Macon Personal Injury And Criminal Defense Law Blog

Car accidents: Police say DUI driver caused fatal crash

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in car accidents on Monday, November 25, 2019.

Losing a 17-year-old child is devastating. Discovering that the death was caused by a drunk driver only exacerbates the heartache. The lives of teenagers in Georgia and other states are lost in preventable car accidents. Sadly, these senseless deaths will continue to occur, especially with approaching holidays that often include parties where alcohol is served.

Such a tragedy claimed the life of a 17-year-old student of a Georgia high school. According to the Georgia State Patrol, the accident occurred on a recent Thursday morning shortly before 8 a.m. Reportedly the student was driving a pickup truck, along with two 15-year-old passengers -- his brother and a cousin.

Attending holiday gatherings while your marriage is ending

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC on Sunday, November 17, 2019.

Your marriage is over, for all intents and purposes. Nevertheless, you and your spouse have agreed to wait until after the holidays to officially start the process to divorce. While this may have seemed like a reasonable decision at the time, you now realize you have to slog through the holidays like a happily married couple to avoid ruining the festive joy for everyone else.

This may seem like an impossible task, especially if you are starting to feel like you just want the whole thing to be over so you can get on with your life. Still, there are some things you can do so this holiday season is not a stressful and frustrating time for you and everyone around you.

How does Own Recognizance Release work?

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in criminal defense on Sunday, November 10, 2019.

In some criminal cases nationwide, including Georgia, individuals charged with a crime could be released on their own recognizance. Instead of having to pay bail or post bond, O.R. allows the accused individual to remain free until his or her next court appearance. When a criminal defense attorney suggests own recognizance release, the court typically considers specific aspects of the alleged crime.

Along with the severity of the charges, the judge will consider the criminal record of the defendant and any dangers the release would pose to the public. Employment and ties to the community and family will also be considered. If O.R. is granted, the accused might be ordered not to leave the area, and to report to the court at predetermined intervals until the charges are resolved.

Truck accidents: 2 big rig drivers injured in crash

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in truck accidents on Monday, October 28, 2019.

The Georgia State Patrol reported an incident that sent two big-rig operators to hospitals. As with many truck accidents, cargo loads were spilled, blocking all the traffic lanes of Interstate 20. GSP says the crash, which was initially believed to have resulted in a fatality, occurred on a recent Friday.

According to a preliminary accident report, one truck was parked in the striped area between the travel lanes and the exit lane. When a second tractor-trailer attempted to enter the exit lane, his vehicle struck the stationary truck's rear end. The impact was enormous, causing the chassis and body of the truck that was hit to separate.

Car accidents: Hit-and-run crash sends 1 to the hospital

On behalf of Noland Law Firm, LLC posted in car accidents on Monday, October 14, 2019.

Leaving the scene of a crash causes problems for the driver and any injured victims. A 38-year-old man was left behind after an alleged drunk driver smashed into his vehicle in Georgia and then drove away. Such car accidents can leave victims with financial and emotional damages if hit-and-run drivers remain at large.

Fortunately, in most cases, law enforcement catches up with hit-and-run drivers. In this case, it was the actions of a Good Samaritan that led to the driver's arrest. According to a preliminary crash report, a 29-year-old driver and two passengers were traveling in an SUV in West Macon at about 5:30 p.m. on a recent Monday. Their vehicle collided with the other car and left the scene.

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.