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In nearly a half-century as a Georgia lawyer, starting when we had spittoons in jury boxes, bailiffs called greenhorn lawyers “Colonel,” and computers were just huge mainframes in large institutions, I have seen a lot of change.

I have tried serious injury cases for over forty years. Years ago, I saw terribly low verdicts for catastrophic harm. More recently, we have seen eight-figure verdicts that would have shocked judges when I was a puppy lawyer. What changed?

Insurance defense folks in their seminars have used phrases like “nuclear verdicts.” That makes it sound reckless or irrational. But in my experience…

Time limits for personal injury and wrongful death claims in Georgia.

Georgia personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of injury under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Important exceptions may apply, including tolling for pending criminal charges, wrongful death claims measured from the date of death, extended deadlines for minors and legally incompetent persons, and strict pre-suit notice requirements for claims against cities, counties, and the State of Georgia. Medical malpractice claims follow separate statutory deadlines. Because missed deadlines permanently bar claims, early legal review is critical.

O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 states provides a two year time limit for filing personal injury lawsuits in general, a one year…

I don’t put a lot of stock in college rankings in US News and other publications. The formulas are too contrived, too subject to manipulation and present too great a temptation for institutions to misplace priorities in order to rank higher.

They can distort high education much as over emphasis on standardized testing has distorted elementary and secondary education, with school systems requiring teachers to teach for the test rather than teaching kids and inspiring creativity. But I am not running for public office and this is not a blog post about educational policy in America.

While I generally disdain…

How to be fairly paid for a spinal cord injury in Georgia.

In our law practice over several decades , we have represented numerous SCI survivors. Most had benefited from rehabilitation services at Shepherd Center or Emory Rehabilitation Hospital, both of which are near us in Atlanta. All of these clients were injured in motor vehicle crashes or falls. One client who had been a high-powered government executive before an accident made him  quadriplegic initially  wanted to just turn his face to the wall and die, but after rehab he used funds from his settlement to equip himself to write…

Post-concussion syndrome is a medically recognized aspect of brain injury in which symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, emotional changes, dizziness, or seizures persist after a concussion—even when CT or MRI scans are normal. Medical authorities including the CDC and NIH recognize that these injuries can significantly affect daily functioning, employment, and quality of life following car and truck accidents.

Why Post-Concussion Syndrome Matters in Injury Cases

Post-concussion syndrome presents unique challenges because its effects are often invisible on imaging but measurable in real-world function. Cognitive limitations, emotional regulation issues, seizure risk, and navigation difficulties can materially affect…

After a car or truck accident in Georgia, call 911, obtain a police report, photograph the scene, and seek medical care even if injuries seem minor. Exchange insurance and contact information without admitting fault. Notify your own insurance company promptly, preserve all records, and follow medical advice. Georgia law generally allows two years to file an injury claim, but deadlines can vary. Early legal guidance can help protect your rights and avoid common insurance pitfalls.

What should I do first after a car or truck accident in Georgia?

Call 911 immediately. Georgia law enforcement officers prepare an official crash report…

How to get paid fairly for a broken nose in Atlanta, Georgia.

Car and truck accidents, as well as falls, can cause a wide range of injuries, some of which can be particularly severe. One area of the body that is often affected in these types of accidents is the nose. Nasal trauma can vary in severity, from minor bruises and cuts to severe fractures and permanent impairment.

The mechanism of nasal injury typically involves a sudden impact to the face, which can occur in a number of ways. For example, in a car or truck accident, the nose can…

“Eyes are the window to the soul” is a common expression. More practically, eyes provide our windows to the world around us. The eye is a delicate and complex organ that is responsible for gathering visual information and sending it to the brain for processing. Eyes allow us to connect with our surroundings, relate to other people, stay safe, and help maintain the sharpness of our connections with the world.

Thus, traumatic eye injuries can have a significant impact on an individual’s life, both physically and emotionally. Such eye injuries can range from minor scratches to severe damage that can…

The femur (thigh bone), extending from the hip to the knee, is the strongest and longest
bone in the human body. Because it is so strong, in relatively young people it usually requires a great deal of kinetic force to break the femur shaft. That often happens in truck, car and motorcycle crashes. In older people with weaker bones, however, a fall may be sufficient to fracture of the femur, especially the neck of the femur where it joins the pelvis.

In our decades of representing badly injured Georgians, we have handled numerous femur fracture cases. In…

Wrongful death claims in Georgia are necessarily emotional. When a family member is killed by someone else’s negligence, grieving survivors often have mixed feelings about filing a wrongful death lawsuit for that death. Certainly no amount of money can bring the departed loved one back. However, a monetary award is the only way that civil law has to recognize the value of the life, compensate for the death, and penalize the party at fault.

Skillful legal advocacy in a wrongful death case can generate funds to care for the family’s real needs and with which the family may appropriately memorialize…