Legal Matters
Lasting Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries on Mental and Physical Health
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) occur when there is a sudden blow or jolt to the head, which causes trauma and disrupts brain functioning. Motor vehicle crashes, falls, sports and recreational activities, and assaults are common causes of TBIs; falls are the most common, and almost half of all TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths are caused by…
Read MoreWho is Liable in a Georgia School Bus Accident?
Millions of children travel on school buses each day throughout the school year. Children and their caregivers trust that their children will safely arrive to and from school, but thousands of schoolchildren are injured every year in school bus accidents. Determining liability can be complicated in these cases. Liability is assigned based on evidence (photographs,…
Read MoreHLM Partner Jeff Harris Argues in Front of Georgia Court of Appeals
Harris Lowry Manton LLP partner Jeff Harris, along with former governor Roy E. Barnes, recently argued in front of the Georgia Court of Appeals in the case of BellSouth Telecommunications LLC v. Cobb County, Georgia, et al. HLM filed claims on behalf of Cobb and Gwinnett County against BellSouth for violating the Georgia Emergency Telephone…
Read MoreYou’ve Been Summoned: What to Expect from Jury Duty
Historians date the concept of settling disputes using juries to the mid-400s B.C. in Athens, Greece. From then on, it became an accepted idea that citizens had the right to settle their neighbors’ grievances and the jury system spread across the western world. Being a juror is a privilege and a valuable way to serve…
Read MoreUPDATE: J&J Questions Bias of Cancer Victim’s Expert in Talc Trial
Johnson & Johnson Co.’s lawyer questioned the bias of a plaintiff’s expert at trial on allegations by a cancer victim that the company knew scientific research linked its talcum powder to ovarian cancer. David C. Steinberg, a consultant and founder of the Cosmetic Preservatives Council, testified that most companies track studies and medical literature relevant…
Read MoreHoverboard Update: Product Defects Causing Fires and Injuries Prompt Recall
In 2016, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced recalls of more than 500,000 hoverboards due to fires and explosions. The announcement came after six months of investigation across 20 states into fires caused by hoverboards that destroyed homes and apartments. The most recent fire occurred at a Gwinnett County apartment complex; AJC.com reports that nine families…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Buckle Unlatching
Because of a latch design defect in some seat belts, the latches can unlock with little force, rendering the harness useless in a wreck. In this segment, HLM’s Steve Lowry explains the failure, called unintended unlatching. It is prone to occur in a side impact collision when an occupant’s hand, arm or hip hits the…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Torsion Bar
The previous post in this series covered the dangerous effects of a seat belt spool out. In this segment, Steve Lowry explains another type of spool out, in which the seat belt loosens and can cause severe injuries. In the event of a collision, there is loosening of a taut seat belt intended to reduce…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Spool Out
In this segment, HLM Partner Steve Lowry talks about one of several possible seat belt defects that cause or allow injuries in an accident. In a “spool out,” the seat belt stays latched but unwinds, allowing an occupant to move around in the vehicle or be ejected during a collision or rollover. Spool outs are linked…
Read MoreDefective Seat Belts: Signs of Seat Belt Use
It’s common knowledge that seat belts are intended to protect passengers from injury in a collision. However, a defective or poorly designed seat belt can cause serious injuries to a person in the event of a collision. The next several blog posts will feature HLM Partner, Stephen Lowry, who will explain what can cause these…
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