Maybe you, like me, received a notice from your automobile insurance company recently asking you to make some choices about your Uninsured Motorist coverage. The reason we got that notice was because legislation passed earlier this year required insurance companies to send a notice to each policyholder advising of new coverage options.
If you received such a notice, and if it was anything like the notice I received, you probably are wondering what in the world it means and what to do with it. The notice I received was written in legalese and my hunch is most people who got it tossed it in the trash - a completely understandable instinct!
I want to take a few days on my blog to talk about the amendment to the Georgia Uninsured Motorist coverage statute. This is more important then you might think. I don't want anyone to miss an opportunity to make sure they truly are fully covered in the event of accident or injury.
In my next blog post I'll talk about what Uninsured Motorist coverage is and why it is so important.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Atlanta Pedestrian Injury and How You and I Can Do Our Part To Prevent Injuries - Part Two
We all need reminders to drive more safely. And when walking around the city of Atlanta or whatever city you live in we could all be a little more aware of pedestrian safety issues. In my work I see the sad consequences of inattentive and careless drivers far too often.
Yesterday on this blog I discussed a few Georgia laws that relate to pedestrians. Here are few more such laws, along with my commentary.
Pedestrian Control Signals
40-6-22. Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words WALK or DON’T WALK or symbols so directing a pedestrian are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) Word or symbol message WALK --- Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal. Every driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped for such pedestrians; and
(2) Flashing or steady DON’T WALK --- No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal. but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the WALK signal shall proceed to sidewalk or safety island while the DON’T WALK signal is showing.
If a lifetime of watching pedestrians is any guide, I would have to conclude most people have no clue how to cross at a signal. I'm not sure I do it right myself. But this law provides some guidance for those of us who need it.
If you're like me you need to take special notice that when you see the "Don't Walk" signal come on this actually means what it says. I confess I tend to look at the traffic and ignore the signal. Bad form and very dangerous as well.
Vehicles on Roadway Generally Have the Right of Way
40-6-96.(d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
This is another important one. I'm afraid many people fail to follow this one, sometimes to their detriment. Vehicles generally have the right of way and pedestrians are generally supposed to stay out of the path of any vehicles that come along. The only time pedestrians have the right of way is if they are in a crosswalk and legally crossing a road.
Duties of Drivers and Pedestrians when They Meet
40-6-91.(a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subsection. "half of the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.
(d) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
Did you know about the "half of the roadway" rule? I didn't until I studied
these things for myself.
So there you have a few more of the laws that relate to pedestrians and drivers. One day soon I will share more.
Until then, let's all be safe out there!
Yesterday on this blog I discussed a few Georgia laws that relate to pedestrians. Here are few more such laws, along with my commentary.
Pedestrian Control Signals
40-6-22. Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words WALK or DON’T WALK or symbols so directing a pedestrian are in place, such signals shall indicate as follows:
(1) Word or symbol message WALK --- Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal. Every driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped for such pedestrians; and
(2) Flashing or steady DON’T WALK --- No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal. but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the WALK signal shall proceed to sidewalk or safety island while the DON’T WALK signal is showing.
If a lifetime of watching pedestrians is any guide, I would have to conclude most people have no clue how to cross at a signal. I'm not sure I do it right myself. But this law provides some guidance for those of us who need it.
If you're like me you need to take special notice that when you see the "Don't Walk" signal come on this actually means what it says. I confess I tend to look at the traffic and ignore the signal. Bad form and very dangerous as well.
Vehicles on Roadway Generally Have the Right of Way
40-6-96.(d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
This is another important one. I'm afraid many people fail to follow this one, sometimes to their detriment. Vehicles generally have the right of way and pedestrians are generally supposed to stay out of the path of any vehicles that come along. The only time pedestrians have the right of way is if they are in a crosswalk and legally crossing a road.
Duties of Drivers and Pedestrians when They Meet
40-6-91.(a) The driver of a vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching and is within one lane of the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For the purposes of this subsection. "half of the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel.
(b) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.
(d) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.
Did you know about the "half of the roadway" rule? I didn't until I studied
these things for myself.
So there you have a few more of the laws that relate to pedestrians and drivers. One day soon I will share more.
Until then, let's all be safe out there!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Atlanta Pedestrian Injury and How You and I Can Do Our Part To Prevent Injuries - Part One
When a pedestrian is struck by a car or truck the resulting injuries can be horrific. When several tons of steel and glass (a vehicle) moving down a street with some speed strikes a walking person - catastrophic injuries are highly likely.
In a city like Atlanta (hardly a pedestrian-friendly environment) we all would do well to take a few minutes to educate ourselves about the rules of the road that relate to pedestrians and how we should drive in areas frequented by pedestrians.
I have culled a few excerpts from Georgia laws that relate to pedestrians and am going to share them here, along with a little of my own commentary.
Here is a good place to start - with definitions under Georgia law:
Pedestrian
40-1-1(42) ‘Pedestrian" means any person afoot.
Traffic
40-1-1(66) "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel.
I love the reference to "ridden or herded animals" - not how I get around, but quaint.
Right of Way
40-1-1(52) "Right of way" means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed, and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
OK - on behalf of my profession I apologize for the legalese in this definition. But it is an important definition! If you skipped over it, shame on you! The short version is this - in civilized society and among people of good will we yield to the person with the right of way.
How do we know when to yield? I'll tell you tomorrow on my blog.
In a city like Atlanta (hardly a pedestrian-friendly environment) we all would do well to take a few minutes to educate ourselves about the rules of the road that relate to pedestrians and how we should drive in areas frequented by pedestrians.
I have culled a few excerpts from Georgia laws that relate to pedestrians and am going to share them here, along with a little of my own commentary.
Here is a good place to start - with definitions under Georgia law:
Pedestrian
40-1-1(42) ‘Pedestrian" means any person afoot.
Traffic
40-1-1(66) "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel.
I love the reference to "ridden or herded animals" - not how I get around, but quaint.
Right of Way
40-1-1(52) "Right of way" means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed, and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
OK - on behalf of my profession I apologize for the legalese in this definition. But it is an important definition! If you skipped over it, shame on you! The short version is this - in civilized society and among people of good will we yield to the person with the right of way.
How do we know when to yield? I'll tell you tomorrow on my blog.
Drunk Drivers Come Out On New Year's Eve But New Year's Day is the Deadliest For Motorists
Atlanta roads are always dangerous but they grow positively treacherous if you drive on a holiday. Tonight, New Year's Eve, is a good night to stay home. For those that venture out, please drive with extreme caution. We all know that drunk and drugged drivers will be out in force, causing injury and death.
While I love to help make my clients' lives better, I hate the behavior that causes them to get injured and be in need of an attorney. When I think of all the injuries and deaths that are likely to occur tonight, well, it's more dreadful than I can bear to think about.
And here is a fact that may surprise you - New Year's Day is more deadly for motorists than New Year's Eve. So please keep your guard up on New Year's Day! It is another good day to just stay put at home!
While I love to help make my clients' lives better, I hate the behavior that causes them to get injured and be in need of an attorney. When I think of all the injuries and deaths that are likely to occur tonight, well, it's more dreadful than I can bear to think about.
And here is a fact that may surprise you - New Year's Day is more deadly for motorists than New Year's Eve. So please keep your guard up on New Year's Day! It is another good day to just stay put at home!
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