When it comes to buying a vehicle, some research suggests that what reviewers think is more important to consumers than anything else. One recent study reports that of about 2,200 respondents queried, 60 percent said they would be more inclined to look at a vehicle based on reviewer reactions. The next most important factor was safety ratings.
How to prevent barbecue fires
If there's one thing the South does well, it's barbecue. Everyone has their specialty. Maybe you're a rib person, or perhaps brisket is more your style. (Brisket is my favorite!) Maybe you go for charcoal, or you could be a propane convert. Whatever your preference, all barbecues have one thing in common: FIRE!
Don't get hurried into accepting a car accident settlement
You're driving home after a fun night out with friends. Out of nowhere, an inattentive driver runs a red light and side swipes you--sending your car spinning out of control. You wake up in the hospital, with a cast around your arm.
Behind the wheel, hands-free calling poses unexpected risks.
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the dangers of distracted driving. There have been state and national pushes to discourage texting while driving or holding a cell phone while driving. Such practices are rightly seen as risky, as they can take your eyes off the road and a hand off the wheel.
Is laser hair removal safe?
Laser hair removal has mushroomed in popularity in recent years. Clinics are popping up all over the country, offering discounted procedures in tranquil, spa-like settings. For many people, the prospect of permanent hair removal sounds like a dream come true. And as the prices have steadily dropped with increasing supply, this possibility is becoming more accessible to the general population.
The safe way to handle fireworks
Fireworks are a hallmark of any Fourth of July festivity. For some people, that means going to watch a professional fireworks display. For others, it means putting on a show in their own backyard.
Is eating while driving that dangerous?
Last month, we reported on a new law that was recently passed, the Hands-Free Georgia Act. The aim of this act is to help dissuade people from using their cell phones--or any handheld electronic devices--while driving.
The benefits of company policies against drowsy driving
In 2014, an inattentive Walmart truck driver crashed his tractor-trailer into the bus of comic superstar Tracy Morgan. Morgan sustained serious brain injury and another passenger--comedian James McNair--was tragically killed. The driver of the truck claimed that his response time on the road was compromised due to the fact that he had been working without sleep for more than 24 hours.
Why you should turn your phone on silent when driving
You're driving down the freeway to work. It's rush hour, making traffic unpredictable and requiring you to concentrate harder. On top of that, you haven't had your morning coffee yet, and you're aware that you're not as alert as you should be.
Hands-Free Georgia Act signed into law
On April 22, 2015 a distracted truck driver in Statesboro collided his tractor-trailer into an SUV containing seven nursing students at Georgia Southern University--killing five and severely injuring two of the SUV's occupants. The driver was convicted of vehicular homicide and is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.
Underreported distracted driving stats
Are you aware that we are more than halfway through National Distracted Driving Awareness Month? If not, you're not alone. Smart phones are extensions of our lives, tools that are part of daily life to the point we sometimes don't notice them. They're also killers on the road, hence the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "U Drive. U Text. U Pay" ad campaign.
When you're involved in a bicycle hit and run in Georgia
You're bicycling home one night after a long day at work. You're riding in the designated bike lane, you're wearing a helmet and your head and tail lights are on.
Legal impacts if you're in a crash without wearing a seat belt
You're heading home one night after seeing a movie with some friends. Just as you pull out of the theater parking lot into the road, a speeding driver runs a red light and plows into your passenger side door. Your body is thrust hard into the driver side door. You suffer a concussion, whiplash and a broken collarbone. You know the other driver broke at least two traffic laws-speeding and running through a red light. They're clearly at fault, right?
Workplace slip and falls: more common than you might expect
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released some startling statistics on workplace injuries. Slip and fall accidents:
Electrocution deaths in construction still a problem
Electrical workers and other construction workers come into contact with electrical equipment and electrical wiring on job sites daily. Although the number of electrocution fatalities is decreasing, exposure to electricity still kills nearly 150 construction workers annually and most deaths are preventable.
Commercial truckers are at high risk for workplace injuries
Commercial trucking accidents are often so dangerous due to the size difference between the vehicles; a truck can weigh as much as 30 times more than a passenger vehicle. When a collision happens, the truck drivers often survive simply because they are behind the wheel of the larger vehicle. However, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that injuries and fatalities happen more in commercial trucking than in any other industry.
Fatal workplace injuries on the rise
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released a new report showing a 7-percent jump in fatal workplace injuries between 2015 and 2016. It cited transportation as the most common cause of death on the job-accounting for about two-fifths of all incidences. Violence in the workplace rose 23 percent in the last year, making it the second most common cause of death at work.
How to fall correctly
When you think of the dangers of slip and fall accidents, you might expect the serious risks to be borne by construction workers and other people who spend their days working on high ladders, rooftops and other high-risk environments. For the average Joe going about their daily routine, you might only expect a slip and fall accident to result in a sprained ankle or a bruised knee.
Atlanta ranks #1 in truck congestion; increased risk of crashes
A recent study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) examined freeway bottlenecks commonly accessed by truckers in 300 different sites across the country. It found Atlanta's I-285 at I-85 (North) to be the most congested thoroughfare in the nation for trucks. This was followed closely behind by another Atlanta passageway--I-75 at I-285 (North)--in fourth place.
Georgia construction company cited for improper trenching safety
In a recent inspection of Dustcom Limited Inc., the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found the company to be negligent in providing suitable safety conditions for trench workers--putting these workers at unnecessary risk of trench collapse. Dustcom received the maximum allowable fine: more than a quarter of a million dollars.
