FMCSA driver regulations may not be effective in preventing many truck accidents because they do not address common risk factors for truck accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the federal agency responsible for drafting and enforcing safety regulations governing commercial vehicles. As part of its mission, the FMCSA drafted Hours of Service regulations that limit the amount of…
On February 25, 2014 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shut down STSC Transportation Services, Inc, an Atlanta-based bus company. FMCSA inspectors found the company was committing on-going safety violations, even after receiving citations from the FMCSA. People should be aware of some of the threats to public safety that motorcoach companies can pose when they do not follow federal…
The Georgia Department of Transportation recently announced that it is considering raising the 55-mile per hour speed limit on I-285 to 65 miles per hour. According to GDOT spokesperson Mark McKinnon, the agency is currently in the fact-gathering phase of the process and there is no date scheduled for making this change. However, if the speed limit increase is approved,…
The FDA is proposing stricter oversight of a subset of diagnostic tests that may cause harmful diagnostic errors due to poor premarket review and testing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reportedly pursuing greater authority to regulate a group of diagnostic tests that can be dangerously inaccurate or unreliable. As Fortune explains, laboratory-developed tests, which are produced and used…
Commercial drivers in Georgia will soon be required to undergo substance testing before they can be hired for new jobs. The government agency that collects data about motor vehicle accidents is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This group provides data that can be used by others to identify risks and areas to improve safety for all people in Georgia…
For three decades, safety measures have been so thoroughly integrated into commercial aviation that now the odds of dying in a plane crash are one in 20 million. But Medicare patients still face a one in seven chance of injury during a hospital stay, according to a Los Angeles Times article. However, changes across the nation and in Atlanta hospitals…
Truck accidents can cause serious injuries and death on Georgia roads. Georgia motorists are used to sharing the road with large tractor trailers and commercial trucks. These large vehicles are an essential part of the economy, as they deliver vital products throughout the state and across the country. As the economy continues to improve, the American Trucking Association predicts the…
Spring time brings a number of annual rituals that Georgians enjoy: warmer weather, The Masters golf tournament and spring flowers, to name a few. For bicycling enthusiasts, spring marks a chance to pursue their passion. However, a bill that aimed to reduce bicycle accidents nearly changed how cyclists could ride on Georgia roads. Senator Butch Miller (R-Gainesville) proposed a bill…
What you need to know and when you should consult an attorney A recent Georgia appeals court case ruled that injured workers do not need to give permission for their doctors to speak with their employers’ attorney outside of their presence before they can receive workers’ compensation benefits for an on-the-job injury. The case highlights an injured worker who suffered…
Now that summer is over, drivers are less likely to see children out and about during the middle of the day, walking or biking to friends’ homes, the park or the community pool. This does not mean that the risk of a child getting hit by a car is gone, however. In fact, pedestrian accidents involving children may be more…