What is a personal injury claim? 
If you have a personal injury claim but no legal experience, knowing what to do can be overwhelming.
You probably have a lot on your mind, like what you can do to get compensation for your medical bills when your injury was the fault of someone else. First, you are likely wondering if you are even eligible to take up a personal injury claim. Questions come to mind such as, “Is my injury bad enough?”, “Would my injury even be recognized in the court?”, and “Would it even be worth my money to try to take the person or company to court who is at fault for my injury? Would I just lose money trying?”
These are all legitimate concerns, and money is the greatest concern since you may already have medical bills showing up in your mailbox. Many people who have great personal injury cases do not take them to court for the fear of losing money or wasting time and effort. …
Changing tires on the side of the road is extremely dangerous. Although most drivers do try and move over to the next lane there are times it is impossible.
A 53-year-old Alpharetta man became a victim in what police think was an accidental killing on the highway while he was changing his tire. Officials are searching for a vehicle and trailer that was captured on the car camera of a Lamar County Sheriff’s vehicle.
Investigators do not believe that the driver of the vehicle hauling the trailer even knew the accident occurred but they would like to talk to the owner of a dark colored pick-up trick pulling a flatbed trailer.
If faced with the situation of a flat tire on the highway there are things that you can do to help ensure your safety. The National Safety Council offers the following tips for someone with tire trouble.
• At the first sign of tire trouble, grip the steering wheel firmly.
• Don’t slam on the brakes.
• Let the car slow down gradually by taking your foot off the gas pedal.
•Work your vehicle toward the breakdown lane or, if possible, toward an exit.
•Turn your emergency flashers on.…
It’s the responsibility of everyone who drives on public roads to help keep them safe. When that responsibility is shirked, people get hurt, sometimes even permanently. More tragically, death can result. The responsibility still remains for the driver who caused injury — this time to pay for the damages he or she caused. There are going to be medical bills, car bills, and other losses to the victim. It should never be the victim’s job to pay these costs. A good attorney can make sure that burden is placed where it belongs.
Police in Rome are on the hunt for the suspect in a hit-and-run accident that caused injuries. They already have a name and know the driver is from Cedar Bluff, AL. He fled the area and ran into a drugstore in East Rome.
Police believe the suspect may have been driving a stolen vehicle at the time of accident. The suspect also has active arrest warrants in addition to the hit-and-run charges, unrelated to the accident, Rome police say.
When you or a loved one have become the victim of an accident caused by someone else, whether directly or through negligence or disregard of the law, you shouldn’t …
When rage becomes uncontrollable people sometimes do foolish things that they probably would not do if given time to cool down and think. Apparently rage got the best of an Atlanta man recently. He became so angry at another man; he intentionally hit him with his SUV while the man was riding a bicycle. Now the driver of the SUV faces very serious charges including criminal attempt to commit murder.
Greg Germani was riding his bike down an Atlanta street when Joseph Alan Lewis intentionally hit him and then left the scene. Germani was critically injured in the crash.
The investigation led to a red Dodge Nitro and two people, Lewis and a 22-year-old female Shanelle Woodard. Police issued warrants for the arrest of both individuals. Woodard turned herself in on a Wednesday and was charged with tampering of evidence. Lewis turned himself in the next day and was charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, first degree criminal damage to property, aggressive driving, serious injury by vehicle and reckless driving.
Although this is a criminal matter, there is also an element of personal injury in this accident and the victim, Greg Germani, is entitled to compensation that …
Nothing is more precious to anyone and to society as a whole than the wellbeing of children. Unfortunately, children can fall prey to negligence or carelessness, just like anyone else. The danger is even worse for them, because the very young don’t know what to watch out for. When they come to harm, those who allowed it to happen must absolutely be held responsible so it never happens to another child.
The death of a 3-year-old boy at a daycare center in Alpharetta was ruled an accident by police. Officially, the cause was accidental asphyxiation from hanging, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner.
A length of twine shaped like a loop was at the top of the slide, said the public information officer for the Alpharetta police department. The child’s head got inside the loop when he was sliding down and the caregiver had gone inside for a moment. When she turned around to check on the child, it was too late.
According to the public relations officer, the caregiver attempted CPR until first responders were on the scene. Paramedics took the boy directly to the hospital, but he later died.
Neighbors claimed the caregiver was an excellent mother …
During the warmer months of summer people go to enjoy the outdoors. People make use of recreational waterways and parks that we have in plenty in the State of Georgia. Unfortunately, with this uptick in activities the number of accidents also tends to rise.
Such is the case where a Georgia man is dead after his boat capsized near Williamson Island, located in coastal Georgia. According to the Metropolitan Police department, a man from Savannah in his early 50’s was pronounced dead at the scene of where his boat overturned on the Wassaw Sound.
The man was identified by his wife, but officials are not yet releasing his identity. The accident is currently under investigation by law enforcement and by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Anyone who goes through an accident knows that it can be a devastating experience, especially if there are serious injuries or the loss of a loved one. In such a situation, having someone who understands what accident victims and their surviving loved ones are going through is important.
At Stokes & Kopitsky, we do understand. We are here to help you and your family navigate through what might be the most difficult time of …
July 4th is a time of celebration with family and friends. It’s a time to appreciate the freedoms we hold dear, and sometimes take for granted. Even in the best of times, however, an accident can happen when you least expect it
That is what happened this July 4th for at least one person. A fatal hit and run accident happened on northbound Interstate 285 and Interstate 20 in DeKalb County. Whoever committed this callous act, they have made it a more serious crime when they fled the scene. Whenever a person leaves the scene of an accident that they are involved in, it becomes worse for that person when they are finally caught.
It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident without exchanging insurance information and contact details with any other drivers. It is also a requirement by law to render aid if possible for those who are injured at the scene of a crash. Not doing so can result in even more potential charges being filed. In a fatal accident like this one, fleeing could lead to charges of manslaughter, vehicular homicide, or even worse. It also opens you up to significant civil liabilities
If …
A passenger on a motorcycle is dead after an accident involving an alleged drunk driver Sunday Morning. According to the Atlanta Police Department, the victim is identified as Atlanta resident, Ellie Morris, 33.
Officers indicate that Jessica Johnson was driving her Hyundai Sonata on the southbound side of Interstate 75 near the Interstate 85 connector when she tried to get into the left lane in order to get on to Interstate 20.
In attempting the lane change, Johnson’s Hyundai Sonata struck the rear of the motorcycle on which Morris was a passenger. As a result of the impact, Morris fell off of the motorcycle and was struck by Johnson’s vehicle.
The impact also caused the driver of the motorcycle to strike the median. The motorcyclist went to the car calling Morris’s name, and then fled the scene of the accident.
Officers performed a field sobriety test on Johnson. According to police, she blew more than twice the legal limit of .08 with a .209.
Johnson was arrested and faces charges of DUI, first degree vehicular homicide and other related charges. Also charged is motorcyclist, Saahir Salahuddin, 37, with first degree homicide, hit and run by receiving a stolen vehicle.
If …
A multiple vehicle crash that happened on Airport Loop has left several passengers injured. According to East Point Police, the accident happened in the early morning hours. Word has not been released on the number of people injured or the extent of those injuries.
Every year in the U.S., thousands of people are injured in accidents that involve municipal vehicles. Insurance companies who represent airport bus, transit companies and the municipalities or cities that run them prefer to deal with the accident claims of those who are seriously injured directly and preferably out of court. The last thing that they want is to have accident victims to have the power of a law office behind them. This is especially true if their employees may be at fault or if the injuries are serious.
Never be tempted to sign any statement or accept any settlement offer from an insurance company before getting experienced legal representation on your side. Call the offices of Stokes and Kopitsky today. We specialize in accident and personal injury law. We will act as your representative in your case. That means that the insurance companies will be far more likely to give you a more fair compensation …
Accidents happen every day, but when that happen to you or a loved one, it can be devastating. The pain and turmoil that such an accident causes is even larger when the accident happens to one of your children.
A Lawrence, KA family has just had to deal with that hardship. Their 17 year old daughter was struck by a car in the afternoon. The young teenage girl saw two turtles trying to cross the road. In a moment of youthful compassion, she went to help the turtles to the other side of the road. Sadly, she never made it. A car being driven by a 36 year old woman struck her. She had to be flown to the hospital in critical condition. The hospital has stated that she is improving.
The woman who stuck the young teenager was charged with driving with a suspended license and no insurance.
The devastation that something like this causes can be immense. The emotional and physical pain alone is enough to break many people. But then things like the medical bills, time off work, and other financial burdens are added on. All of this can be fatal for a family. That is …