Articles Posted in Health and Safety Reports

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Screen Shot 2016-07-15 at 2.51.53 PMGeorgia Car Accident Victims: The Legal Avenue to Justice, Compensation

The Georgia Department of Transportation has launched the Drive Alert, Arrive Alive campaign to call attention to a dramatic increase in GA roadway fatalities. “2015 ended with 1,427 fatalities,” GDOT reports. Many of these fatalities were at the hands of distracted drivers and hundreds more resulted in serious injury. Our law firm represents victims of roadway accidents throughout the state of Georgia. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, including a recent $29.25 million dollar verdict, and our mission is to help the victims these tragic and senseless accidents.

I Was Seriously Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident.  What Assistance Can an Attorney Provide? 

After an accident, our Clients come in with a number of questions and concerns. Many of these relate to insurance negotiations, medical care and property damage. In some tragic circumstances, a loved one has been lost in an accident and grieving family members are uncertain of how to proceed.  A dedicated, experienced personal injury firm should be able to immediately provide victims of motor vehicle accidents with a strategic plan to navigate the coming days, months, and years. Each case is different and should be customized to the needs of the specific victim. Your initial consultation should be free, thorough and provide you with a solid understanding of your legal options.

Should I Speak With or Hire an Attorney that Contacted Me Directly, In the Hospital, Through Social Media, or Through an Investigator?

The American Bar Association Rule 7.3 states that a lawyer “shall not” contact a prospective Client through a “live telephone” or an “in-person” visit. If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.

Do I Need an Attorney to Negotiate with Insurance Companies?

Sadly, insurance companies are all too often more concerned with limiting their own financial exposure than providing victims with the compensation and long-term medical care they need. An experienced personal injury attorney will handle all negotiations with insurance companies to get victims the maximum recovery they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney should also handle property damage claims related to your case. Be sure to ask any potential attorney about their experience negotiating with insurance companies. Having an experienced personal injury attorney during this complex negotiation process can mean the difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation.

How Do I Handle Medical Billing and Long-Term Medical Care While Waiting on an At-Fault Driver’s Insurance?

A comprehensive personal injury firm will assist Clients by acting as a liaison between their medical care providers and insurance companies. The firm should handle all communications and negotiations with medical billing offices and an exceptional attorney will even coordinate long-term medical appointments and Client transportation to medical providers, if needed.

Can I Afford an Attorney?

Clients frequently come in concerned that they won’t be able to afford legal help. We believe everyone has a right to exceptional legal service. We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. This means our interests are always tied to that of our Clients. Be sure to ask any potential personal injury attorney about their fee schedule and whether they represent Clientele on a contingency basis before signing a contract.

You Deserve Justice. We Can Help.

The Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing Georgia victims and families devastated by distracted drivers. We offer our legal assistance, if desired. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.
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200389576-001The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (COHS) describes the potential risks of workplace parking lots and how employees may protect themselves from parking lot crime.

Always

  • Park near your building in a highly visible and well-lit area.
  • Park near the parking attendant, if there is one, or near the stairs or a well-lit exit in an underground lot.
  • Use the main building entrance–avoid rear or secluded exits.
  • Keep your valuables, including purses and recent purchases, out of sight. Always lock them in the trunk if you have to leave them in the car.
  • Lock the doors and roll up windows once you are in the vehicle.
  • Have a plan ahead of time. Know where you can go for safety and how to call for help.

Do Not

  • Do not use more than one parking spot, as it may anger another person.
  • Do not park next to large vans, trucks or other vehicles, as they will block your sight.
  • Do not have a personal identification tag on your key ring. If your keys are lost or stolen, a thief will be able to find your car or house.
  • Do not approach someone if they are loitering near your vehicle. Walk to a safe place, such as a lighted store, house or building. Call the police.
  • Do not dig in your purse or bag.
  • Do not wear headphones or be distracted by a cell phone conversation.
  • Do not carry heavy briefcases or bags that may get in the way.

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We Fight for Victims of Nightclub Negligence in Georgia …Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

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The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients in Fulton County State Court.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

The last hour, through closing, of a nightclub or bar can be the most dangerous for patrons and challenging for staff, in terms of safely managing crowd flow and behavior.

Nightclub & Bar warns, “it can be problematic if not monitored and proactively managed.” Some closing time security issues and management tips are listed below.

Historical Incidents at Closing Time

A high percentage of incidents occur in the hour before, during and immediately after a venue closes and the longer the venue stays open the higher the risk for incidents. Bar and nightclub owners and managers need to make sure that their staff doesn’t become complacent and that they are constantly on alert; looking for areas of suspicious activity. Staff reductions or under staffing can also leads to more incidents and the improper handling of issues that may arise.

Your staff also needs to keep a close eye on patron’s right before and during last call as patron consumption rates increase and social behavior is impacted. Failure to proactively interact with patrons during closing time and making them aware of the security staf
fs presence can also lead to inappropriate behavior.

Revenues vs. Risk Exposure

Evaluating the real revenue picture during the last hour of operation and understanding that in most operations, those that have increased revenues near closing time have more police involved incidents. The risks associated with the increase in sales/revenue in the final hours of operation include the risk of fights and altercations, customer complaints and service incidents, and violating local liquor laws and alcohol management.

Best Practices

In order to keep you patrons safe and reduce incidents during closing time you need to:

  • Evaluate and have a closing plan
  • Use the POS System for closing time analysis
  • Evaluate last hour cover charge policy
  • Proactive management interaction with patrons during last hour
  • Work to mitigate staff complacency
  • Practice heightened alcohol awareness during last hour
  • Manage the social behavior because they are impaired

Read the full article here.

Nightclub Responsibility and Patron Rights

By law, bar and nightclub owners are required to protect all guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. Should the property owner or management company fail to provide adequate safety and security measures, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.

 

Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
SAC EM Update

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”