As a biker, you want to stay as safe as possible on the road. Getting the right helmet and taking care of it properly could mean the difference between life and death. Our Atlanta motorcycle accident lawyers at Spaulding Injury Law are committed to helping motorcyclists protect themselves while enjoying the freedom of riding on the open road.

How to Choose the Safest Motorcycle Helmet?

• First, choose the type of helmet you prefer. There are three main types: full-face, ¾, or ½ helmet.
• Only a full-face helmet will offer you protection for your chin and jaw.
• Make sure the helmet meets the safety requirements in your state. The Georgia Department of Public Safety requires that motorcycle helmets comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, which is the DOT standard. Look for the DOT sticker on the back of the helmet.

How to Size and Fit a Motorcycle Helmet?

Using a soft measuring tape, measure around the circumference of your head. Go across the forehead just above the eyebrows, above the ears, and around the back of your head. Then match up this measurement to a helmet size chart.

How to Inspect Your Motorcycle Helmet?

Of course, you’ll want to inspect any helmet before you buy it. Remember to also regularly inspect your helmet for signs of damage, and replace it when necessary.

1. Check the date printed on a label applied to the EPS liner in your helmet. Make sure it’s no more than five years old.
2. Remove the comfort liner and check its condition.
3. Check the EPS (expanded polystyrene) for damage.
4. Inspect the shell for cracks, deep scratches, or other signs of trauma.
5. Check the visor for cracks or scratches that may obstruct your vision.

How to Clean Your Motorcycle Helmet?

Just like you need to maintain your motorcycle itself, you need to maintain your helmet. Your helmet’s owners’ manual should have instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance. Have microfiber towels and a toothbrush handy for those hard-to-reach spots.

1. Use a mild product such as baby shampoo to clean the interior. Let the lining and cheek pads dry at least overnight.
2. Drape a microfiber cloth soaked in warm water over the exterior to help loosen up caked on dirt.
3. Check for material-compatible cleaning products when cleaning the visor.

Motorcycle Helmet Accessories You Might Like

You can get cool custom motorcycle helmets that suit your style and taste. Accessories and add-ons include:

1. Motorcycle Speakers
2. Motorcycle Helmet Lights
3. Motorcycle Helmet Bags
4. Custom Graphic Designs
5. Multi-Color Visors
6. Fur

Best Places to Buy Motorcycle Helmets

1. Check out your local trusted helmet specialist. Going to a local brick-and-mortar store gives you the opportunity to ask questions and try a few different helmets on for size.
2. Don’t be shy about shopping with popular online specialists. Just make sure you read the reviews first.
3. Read more motorcycle helmet-buying tips

Posted in Motorcycle Accidents | Comments Off on Ultimate Bikers’ Guide to Motorcycle Helmets

Vicarious liability is a legal concept where a person or organization is held accountable for the wrongful actions of another person, even though that person shares some of the responsibility. Vicarious liability can happen when one party has authority over a third party and fails to adequately supervise or manage them, leading to negligence. In such cases, the party in charge, such as a supervisor, may be held liable for the actions of their subordinates or associates based on their relationship and level of control.

How Does Vicarious Liability Work?

As we just covered, vicarious liability is the indirect legal responsibility imposed on a person or entity for the actions of another person, such as a subordinate or even a child.

Vicarious liability can arise in the workplace, where an employer can be held liable for the illegal actions of their employees. For example, if an employee harasses or discriminates against a co-worker, the employer can be held vicariously liable for such actions.

Similarly, an employer can be held liable if an employee operates machinery or equipment negligently, causing damages to property or personal injury to others. For example, if a construction worker mishandles the controls of a crane, causing it to topple a nearby building’s wall, the company overseeing the construction may face vicarious liability.

The principle of vicarious liability holds an employer responsible for its employee’s actions while on the job since they have the power to prevent and limit any harmful acts that its employees may commit. Therefore, if an employer fails to take adequate steps to prevent or address such actions, they may be held liable for their employee’s actions.

Types of Vicarious Liability

Vicarious liability holds an individual or entity responsible for the actions of another person in various situations, including:

Employer-Employee

Employers can be vicariously liable for the harmful actions of their employees if the employee was on the clock, performing an activity they were hired to perform, and the employer somehow benefited from the activity. For example, if a nurse in a hospital gives the wrong medication to a patient, causing harm, the hospital could be held vicariously liable for the nurse’s actions.

Partnership-Partner

When people form a partnership, each partner acts on behalf of that partnership. The partnership can be held liable if one partner commits a negligent or wrongful act and harms a third party. For example, if two people start a taxi service and one of them causes an accident while picking up a passenger, the partnership can be vicariously liable for any resulting injuries. Seek legal counsel from an Atlanta personal injury attorney.

Parent-Child

Parents can also be held responsible if their minor children injure others, depending on the state laws. For instance, if a child causes a car accident while driving a car with the parent’s permission, the parents could be held vicariously liable for any damages or injuries caused. In this case, the parents may be held responsible for the child’s negligent or reckless driving behavior, even if they were not directly involved in the accident.

Similarly, if a child injures another child while under the supervision of their parents, the parents could be held vicariously liable for the harm caused.

Corporation Directors and Officers

Corporate directors and officers act on behalf of the companies they work for. A corporation can thus be held liable for any torts that are committed by officers or by directors while they are acting for the corporation.

If a corporation’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) embezzles money from the company and commits fraud, the corporation could be held vicariously liable for the CFO’s actions because the CFO is acting on behalf of the corporation and is in a position of authority within the company. The corporation could be held responsible for the losses resulting from the CFO’s actions, even if it was not directly involved in the fraud or embezzlement. In this scenario, the corporation could be held liable for the CFO’s torts, and the victims could seek compensation from the corporation.

Real-World Example of Vicarious Liability

The Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 is a noteworthy case that demonstrates the complexity of vicarious liability.

The Exxon Shipping Co. was held vicariously liable for the series of events that caused the spill, which released around 10.8 million gallons of crude oil into the sea off the coast of Alaska, contaminating the shoreline.

The company was deemed responsible for inadequate supervision of the captain, fatigue among the crew, and poor condition of the radar equipment that could have helped prevent the ship from running aground.

The Exxon Valdez case highlights the importance of holding companies accountable for the actions of their employees, especially when such actions result in harm to people and the environment.

What Are the Differences Between Vicarious Liability and Strict Liability?

Although vicarious liability and strict liability are similar concepts, the two terms have different legal implications.

In a typical personal injury claim, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused harm to the plaintiff. However, the plaintiff does not need to prove negligence in strict liability cases, which holds defendants accountable for damages, regardless of whether they were negligent or acted intentionally.

For instance, if a driver is caught speeding, they are held strictly liable for breaking the law, even if they didn’t intend to speed. The law imposes strict liability on anyone who excessively exceeds the speed limit while driving.

On the other hand, vicarious liability is a type of strict liability that holds a third party responsible for the actions of another person, such as an employee. The employer can be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employees, even if the employer itself did nothing negligent. If a server in a restaurant spills hot coffee on a customer and burns them, the restaurant can be held vicariously liable for the server’s actions since the restaurant is in control of the server and responsible for their actions while on the job.

How Can Spaulding Injury Law Help?

If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to the actions of another person or entity, Spaulding Injury Law can help you seek justice and compensation for the harm you have endured.

Our experienced attorneys will work to investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue maximum compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait to seek the legal representation you deserve. Contact Spaulding Injury Law today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward securing the justice and compensation you need to move forward.

Posted in Premises Liability | Comments Off on Definition of Vicarious Liability

How to Get A Police Report After A Car Accident in Lawrenceville?

It’s important to report an accident to a police officer that comes to the scene and creates a report containing the details of the crash. As a car accident law firm in Lawrenceville, we can tell you that there are several ways to obtain an accident report after you have been involved in a car accident. Remember, it will take several days for the report to be ready so do not worry if there is a delay in being able to obtain the report.

What is the Easiest Way to Obtain A Police Accident Report in Lawrenceville?

We have found that the easiest way to obtain the crash report is to do so online. By now almost every precinct in every county in Georgia participates in buycrash.com’s online accident report system.

It’s not hard to figure out how to get a copy of a police report once you’re on this website. You simply need one of three types of information in addition to the date of the accident and your last name:

1. The police report number which you should have obtained from the investigating officer at the scene;
2. Your driver’s license number if you were one of the drivers in the accident. If a passenger, you would need the driver’s license of one of the drivers involved; or
3. VIN of one of the vehicles involved in the accident.

It costs a little more for the convenience of obtaining the traffic accident report online. It runs $11 in Georgia. It costs around $5 to get the report directly at the precinct involved however.

What is the Cheapest Way to Get A Car Crash Report?

By far the cheapest way to obtain car accident reports is to go to the precinct in person to pick up the report. Make sure you call first to verify the vehicle accident report is ready. Again, it may take several days for the report to be released.

You can also send in a written request to have a copy mailed to you. You will want to verify the cost to obtain the report and send that money in along with your written request. Identify the date of the accident, location, and each driver involved in the accident.

Can A Personal Injury Attorney Obtain A Car Accident Report On My Behalf?

Finally, if you have not obtained the accident report before you meet with a lawyer, have no fear. Your car accident lawyer can obtain the report through one of the above methods for you.

We always prefer to have the report at the time we first meet with a potential client so we can understand exactly how the accident allegedly occurred. Knowing what the at-fault driver received as far as citations is also valuable information to have at the time of the first meeting.

If possible, we will obtain the police report from buycrash.com before the first meeting if the client has not obtained it yet and it is available. Meeting with us before the report is available is not the end of the world, however. We can always obtain the report after our first meeting.

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If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, that driver’s insurance company is required to compensate you for injuries caused by its driver’s negligence. What many people do not know and what insurance companies will not tell you is exactly how much an insurance company is responsible for paying you in Georgia to compensate you for your injuries and how a car accident law firm in Atlanta can help.

Unfortunately, some insurance companies may even try to mislead you into believing that they only have to cover your out-of-pocket expenses that were not covered by your own automobile or health insurance. That simply is not true. This, among other important reasons, is why it is always advisable that you seek the advice of a competent car accident lawyer.

Types of Car Accident Compensation in Atlanta

You may be asking yourself, “How much should I settle for in my car accident case?” In Georgia, if you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to be made whole. While there are sometimes physical and emotional injuries that can never actually be made whole again after an accident, the mechanism the law provides for making you as a whole as possible is financial compensation. Making you whole means putting you back in the position you were in right before the car accident or as close to it as is legally and physically possible.

No discussion of what a Georgia car accident claim is worth is complete without first discussing the components of the claim that make up the calculation of what a claim is worth. Generally speaking, there are three main categories of compensation an injury victim is entitled to receive that form the basis for the value of a car accident claim:

1. Medical Expenses—- Both Past and Future
2. Lost Wages and/or Lost Earning Capacity —- Past, Present, and Future
3. Pain and Suffering— Past, Present, and Future

Some victims will receive all three types of damages, while others will not. As a result, the average car accident settlement varies on a case-by-case basis. Each of these categories of compensation is deserving of its own article. Below we touch on the basics of each category to give you an overview of how each is valued in Georgia.

Recovering Compensation For Medical Bills After A Car Accident

Some insurance companies may try to convince you that reimbursing the out-of-pocket expenses that were not covered by your own health insurance and paying you for any time you missed from your job makes you whole because you have been reimbursed for the accident actually cost you. That is not the law in Georgia.

You are entitled to have the insurance company pay the full cost of each and every one of your medical and pharmacy bills as if you did not have any health insurance. The negligent driver’s insurance does not get to benefit from the fact that you have health insurance which negotiates discounted rates with your medical providers and covers a large chunk of your medical bills.

For example, if the emergency room visit costs $10,000 and your health insurance paid $3,000.00, you are entitled to be compensated $10,000 by the negligent driver’s insurance. Your health insurance may require you to reimburse them some of that $10,000 through a process known as subrogation, but a skilled personal injury attorney can usually negotiate a favorable settlement of any subrogation claim asserted by your health insurance that allows you to keep most of that money.

Lost Wages Compensation For Car Accident Victims

In addition to paying the full cost of your medical and pharmacy bills, the negligent driver’s insurance is also required to reimburse you for any time you missed from work as a result of the accident. Even if you were technically paid by your employer through the use of sick leave or vacation leave, you are still entitled to be reimbursed for the hours you missed from work as if you did not have paid leave available. If you own your own business, you may be able to recover additional compensation if your injuries negatively impacted your business’s profits.

How to Calculate Pain And Suffering Damages After A Car Crash

On top of paying your full medical bills, lost wages, and any other expenses directly caused by the accident and injuries, the insurance company should also compensate you for your pain and suffering. Unlike medical bills and lost wages, the dollar value of pain and suffering is very difficult to quantify and is highly subjective. As a result, this is the measure of compensation that is fought over the most in a lawsuit.

Only you and perhaps your close friends and family truly know how much your injuries have caused you pain and suffering, but the individuals who ultimately would place a dollar value on it are twelve strangers on a jury who hear your case. Pain and suffering is usually calculated as a multiple of your quantifiable losses, (known as special damages) which include medical bills and lost wages.

Whether your special damages should be multiplied by two, three, or some other number to arrive at your total compensation including pain and suffering is influenced by numerous factors discussed in more detail below.

If you are injured in a car accident caused by an uninsured driver and are forced to file a claim with your own uninsured motorist insurer (called UM insurance), these same rules governing required compensation still apply to uninsured motorist claims. UM insurance is a unique situation that can be quite complicated in and of itself. We have written many times on the subject. Check out our car accident injury page for articles on this topic.

How Much is My Car Accident Settlement Worth?

Most victims want to know how much to expect from a car accident settlement. The above explained the nuts and bolts of numbers that go into the determination of the value of your claim. Now let’s talk in more detail about various practical and evidentiary factors that affect the precise value of your claim. These factors affect how much a jury is willing to award you mainly for pain and suffering damages.

How the Severity of the Impact Affects Your Insurance Claim

In car accident cases, the more severe the impact was the more likely a jury is going to award a larger amount for pain and suffering damages. This makes sense because people tend to believe that the plaintiff was seriously injured when the impact was very significant.

Pictures of the damage to the vehicles go a long way in helping jurors understand just how severely injured you were in the wreck. Witness testimony also is very helpful here.

How Extensive Treatment Can Increase Your Auto Accident Settlement

Common sense here. More extensive treatment for severe injuries means a larger pain and suffering award from a jury. This is the point of the system to compensate those who are truly injured and have suffered greatly because of someone else’s negligence.

Do Pre-Existing Injuries Affect Car Accident Injury Settlement Amounts?

This can be a big factor in the outcome of the value of a car accident case in Georgia. If you suffered from injuries in the past to the same area injured in the wreck, there is a greater chance a jury could believe a defense argument that your injuries were not caused by the wreck but had already been there.

If pre-existing injuries exist, testimony from your treating physician(s) about the pre-existing injury and how it was aggravated or made worse from the wreck is very helpful to your recovery.

How the Location Can Impact Your Car Accident Lawsuit

Believe it or not, where you have to file suit in a car accident case can greatly change the value of the claim. This is because the make of jurors who will hear your case and decide its value varies greatly from county to county in Georgia.

Jurors in one county may be naturally more receptive to personal injury cases versus more conservative jurors in other counties. Often times you do not have a choice of where to file your lawsuit. However, there are plenty of cases where you have several counties to choose from. Discuss your options with an attorney before suing after a car accident.

Who is the Defendant in Your Car Accident Case in Atlanta?

In most car accident cases, the defendant is simply an individual. In these scenarios, the value of your case may be less than in cases where you are suing a company who owned the vehicle. This is because jurors are not allowed to know that insurance is involved and therefore are told that there award of damages to the plaintiff is against the individual defendant. Often times, this leads jurors to not value the case a high as they otherwise would because they do not think the defendant has the money to pay you.

On the other hand, if you are struck by a company vehicle, jurors tend to value your case much higher. This is because they know a company with plenty of money will be paying you. This is why tractor-trailer cases or other commercial vehicle cases tend to have much higher value than car accident cases between individuals.

The above factors are simply generalizations of typical patterns and behaviors of jurors in valuing car accident cases in Georgia based on our experience trying cases. Each case is unique and each jury is unique. Therefore the above factors are not set in stone.

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Our Atlanta car accident attorneys have handled hundreds of motor vehicle cases during their careers and as a result, we know that everyone has questions after being injured in a wreck. Below, the nationally recognized trial lawyers at Spaulding Injury Law answer several of the most frequently asked questions by clients after an accident.

How Does The Claims Process Begin?

The claims process usually starts when you call the at-fault driver’s insurance company to report your claims. Often times the at-fault driver has already called in the claim but the adjuster has not gotten around to calling you yet.

Whether it is you calling in or the adjuster calling you, the process begins with the adjuster getting all of your information including whether you have been injured. Be careful here. We have an article that talks about this subject in more depth which you can check out here.

You do not want to give a recorded statement to the adjuster. Instead, simply give her your name and contact information and explain that you have been hurt and that you are going to be seeking treatment.

Remember, you are setting up two claims if you are injured. The first is your property damage claim and the other is your injury claim.

What About The Repairs/Loss Of My Vehicle? Who Pays?

We have created an article solely dedicated to the topic of property damage claims and how to handle them. This is usually the one claim that you can handle on your own without assistance from a lawyer.

If you have taken pictures of the damage (which you should have done), you will want to send those to the adjuster. If you still have possession of your vehicle, you will want to set up an appointment for the insurance company to come out and inspect the damage done.

Be careful when the adjuster comes to look at your vehicle. You do not want to engage in any conversation about your injuries. Keep it only to the topic of the damage done to the vehicle.

If instead your vehicle has been towed away from the scene, let the adjuster know where it was towed. The adjuster will go out to the tow yard and conduct his or her inspection there. If you did not take photographs of the damage done at the scene, go to the tow yard yourself and get pictures.

If your vehicle is repairable, go to a trusted repair shop to inspect the damage and give you an estimate of what it will cost to repair it. Submit this estimate to the adjuster and do not let them convince you that you have to use one of their approved repair shops. That is not the law.

If your vehicle is totaled, the question becomes what was the value of the vehicle in its condition and with the mileage, it had right before the wreck? There are several ways to figure that out.  We recommend that individuals use the internet to compile several estimates of the private sale value of the vehicle. Average out those estimates and you have the number you should seek from the insurance company.

What If Who Caused The Wreck Is In Question?

Georgia law requires you to prove the other driver was a fault before you can recover either property damage losses or injury related losses. If your claims have been denied by the insurance company or reduced because they claim you were at fault for the wreck, you may need to hire an attorney immediately.

Even in situations where the police officer has given you a ticket, there are ways to prove the officer got it wrong and you were not at fault for the accident. Without question, it will not be easy but it can be done. We have had several cases where we have fought the ticket for our clients or meet with the officer to present our facts and evidence to convince him or her to change his opinion about who was at fault.

How Are Personal Injury Claims Valued By The Insurance Company?

It goes without saying that the insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as possible. Valuation is based on the number of medical expenses you have plus your perceived pain and suffering incurred due to your injuries.

The more treatment you have had and the more severe your injuries, the larger the “value” of your claim. The hardest part of the claim for everyone to evaluate is the pain and suffering part of the calculation. We have an article dedicated solely to the question of what is the value of a car accident case in Georgia here.

What If The Other Driver Has No Insurance?

This is not a typical scenario but does happen from time-to-time. When it does happen, hopefully you have what is called Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) on your auto insurance policy.

UM coverage is there to protect you in just this type of scenario. It is also why you want to always report an accident immediately to your own insurance company.

There are also a number of other ways UM insurance can come into play through policies you would not typically think would cover your injuries. This is why it is recommended that you at least consult with an injury lawyer about your case.

What If My Loses Are Larger Than The Coverage Provided By The At-Fault Driver?

Again, this is where UM insurance plays a role to provide coverage. UM insurance covers not only when the other driver has no insurance but often times when the other driver does not have enough coverage to fully compensate you for all of your loses.

In this scenario, whether your coverage applies depends on which type of UM coverage you purchased. We discuss UM coverage in depth in the following article.

How Do I Get Treatment If I Cannot Afford It And Have No Insurance?

One of the biggest mistakes clients make is assuming that the other driver’s insurance will pay their medical bills as they treat. It, unfortunately, does not work that way.

Instead, it is a reimbursement system. You have to treat first and receive payment later as a lump sum from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Therefore, you are left having to figure out how to receive and therefore, pay for treatment as you go along. The good news is there are several ways to do it. You can use Medical Payments coverage (Med Pay) or find a physician that would be willing to treat you on a lien. We have another article dedicated to a discussion of the various options.

Still, Have Questions?

If you still have questions, please give us a call or fill out our case evaluation form on this website. We provide free consultations and would be happy to help answer any questions you have.

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Americans love their cars. Our automobiles afford us a sense of freedom and a sense of security. They empower us and in many ways they protect us. So, when something goes wrong with our automobiles, we want a qualified mechanic who understands how we feel about them to take care of it. When we find one, we share the information with people we care about and we share the information online. We have done the research and we want to share with you a great group of mechanics in the city of Alpharetta.

Alpharetta Auto Service Center

You would be hard-pressed to find a more all-around good auto service center. With more than 30 years experience, Alpharetta Auto Service Center is well established in the community and comes highly recommended by those generations of families that use them.

Mike The Mechanic

This family owned and operated shop is dedicated to its customers. They are members in good standing, with the Better Business Bureau. They operate with old-fashioned core values of good service at a fair price. Their customers rate them highly (5 stars) online. The mechanics are highly trained and certified and work on all makes and models of automobiles.

Christian Brothers Automotive Jones Bridge

Christian Brothers Automotive are in 22 states and have been taking care of vehicles for more than 34 years. They receive high praises from their customers. The idea behind their success is that they do not just fix your car, they invest in returning your car to its best possible condition. Their commitment to service repeatedly puts Christian Brothers Automotive at the top of the lists of great mechanics.

Main Street Automotive

Main Street Automotive has been taking care of vehicles in the Alpharetta, Georgia area since 2005. They use parts of the highest quality and put every effort into fixing the whole problem, the first time. They have a very high rating with customers who have used them. They are known as honest and reliable people.

North Point Auto Repair

North Point Auto Repair pulls a perfect 5-star rating by their customers. The owner of this company has had a lifelong love of cars. As a teenager, he worked on cars until he went off to college and became. He went to college and became a stockbroker by the age of 21. He gradually moved back toward the automobile industry and finally realized his dream of owning his own shop. When you love cars, you take care of them. When you own your own business, you take care of your customers. This may explain his high rating with his customers.

There are more auto mechanics in the area. There are shops that specialize in imports and shops that specialize in specific areas, such as transmissions, body work, and more. You will have no problem locating a good mechanic in Alpharetta. We hope our list helps you in your selection. If you have been in a car accident please reach out to these local shops for your repair work.

As with any business, we recommend that you check reviews, get local references, and check with the area Better Business Bureau before you make a substantial purchase.

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The residents of Alpharetta are diverse. You are just as likely to see the CEO of some of the most influential companies in the world as you are to see a hard-working American farmer. This is evident when you consider that Alpharetta has a downtown area and fascinating attractions, as well as the surrounding mountains and woods. Whether you are looking for a quiet evening with delicious food and great company, or something more exciting, you will feel right at home here. Let’s look at a few of the activities that are popular in Alpharetta.

Outdoor fun

Wills Park Equestrian Center

This is the perfect activity for everyone in the group. The beautiful 500-acre park has open fields and rolling hills perfect for riding. There are also covered and uncovered rings, concessions, restrooms, and training areas. There are 298 horse stalls. This facility is family-friendly. It offers hiking and riding trails, sports fields, swimming, a dog park, and a full calendar of events that are booked annually. There is no shortage of fun here.

Big Creek Greenway

This 6-mile path is a great hiking and biking trail. When you enter the woods near Big Creek, you leave the city 100 miles away. You can rent a bike nearby or bring your rollerblades. The winding trails, connecting boardwalks, and rolling creek make this site a must-see.

Golf

Golf is a popular sport in Alpharetta. Here are the five area golf courses you can enjoy:

• Top Golf – Alpharetta
• White Columns Country Club
• Echelon Golf Club
• Deer Valley Golf Range
• Trophy Club of Atlanta

Shopping

Avalon is a modern indoor/outdoor shopping mall. High-quality stores and vendors with fun restaurants and a movie theater make this a popular choice. Avalon has many different options for visitors of all ages. You and your group can find everything you need while you enjoy lunch and a movie afterward. Outdoor dining sometimes includes live entertainment. Make sure you stop here for all your shopping needs.

Museums

While several of these museums are not in Alpharetta, they are all close to the city. These museums have been selected because of their significance and convenience to Alpharetta.

• Southeastern Railway Museum (Duluth – 11 miles)
  • This is a fun adventure for visitors who love history or trains. There are trains, trucks, military vehicles, and pictures that take you through the evolution of trains. There is also a short train ride that everyone will enjoy.
• Anne Frank In The World: 1929 – 1945 (Sandy Springs – 11 miles)
  • Discover the world of Anne Frank as she experienced one of the darkest times in world history. This is a very moving experience.
• Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (Kennesaw – 22 miles)
  • Charming displays of Southern history and a collection of trains will keep children interested. There is a play area for little ones, and games and prizes too. Great family fun.

Other things

There are a ton of family fun activities waiting for you and your family in Alpharetta. These include:

• I-max Theatre Adventures
• Urban Escape rooms
• Indoor karting
• Horse and buggy rides
• Fine dining (or casual dining)
• Clubs and bars
• Dancing

So, visit Alpharetta, and plan to stay a few days. This city is a beautiful community that offers visitors the best of the South. If you happen to be in trouble, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta.

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If you have ever been to Georgia, you know how beautiful the great outdoors can be across the state. Georgia has so many natural resources and remains one of the best places to hike and camp in the nation. It may not surprise you to learn that there are more than 60 state parks throughout the state. Still, sometimes people are amazed to find out that there are state parks near the busy metropolitan area of Atlanta.

Sweetwater State Park

About 15 miles from downtown Atlanta Georgia is one of the most abundant state parks in the region. Sweetwater State Park is a relatively new state park. Though the property for the park was purchased in the mid-1970s, the construction of the facilities and the opening of the park did not take place until 2006. When it finally did open, it was a great credit to the state and has been praised as one of the most environmentally friendly facilities ever built. The park has state-of-the-art solar and reusable energy in many forms. There is a gift shop, and the visitors’ center has won awards for being the “greenest” building in the country. Perhaps the crown jewel is the Interpretive Center. This facility holds educational exhibits and fascinating wildlife displays for everyone in your group.

Sweetwater State Park gets its name from Sweetwater Creek, which runs right through the park’s center. The creek and the lakes built on the land make Sweetwater a fisherman’s haven. The park credits its rocky ledges, rolling hills, and mountain-like terrain to the Brevard Fault which also runs throughout the park. This geological fault is millions of years old, and while it has not seen movement in generations, it has made unmistakable changes to the Earth.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park

Less than an hour away from Atlanta, GA is Chattahoochee Bend State Park. Of course, this massive park of more than 2,900 acres has plenty of breathtaking views and sites. There are new facilities (the park opened in 2011) and the camping, family-friendly trails, and picnic areas are spectacular. There are always a lot of other activities at the park, so reservations are needed. The events change often, but here are a few:

• Archery at The Park
• Bingo on the River
• Glow in The Dark Bowling
• Hooch Hike and Paddle-

This begins with a 5.5-mile Riverside hike. The group is led by the tour guide and instructions are provided. Most of the trail is easy going, but some hilly areas also exist. When you get to the end of the hike, enjoy your picnic and then hop into the kayaks that the Rangers have waiting for you. You can bring your own or rent them at the park. There is an easy paddle down the river.

F. D. Roosevelt State Park

While it is a little further, check out F. D. Roosevelt State Park as well. This state park is a camping ground and swimming area about 81 miles away from Atlanta. The state park stretches over 9,049 acres and has more than 40 miles of scenic hiking trails that are perfect for hikers of all skill levels. If you are looking for incredible mountain views and winding trails to enjoy this summer, then this park is well worth the trip.

For more information on state parks in Georgia and their unique features of them, check out the Georgia Department of Natural Resources State Park and Historic Sites website.

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There is nothing more important to a community than having great doctors. If you are going to live and raise a family in a place, you need to know you have professionals on hand to help you with medical issues and to ensure ongoing medical care is available for good health.

There are many kinds of doctors and specialists in the Cumming area, but the bottom line is it all starts with a good primary care physician or chiropractic. Our family doctor forms a relationship with us and tracks our medical conditions. When referred to a specialist, it is the general practitioner who monitors our diagnosis and helps us understand the progress. So, this list will concentrate on the best family doctors we can locate for your consideration.

Lanier Family Practice

Dr. Patro is a highly rated and respected doctor in the city of Cumming. His practice has been serving the community for more than 50 years. They treat everything from general medical care to sports injuries, and even long-term illness. This is a great facility with an excellent reputation to match.

Northside Family Medicine

Northside takes care of patients from the age of 2 and up. They have doctors that specialize in many different areas, including women’s care, general medicine, and even weight loss. They have been treating the sick in Cumming since 2005.

Morrow Family Medicine

Dr. Morrow is a well-loved doctor in this community, where he has served for many years. Generations of families rely on his skill and his great personality to get them through difficult medical conditions and treatments. While we could not find one negative review about this doctor, there were some concerns about his staff.

In recent years, Morrow Family Medicine has grown substantially. This meant the addition of more doctors, office personnel, and an upgrade in the technology used. As with any change, there was an adjustment period. The current staff of Morrow Family Medicine is professional and caring. These reviews have been acknowledged and addressed, but it did nothing to lower the ratings of this award-winning facility.

Perimeter North Family Medicine

This is a large facility with a large staff of doctors, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals to service immediate and ongoing health issues. One of the best features about this facility is that they are an entire family healthcare provider. They treat and care for children and adults, which makes life easier for today’s busy families. This facility is one of the highest rated medical facilities in Forsyth County.

Commonwealth Primary Care

Dr. Jayasri Mallavarapu MD MPH is an award-winning doctor who has studied and practiced all over the world. She is a former employee of the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and believes in treating the entire body, as well as screening for signs of future problems. All basic medical needs are covered here. Commonwealth rates vary in the community.

The level of healthcare you can receive in Cumming is rated among the highest in Georgia. Take the time to check out these or some of the other facilities in the area, and find a doctor that is the right fit for you and your family. Once you have found your doctor, establish a good rapport with them, and let them lead the way to excellent health today and in the future.

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Some people have no trouble staying organized and keeping paperwork in order. For others, tracking down documents and organizing them is difficult, and the papers often end up in a big mess or lost. Regardless of which extreme you fall under, keeping your records organized after a personal injury is crucial.

Reasons for Keeping Your File Organized

Obviously, it will be easier for your personal injury attorney to work on your case if you have all your documents together. Your organization could also have an impact on the amount of compensation your personal injury attorney will recover. Proper organization will keep documents from being overlooked in the claim process.

Take Notes

You will need to take notes and document every phone conversation you have, along with who you speak with, and what was said. This will help our personal injury attorneys make a clear connection between specific documents and conversations.

Set Up a File Folder for All Your Documents and Notes

Purchase a large, expandable file that has pockets and dividers that you can label. This file is a great investment because it will make storing your documents even easier. You will need to set up a pocket to collect each of the following types of information:

• Correspondence – Emails, letters, other notifications, and correspondence
• Property Damage – Estimates and bills for car repairs, and other damaged property
• Photographs – Keep all photos together, so that you can find them quickly
• Notes – Remember those notes we talked about? Keep them together in your file
• Lost Wages Verification – Keep all information regarding lost wages and wage verification from your employer
• Witness Information – Keep the contact information for witnesses handy
• Medical Bills – Keep all your medical bills organized, with the most recent ones in front
• Medical Records – Like your bills, but a detailed record of all the actual procedures and treatments you have had done
• Illness or Injury Journal – It will be helpful to keep a daily journal of the effects of the injury or related illness

What Types of Medical Records Do I Have to Keep Organized?

It will help to create a cover sheet to list all appointments and corresponding treatments. This comprehensive list should be kept in the pocket of the file, like your medical bills, with the most current in the front.

Types of records you should keep copies of and organize in your file:

• Admitting Charts
• Prescriptions
• Copies of notes from doctors or nurses, if available
• Tests and exams
• Results from exams and tests

Keeping a Separate Calendar

Keep a separate calendar that deals with your personal injury claim. It will seem like a part-time job if your injuries and property loss are substantial. You can attach your calendar to the front of your file. This way you can easily keep track of your appointments with doctors and personal injury lawyers. You can also make note of deadlines, court dates, appraisals, and other important dates. With personal injury cases, a statute of limitations may apply. Make note of this date on your calendar too.

Focus on Your Claim

Keeping all your information safe and organized will allow you to keep your focus on the tasks you need to complete to process your claim. Missing documents will cost you time and money, and slow down the processing of your claim. Do your part to minimize your stress by keeping your paperwork in order. For more information, contact our personal injury attorneys today.

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