Atlanta Injury Attorneys Blog

General Motors Recall Affects Thousand of Georgia Vehicles

2010-03-02T17:15:54Z

On the heels of Toyota's massive recall of 6.1 million vehicles due to accelerator defects, GM announced Monday that it is recalling 1.3 million cars due to problems with power steering.

According to NHTSA, complaints filed against GM assert that the loss of power steering assist in many GM vehicles has led to car accidents and injuries. Owners complain that power steering assist goes out without warning, requiring greater steering effort under 15 mph. The car has to be restarted for the power steering assist to work again.

The defects affect 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5s, Pontiac Pursuits sold in Canada, and Pontiac G4s sold in Mexico. GM began the recall after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received more than 1,100 complaints.

According to NHTSA, about 10 percent of the complaints allege that the loss of the steering assist resulted in difficulty controlling the vehicle, such as leaving your lane of traffic. As a result, the failure of power steering assist may lead to head on collisions and intersection accidents, causing possible head, neck and back injuries.

Despite complaints of the steering defect for over a year, GM just notified NHTSA and issued its recall Monday night.

]]> If you or a loved one has been injured or been in a car accident as a result of defective power steering assist, please contact the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle, P.C. for more information and to obtain the compensation you deserve.

Georgia Auto Show Accelerator Accident Injures At Least 6

2010-02-24T18:33:13Z

In a terrifying car accident, a Georgia automobile careened into a crowd at a north Georgia auto action and sent more than a dozen people to the hospital, including at least six with serious injuries. If you've been injured in a car accident, contact a Georgia automobile accident attorney to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

According to the Associated Press, the Volvo's accelerator stuck as the car was being driven into the hall for dealers to bid on it.

Recently, Toyota recalled and suspended sales on 3.1 million cars as a result of accelerator problems. In many accelerator defect cases, floor mat interference has been blamed. However, electronic malfunction or electro-magnetic interference has also been suggested as the source of the sudden acceleration problem.

Possible injuries from automobile accidents include wrongful death, brain injury, paralysis, and burns.

]]> If you've been injured as the result of an accelerator issue, many possible defendants may exist. You need an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney to determine who may be responsible for your injuries.

P. Charles Scholle is an Atlanta, Georgia automobile accident attorney. If you've been injured in a car accident or the victim of an accelerator accident, please contact the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle, P.C. immediately for a free consultation.

Effingham County Intersection Accident Between Church Van And Semi-tractor Truck Caused By Drunk Driver

2010-02-17T15:38:38Z

According to WTOCTV, on Monday night a church van and a semi-tractor trailer collided on Highway 80 at the intersection of Old River Road in Effingham County. A pick-up truck whose driver was later charged with a DUI knocked down a stop sign. Moments later, a van was carrying several young people from a local church and went through the intersection and right into the path of an oncoming semi. The semi collided with the van, causing the van to roll into a ditch. The pick-up also ended up in a ditch and the driver took off on foot.

The driver and the passengers in the van were treated and released. One person sustained a knee injury and will receive additional medical attention.
The driver of the van was charged with DUI, fleeing the scene of the accident, hit and run and attempted burglary.

Fortunately in this case, the injuries appear minor. However, if you've been in an automobile accident, even if you believe your injuries are minimal, it's important to receive medical attention and contact a dedicated automobile accident attorney immediately. Sometimes injuries that seem minor at first may have lasting effects. Some common injuries as a result of intersection accidents and head-on collisions include head injuries, neck, and back injuries and spinal cord injuries.

Further, many factors exist in this Georgia intersection accident case - much like in any other automobile accident - which may impact fault. It's crucial to hire an experienced Georgia auto accident attorney to conduct a thorough investigation and to evaluate how all of the factors impact fault and your chances of receiving just compensation.

]]> If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident in an intersection accident, head-on collision or any other type of automobile accidents, please contact the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle, P.C.. Serving Metro Atlanta and all of Georgia, Attorney P. Charles Scholle understands the potentially catastrophic and devastating impact car accidents can have and can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Georgia Motor Vehicle Accidents - Texting While Driving Increases Risk of Serious Injury or Death

2010-02-10T06:26:41Z

Studies show that texting while driving increases your chances of crashing by 20 times. Even using your phone in a hands-free mode is dangerous since it's a "cognitive distraction" which may decrease driving performance. In fact, texting and other distracted driving account for nearly 80% of all automobile accidents.
The effects of car accidents can be devastating. Crashes may results in death and catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, paralysis and severe burns.

According to the Department of Transportation cell phones are involved in 1.6 million accidents a year, causing half a million injuries and 6,000 deaths.

Teens are especially hard hit. Just this past December a Georgia teenager died while texting his girlfriend. Statistics show the motor vehicle death rate of teens caused by cell phones is 21 percent and rising by 4 percent a year.

A bill aimed at Georgia teens passed the Georgia House last March, but has since stalled. Two more texting bills desgined to ban texting while driving have been introduced. Because of the extreme risks involved, It's crucial we pass these laws to ensure the safety of our Georgia roadways and drivers.

Texting accidents are not limited to automobile accidents. Driver texting has been found as a culprit in trucking accidents, bus accidents and train accidents. In order to address this growing problem, in late January the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would ban drivers of commercial vehicles from using their cell phone to send text message, effective immediately. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2750.

]]> If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident as the result of another's texting or other reckless or negligent conduct, the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle can help. Serving Metro Atlanta and all of Georgia, Attorney P. Charles Scholle understands the potentially catastrophic and devastating impact car accidents can have and can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Georgia Burn Injuries - Burn Awareness Week Focuses On Injury Prevention

2010-02-02T16:30:38Z

February 7 though February 13, 2010 marks burn awareness week. This week is designed to educate individuals and families about the dangers of burn injuries and teach burn prevention skills.

Burn injuries are one of the top causes of unintentional death in the United States. Last year alone approximately 2.4 million burn injuries were reported.
Burn injuries range in severity from least (first degree) to most (third degree). Burn injuries are complicated because they affect not only skin but also muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bone. Burn injuries are serious and can lead to debilitating and lifelong issues such as disfigurement, scarring and pain. Oftentimes, burns are due to the negligent or reckless conduct of another person or entity.

Burns can result from a variety of sources, including but not limited to:
• Car, truck and motorcycle accidents
• Cooking accidents
• Unattended cigarettes
• Work-place accidents
• Electric wiring problems
• Defective products
• Chemical exposure

Burn awareness week provides an opportunity to focus on burn prevention and take some simple steps to prevent burns in our environment.

Some home safety tips include:
• Have an emergency escape plan
• Place smoke detectors on each level of your home
• Avoid wearing loose-fitting long sleeves while cooking
• Don't leave food unattended while cooking
• Replace all worn cords and appliance
• Unplug all electrical tools when not in use

]]> Unfortunately, despite the precautions you take in your home, it is often impossible to prevent the negligence and/or recklessness of others. As a result, burn injuries still occur in many situations as the result of someone else's conduct. If you or a loved one suffer a burn injury due to the carelessness of another, it is imperative to contact a respected Georgia burn attorney. The attorneys at the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle have represented numerous burn victims and obtained substantial recoveries. They understand the devastating emotional and physical impact of burn injuries and will fight to ensure you receive just compensation.

Types of Georgia Car Accidents

2010-01-20T14:18:38Z

The type of Georgia auto accident one is involved in is often predictive of which driver is liable. In addition, certain types of injuries are more common with different types of accidents. For example, when a driver is stopped at a stop sign or red light, and he or she is hit from the rear, then it is almost always, without exception, the fault of the driver behind him. The citation for the offending driver is typically "following too closely". Moreover, the injuries one sustains in such a collision are likely to be to the neck or the back because the neck and spine are thrown forward when one is struck from behind.

In Georgia, sideswipe accidents, head on collisions, hit and run wrecks, drunk driving accidents, intersection accidents, head on collisions, failure to yield wrecks and t bone car accidents can result in devastating catastrophic injury. Some other types of Georgia car accidents with the injury and liability consequences are listed below

Head On Collision. Head-on collisions usually involve one party driving on the wrong side of the road or crossing the centerline of the road into the path of oncoming traffic. Head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, neck injuries, spine injuries and amputation injuries, including decapitation can occur.

Intersection Accident. Intersection collisions often involve one driver disregarding a traffic control device. T-bone or side impact wrecks can result in devastating internal injuries if the driver or passenger is in an impact area that is hit directly and perpendicular. Head injuries are another unfortunate consequence.

Pedestrian Accident. Pedestrian impacts typically result in catastrophic trauma for the pedestrian because she is completely exposed and unprotected from injury, resulting in severe head injury, broken bones, spine injury, road rash, traumatic brain injury, amputation injury, internal injuries and limb injuries.

Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign, Yield Sign or Red Light. Various injuries can result.

Failure to Yield. Like failure to stop at a traffic control device, these crashes can result in varying types of impacts and injuries.

Side Impact or T-Bone Collision. With head on collisions, side impact collisions are typically the most serious of accidents. Traumatic brain injury, spine injury and catastrophic internal injuries can result.

Driving While Texting or Driving Using Cell Phone. Unfortunately, driving while texting or using a cell phone is not illegal in Georgia yet, but studies find that these activities can result in a major lack of awareness resulting in major impact injuries.

DUI Drugs Accidents

Drunk Driving Accidents

Atlanta Child Injury Victims Need Attorney Who Focuses

2010-01-01T14:04:24Z

In Gwinnett County, Atlanta and across Georgia, injuries to children can be unnerving to the parent and emotionally scarring to a child. You do so much to keep your child safe, but a serious or fatal accident can be devastating and shake your confidence in yourself and the world. Whether a child is injured in a Gwinnett County automobile accident, truck accident, playground accident, premises liability case or is hit by a car, the fear, anxiety and trauma that the child experiences is magnified. I was in a serious auto accident when I was twelve (12) years old. I was lucky to survive. Months and even years later, though, I would still flinch when a car came to close to the one I was driving or riding in. The terror of that day has never left me, and I still bear the scars from that experience.

Typically, children's bodies are more flexible and can withstand impacts more than adults. Young children have a capacity to recover more quickly and fully than an adult who may suffer a similar injury. That's the good news.

However, child injuries in Georgia can be complicated because of the issues regarding legal competency and parental responsibility. If a child obtains a settlement of judgment in a case, any amount paid over $5,000 or $15,000 (depending on the circumstances) must be approved by the probate court of the county where the child lives. A conservator must be appointed to manage the child's money, with the supervision of the court, until the child reaches the age of 18. An alternative to a conservatorship is a "structured settlement". In a Georgia structured settlement, a third party company can arrange an annuity investment for the minor with the parent's consent.

If a child suffers an injury which results in permanent disability, the parent's role can as caretaker can extend throughout the child's lifetime, requiring sometimes an adult guardianship by the parent.

Whether the injury suffered by the child is a result of a truck accident, car accident, premises liability accident or other catastrophic event, it is important to secure competent representation with an experienced Atlanta child injury lawyer.

]]> Since 1995, Charles Scholle has fought for justice for Georgia families.
We care about our clients. Even though our practice areas are situational and often do not require repeat representation once a matter is resolved, we remain in contact with most of our past clients. Legal matters can be very stressful. They often raise uncomfortable realities causing one to make important life decisions at vulnerable moments. It is important to us that our clients feel they we stand by them every step of the way as counselors of the law.
Accordingly, we are able to focus our intellectual and financial resources on a few matters, maximizing the results, and ensuring a more satisfying representation for both the client and attorney.

We are passionate about the law and compassionate toward our clients. We understand the emotional uncertainty and economic hardship that can accompany unresolved legal issues. It can be a very helpless feeling. Our job is to combat that anxiety by educating our clients about how the law relates to their specific, personal factual situation. We work tirelessly to teach our clients, striving to make them feel less anxious and more confident and empowered. No lawyer can guarantee a specific outcome, but by taking the time to actively communicate and educate our clients, we allow them to worry less about their legal matters and concentrate more on their families, careers and day-to-day lives.

Powerful, well-funded forces are arrayed against Georgia citizens and families, whether they be business entities, insurance companies, government actors or quasi-governmental agencies. Our firm has excelled in defeating these forces through determination, resourcefulness and by simply working harder.

Georgia Drunk Driving Accident Victims Have Many Options

2009-12-23T13:57:26Z

A Georgia accident victim who has been injured by a drunk driver, intoxicated driver or a driver under the influence of illegal drugs has options beyond those of other accident victims. Georgia law provides no caps on punitive damages for personal injury victims. Punitive damages are damages that punish an offending driver and deter similar conduct. Someone who is injured where no punitive behavior has occurred is entitled to special and general damages, but not punitive damages. Juries may seek to punish drunk drivers. That money goes to the victim and can often be substantial.

Georgia Drunk driving victims often suffer permanent, disabling spine injuries, burn injuries and other catastrophic injuries because drunk driving accidents often result from head on collisions. Charles Scholle is an experienced DUI accident victim attorney who can help victims of DUI accidents in Atlanta and Georgia.

Georgia Spinal Cord Injuries

2009-12-09T13:46:38Z

No injury is more devastating to a Georgia truck accident victim, auto accident victim or premises liability victim than a spinal cord injury. Paralysis occurs if the spinal cord is severed. Depending on where it is severed, the paralysis can be defined as quadriplegia for paralysis of all four limbs, or paraplegia for paralysis of only the lower extremities. Whatever the result, the practical effect of a spinal cord injury is life-changing.

Gwinnet County spine injury cases are complicated and require expert testimony concerning the real-life impact of the injury and an economic quantification of all the damages. Issues like future medical treatment, future physical therapy treatment, future lost wages, future reduction and ability to earn a living are all relevant inquiries. All aspects of the life status pre-injury compared to post-injury must be fully explored to assure a fair settlement or verdict for the injured party. Many times discovering all available insurance is the most challenging aspect of a lawyer's role. Most liability insurance policies do not cover the extensive damages suffered by spinal cord injury victims. Consequently, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage needs to be claimed. Multiple UM policies in Georgia can often be stacked to maximize coverage.

Securing the evidence needed to prove liability is also key. If the accident involved a tractor trailer, they typically have already obtained a head start in the process. Knowing that the injuries are often catastrophic, these insurance companies and responsible parties go out of their way to reduce their chances of having to pay any large amounts. An accident attorney needs to act aggressively to make sure the accident victim is protected.

]]> Serving Metro Atlanta and all of Georgia, the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle represents victims of serious injuries and families who have lost a loved one through someone else's negligence. Attorney Charles Scholle has been a Georgia commercial vehicle accident attorney since 1995, so he understands that families face serious medical, emotional and financial burdens after a serious accident. Our job is to help ease those burdens by holding wrongdoers responsible for their actions and securing the money families need to pay accident-related costs. In a wrongful death lawsuit, families can claim compensation for all of the bills related to the accident, including hospitalization and funeral costs, as well as compensation for the loss of a loved one taken too soon.

If you have suffered catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one through no fault of your own, and you're not sure what to do next, the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle would like to help. To tell an experienced attorney about your case and discuss your legal options, please contact us through the Internet or call toll-free at 1-866-972-5287.

Burn Injury from a Georgia Accident Can Be Catastrophic

2009-11-23T21:45:18Z

There are no injuries that are more physically painful than burn injuries. As bad as the physical injuries are, however, disfigurement from burns can be even more psychologically devastating to an accident victim. One may feel unlovable or unattractive. Because of the follow-up skin grafts and scarring, the physical and emotional tolls often linger a lifetime. Keloid scars, contracture scars and hypertrophic scars can make an auto accident, truck accident, work accident or premises liability accident victim feel ashamed, embarrassed and depressed. Accordingly, the compensation recovered should be extremely high in light of these damages.

Georgia burn injuries from automobile, truck or other vehicle accidents are often the result of the combustion of gasoline or other flammable liquid. However, other types of accidents can cause different burns. Electrical burns, steam burns, contact burns, grease burns, chemical burns and other types of burns can also result from vehicle accidents or work accidents. Whatever the cause, catstrophic skin damage, nerve damage and cosmetic damages typically result, even if localized, and require a long convalescence.

I have represented many burn victims and obtained substantial recoveries. Burn victims injured in metro-Atlanta accidents should seek the services of a respected Georgia burn injury attorney. Juries are typically very emotionally sympathetic to these plaintiffs, feeling empathy for the hardships ahead for burn victims.

]]> Victims of burn injuries should be entitled to justice. This includes the right to sue for compensation for the devastating emotional and physical injuries. The Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle helps families like these claim compensation for accident-related medical, repair and funeral bills; lost wages, including the future wages a wrongfully killed person will never have a chance to earn; and compensation for the loss of a loved one's care, companionship and affection. Our Georgia auto accident lawyers have more than 15 years of experience fighting insurance companies and their armies of lawyers to get clients the settlements to which they are legally entitled.

The Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle offers free consultations to all potential clients, where you can learn more about your rights and your case. To set one up, please contact us online or call 1-866-972-5287.

Seizure Disorders Caused by Accident Trauma in Georgia

2009-11-17T20:24:37Z

Traumatic brain injuries are devastating for the victim. Impairments vary depending on the type of trauma. An accident resulting in a seizure disorder can leave the victim many functional faculties of her brain, but the seizure patient is always anxious, afraid that a seizure might occur at an inopportune time. I have represented many clients with seizure disorders that were caused by head trauma. In fact, my very first client suffered a seizure disorder as a result of a serious traumatic injury. Because of the side effects, he was unable to take dilantin to treat the seizure, so he had to seek other medications. Seizure medications are often expensive, physically draining and have side effects that are very difficult to tolerate.

The science of brain injury is complicated and sometimes difficult to decipher, even for expert doctors, and seizure disorders are one area of medicine that has not been adequately understood. This is changing. Modern medicine has developed devices that fit inside the head and countermand the electrical impulses that can lead to seizures. However, many more years of clinical tests are necessary before many of these mysteries will be unlocked. Many times the seizures can be controlled, but they are usually present for the life of the patient.

Brain injuries from traumatic accidents like automobile accidents, boating accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, premises liability and other types of injuries that occur because of someone else's fault are particularly devastating because they occur without warning and without any opportunity to prepare you or your family financially, emotionally or logistically. Epileptics and other seizure disorder patients often are not allowed to drive or operate heavy equipment. This affects their mobility and their ability to maintain employment. If the uncertainty and upheaval associated with a traumatic brain injury has affected you or someone in your family, contact a well respected Georgia brain injury and seizure injury attorney.

Metro Atlanta Police Agencies Plan Extra Patrols to Cut Down on Halloween DUI

2009-10-30T21:31:37Z

With Halloween coming up soon, I would like to remind drivers and families to keep safety in mind as they have fun. Most people don't realize this, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is the second deadliest day of the year for pedestrians, surpassed only by New Year's Day. Not surprisingly, alcohol plays a big part in that statistic. The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety reports that across the nation. 58% of highway fatalities involved a driver who was legally drunk, with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater. This is far above the national average for the entire year, which is routinely around 32%. As a father and a Georgia drunk driving accident attorney, I'd like to offer safety information for trick-or-treaters of all ages.

In response to the typically high rate of DUI accidents on Halloween, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety promises that law enforcement will be on high alert for drunk drivers. In fact, police agencies began their crackdown a week before, on Friday, Oct. 23, according to MyFox Atlanta. On that day, police agencies throughout Metro Atlanta set up checkpoints to check for alcohol-impaired drivers and stepped up patrols. The same measures are expected throughout the Halloween weekend that begins Friday evening. The enforcement effort includes mobile blood-alcohol testing as well as a team of wreckers standing by to impound vehicles of drivers found to be under the influence of alcohol.

Avoiding drunk driving is at the top of the list of Halloween safety tips offered by Consumer Reports for drivers. In a blog post dated Oct. 28, the magazine reminded drivers that kids may be out even later than usual this year because it's a Saturday followed by the end of Daylight Saving Time, which adds an extra hour to Nov. 1. The blog suggested to drivers that they use extra caution in residential neighborhoods and anywhere else children are gathered, driving slowly and keeping an eye on child pedestrians. It also reminded parents to let kids out of vehicles on the curb side of the road; use flashers during stops; avoid using phones while driving and always use age-appropriate safety seats. For trick-or-treaters on foot, Consumer Reports said parents should accompany kids under 12; kids should stick to sidewalks and walk rather than run; and parents should consider giving their kids glow sticks, flashlights or costumes with reflective material, so drivers can see them easily.

As a Gwinnett County DUI accident lawyer, I hope both drivers and pedestrians take these warnings to heart. Through my work, I frequently see the heart-breaking results of drunk driving. When people choose to get behind the wheel after drinking, they expose all of the innocent drivers and pedestrians around them to death and permanent, irreversible disabilities. These catastrophic, emotionally devastating injuries can throw victims into a financial panic as well, thanks to the double whammy of huge medical bills and unplanned, injury-caused time off work. And of course, the drunk drivers themselves face the heartbreak of knowing they are responsible for these injuries, as well as criminal prosecution and liability in a potential Georgia drunk driving injury lawsuit.

]]> At the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle, we understand that no lawsuit can ever reverse the injuries and deaths an accident can cause. But for families facing catastrophic injuries and the huge medical bills they cause, a lawsuit can be a lifeline that transfers financial and personal responsibility for the effects of an accident back to the people who negligently caused it. In a lawsuit, victims may claim back all of the costs of the accident, including the cost of future loss of income and future medical costs for people who are left with permanent needs. They may also claim compensation for non-financial but very real injuries, such as the loss of a loved one's companionship, love and care. Our Metro Atlanta DWI accident attorneys can typically negotiate a fair settlement long before the case goes to court -- but if necessary, we are not afraid to go to trial.

If you or a loved one was hurt by a drunk driver on Halloween or any other time, that driver is legally responsible for all of your injuries and costs. To learn more at a free consultation, please contact us through our Web site, send an email or call toll-free at 1-866-972-5687.

Driver Surrenders to Face Charges for Fatal Rush Hour Crash

2009-10-21T20:49:38Z

As a Metro Atlanta auto accident lawyer, I was pleased to see that the driver allegedly responsible for three deaths in commuter traffic last week is facing the charges against him. According to an Oct. 20 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, driver James Miles surrendered to authorities at the DeKalb County Jail that day. Miles is accused of driving recklessly in the Oct. 13 incident, which caused the deaths of three Southern Co. employees in a nine-person commuter van. One other employee is hospitalized with a broken skull and leg. No injuries to Miles were reported.

The crash happened on U.S. 78 in DeKalb County. Witnesses say Miles, in a Dodge Stratus, was changing lanes in and out of traffic before he clipped the back of the Southern Co. van. The crash caused the van to flip it on its side, trapping the passengers and requiring rescue crews to remove the roof. Killed were the driver, Robert Harold Clinton Jr., 60; and two passengers, Ollie Benny Stephens Jr., 49, and Cindy Fitzgerald, 54. All were from Lilburn. Seriously injured was Courtney Hill, 25, also of Lilburn. Miles is now facing three counts of misdemeanor vehicular homicide, charges that some of the crash survivors said seemed light. Misdemeanor vehicular homicide is punishable by up to a year in jail for each offense. Felony vehicular homicide is punished more severely, but is reserved for cases of DUI, reckless driving or certain other offenses. A former district attorney told the newspaper that reckless driving can be difficult to prove.

I understand the frustration these survivors, who are co-workers and friends of the victims, may be feeling. As a Gwinnett County car wreck attorney, I see the results of careless driving through my work on a weekly basis. Even if a choice doesn't meet the legal standards necessary for a felony vehicular homicide charge, that doesn't mean it's a safe, reasonable or necessary choice under the conditions on the road at that time. However, even if prosecutors' hands are tied, surviving family members have another legal option for bringing the careless driver to justice: a Georgia auto accident lawsuit. With a legal claim, victims of a serious crash can hold the wrongdoer responsible for his or her actions and recover the costs the accident caused.

]]> The Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle represents people throughout Metro Atlanta and surrounding communities who were seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness on the road. We have nearly 15 years of experience securing financial compensation for people who were hurt through no fault of their own. Our Georgia car crash lawyers understand all too well that a lawsuit can never reverse injuries or bring back someone who was lost in a bad accident. But in many cases, those terrible physical injuries are followed shortly by very high medical bills, loss of income from not working and other costs directly caused by the crash. This can destroy a family's savings and put victims under serious financial and emotional strain. A lawsuit passes the financial impact of an accident back where it belongs -- to the person whose irresponsible driving caused it in the first place.

If this sounds like your family's situation and you'd like to know more, the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle can help. To set up a free, no-obligation consultation, please call us toll-free at 1-866-972-5287 (770-717-5100 in Gwinnett County) or contact us through our Web site.

Toyota Recalls 3.8 Million Cars and Trucks to Correct Potential Stuck Accelerator Problem

2009-10-16T14:28:53Z

As a Georgia defective product attorney, I was pleased to see an announcement Oct. 5 of the largest U.S. recall in Toyota Motor Corp.'s history. According to an Oct. 5 article by the Associated Press, Toyota is recalling 3.8 million vehicles because they have floor mats that, if not properly secured, may cause the gas pedal to stick, leading to uncontrollable speed that can cause a deadly crash. Drivers of the affected vehicles are being asked to remove the driver's side floor mats and wait for Toyota to call them in for a more permanent solution, still in development. More information is available from Toyota's press release, or consumers may call the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's hotline at 1-888-372-4236.

The vehicles affected by the recall include:

2007 - 2010 Toyota Camry
2005 - 2010 Toyota Avalon
2004 - 2009 Toyota Prius
2005 - 2010 Toyota Tacoma
2007 - 2010 Toyota Tundra
2007 - 2010 Lexus ES350
2006 - 2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350

Unfortunately, the recall was prompted by a deadly accident that took place in San Diego in August. California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor and three members of his family died when the pedal became stuck on their Lexus ES350. People inside the vehicle called 911 for help, but couldn't stop the vehicle before it reached a speed of 120 mph. They hit another vehicle, then fell from an embankment and rolled several times before bursting into flames. Toyota's press release included instructions for drivers in this situation to pull away the mat, brake, shift into neutral or turn off the engine.

As a Metro Atlanta product liability lawyer, I'm impressed that Toyota has taken what seems like reasonably quick action on this problem. In the past, manufacturers have not always been quick to order a recall, even when the safety problems were real and undeniable. You may remember the Bridgestone/Firestone tire recalls of 2000, which primarily affected Ford vehicles. The tires were unreasonably likely to fall apart (tire tread separation), particularly at high speeds, due to a manufacturing problem. In that recall, safety advocates claimed that Firestone undertook a "documented coverup" of problems that reached back into the mid-1990s or earlier. This claim is controversial, of course, but if there was a delay, it undoubtedly helped raise the death toll to an estimated 40 to 120 -- far more than the four deaths documented so far in the Toyota recall.

]]> In most of the auto accident cases our Gwinnett County car crash attorneys handle, the crash was caused by a driver who made an irresponsible choice like drunk driving, or simply failed to pay attention. Accidents caused by flaws in a car or one of its parts are rare, but unfortunately, they do happen -- and when they do, they can affect even the most careful drivers. When manufacturers sell us unsafe products, the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle can hold them legally responsible for the results, including all of the financial costs of an accident as well as the devastating injuries and pain. Even if there was no cover-up, all manufacturers are legally obligated to make sure their products are safe to use as intended.

The Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle offers free, confidential consultations for all potential clients. If you were hurt by an unsafe consumer product, or lost a loved one, and you'd like to learn more about your legal options, please call us toll-free at 1-866-972-5287 or contact us through our Web site today.

MADD Walk a Resounding Success

2009-10-12T18:25:47Z

I want to personally thank all those brave souls who took time out to attend the MADD Walk at Zoo Atlanta last Saturday. My team was able to raise almost $1,000 toward a noble and worthy cause?

As an Atlanta personal injury lawyer who reprsents DUI victims, it is gratifying to work with a great organization like MADD.