Macon Personal Injury And Criminal Defense Law Blog

Bicyclists face highest risks if involved in car accidents

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in car accidents on Tuesday, October 1, 2019.

Every time bicyclists take to the Georgia roads, they put their lives on the line. Even if they wear helmets, the lack of protection typically leaves cyclists severely injured or dead if they are involved in car accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 467,000 bicyclists were injured in crashes in 2015, and more than 1,000 lost their lives nationwide.

Statistics show that most bicycle-related deaths occur in the age group 50 to 59 years, while most of the nonfatal injuries happen to children and adolescents between five and 14 years old. They also report that more males than females are injured and killed in bicycle accidents, and most fatal bicycle accidents happen in urban areas, but not in intersections. Almost 40% of cyclist deaths involved alcohol impairment of either riders or vehicle operators.

Are you ready to start a co-parenting relationship after divorce?

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC on Friday, September 20, 2019.

You may never have anticipated going through a divorce. You may have married with dreams of starting a family and living your life with your spouse in joy. However, a time came when perhaps your spouse announced that he or she was no longer happy in the marriage, or maybe you were the one experiencing the unhappiness. No matter the reason, you are now going through a divorce.

Because you are a parent, your main concern focuses on the well-being of your children. Even though unhappiness may have led to the end of your marriage, you still believe that you and your soon-to-be ex can get along well enough to continue parenting the children together. This view is becoming more common in Georgia and across the country, as is the co-parenting arrangement.

Car accidents: Driver's failure to yield leads to biker's death

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in car accidents on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

Motorcyclists will always be vulnerable on Georgia roads. The fact that they have none of the protection offered by automobiles invariably result in severe injuries or death when bikers are involved in car accidents. Also, many motorists fail to look out for motorcycles, and the lives of many bikers are lost because of driver negligence.

In Macon recently, according to a crash report, a 35-year-old driver turned left at an intersection without yielding to a westbound motorcyclist. The car and the bike collided in the intersection. The 26-year-old motorcyclist was rushed to a medical facility. Sadly, he only survived until the following afternoon when he succumbed to a closed head injury.

Criminal defense: Plea bargain could lead to less severe sentence

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in criminal defense on Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

Facing criminal charges in Georgia is always a serious matter because a conviction can harm all aspects of a defendant's life. However, overcrowded jails and overburdened criminal courts have made plea bargaining an essential part of criminal defense. If the prosecution puts the option of a plea bargain on the table, dropping some of the charges or a sentence that is more lenient might be negotiated.

Before agreeing to negotiate, the prosecution and the defense will consider the strength of the available evidence along with the severity of the alleged crimes. Both sides will also look at the guilty verdict prospects at trial. Bargaining with the prosecutors could include various tactics in which the criminal defense attorney will work to achieve the best possible outcome for the client.

Car accidents: SUV driver killed by detached big rig tires

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in car accidents on Tuesday, August 20, 2019.

A 31-year old big rig driver from another state was jailed in Georgia after the death of an SUV driver on Interstate 75. Instead of one of the typical causes of tractor-trailer vs. car accidents, defective tires that detached from the truck caused this crash. According to an accident report, the accident occurred on a recent Sunday afternoon.

Reportedly, a 36-year-old woman along with her child and her parents were heading south on Interstate 75. In the opposite direction, an 18-wheeler was traveling in the northbound lanes. For unknown reasons, two of the tires of the big rig detached and flew off the axle. One of them cleared the concrete median that was five feet tall.

Personal injury damages from slip-and-fall might be recoverable

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in personal injury on Monday, August 5, 2019.

Slip-and-fall accidents can have life-changing consequences. Anyone in Georgia who suffers personal injury due to such an accident might be unsure of his or her rights to pursue a claim for financial relief. It might help to know which risks a property owner must address to keep his or her property safe for visitors and patrons. To recover damages, the victim must establish negligence on the part of a property owner or tenant.

Typical risk areas include curbs, walkways and sidewalks, which can pose wear-and-tear hazards or weather-related dangers. Smooth floor surfaces such as linoleum, wood or tile floor can be extremely slippery if they are not covered with non-slip carpets, and wet spots can exacerbate the threat if they are not cleaned immediately. Where floors are covered, mats and rugs must be secured to the floor, and they must undergo frequent checks for frayed, torn, curling or lose edges.

Are you ready for the real cost of a DUI?

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC on Monday, July 29, 2019.

If you enjoy an adult beverage or two with friends at the end of the week, you know that a night out is not cheap. In addition to your own drinks, you may spring for a round for everyone, order dinner or purchase appetizers to share. You will certainly leave a nice tip for the bartender.

However much a night at the bar sets you back, it may pale in comparison to what you may pay if police pull you over under suspicion of drunk driving on the way home. Unlike a speeding ticket, you will not pay your fine and go on with your life. A DUI conviction can haunt you for years afterward, both personally and financially.

Car accidents involving big rigs are often fatal

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in car accidents on Monday, July 22, 2019.

Sharing the Georgia highways with big rigs put motorists at significant risks. The slightest error can cause car accidents involving commercial vehicles, and the sheer difference in size and weight could cause fatalities. In one such a tragic accident, a driver and her daughter lost their lives and several passengers ended up in the hospital.

According to local and state authorities, the fiery crash occurred on a recent Monday morning at an intersection in Wilkinson County. Reportedly, a 35-year-old woman was westbound on Ga. Route 112 in an SUV with two of her daughters and three other passengers. Reportedly, when the SUV driver reached the intersection with Ga. Route 29, she allegedly failed to yield to a tractor-trailer that was heading south.

How are truck accidents different from car accidents?

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in truck accidents on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

Sharing the busy Georgia highways with big rigs like semis and tractor-trailers can be harrowing experiences. Pedestrians, drivers of passenger vehicles, cyclists and motorcyclists can take precautions to avoid being involved in truck accidents. The best way to do this might be to become familiar with the challenges faced by the drivers of these large vehicles.

Tall vehicles roll over much more easily than cars and other small vehicles because their center of gravity is much higher. For this reason, truckers have to navigate ramps and curves at much lower speeds, often causing impatient drivers of cars to make unsafe passes. When commercial vehicles travel at the allowed speed they typically generate gusts of wind that can push smaller cars into adjacent lanes, and the force of the wind they generate can even pull cars under trucks with high ground clearances.

Criminal defense: Wire fraud conviction can bring prison time

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in criminal defense on Monday, June 24, 2019.

The prevalence of online financial services and mobile banking puts businesses in Georgia and across the country at risk of being targets for wire fraud. Because this type of fraud usually occurs over interstate wires, it is typically prosecuted as a federal crime. Convictions for this type of crime could lead to prison sentences from 20 to 30 years, and those who are accused of wire fraud would be wise to retain a criminal defense attorney.

Sometimes, innocent people are unknowingly drawn into fraud schemes, which start with obtaining the passwords and personal credentials of potential victims. The methods they use include the use of malware to disrupt or damage an unsuspecting victim's computer. Phishing involves unsolicited emails or websites pretending to be legitimate entities purely as a lure to gain access to personal information.