Preventing Dog Bites

Dog bites can be prevented in Atlanta or anywhere by taking into account some simple safeguards for yourself and your kids.

People do not think about dog bites as being a traumatic event but what if the victim is a child? Each year there are 800,000 children admitted to the hospital with injuries resulting from bites from a dog. They are especially damaging to children because they are closer to the dogs height so it is easier for them to be bitten in the face and neck. Also, their smaller size allows the teeth to penetrate deeper and cause more damage.

Some bites are so severe that a plastic surgeon had to be called in for reconstructive surgery and have resulted in post traumatic stress disorder and depression. Many of the parents of these children have had to hire an Atlanta dog bite attorney to protect their rights in court and get compensation for their injures.

How to avoid being bitten by a dog:

  • Choose your dog carefully and make sure its personality is a good fit for your family
  • Never leave children alone with a dog unsupervised
  • Give your dog gradual exposure to other dogs and people from the time that they are puppies. If they have not been socialized and are thrust into a tense situation then they may react by biting.
  • Do not play aggressive games with your dog or allow them to bite you while playing. That reinforces the idea that it is ok to bite a human. What is a play bite to a grown up could seriously injure a child
  • Teach your child to always ask an animals owner before petting or playing with it
  •  Never run from a dog or startle it while sleeping
  • If a dog is threatening you, do not look it in the eyes. Remain still and calm and if possible, back away slowly.
  • When you or your child are meeting a dog for the first time, let it sniff your hand before trying to pet it. When you do pet it stay away from the head and tail at first, it will calm the dog and let it know that you have friendly intentions.

If these precautions do not work and you are bitten then you should contact an Atlanta dog bite attorney. Some people have lost work or incurred serious debt from medical bills resulting from a dog bite. If the owner is uninsured or is fighting your right for compensation then an Atlanta Dog Bite Lawyer can help you. If you cannot find an Atlanta dog bite attorney then an Atlanta personal injury attorney may be able to help you if they have experience in the area.

Vote NO on the Georgia Constitutional Ammendment One

I recommend and ask that you vote NO on the proposed Constitutional Amendment One that is on the ballot for the General Election November 2.

Georgia has a sordid track record of misleading voters about the real effect of constitutional amendments.  This is another bad example.

This particular amendment relates to “covenants not to compete” often put in to employment contracts.  The amendment is pushed by big business interests.   It is contrary to the best interests of employees – particularly skilled employees such as engineers, computer specialists, medical employees, and salespeople.

The existing Georgia law is not “broke”; there is nothing that needs “fixing”.  This proposed amendment seriously over-reaches, in favor of large employers.

Here’s what you will see on your ballot:  “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to make Georgia more economically competitive by authorizing legislation to uphold reasonable competitive agreements?”  That is deliberately misleading.  At the very least, reasonable folks may totally disagree about whether this amendment makes Georgia “more economically competitive or not.  I know of no evidence that it would do so.

It appears to me the result of this amendment, if passed, will be to make Georgia less competitive, not more, because it will shackle employees to businesses, and strangle the present rights of employees to go out and work for competitors or start new competing businesses.  Voters who are employees of any kind, be they doctors, news people, engineers, mechanics or salespeople should rise up and vote “No” to this radical change to our state constitution.

Employers can already impose these non-compete agreements, as long as the restrictions on a former employer are reasonable and limited.  If this proposal passes, however, judges will be allowed to edit non-compete contracts that contain overreaching restrictions.  This innocent-sounding change totally tilts the table on non-competes to favor employers-encouraging them to write their agreements overly broadly.  If the new law passes, the worst that can happen to an employer who purposefully puts overly broad restrictions in his non-compete agreements is that, at some distant time in the future, a judge may make the employer use more reasonable restrictions.  In the meantime, employers can make employees sign these overly broad non-compete agreements or get fired, and then fire them anyway.  Employees, who rarely have the money, would then have to hire lawyers to fight the agreement. Most can’t afford that.

Result:  doctors, engineers, salespersons and others typically targeted with non-competes become wrongly locked into jobs, and our courts become activist, contract re-writing scribes.

Voters should vote “No” to Amendment One.  Vote no to proposals that make it harder to find jobs.  Vote no to deceptively worded ballot proposals.  Vote to make Georgia more competitive and defeat this gouging by big business.

What Types of Personal Injury is There?

An Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney can handle multiple kinds of cases but like any professional, they are usually better at one type than another.  Personal injury is an umbrella term that can cover many different kinds of injuries, so you want to find the one that best fits your need. You would not want to see an Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney if you were in a house fire, you would want an Atlanta Burn Victim Attorney. Now they are both types of personal injuries, so it is possible for one type of lawyer to handle the other case but if you want to maximize your results, make sure it’s their specialty.To give you an idea of what kinds of law fall under the Personal Injury heading, here are a few examples:

  • Brain Injury – This is a more specific category of injury that could be the result of multiple situations, from a slip and fall to a truck accident. This type of injury is caused by the skull hitting another solid object. The brain is floating in a protective fluid, so if the skull is stopped the inertia can cause the brain to slam against the inside of the skull. Best case scenario is that you bruise the brain a little but it will heal. Worst case scenario is instant death. Also, if the skull is torqued, it can cause the connective tissue that holds the brain in place to rip away and those injuries are always serious, if not fatal. If you think that you may have a Brain Injury resulting from another injury, then you may need an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer to help you sort out the details of your case.
  • Slip and fall – These result from many different condition. Like if an attendant at the shopping mall wipes up the floor and doesn’t put out a sign or if an elderly person slips and falls in a nursing home. If the conditions could have been foreseen as a danger, then that person had a responsibility to clean up the mess. These can be difficult to prove, so you may need an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney to help you argue your case.
  • Negligent Security – As with the other categories, there can be a lot of overlap in these cases. Any of the above situations can arise from an institution not having adequate security. If you can prove that your resultant injuries were a result of lax or inadequate security then you have a right to be compensated.
  • Wrongful Death – These cases are difficult because any time a loved one dies, the surviving family will want someone to blame. The right attorney can talk to you about your case and if there is a responsible party, they will help to make them pay.

For more infornation, click on the following link Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney

Elder Protection

Nursing homes and elder care communities have come a long way from the days of the drab hallways and frightening cafeterias of the past.  Many of the communities now have food courts, movie theaters and golf courses.  No matter how much fun they are, no one wants to put their father or mother in one. It is ingrained in us to take care of our parents at home, whenever possible. Unfortunately, for some people it just isn’t an option because of time constraints or financial difficulties.  So, you have to trust those establishments with your loved ones and hope for the best.

Sometimes they violate that trust and you see cases of nursing home abuse, incidents of people slipping and falling or negligent security precautions. When that happens, you need help from an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer. Nursing homes are paid to see to the needs of their residents, so if you see malnutrition, dehydration or even death, then it is time to take them out of the situation and make sure that the home pays for those injuries. An Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney can help you to document your case and will coach you through the process to receive the payout that you and your love one needs. Hopefully you would be able to make more comfortable arrangements with the money that they get for you.

Maybe they are not actively abusing the residents but they are not watchful either. If the residents are on any medications that could inhibit their thought process, then extra care should be taken. Rails put onto beds to stop patients rolling off, floors dried instead of just putting up a “Wet Floor” sign. Any of these situations could result in a serious injury to older people, whose bones are more brittle than they once were. Sometimes, the establishment will see their mistakes and rectify then on their own but sometimes it will take an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney to make them see the light.

Also, security needs to be up to the task and around the clock. Patients may sleep walk or not have full control of their faculties. So, they need to be supervised and not allowed to walk freely through the building where they could hurt themselves and definitely not allowed out onto the grounds, where they could be injured or lost and no one would know their location.

If any of these situations sound familiar to you, then you owe it to yourself to contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in the Atlanta area. It’s not just about the money, sometimes it is the only way to make a business listen to the needs of its clients.  For a free consultation from Don Singleton Law, contact us by filling out the form above or calling.

What is an Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney?

It may see like a silly name until you are in need of your own Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney. A dog bite can be just as devastating to the victim as an auto accident. Some people have been so traumatized by dog bites that they could no longer be around dogs or go back to a job that involves dogs.  A dog bite will usually take you by surprise and somehow that makes it worse.  At the moment over half of the serious dog bites reported in Atlanta, are from the Pit Bull breed but any dog can lash out given the right motivator.

If you have been bitten, there are a few things that you need to do to protect yourself from further injury.

  • Of course, first and foremost, you should get away from the dog and see a doctor.
  • Shortly after that you should call the police, animal control and an Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney. You may not need the last person in every situation but when the dog owner doesn’t have insurance the attorney will be your only fallback.
  • Once the police have left and you are back at home. Document the severity of your injuries by photographing the bite marks. Take as many as you think you need because they will help the court to rule in your favor. Also, write down what happened step by step, so that you can recount it accurately later even if it has been months or years.
  • It is also a good idea to check whether the city that you live in has a leash law. If they do and the dog was not on a leash or in an enclosed yard at the time of the injury, then it will be very hard for them to win a case.

Many times a dog owner’s home insurance will cover a bite but they may not have home owners insurance. If they do not, then you will need an Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney to fight for your rights.  They will use the evidence that you have gathered to present your case and get the payment that you deserve as recompense for your pain and suffering. If you need money for your defense, many lenders will provide loans for that type of situation. I would check with your Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney first because many will work on a contingency basis.  That means that in some cases, the attorney will only be paid if they win your suit for you.  For more information, click on the following link: Atlanta Dog Bite Attorney

Alpharetta Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been hurt emotionally or physically by the negligence of others, an Alpharetta personal injury attorney like those at Singleton Law Firm will fight for you to get maximum award available given your case conditions.

Most people think a typical Alpharetta attorney fights mainly car accident or slip and fall cases, but we cover a number of other cases including:

And while we fight vigorously for you, we treat our clients quite a bit differently.

Lead attorney Don Singleton is known for his compassion, considering that he volunteers as a firefighter in his spare time. So it’s no surprise that he wants you to feel at ease so that you can establish the facts of the case. And Singleton is backed by a number of experts who can help make a stronger case for you.

You want an attorney with experience, like the more than 10 years that Alpharetta personal injury lawyer team at Singleton Law Firm have. And with high ratings for ethics and legal ability, you can expect excellent handling of your case by our attorneys.

It can seem troubling to be looking for money, but medical bills and lost wages can add up. Your living situation might also change, including the need for adaptive devices or a home remodeling if you have extensive injuries. You deserve to have one less thing to worry about, and the Alpharetta personal injury attorneys at Singleton can help.

Call us at 770-889-6010 for a free consultation with an Alpharetta attorney today about the facts of your case and your legal options. Or fill out our form at the top of this page and we’ll schedule a time to meet. We look forward to helping you.

What makes a good personal injury attorney?

You can see advertisements for a personal injury attorney on billboards, or TV or in phone books. What you can’t necessarily tell is whether or not they’re actually a good fit for your case. After all, the law books behind them tend to look exactly the same.

A good rule of thumb is to find an attorney with specific experience on your case, whether it’s a faulty product or an auto accident. Qualified attorneys like those at Singleton Law Firm will describe their case experience in terms of trial results or settlement amounts. And they will also help to walk you through the factor that can impact the success of your case, so that you have a realistic understanding of the outcome.

But along with experience, you want a personal injury attorney who makes you feel comfortable and optimistic about the results of your case. They may have to ask difficult and in-depth questions, but you want someone who is genuinely compassionate. Be sure to see how members of the office act towards you.

Money is important, too. Many personal injury lawyers operate on a contingency basis. That means that they will get a percentage of either the settlement or the jury award. You want to make sure that the attorney you pick has rates that are in line with others in the area, or at least has a track record to match their percentages. You also want to ask whether or not they have the financial resources to prepare for your case and hire experts as needed.

It comes down to experience, comfort level and results. Lawyers who will work hard for you to bring a personal injury case can make a difficult situation easier to bear. Contact the personal injury attorney team at Singleton Law Firm today for a free consultation and advice about your case. Just fill out the contact form at the top of this page.

Things to Remember in an Auto Accident

An auto accident can be a traumatic experience, but if you keep your wits about you and plan ahead, you can minimize the risk of not being able to pursue your legal options afterwards.

Emergency vehicle en route to accident

Before you’re in an accident, you’ll want to start carrying a few things in either your glove compartment or your trunk. A small first aid kit is critical for any number of injuries, and so is a camera if you don’t have one on your cell phone. Finally, you’ll want a notepad and pen handy so that you can take notes or write down information about the incident, as well as the other motorist that was involved.

If you’re in an accident, you’ll want to take a quick second to compose yourself and check for injuries. Try moving slowly at first, and talk with your passengers and get a quick assessment of what happened. If you can, try to move the vehicle off the roadway to reduce the chances of a secondary accident.

You’ll want to place a call to 911, even if there are no extensive injuries. A police report is an effective piece of evidence to have if you later decide to pursue legal action. And of course, if anyone is injured, make sure to tell the dispatcher so that you can get immediate medical assistance.

If you are able to, you’ll want to start using notepad to take notes about what precipitated the accident, what the conditions were like and where the accident took place. And if you remembered your camera, you’ll also want to take photos of the areas of damage on the vehicle. If there are skid marks due to braking, or debris, these will also help. These can help accident reconstruction specialists examine who may have been at fault.

Those who have been hurt should start keeping track of medical records. And it’s also important to keep in mind who you’re talking to. Outside of a qualified personal injury attorney or your auto insurance adjuster, you should minimize contact with other people, including anyone from the other driver’s insurance company. They may try to convince you to take a small settlement, or catch you on a technicality.

If you want to learn more about the steps in a auto accident personal injury case, contact the Singleton Law Firm to speak with an Atlanta auto accident attorney. You can call us at 770-889-6010 or fill out the case evaluation form at the top of this page for a free consultation.

The Frightening Truth about Truck Accidents

At the Singleton Law Firm, we know all too well that truck accidents can have significant consequences for the drivers of cars. If you haven’t started considering a truck accident attorney in Atlanta, here are a few sobering facts:

  • When a heavy truck collides with a passenger car there is a 98% chance that someone in the car will be injured or killed
  • The average big rig weighs in at around 15 tons and the average passenger car weighs around 4 tons
  • Every 16 minutes someone is killed or injured in an accident involving a truck or big rig.

You need someone with experience in handling these types of personal injury cases, because you need to navigate the dangers of the truck company, insurance adjusters and even your your own health insurance company. If you are involved in a wreck, you can do a few things.

First, if you’re not too injured to do so, make sure you call the police and get an accident report from local law enforcement. Other than the officer on scene, and any person at your insurance company. But don’t talk to the trucker’s insurance company.

They will try to find loopholes to avoid paying you what your case may be worth, and they will try to offer a very low amount. Instead, consider hiring a truck accident attorney in Atlanta to help you with your case.

A truck accident can lead to significant injuries, and a qualified attorney can work with you to gather records that can help you establish whether or not you were hurt as a result of the truck driver’s negligence. They can also offer you options about what kind of legal remedy you want to pursue.

Contact a truck accident attorney in Atlanta from the Singleton Law Firm today at 770-889-6010 for a free consultation. You can also use our contact form, and one of our staff will contact you promptly for a review of your case.

How to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

Want to hire a personal injury attorney? It’s not as easy to do as just picking an ad out of the yellow pages, but doing a little legwork can mean the difference between a successful result to your case and headaches.

Don’t hire a personal injury attorney based on advertisements. You want someone who is experienced in your specific case, for example auto accidents or slips and falls. If you know an attorney or have worked with a lawyer, consider asking them for a referral to a lawyer they know and respect.

If that’s not an option, you should look for knowledgeable attorneys based on the information they provide about your case on their website or recent mentions in the press. Once you have a potential attorney in mind, you’ll want to go to an initial consultation. Here are a few questions you want to ask them:

1) How many personal injury cases have you taken that are like mine?

2) What percentage of your cases come from representing defendants?

3) Are you the attorney that will be handling my case, or will another staff member be doing so?

4) What percentage of a settlement will you take for my case?

5) What other fees are involved on this case that I may have to pay.

Keep in mind, you don’t have to hire a personal injury attorney after an initial consultation. If you don’t feel comfortable with their amount of experience or how they plan to pursue your case, you can certainly consider other options. You’ll want someone who has extensive experience with cases like yours because any attorney can advertise that they specialize in an area of law without having done much or any work in that field.

If you would like a free consultation with the experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Singleton Law Firm, all us at 770-889-6010 or fill out the form above.