my book. I am thankful for their sacrifice which allows all of us to live in this great country in the land of the free. However, I was amazed by an article I read written by Gregg Zoroya in the USA Today on September 1, 2009. The article pointed out that soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have to drive very aggressively to aoid "ambushes or roadside bombs". The aggressive driving includes "driving fast or , or down the middle of the road through intersections regardless of the signals". Clearly the aggressive driving which is required to protect their lives in a war setting translate in to potential disaster if used in the public roads in Georgia and throughout the United States. Aggressive driving on our public roads is one of the leading causes of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents. These accidents often cause serious injury or death to the innocent victims of negligent driving. Serious injury or death, in turn, result in personal injury and wrongful death claims. The personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. specialize in handling personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, and social security claims and use our experience and hard work to maximize our client's recovery so that they recover all that they deserve.

A 2007 University of Minnesota study by Todd Rockwood (a sociologist) and Erica Stern (occupational therapist) concluded that aggressive driving habits by returning soldiers was "automatic and inexorably linked to a sense of control and safety." The study found that dangerous driving habits often continue even after the soldiers return home and that this "endangers soldiers, their families, and their communities".

Some of the interesting statistics from this study:
(1) 25% of the returning soldiers admitted to driving down the center of the road or running stop signs.
(2) 10% of the returning soldiers admitted that they "drove erratically through an underpass or tunnel".
(3) Much of the dangerous driving diminished or got better after they were driving back at home for more than 90 days.

Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. concludes that everyone needs to practice safe driving to avoid causing car wrecks. It is my belief that car wrecks, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents are the leading cause of serious injury or death for people under 40. Personal injury claims and wrongful death claims are serious matters that shatter innocent people's lives and the lives of the ones that the victims love the most.

If you or someone you know has a personal injury claim, wrongful death claim, worker's compensation claim, or social security disability claim, you need to call the experience lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. We handle personal injury, wrongful death, social security disability, and worker's compensation claims in Atlanta, Georgia and throughout the state of Georgia.

Call us today at 866-847-6545 or visit our website at www.injuryatlanta.com.

To find out what your case is worth click this link and submit your case for a free case evaluation. We use the latest jury verdict research along with our experience as seasoned trial lawyers to explain to you exactly what we think your case is worth. This advice is not only useful, but I think it is invaluable to anyone with a personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security claim.

August 26, 2009

Atlanta Personal Injury Law Firm Gets High Praise From Their Clients

When you are looking for a lawyer for your personal injury, worker's compensation, wrongful death, or social security disability claim you need someone you can trust. You need a law firm that will work hard for you, that will keep you informed, that are honest, and that will get you great results. You need a law firm that will treat you like family while fighting to make sure you recover all that you deserve.

I have good news for you! The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. is the law firm that you are looking for and need. Our firm can get the full settlement that you are entitled to while providing the customer service deserve. We can prove that our client's love our representation by the client testimonials that they provide. I have listed some of our client's testimonials below:

(1) "The Griffin Law Firm was honest, hard working, and treated me like a trusted friend. We had our day in court and justice was done. I was very pleased with the outcome."
-Leon King, former client 08/21/08

(2) "The Griffin Law Firm handled by claim very professionally. I loved the fact that the staff kept me informed on every aspect of my claim without me having to call multiple times. Hands down, The Griffin Law Firm has the most friendliest staff in Atlanta. I will recommend The Griffin Law Firm to a friend who needs an attorney." Client: N. Walker, 08/30/07

(3) "Amy was very pleasant and resourceful when addressing my case. She always returned my calls promptly. I could not ask for a better case manager. Mr. Griffin provided a one on one session explaining all paperwork and procedures. They're fantastic!" * Would you recommend The Griffin Law Firm to a friend who needed an attorney?
Yes indeed!" Client: T. Jones, 09/14/07

(4) "Mr. Griffin and his staff are great. They helped me in every situation that came up. Everything was handled with care and accuracy. His staff returned all calls and I got calls whenever it was necessary from them. I got what was needed and what was deserved. I would recommend this firm to anyone because Mr. Griffin is great and so is his staff. You could not ask for a better group than Griffin Law Firm. Their great. Thanks for everything."
V. Lewis, 03/06/08

(5) The way they handled every detail in the case and never once did I have to do any foot work myself. All details were taken care of by the Firm."
* Would you recommend The Griffin Law Firm to a friend who needed an attorney?
"Yes". C. Dunlap, 08/31/07

The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. has Atlanta personal injury lawyers, Atlanta worker's compensation lawyers, Atlanta social security disability lawyers, and Atlanta wrongful death lawyers.

For even more Client Testimonials visit our website at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com.

We also encourage you to utilize our legal videos that can be found at our Media Center on our website.

Call us today at 866-847-6545 or visit our website at www.injuryatlanta.com to have your legal questions answered and to have a free settlement evaluation. We are honest, reliable, hard working, and the law firm that will treat you like you are family.

July 28, 2009

Innovative Atlanta Persoanl Injury Attorney Uses Jury Verdict Research To Get Higher Settlements

The innovative Atlanta personal injury attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. have had great success with the use of Jury Verdict Research. The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. uses two separate software programs to conduct these extensive jury verdict and settlement value research. The Jury Verdict research allows our personal injury lawyers to know the settlement and verdict amounts for similar personal injury cases. Cases are ultimately worth what the jury awards at the end of a trial. Jury Verdict research helps us better project what the jury verdict might be for our specific case. Settlement values differ based on the amount of the damages (medical bills and lost wages), the type of injuries involved, the type of treatment required, and the future prognosis. The Future prognosis involves the medical evidence from the doctors which documents if the injuries and the limitations they cause are permanent, and if future medical treatment will be required.

Attorney Richard Griffin stated that "I have found the use of jury verdict research has greatly enhanced the recoveries for my clients. Use of the jury verdict research helps us educate our client's as to the real value of their case. Jury Verdict research also helps our experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorneys to better persuade the adjusters to offer more money. It appears that taking the time and investing the money into jury verdict research has helped increase settlements of many of my cases by as much as 20% or more." This information allows The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. to provide incredibly useful information to our clients so that our clients can make an educated decision as to whether they should settle or litigate their case.

The personal injury lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C>. are always striving to provide better and better representation so that our clients will be fully compensated for their personal injury, wrongful death, worker's compensation, or social security disability claim. If you would like to know the value of your case, then you should call us or visit our website for a free case evaluation.

Our Personal Injury Attorneys, Wrongful Death Attorneys, Worker's Compensation Attorneys, and Social Security Disability Attorneys encourage you to visit our website at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com or call us at 866-847-6545 for a free consultation. Let us tell you what your case is worth and how we can help you get the settlement you deserve.

April 11, 2009

Atlanta Injury Lawyer, Richard Griffin, Is A Repeat Guest On Autoscoop TV and Radio Shows

Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm has been a repeat guest on the Autoscoop TV and Radio Shows.

The Autoscoop TV show is shown on CW Atlanta Channel 69 on Friday's 10am to 11am with a replay on Saturday at noon to 1pm
.

On 04/10/09, Adam Goldfein is the host of the show. He engaged Attorney Richard Griffin with questions regarding all aspects of personal injury claims. Personal injury damages include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. For negligent drivers who are DUI (driving under the influence) of alcohol or drugs or racing, there are also punitive damages. Punitive damages are the damages the law allows to punish bad behavior which amounts to a reckless disregard for human life. There is also a loss of consortium claim that spouses of injured victims have. A loss of consortium claim allows the spouse of the injured personal injury victim to recover for the loss of companionship, loss of support, and loss of physical intimacy which injuries can cause.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident or truck accident, you should call Atlanta personal injury attorney Richard Griffin of The Griffin Law Firm for a free consultation. You can also visit our website at www.griffinlawfirm.net to submit legal questions or to find out what your case is worth for free.

Do not challenge the adjusters and their attorneys without an attorney of your own. Even the playing field by hiring the attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm to make sure your rights are protected and your recovery all you deserve.

February 10, 2009

What Do You Do If You Are In A Car Wreck In Atlanta or Throught Georgia

What do you do it you are in a car wreck in Atlanta or anywhere in Georgia? As an Atlanta personal injury attorney for The Griffin Law Firm, P.C., Richard Griffin is asked this question almost every daily. How you conduct yourself at the accident scene can play a vital role in the outcome of your case.

First Step - Get Contact Information From All Witnesses: Immediately get all of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any witnesses at the car accident scene. Since witnesses are often busy or in a hurry, they often do not want to wait for the police to come. Therefore, your only opportunity to get the witness information is immediately after the car wreck. If you do not have a witness than many accidents become a swearing contest where each driver claims the other driver was at fault. This is especially true for lane changing cases or for car wrecks at intersections. Witnesses for these type of cases can mean the difference between all of your property damage and personal injury damages being paid by the negligent driver's car insurance, or you being stuck without an insurance company paying for your damages. Without a witness the insurance companies that represent the negligent driver will often take there insured’s word for it and deny the claim. The burden of proof is on the injured party so getting the witness contact information may make all of the difference.

images.jpg

Second Step - Write Down the Tag Number Of The Negligent Driver: If you are involved in a car wreck that was caused by another driver's negligence, you should immediately write down the tag number for the negligent driver, a description of the negligent driver's car, and a description of the negligent driver. This information could be very important in allowing the police to locate the owner of the negligent driver in their investigation of the accident if the negligent driver leaves the scene of the accident. Unfortunately hit and run car accidents occur quite often in Atlanta and throughout Georgia, so having this information is critical. Our personal injury attorneys at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. are even able to use the tag information to find out which insurance company insures the vehicle that caused the accident.

Third Step - Call The Police: No matter how trust worthy or apologetic the negligent driver is always call the police. The police report will document the accident occurred and will have the officer’s opinion of who was at fault. Without it you are very vulnerable. A dishonest negligent driver could deny the collision even occurred or deny that he or she was at fault in the accident unless there is a police report. If the negligent driver denies the car wreck occurred or states he or she was not to blame for the accident, then insurance adjusters will often deny liability. Without a police report or witnesses it may be difficult to prove that you are entitled to recover for your personal injury medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.

Fourth Step - Take Photographs At the Scene: I strongly recommend that you take photographs of all cars involved immediately after the collision. This can be done by using your cell phone's camera or by carrying a camera in your car at all times. These photographs preserve the evidence that could be needed to prove you were not at fault. Many times the vehicles are moved to clear the roadway so these photographs could help with officer know what happened and our firm help prove your case. These photographs also are very valuable in showing the position of the vehicles when the wreck occurred, documenting the property damage to all vehicles involved, and can be a way to capture a picture of the negligent driver and tag number. Photographs which show substantial property damage can greatly increase the value of your claim. Jurors are very motivated when they see wrecked cars which show a lot of damage. Their nature thought when they see a demolished car is “how could anyone have survived that!” This is a great weapon for our firm to use in settlement negotiations and / or if the case is tried.


Fifth Step - Calmly Tell The Policy What Happened: Make sure you keep your cool when speaking to the police officer. If you are injured, then let the police officer know it. He will typically note if you were injured in the police report. If ask for an ambulance, then the police will usually note that your were injured. If you do not want an ambulance, then unless you make it clear to the police that you were injured, but would drive yourself to the doctor, the police will usually note "no injuries" on the police report. Adjusters will often use "no injury" notes from the police report against you by arguing you must not have been injured in the car wreck since you did not tell the police officer you were injured at the scene.

If you had to move your car, then show the police officer your photographs so he can see where the cars were. If you have witness information of witnesses that did not stay, give it to the police officer.

Seventh Step - Get Medical Treatment you Need: If you are injured, then you should get medical treatment as soon as possible. Delays in seeking medical treatment are often used by adjusters to argue you were not really hurt do to a gap in treatment. The longer the gap in treatment the stronger the adjuster will argue this. If you have serious injures, then you should seek treatment at the emergency room. If you do not wish to go to the emergency room, then seek treatment from your family doctor or a medical doctor or chiropractor. If our clients need help finding a doctor, then our firm can help you find a good doctor in your area. If you have health insurance or med pay coverage, then use it. This usually means that you will net more money in your settlement. If our clients need a doctor to treat you on a lien (no payment needed until the case settles), then our firm can help arrange this as well.

EIGHTH STEP - CALL THE GRIFFIN LAW FIRM ASAP SO WE CAN ADVISE YOU AND PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS IMMEDIATELY: The most important step is to call our firm [866-847-6545 or http://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/] as soon as possible. We can make sure your property damage issues are resolved. We can help you get the treatment you need. We can do everything possible to maximize your recovery to make sure you are fairly compensated for your past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, and past and future pain and suffering.

Written by Richard S. Griffin, Attorney at Law. http://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/ or call us at 866-847-6545.

April 14, 2008

Attorney Richard Griffin Discusses Traumatic Brain Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries and Herniated Disc Injuries on Autoscoop

Atlanta personal injury lawyer Richard Griffin was the featured personal injury expert on the Autoscoop television show (hosted by Adam Goldfein and Joyce Littel) on 04/11/08. The show focused on personal injury claims in which negligent drivers cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and herniated disc injuries.

It is hard to believe, but there are 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries every year in the United States. This means that every 15 seconds there is another traumatic brain injury. There are 52,000 deaths each year from traumatic brain injuries. There are 5.3 million Americans (2% of the U.S. population) who are totally disabled due to traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries is the number one cause of death and disability in people who are younger than 45 years old. 61% of all Traumatic brain injuries are caused by automobile collisions (car wrecks, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, etc.) Another 8% of the annual traumatic brain injuries are from on the job injuries which usually create worker's compensation claims. These statistics are frightening since that traumatic brain injuries injuries can affect everyone including our children.

One common type of traumatic brain injuries are concussions. Concussions are caused by sudden trauma to the head. Concussions can cause people to suffer from confusion, lack of concentration, memory loss, irritability, personality changes, insomnia (difficulty sleeping) loss of sex drive, loss of consciousness, etc. Many people recover from traumatic brain injuries, but for some it is a permanent loss that forever changes their way of life. This can sometimes be like the ripples that shoot across the lake when a stone is thrown into the lake. Often people suffering from traumatic brain injuries must learn how to perform their daily activities all over again. Daily activities like walking, talking, eating, grooming, problem solving, working a job, and hobbies and exercise can be a struggle.

Another common traumatic brain injury is called diffuse axonal brain injury. This traumatic brain injury is caused by the rapid acceleration and deceleration of the brain inside the skull. The brain often slams into the skull causes nerves and cells in the brain to no longer work properly. This results in brain cells and nerves no longer functioning properly. With treatment the brain attempts to use other brain cells and nerves to do the function of the damaged cells and nerves. This process is called brain plasticity.

Brain injuries can shatter lives and leave the victim struggling to live their lives. If you cannot think properly and if you are in severe pain, then everyone's daily activities become a huge challenge. This impacts not only the injured victim of a car wreck or other accident, but also the family, friends, and co-workers that are part of the injured party's daily life. You only get "one bite of the apple" which means that you need legal representation to make sure you recover all that you deserve.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION: The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. at 404-303-8400 or 877-303-8440 for a free consultation to find out if you have a case or to have your legal questions answered. You can also use the "What Is My Case Worth?" button on this website or the contact us form so we can explain your rights. All information you submit to us is confidential

REASONS TO CONTACT OUR FIRM:
(1) We can explain your rights and what types of claims you may have.
(2) We will answer your legal questions
(3) We will provide you with a settlement evaluation (what is my case worth?).

**********************************
Resources used for this article:
* [Iwata A., Stys P.K., Wolf J.A., Chen X.H., Taylor, A.G., Meaney D.F., and Smith D.H. (2004). Traumatic axonal injury induces proteolytic cleavage of the voltage-gated sodium channels modulated by tetrodotoxin and protease inhibitors. The Journal of Neuroscience. 24 (19): 4605—4613.]
* [Wasserman J. and Koenigsberg R.A. (2007). Diffuse axonal injury. Emedicine.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26]
* Studies compiled by The Brain Injury Association.

February 21, 2008

Personal Injury Attorneys Get Far Higher Settlements According To A Recent Study

I recently read a study from the Insurance Research Counsel 2004 which found that settlements for injured victims who are represented by personal injury attorneys are three and a half times higher than those who represent themselves. This does not surprise me and confirms what I have found in my own personal injury practice. It seems that every week a potential new client will call my office frustrated and upset that the insurance adjuster is offering them such a small offer for their personal injury claim. Many times I accept these cases and have been able to increase the client's settlement considerably. I truly enjoy my job which allows me to help people recover what they deserve for their personal injury claims. These personal injury settlements must consider the cost of the medical treatment, the amount of lost wages, the type of injury, whether there is any punitive damage exposure, and pain and suffering. People who do not have an attorney often are at the mercy of insurance adjusters who give them take it or leave it low ball offers. Luckily you have a choice to even the playing field to make sure justice is done in your case. If you would like a free consultation, then call The Griffin Law Firm at 404-303-8400 or toll fee at 877-303-8440. You can also visit our website at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com for a free settlement evaluation.

September 10, 2007

Do Auto Injuries Discriminate?

The National Safety Council reported that in the year 2001 there were approximately 12.5 million traffic accidents, with about 2.3 million disabling injuries. It is a good thing that the US government along with auto makers have spent billions of dollars on testing and research to make vehicles safer. Yet even with modern advancements not all vehicles offer the same level protection and each occupant has a different risk of injury. “The insurance company often uses the cost to repair the vehicle as a gauge for determining the extent of injury to the vehicle occupants.” says Atlanta personal injury attorney Richard Griffin, of the Griffin Law Firm. The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. is a large Atlanta firm that specialized in auto and work injuries. Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney Richard Griffin goes on to say that minorities, the elderly, and the poor are often the most negatively affected by this practice of claims evaluation. “Statistically, minorities, elderly, and the financially disadvantaged drive vehicles with below average safety ratings or older vehicles. They are also less likely to have access to healthcare. When a vehicle that is less safe is involved in a car wreck, the driver and the passengers are much more likely to be injured even with property damage of less than $1,000.00. People injured in vehicles with less than $1,000.00 in property damage then are told by insurance adjusters that they could not have been hurt since the property damage was minimal. Then insurance adjusters offered a very small amount or nothing at all to these injured victims especially if they are not represented by an attorney.

Personal injury victims often are stuck with medical bills and have lost wages go unpaid if they are not represented by trained and experienced personal injury attorneys. Attorney Richard Griffin stated, "Everyone with an injury needs good legal representation, and that’s what my firm does!”

The State of Florida Department of Highway Safety studied if people could be injured in low speed impacts. In 1999 this study found that 67,602 people were involved in automobile collisions at a speed of less than 10 MPH. The study further found that 55,973 of those (the vast majority) were in fact injured and required medical treatment. Surprisingly 528 people out of the 67,602 people in these low impact collisions actually lost their life in the car wreck. Clearly, it is incorrect and terribly unfair for insurance adjusters to conclude on their own that low property damage means that no one could have been injured.

The Highway Loss Data Institute is a nonprofit public service organization that gathers, processes, and publishes data concerning different types of vehicles. In their September 2005 publication, “Injury, Collision and Theft Loss”, the Institute rates the relative frequency of injuries in each model, year and class of vehicles. (A full listing of vehicles can be seen at www.iihs.org.) Vehicles such as the BMW L 7 series, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Crown Victoria, Volvo V70, Buick Park Avenue and Saab 9-5 all rate substantially better than average. While the Kia (Rio, Optima, Grand Vitara), Mitsubishi (Lancer, Galant, Eclipse), and Hyundai (Accent, Tiburon, Sonata) all rate substantially worse than average. These ratings support the idea that minorities and the poor may be at a higher risk of injury because their vehicles have poor safety features or may be older with no modern protection devises. “The vehicle safety does have a major impact on occupant injury but so does the pre-injury health of the occupant and the forces generated during the collision”, states Attorney Richard Griffin. “Many insurance carriers do not understand that each occupant has a different threshold and risk for injury. An 18 year old healthy football player will have a lower risk of injury than an 89 year old female with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. There are literally thousands of factors that are involved with an injury but the cost to repair property damage is not a major factor.” In 2001 the Supreme Court of Delaware, in the case of Davis v. Maute stated that the defense “may not directly argue that the seriousness of personal injuries from a car accident correlates to the extent of the damage to the cars, unless the party can produce competent expert testimony on the issue. Absent such expert testimony, any inference by the jury that minimal damage to the plaintiff’s car translates into minimal personal injuries to the plaintiff would necessarily amount to unguided speculation.” But the insurance companies still routinely state that “less than $1500 of damage equals no injury”. “This leaves the injured person wondering, if they are really in good hands?” says Attorney Richard Griffin.

Attorney Richard Griffin further stated, “The elderly, disadvantaged and some minority groups often do appear to be taken advantage of with lower settlements especially when they are not represented by a trained and experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney. That is why our Atlanta personal injury law firm investigates each claim extensively and fights to protects the rights of the injured. We see many cases where the client did not immediately seek legal advice and often have to fight very hard to turn these cases around. I recommend that any person injured get immediate legal advice from lawyers that specialize in personal injury.” Because of an extraordinary nationwide effort by insurance carriers, motor vehicle accident claims have been dramatically reduced. Insurance carriers have been particularly successful in defending minor impact cases. In California alone, according to the research arm of the California Supreme Court, motor vehicle accident filings in superior court were down 50% in just 10 years. Few industries have successfully reduced its liabilities by 50% in just 10 years. The Insurance Research Council in a 2003 reported that 10% less claimants were utilizing the services of an attorney from 2002 to 1992. This is a surprising trend since 92% of claimants whose cases were value at over $25,000 were represented by an attorney. That still leaves the question, “do auto accidents discriminate?” Do auto accidents discriminate? Yes it appears that they do indeed discriminate when adjusters attempt to under pay claims involving low property damage to cars that often have poor safety ratings. Another factor in addition to the safety rating of the car you are in is what is your age and condition of your body before the collision occurred. If you have a weak or degenerated back, drive a car with a poor safety rating, or have any of the other hundreds factors that put you at high risk for injury. Then yes auto accidents do discriminate. But one thing is 100% certain. They never taught a doctor in medical school, that when you are evaluating a patient to leave the exam room, go to the parking lot, look at the patient’s car, come back in the examination room and give the patient your diagnosis.

The personal injury lawyers and wrongful death lawyers at The Griffin Law Firm, P.C. will fight for you to make sure that the insurance adjusters do not save money at your expense by under paying your personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Call us today at 866-847-6545 or visit our website at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com for a free legal evaluation or to find out what your case is worth.

Richard S. Griffin, Attorney At Law

See more at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com

July 23, 2007

Georgia Uninsured Motorist and Med Pay Is Essential

People often struggle to make ends meet in Atlanta and throughout Georgia. For this reason, many people look for ways to save money everywhere they can. This is understandable. However, many people do not understand what the risk is to cutting corners on your Georgia car insurance should you have the misfortune of being seriously injured in a car wreck.

Georgia laws require that anyone who owns a car that is being driven on Georgia roads to have car insurance. Georgia law only requires liability coverage of $25,000/$50,000/$25000. This would be minimum coverage and would mean that the car insurance would only cover liability claims up to a maximum of $25000 per injured person and would only cover up to $50,000 per accident for Georgia personal injury claims. Since medical bills are higher than ever, if you are at fault for an accident and seriously injury another driver or pedestrian, then you could be on the hook for any excess jury verdict for the Georgia personal injury claim. This means that your personal assets (bank accounts, cars, houses, boats, etc.) could be lost if there was a jury verdict against you of more than your liability policy limits.

Another type of coverage available to you in your Georgia car insurance is uninsured motorist coverage and medical pay (med pay) coverage. These coverages are not required by Georgia law, but do offer you significant protection should you be seriously injured in a car wreck in Atlanta or throughout Georgia. Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Georgia is insurance coverage for any car wreck personal injury claims when the negligent driver who hurts you does not have auto insurance. This coverage can really be a life saver because if you do not have uninsured motorist coverage and you are injured by an uninsured driver, then you would not have any insurance coverage for your claim. Your only remedy would be to sue the individual and try to collect from their personal assets. The problem with this is that most people who are driving without car insurance do not have a lot of assets to recover against.

Uninsured motorist coverage also serves as under-insured motorist coverage when your claim is worth more than the negligent driver's liability policy limits. Recent changes in Georgia law for uninsured motorist coverage will give you the option to elect add on uninsured motorist coverage which would allow you to stack your uninsured motorist coverage on top of the liability policy. Traditional uninsured motorist coverage, now called "reduction" or "limits to limits" coverage [see O.C.G.A. Section 33-7-11(b)(1)(D)(ii)]. Under traditional uninsured motorist (which all uninsured motorist policy in Georgia if issued prior to 01/01/09), there is only under-insured motorist coverage when your uninsured motorist coverage exceeds the amount of liability policy limits. For example, under traditional uninsured motorist coverage ("reduction" or limits to limits") if you had $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage and the liability policy was also $25,000, then you would have no under-insured motorist coverage. If you had $50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage on a "reduction" or "limits to limits" car insurance policy, then you would have $25,000 of uninsured motorist coverage. To have an under-insured motorist claim you must always obtain a policy limits offer from the liability carrier or you cannot pursue an under-insured motorist claim at all.

Georgia Medical Payment Coverage or "Med Pay" is medical coverage for you and anyone in your car who is injured in a car wreck. Since there are car wrecks in Atlanta and across Georgia every day, this coverage can be incredibly helpful. This coverage is a elected add on to your Georgia car insurance policy so you do not have to have it. You purchase a specific amount ($1000, $5000, $10,000, etc.) and each injured party in your car can get the medical treatment they need from a doctor of their choice up to that purchased amount. This Med Pay coverage can be especially important to people who do not have health insurance and need to have expensive tests, surgeries, pain management, etc. Without Med Pay or health insurance many specialists such as orthpaedic surgeons, neurologists, pain management doctors, etc. will not agree to treat injured people.

The cost of adding uninsured motorist coverage and med pay coverage is lower than you might expect. I strongly recommend you have these valuable coverages if you can afford it to protect yourself and your passengers should a tragic car wreck, truck wreck, motorcycle wreck, pedestrian accident occur to you or the ones you love.

As you can see there are many complex legal issues surrounding how to stack multiple car insurance claims. For this reason, it is very important to contact experience Georgia personal injury attorneys to represent you on these claims. The second reason why you need to hire a experience Georgia personal injury claim is because usually great settlements are the result of outstanding negotiation and litigation skills. Adjuster usually will offer far less to injured parties who are not representing because they know you do not know the true value of the case and do not have the ability to litigate the case if the adjuster's offers are unreasonable.

For a free case evaluation or legal consultation please do not hesitate to call me at 866-847-6535 or visit our website at http://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/index.html.
Richard Griffin
Attorney At Law.

July 11, 2007

Atlanta Personal Injury Attorneys

My name is Attorney Richard S. Griffin http://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/lawyer-attorney-1282309.html. My Atlanta personal injury law firm, The Griffin Law Firm, P.C, specialize in handling personal injury, wrongful death, worker’s compensationhttp://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/lawyer-attorney-1282786.html, and social security disability claimshttp://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/lawyer-attorney-1282782.html. My firm has successfully handled thousands of injury claims and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients. Every case is different, but our commitment remains the same to make sure you have the best possible legal representation. Please visit our website at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com.

In this blog I will evaluate legal issues of interest to me. I am also always willing to provide a free legal consultation about potential injury claims that you may have. I can be reached at 404-303-8400 or at www.griffinlawfirmpc.com or email to richard@griffinlawfirmpc.com.
http://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/lawyer-attorney-1282309.html

July 11, 2007

Georgia Tort Reform Negatively Impacted Medical Malpractice

The Tort Reform laws recently passed in Georgia cap the pain and suffering (non-economic damages) to $350,000. This cap is changes the long standing laws which allowed the
made it very difficult to find an attorney willing to accept any medical malpractice claims that are not catastrophic in nature. Because the cost of litigating medical malpractice claims is enormous, medical malpractice attorney’s have traditionally been very selective about which cases they would take. Now with Tort Reform which capped the pain and suffering on all Georgia medical malpractice claims at $350,000, it does not make sense for attorney’s to take any medical malpractice claims that do not involve catastrophic injures. The cost of litigation can be high and range from $50,000 to $100,000 or more so unless the future medical expenses are extremely high, it is often very hard to find a medical malpractice attorney. Jury verdicts against doctors are also very hard to obtain since jurors often feel that the doctors are trying to help us and are doing the best they can. Tort Reform appears to be continuing in today’s political environment and will likely spread into the other areas of personal injury beyond medical malpractice with caps on damages and other limits on liability.

Richard S. Griffin, Attorney At Law. http://www.griffinlawfirmpc.com/
www.griffinlawfirmpc.com or call 404-303-8400 ext. 210.