Atlanta Injury Lawyer Blog

I often represent the familes who have lost loved ones in car wrecks on Metro Atlanta roads. It is always a painful time as they share with me the details of their loved one's death. Last night's killing of two teenagers by a distracted driver must be one of the worst things these two families have ever gone through and my heart goes out to them. Last night two teenagers were killed while walking in the emergency lane of Georgia Highway 138 in Stockbridge, Clayton County, Georgia. A third teen was struck in the same collision and remains hospitalized in critical condition.

We all know by now that texting while driving (TWD) is illegal. But there is strong evidence that simply talking on a cell phone while driving is just as distracting. In the Clayton County collision last night, the at-fault driver apparently was arguing with her husband on the phone. This argument or "conversation" was distracting enough to cause her to leave the laned highway, go into the emergency lane and strike three pedestrians, hard enough to kill two and seriously injure one. What in the world is going on here in Georgia with distracted driving? This is a problem that should worry us all, whether we're in another car or pedestrians.

The hitting of pedestrians in Atlanta and Georgia has become all too commonplace. Just two weeks ago a man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for vehicular homocide in striking and killing a pedestrian in Carroll County, Georgia. Earlier this month a Georgian citizen who was a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car on Savannah Highway. Most of us have heard about the mother in Cobb County whose child was struck and killed as a pedestrian crossing busy Austell Road and the Cobb County District Attorney proscecuted the mother for vehicular homocide, even though she and her children were pedestrians.

Statistics show that nationally, from 2000-2009, 47,700 pedestrians were killed in the United States, that’s nearly 400 deaths a month. In addition, 688,000 pedestrians were injured during those years. Unfortunately, Georgia ranks 10th in the United States for danger to pedestrians. Between 2000 and 2009 1,545 people were killed while walking in Georgia, which cost the state $6.64 billion. Reducing pedestrian fatalities just 10% would have saved Georgia $664.35 million over 10 years. Georgia's overall Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) is 102.9, which ranks 10th out of 50 states.

Keep in mind these are all preventable deaths. This is way too high of a death rate for Georgia pedestrians. The Georgia Legislature needs to address this epidemic of pedestrian deaths in our state. You shouldn't die in Georgia just trying to cross the street.

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In my personal injury law practice here in Atlanta, I have had the honor of representing individuals who are in need of a transplant. The recipients of these vital organs know that while they rejoice in the gift, another family had to suffer a tragic loss for the organ even to be available.

Such a tragic loss occurred to the Dillard Family of Gwinnett County yesterday. Jhrarell Dillard, a fifteen year old junior in high school, died yesterday after eating a cookie that unknowingly contained nuts. Jhrarell had a known severe allergy to peanuts. Jhrarell immediately went into antiphalactic shock and died from eating the cookie. His parents, at a time that must have been excrutiateingly painful for them, chose to donate his organs. Jhrarell has apparently already saved seven other lives through donation of his organs. Truly amazing. I know those seven lucky families are rejoicing today in their gifts of life, but we must continue to hold the Dillard Family in our prayers as they mourn the loss of their son.

I have written before about the importance of being a donor. Please, I urge all Georgians to sign their driver's licenses to agree to donate any useful organs in the event of your unexpected death. This is a decision that really has to be made well before a truamatic event occurs. If you wait to decide, it may be too late. There are many resources in Georgia from which to learn more. LifeLink is one such donation organation. Georgia Transplant Foundation is another. The Donate Life Georgia Organ, Tissue and Eye Donor Registry was created in 2008 to allow Georgians an easy and user-friendly means of joining the state’s donor registry. Georgians can join the registry through the Web site, when renewing their driver license online, or when obtaining/renewing their license at a local driver license office.

You have the power to donate Life! Imagine that! The life you save may be your own.