Skip to content

Attorney James Haug Speaks at CLE Seminar Regarding Punitive Damages in DUI Cases

If you would like to view his presentation, please click on the link below:

Punitive Damages in DUI Cases

Five most common sources of Wrongful Death

Even though each family trusts that no member of the family will endure a wrongful demise because of a third party’s carelessness, the truth of the matter is that this kind of mishap are exceptionally regular in the US. Actually, the top five causes of untimely demise may affect a family whenever and wherever.

What does Wrongful Death mean?

Today, there are a wide range of actions that can lead to a wrongful death lawsuit. Most of the time, wrongful death claim may have more than one defendant involved, particularly if an organization is involved.

Different from other form of accidents, a wrongful demise is recognized by the careless behavior. This implies that it has to be the negligent or careless attitude of the faulted party that directly caused the demise of the casualty.

Some illustrations of careless practices that can prompt a wrongful demise claim are:

  • Working or driving while under alcohol or drug effects.
  • Not posting dangerous zones
  • Trading or utilizing deficient hardware.
  • Failing to appropriately prepare staff and inhabitants on how to react to a working environment crisis.

The very popular causes include:

These days, there are several activities that can prompt a wrongful demise claim. By and large, a wrongful demise claim may include multiple defendants, particularly if the demise was because of the activities of a corporation or association.

Car crashes

A careless driver is usually present for this to happen. In most cases, he or she will be drunk on drugs. It could also be that he or she was calling or texting while driving. Considering that about 40,000 individuals passing on in vehicle mishaps consistently, its the most widely recognized of the top five reasons for wrongful demise.

Medical compromise

Medicinal misbehavior claims result when demise is brought on because of the carelessness of a doctor, nurse or managing staff while the victim was still alive and receiving medical attention. The elderly are particularly prone to be casualties of medicinal misbehavior, particularly the individuals who reside in assisted living homes or eldercare.

Work environment Accidents

It is the responsibility of every employer to make sure his/her working place is kept free from hazards. However; lack of adequate training of the employee, improper safety guidelines or defective equipment usually results in many wrongful deaths.

Faulty goods/Products

Either as a result of inability to adhere strictly to the appropriate production process or as a result of defects in product design, defective products can lead to death of the operator or owner.  For instance, the death of a child which happens as a result of unsafe toys and equipments for child care.

Crime

When a criminal activity results directly or indirectly to the death of a person, a wrongful death claim can be filed by the family of the victim. This lawsuit does not need a criminal court to find the defendant guilty; this wrongful death claim is a separate legal action.

Irrespective of which of the aforementioned five causes of wrongful death, there is a victim and if you wish to get the appropriate compensation, expert legal help is required. If you have suffered wrongful death of any of your family members, the Haug Law group can give you all the assistance you need to make sure that you are adequately compensated.

What Rights Do Whistleblowers Have in Atlanta Georgia?

At the point when an individual uncovers that his or her organization or association is involved in exploitative or unlawful conduct, that individual is known as a “whistleblower” and the law offers such person some level of protection. Then again, the bosses of such people often retaliate. At the point when this happens, it is essential to figure out what rights these whistleblowers have in a particular circumstance keeping in mind the end goal to make compelling legal action.

Legal Protection for Whistleblowers

The law pertaining to whistleblowers can be exceptionally unpredictable. Notwithstanding the vast range of government regulations securing them, several states have their own particular laws protecting them. It is critical that a person seeks legal help when facing retaliation from his/her employer. This is as a result of its complex nature. For instance, now and again the casualty’s lawyer may discover that their boss has gone against both the federal and the state whistleblower protection laws.

By and large, employer retaliation acts such as these may be compensated and that is what the law:

  • Termination.
  • Unfavorable performance reviews.
  • Demotion.
  • Unofficial harassment, for example by isolating the employee from his or her coworkers.
  • Attempting to intimidate the employee.
  • Reducing the employee’s pay rate or number of work hours.
  • Other actions that can establish a hostile working environment for the whistleblower.

In these instances, a specific amount is paid to the victim. This can incorporate the restoration of a fired worker and reimbursements for the losses accrued as well as for the emotional discomfort. At times, the court may assess punitive damages especially grievous conducts by the boss.

Whistleblower Law and the Statute of Limitations

When the whistleblowers are taking into account the protective rights at their disposal, it is vital that they understand that the statute of limitation which they have is quite short. For instance, only a period of 30 days is available for a whistleblower to stake a claim as a result of retaliation on the part of his/her boss, under the Clean Air Act. This implies that anyone who wishes to take legal action for harassment or intimidation from their boss must do so as fast as possible or forfeit the claim.

Proving Harassment

The ability of the whistleblower to prove that he/she was harassed by the employer will form the premise for the case. As expected, no employer will willing state that the harsh actions taken against the employer has anything to o with the employer’s whistleblowing. The legal adviser of the victim now has the responsibility to establish that it is related to the employee’s status as a whistleblower using the employers behavioral and work history. If the attorney can successfully establish that the conditions prior to the whistleblowing were favorable and there is no other reason for the drastic change, it become likely that the job performance of the employee might not have been the cause, instead, it is a retaliatory action.

The employer has the right to inform the regulatory agencies in situations where an establishment carries out actions that contradict the law without fear of retribution. The needed legal assistance needed by the employee can be obtained if he/she has a deep understanding of their rights as whistleblowers. Legal advice is offered by the law offices of Haug Law Group to those who believe they are facing retaliation.

Study Finds Young Females at Higher Risk of Car Accident Fatalities

The world has been made better through smartphones and other communication devices. It is also important to note that they are also a major cause of road accident. Research has shown that the young females have 26% more chances of getting involved in an accident as a result of texting and or calling while driving. This research was done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Why Young Women?

It is assumed that the female teens have larger social circle and are usually more active on social media than any other group. This implies that they are often tempted to pick up their phone to text, or call a friend, or colleague while driving.

Who Else is at Risk?

As far as texting accidents are concerned, no one is exempted. People of all ages and sex can fall victim. A quick peek at your phone may cause accident. So many people are used to texting already and as such they believe they can comfortably juggle texting and driving. This is extremely difficult especially if you get easily distracted while driving or if you are an inexperienced driver.

The Consequences of Texting and Driving

Driving and texting may lead to emotional and physical injuries, ranging depression, bruises and bumps to internal injuries and in severe cases coma and death. It is logical to assume that a person that is texting while driving will be distracted and will not have quick reaction of a driver who is completely focused on driving. Easy things such as applying breaks can effectively minimize the possible effect of the accident. However, this is difficult for drivers who are distracted and as a result, they may hit other vehicles or pedestrians and this can cause severe injuries to all parties.

If You’ve Been Injured

You are advised to contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible if you have been hit by a driver who was texting while driving. You might have a case that is worthy of significant compensation and if this is the case, the attorney can help you file your case. This attorney can also spell out the laws pertaining to the case and can also represent you in court to get you the appropriate compensation.

Texting and Driving Car Accident Statistics in Atlanta Georgia

Georgia is fast developing and as such, its roads are getting really busier by the day. This is good because it leads to economic growth and more investment opportunities; however, it also leads to more frequent road accidents. Recently, a research by the NHTSA shows that more avoidable accidents are recorded periodically and most of which are as a result of driving and texting.

Why is Texting a Problem?

It is a major form of distraction. Taking one’s eyes off the road can have severe consequences irrespective of whether it to read or to type a message. Even if you think reading short texts are harmless while driving, bear in mind that from there you will also assume that it is also harmless to type and send short text too. The texts will continue to get longer with time and this will continue to diminish your concentration on the road. This then puts everybody around you in danger including other motorists and pedestrians.

Who is Most at Risk?

a report by the NHTSA suggests that this texting and driving menace is common among teens and young adults, particularly the inexperienced female drivers. More so, men below 5 years of age are not likely to sustain sever injuries. As people grow older, gender plays a vital role. Notwithstanding, anyone in or around a driver who is driving and texting is at risk of being involved in an accident.

What to Do After an Accident Involving Texting

Receiving proper medical attention before any other thing is vital, not minding if the accident was caused by a driver that was texting behind the wheels. This is because serious injuries may be incurred as a result of the accident. Employing the services of an expert accident attorney is recommended. Their job is to get out the deserved compensation for all emotional, mental as well as physical injury. The attorney has the responsibility of filing the case and in most cases, you may not have to be present in the courtroom for you to be adequately compensated. All questions and clarifications should be directed to your attorney.

What is a Wrongful Death?

Types of Wrongful Death Cases in Atlanta, Georgia

Although every family trusts that not one of its members will suffer a wrongful death as a result of negligence of a third party, the fact is these types of accidents are extremely common in the United States. Actually, the 5 leading reasons for wrongful death may affect a family at any given time and location.

What is a Wrongful Death?
Unlike a usual accident, a wrongful death is differentiated by the at fault party acting in a sense that shows careless or negligent disregard for the safety of others. Therefore, it was the responsible party’s conduct that directly resulted in the death of the sufferer.

Examples of negligent behaviors that may result in a wrongful death litigation comprise the following:
— Failing to post areas that are hazardous.
— Selling or using gear that is faulty.
— Failing to adequately train in how to respond to a workplace crisis, workers and renters.

The Most Common Sources of Wrongful Deaths
Today, there are a wide selection of actions that may lead to a wrongful death litigation. Oftentimes, a wrongful death lawsuit may involve more than one defendant, particularly if the departure was because of the activities of a business or alternative organization.

Automobile Accidents
Automobile accidents usually include a negligent driver, who’s in many cases driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, a rising number of accidents are the result of drivers who are texting or speaking on their mobile phone while driving.

Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice litigations result when a death is caused due to the neglect of the supervising staff, nurse or a surgeon during the course of the casualty’s medical treatment.

Workplace Accidents
Every company has a legal duty to maintain a workplace that is safe. Nevertheless, many wrongful deaths happen due to avoidable injuries brought on improper security guidelines, by defective equipment or the lack of effective employee training policies.

Defective Products
Either due to flaws in the product’s design or the failure to abide by appropriate production procedures, defective goods, can lead to the death of the product’s owner or operator. This is especially true for childcare gear and dangerous toys, which can cause death or harm to the children of a family.

Criminal Activity
The wrongful death litigation is an independent legal action and will not demand that the defendant be found guilty by a criminal court.
No matter which one of the 5 leading reasons for wrongful death a family has been victimized by, by getting settlement that is effective in a wrongful death lawsuit, proficient legal assistance is required. A family which has suffered a wrongful death should immediately contact the law firm of Haug Law Group as a way to ensure that their case will receive the seasoned aid it deserves.

Slip and Fall Injuries and their Surroundings

Types of Working Surroundings Prone to Slip and Fall Injuries

Every employer has a legal duty to ensure the workplace is safe for their workers and customers alike. Nevertheless, many kinds of working environments prone to slip and fall accidents are not correctly maintained, resulting in the danger that customers workers, and visitors may suffer death or injury from an avoidable slip-and-fall accident. It is therefore vital that you comprehend what types of work environments pose the most dangers for these types of injuries.

The Essence of Slip and Fall Accidents
Based on the U.S. Department of Labor, slip and fall accidents account for over 16,000 fatalities every year. Non-fatal injuries coming from these mishaps include contusions, brain injuries and fractured and broken bones.

High Risk Working Environments
The most typical kinds of working environments prone to slip and fall injuries are those that require any kind of physical labour. Working in a warehouse, industrial plant or retail store can expose workers and customers to danger. One of the most typical reasons for a slip-and-fall accident are the following:
— Slick or wet surfaces, particularly floors and stairway.
— Improperly secured work equipment, including ladders and loading ramps.
— Insufficient lighting in work or walk areas.
— Improper training in safety procedures and equipment.

Retail Marketplaces
Retail markets, which range from supermarkets to warehouse design shops, pose a high risk of slip and fall injuries. Workers regularly fail to properly post warnings around hazards such as equipment that is unsecured or slippery floors. These institutions also have a large number of customers present, which can drastically raise the probability of an accident.

Industrial Plants
Industrial plants often have work areas that suffer from low lighting and high noise levels. This makes it very likely that workers may suffer from a slip-and-fall injury due to being unable hear warnings from their fellow workers or to see an obstacle. Moreover, many managers fail to ensure that that all workplace safety regulations are followed by their workers. Building Sites Construction sites can be especially prone to slip and fall injuries. In addition, many building sites are in regions with poor lighting and rough terrain, making these kinds of injuries even more likely.

Eventually, due to the number of person contractors working at most construction sites, the enforcement of national and state security regulations can be irregular. It’s important to immediately seek out powerful legal assistance, when a slip and fall accident happens. They can receive compensation for any injuries or other damages suffered due to the accident in case the injury was due to neglect on the part of supervisors or the employee’s coworkers.

The law firm of Haug Law Group is experienced in handling slip-and-fall cases. The firm’s attorneys can assist his or her legal alternatives are understood by the sufferer of this kind of injury. Anyone who has suffered a slip-and-fall injury should immediately contact the law offices of Haug Law Group for a consultation regarding their particular case.

4 Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

The increasing number of aged people in America has resulted in a nursing home inhabitants that was growing. Because of this, many families are now faced with the choice to transfer an elderly relative into a nursing home. Nevertheless, it is necessary that the patient’s family and friends understand what the signs of nursing home negligence may be to be able to safeguard their loved ones in the hands of their caregivers from neglect.

Bedsores
One of the very common forms of negligence is leaving a bedridden patient in the exact same position for a very long time. This can result in the creation of bedsores as a result of unrelieved pressure on the patient’s body. Because of this, move or nursing homes have to regularly turn those patients who cannot move on their own. Failing to control patient bedsores will not just lead to avoidable distress, but can easily lead to the creation of life threatening medical conditions. Because of this, unexplained bedsores are a common sign of nursing home neglect.

Poor Patient Hygiene
Failure to do so can result in the development of skin, fingernail and genital diseases. As with bedsores, this kind of neglect can result in serious discomfort, injury and death that is avoidable. During a visit, the family should carefully observe the cleanliness of their room and the individual.

Weight Loss
Many nursing home patients endure avoidable weight loss because of the failure of the nursing home to make sure they receive an adequate and balanced diet. Improper diet can make the patient vulnerable to disease and can result in an avoidable death. Poor nutrition is particularly common among patients with cognitive disorders who are not easy to feed. When seeing a patient, the family should know about any sudden and sustained weight reduction. This really is especially significant when the individual is unable to effectively communicate together with the family. Such weight loss is frequently caused by negligent staff practices.

Mental and Emotional Neglect
Among the psychological and more challenging to not discover physical negligence can get a major effect on the patient’s complete health. Neglecting to maintain an active and mentally engaging surroundings can add to the patient’s avoidable departure and can result in a number of mental illnesses. Families ought to be on the lookout for an unwillingness or listlessness to speak when they visit their family member. Oftentimes, this is often an indicator of psychological or mental neglect. Also, the family should make certain that the nursing home provides community actions and effective amusement for its patients. However, if a family believes that their loved one is the victim of nursing home practices that are negligent, it is crucial to immediately seek competent legal help.

The law offices of Haug Law Group, can provide a legal consultation for those people who consider that they or a loved one have suffered from nursing home neglect, and have specialized in the area of neglect and nursing home abuse.
Contact us today with our on-line form

Data on Where Most Automobile Accidents Take Place

Sadly, they’re subsequently subjected to the risk of an accident in the hands of a negligent driver, which can result in damage to their care, harm or death. Nevertheless, in order to effectively protect themselves, it is important that passengers and drivers likewise know about the data on where most automobile accidents take place.

Where do Most Car Accidents Occur?
Generally speaking, although an auto accident can occur at any given moment and place, statistics on where most automobile accidents take place show that the three most common areas where a car crash will probably happen are the immediate neighborhood, parking lots, as well as the driver’s daily commute to and from work. Are these the areas where most motorists spend most of their time, but they are also the areas which are likely to see meetings with negligent or preoccupied drivers.

Driving Near Home
According to some insurance surveys, at least 52 percent of all accidents occur within five miles of the motorist’s dwelling. Additionally, residential areas might not have streetlights or traffic control signs, especially in old neighborhoods. Finally, drivers are most commonly in these neighborhoods at the beginning or ending of the workday, when their attention is likely to be distracted by other issues.

Parking Lots and Accidents
An extensive range of injuries happen in the parking lots in America. Low speed crashes are typical in these areas because many drivers are distracted. Furthermore, the presence of a significant number of pedestrians, a lot of whom aren’t paying attention to their surroundings, raises the possibility of an injury. While many injuries in a parking lot are not major, the potential for injury or death at the hands of a negligent motorist is a serious danger for pedestrians and vehicle occupants alike.

The Daily Commute
Most morning and evening commuters face busy roads and defeated or tired drivers. Due to this, auto accidents can be very common, especially during periods of inclement weather.
Data on where most car accidents take place reveal that a motorist should be mindful at all times when behind the wheel. However, should a negligent motorist cause an injury, then the victim should promptly get legal aid that is proficient. This is particularly significant for instances where an accident has resulted in severe harm or death. Due to this, it’s imperative that people who’ve been engaged in an accident immediately contact the law offices of Haug Law Group as a way to determine what their legal alternatives are.

Accident Compensation Lawyers

money

If you or a loved one are injured in an accident, many types of compensation may be available regardless of whether the injury is caused by a car wreck, premises liability incident (such as a “slip and fall”), or medical malpractice. This article will generally discuss a few of the major types of compensation that an accident victim may legally recover.

Obviously, because an injured person will need medical care, medical expenses are the most commonly-claimed form of compensation. A claimant may recover the costs of treatment from a hospital, doctor, ambulance, chiropractor, physical therapist, pharmacy or other similar medical provider. These costs are usually relatively simple to determine because the patient will receive a bill.

There are two important things to remember about compensation for medical costs. First, a claimant may recover not just the cost of medical care already received, but also the cost of future medical care, as long as the claimant can prove it is more likely than not that they will receive that treatment in the future.  For example, if a doctor agrees that a claimant will probably need a future surgery for accident-related injuries, the claimant has a good argument that the cost of the surgery should be recovered now.  Second, a claimant may recover the amount of his or her medical bills even if they were paid by health insurance or some other source.  This rule is based on the idea that a defendant who injures someone else should not be allowed to “take credit” for payments made by someone else.

Lost wages are also recoverable.  If an accident has left someone unable to work, he or she can seek compensation for the income they lost as a result.  Another type of compensation similar to this is that for “loss of future earnings“ or “diminished earning capacity.”  This refers to situations where a claimant’s injuries will prevent him or her from returning to work at their full pre-accident capacity.

Most people have heard of compensation for “pain and suffering.”  Unlike medical bills or lost wages, there is no set formula to determine the dollar amount of a person’s pain and suffering, so a jury must determine the amount.   This is why this type of compensation is often referred to as “non-economic damages.”  Insurance companies often fight hard on this issue.  An experienced personal injury attorney knows how best to convince an insurance company that a jury is likely to award a large amount for pain and suffering.

While the types of accident compensation discussed here are the most common, there are other types a claimant may recover.  This is why it is in an injured person’s best interest to hire an experienced car accident attorney.  If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, do not try to go it alone.  Consult an attorney in your area to ensure that you have the best chance of recovering all the compensation to which you are entitled.