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It was my favorite kind of Georgia Night, luke warm with a light breeze. It had been so hot during the day, I specifically remember the breeze walking onto the porch at Rathbuns. We sat and talked about law school, food, cases and, mostly, the people walking on the Beltline. Easy night. Simple fun. After an hour or so, we transitioned into the dining area inside of the restaurant. I ordered the smallest steak and bravely faced the jokes from my friends. After barely finishing my meal, we discussed options for the evening but couldn’t come to an agreement. I’ve lived long enough to know nights without direction or purpose usually end in trouble. So, to my friend’s chagrin, I texted my wife that I was on my way home. I ordered a Lyft to get around that night because I knew I would have a couple drinks…or three. Admittedly, a night out with lawyers usually involves rideshare services for me. The night was now much cooler and the summer sun had set. Since my Lyft was moving slowly down Krog street, I walked closer to meet him, intercepting in a parking lot a couple blocks from the restaurant. I got into the back seat and after exchanging very short small talk, I, like most people, relaxed into the comfort of my phone screen. We took the usual route home. Every time we turned or stopped, I could feel where we were without looking. My mind’s eye crossed the busy intersection at Dekalb Ave, the right turn onto Memorial, passed by Habitat for Humanity on the left and Grindhouse further up. I had nothing to worry about. I was headed home to my wife, and while I’d had a couple of drinks, I was comforted by the safety of the Lyft. I relaxed into my seat and scrolled through my emails, a few apps, and social media as we rode towards East Atlanta. I remember looking up as we approached the intersection of Boulevard and Memorial drive. I glanced up to see the intersection. The Lyft driver moved into the turning lane and I looked down at my phone. I could feel the car begin to make the left turn. Then I woke up. The air was thick with smoke and little particles of dust and glass and unknown debris seemed to be raining down. I felt my face and body against the backseat and realized I was now laying down. The white airbags hovered all around me like a secret gathering of ghosts. A sharp pain crept up my side, and in the moment I realized – I was in an accident and I had survived. It took a few moments for me to try and make sense of things. The windshield was shattered and while everything else seemed deafeningly quiet, the driver was screaming in pain. I tasted blood and felt some debris in my mouth. Shards from my now chipped teeth scratched the cuts on my tongue and a few fillings had come out from the impact. As things became clearer, I knew I needed to call my wife. I would’ve called her before the police anyway. But where was my phone? Clutching my side, I looked around the car but the envelope of pain meant I couldn’t move too far. I reached under the seat in desperation and immediately I felt the phone screen against my fingertips. It was sitting there, unharmed, like someone had set it there for me. Speaking for the first time I realized breathing was much harder. I stumbled through, “Um, I was in an accident and I’m hurt.” It came out almost like a question. Her response was like one long list…“Are you ok? I’m coming right now, where are you?” I hesitated but eventually must have gotten out the location. Luckily, she was at home waiting on me and we were only a couple miles away. The Police Officer arrived very quickly. He asked if I was ok, what was hurting, etc. I don’t remember my answers but I do remember trying to be tough. I was trying not to complain too much. I didn’t want to seem weak or be a burden at my own accident. The Fire Department sirens and lights came quickly too. It felt like hours, but I would come to learn that it was all a matter of minutes. A chorus of firemen sang the same questions, but instead of letting me act tough, one said “you’re not ok man. Just lay back down.” My wife runs up. I could see the panic in her eyes but also the relief when she saw me try to smile. After I described my pain, I tried to convince her it wasn’t that bad, that I deal with these accidents all of the time and I wanted to go home and sleep it off. I promised her if I felt bad in the morning, we could go to the doctor. She looked for a moment as though she was considering my request. I thought my charms had worked. The same fireman said something to her that I couldn’t hear and she said “No, Gino, were going to the hospital.” The ambulance arrived and multiple EMTs and firemen removed the driver from behind the shattered windshield. His agony was still evident by the tone of his cries. The head on collision required a C-Collar around his neck. Seeing him strapped to a board with tears coming down his face made our trauma all very real. Another ambulance was on its way, but my wife wasn’t in the waiting mood. She said “no, I'm taking him myself. Lets go!” With a fireman under one arm and my wife under the other, I stumbled to her car.As they helped me to the car, I saw things at the time that I didn’t understand. There was a woman who looked stunned and in a daze staring at the damage to the vehicles. She didn’t look hurt and I couldn’t figure out how she fit into the accident. There was another person sitting on the sidewalk next to the damaged vehicles. A flurry of emergency responders moved in slow motion. Traffic was being redirected around the mangled cars and emergency vehicles. I was speechless. After painstakingly getting into her car – every step seemed to stab – the lawyer in me kicked in, “Could you take a couple pictures,” I asked. It wasn’t that I was thinking about money. But my experience has taught me how difficult it is to get proper treatment and coverage when you don’t have good evidence. When my wife showed me the pictures later, my heart dropped. I knew it was bad. And, I could remember seeing some of the damage in person, but seeing it this time was like reliving the horror in clear detail. The two cars looked completely crushed in person but it was almost surreal in that moment. Maybe it was all of the other things happening at the scene. I still can’t place the feeling of seeing, with a clear mind, what could have been the end of my story. The 6-minute drive to the hospital was agony. Every single bump and crack in the road sent shocks up my side and took my breath away. It was hard to place the exact locations of my pain – in my neck, my back, my face, my head, my tongue, my knee, my nose. My side hurt the most, but my back and neck were throbbing. My headache was so bad I just closed my eyes and tried to fight through the bumps in the road. My wife got me a wheel chair and brought me to the front of the hospital- ahead of everyone else waiting. She told the front desk attendant that I was in a serious accident and needed to see a doctor immediately. The nurse calmly started down a list of questions – had I been driving, how many drinks I had and what my insurance was – then eventually asked about my symptoms. Another attendant took my blood pressure, wrote something down, and then silently showed it to the other nurse. Whatever it said made them wheel me back to a room to wait on a doctor. A cycle of tests later, another nurse arrived. The only way that I can describe her was, almost, bored. She seemed very disconnected, which in retrospect I understand. She deals with these types of incidents as her job all the time, just like me.My Mom and middle brother arrived to the hospital a short time later. It was difficult to need their help, but I was thankful that I had so many people around me to care for me. Having them around my bed was comforting but also uncomfortable. I was usually the one in charge, and this was all new territory. In that moment, I had a small epiphany. Laying in the hospital bed, I thought back to all the times I felt somewhat disconnected from my client’s injuries and how scary and overwhelming the experience of being in a car accident must have been. You’re confused, hurt and then have to navigate advocating for yourself. You leave the trauma of a serious accident and as soon as you get to the hospital you’re riddled with questions like “How many drinks did you have?” “Do you have insurance?” “What’s your group number?” “Who was at fault?” “Did you have your seat belt on?” “What side of the car were you sitting on?” ”Why can’t you remember?”. Normally these are not challenging questions, but when you have just been traumatized, they can be difficult and you can get thing wrongs. In litigation, lawyers are scouring through your medical records to find inconsistencies. They use your initial complaints and statements and compare them to other records and statements to see if you are “lying.” I felt bad for any judgments I may have had before. Here I was in the hospital looking for help and I was being treated like it was my fault! The rest of the night transitioned between short bursts of activity and stints of tiresome waiting. An x-ray, a few CT scans, some poking and prodding, pain relievers. Five agonizing hours later, I was released to go home. I was thankful for my life, but had no concept of the road that lay ahead for me physically and emotionally. I was changed and getting back to normal has been more than a notion.

As we drove to my first orthopedic specialist appointment, we approached the corner of Boulevard and Memorial. My wife had taken off work to drive me and I found myself again a passenger at the intersection. We slowed at the light. It was the first time I had seen where the two roads converged in about a week. Without thinking, I braced. Gripping the handrail sent a lightning bolt down my back. Pain was a new, unwelcomed friend. Debilitating at times, I settled into a new normal of asking for help for the simplest things: Help with getting water, help getting up to go to the bathroom, help understanding when and how to take my medication. I felt like a total burden. My body was hurt, but my pride was dead. Honestly, I thought I would be able to go back to the office pretty quickly. In reality, my body nor mind was ready. Even with the medication, I tirelessly hunted – to no avail- the most comfortable position to work, sleep, or really do anything. But I was determined. Thinking back, I must have looked hilarious. At one point, I had taken a back pillow and placed it underneath my head. With my legs stretched across the couch, I propped my computer up onto a bed pillow on my torso and tried to type on my laptop with t-rex arms. Day by day, even with my harrowing attempts to keep up, I watched my emails pile up like bricks building a foundation of anxiety. The cocktail of medications made me dizzy, upset my stomach and didn’t actually make me pain free. But I couldn’t stop taking them. I squinted as I stared at my laptop screen hoping that my smaller eyes would will the documents into making sense. I was stuck in a labyrinth of ailments and completely sleep deprived. Every time I thought I was making progress, pain crept into a new place. Those first days dragged on. I held tight to my resolve. There were a couple of bright spots though. My youngest brother flew home immediately when he heard about the accident and walked through the door bright and early. He’s a tall, confident guy but worry painted a less familiar expression on his face. “You alright man?”. I said I was fine, and I was thankful that he accepted my lie. He pulled out a bag of turmeric shots from Kale Me Crazy and began explaining how I could use them for inflammation. Normally, I’d blow him off, but I was desperate and appreciative. He had used turmeric to reduce his inflammation and pain when he had gone through injury and training for professional basketball. The drugs, my pain and my lack of sleep combined into a fog that made simple comprehension and functioning hard. So, I was glad that his brotherly lecture was short and taking the shots was simple. The shots weren’t a cure, but within a day I was feeling less bloated and found a few moments where I recognized myself. In conjunction with my pain medication, the slight respite left me hopeful. I wished I had 10 of those shots right now as we bumped along 85 north. I had decided to go to an Orthopedic doctor recommended by the hospital that was located all the way in North Cobb County. Sitting in the car, I tried to do a mental barometer of where my pain fell on the 1 to 10 scale. But how do you know when you’re feeling the worst pain you ever felt? As we got closer to the office, I began to replay my experience with the doctor in the ER. I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for the leadership of my wife, the specific inquiry of the process from my Mom, and the comedy, yes even in the ER, from my middle brother. But some discomfort still nagged at me about my ER experience, “Did I answer those questions correctly?” “Did I name all of the areas of my pain?” “Did I leave anything out?” In that moment, the lawyer in me wanted to make sure I had given the doctors an accurate account of the incident and my symptoms. But that night, the victim in me was trying to answer the questions so the doctors could just make me feel better. “Mr. Brogdon, how would you rate your pain on scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable?”, the ER doctor had asked. Every nurse before the ER doctor had asked me the same question. I have no idea if I gave them the same responses. Each time, I felt more confused and more stressed. He inspected the fresh cuts on my legs. Then, he turned my head to see where the now dry blood on my nose had originated. “It looks like you got pretty banged up. Where were you coming from?” I was glad to see him so it didn’t immediately occur to me that this question was not necessary for my treatment. I was told he was the only person who could administer the pain medication that I had waited nearly two hours to receive. I mumbled that I had come from drinks with friends and waited for him to give me some relief. Inspecting the burns on my elbows he looked up, “Drinks where?,” he pushed. My wife took a audible breath that I knew meant her agitation was growing. He waited for my answer. The next part of the conversation, I’m still making sense of. I halfheartedly mumbled “Rathbuns.” With a smirk he replied, “Oh I would’ve guessed you came from Peaches.” For those who don’t know, Peaches is a shady strip club in the West End. Now, trust me, I have nothing against Peaches, but the quality of my care totally changed when he heard I was dining at a nice steak restaurant with Law school friends. Suddenly, a flurry of activity began as he discussed treatment options with my wife and mom. I was almost immediately moved to another unit for a CT scan. Even the nurses seemed more concerned with my comfort. It was hard to acknowledge an unfortunate truth: my supposed social status had changed the entire trajectory of my treatment. To be clear, I have always understood that the care you experience is directly tied to how people perceive you. But, people should be treated based on their injuries and not their income. I think my doctor meant well, but the experience that night further revealed how someone’s perceptions can alter your reality. We pulled into the parking lot of the doctor’s office. I took a breath and focused on using my legs to stand. We walked into the lobby and I exchanged knowing looks with the other battle survivors in the waiting room. Some people had casts and braces on their arms and legs, some looked fine. None of us knew the trauma each person had experienced. We each smiled at each other with understanding. I assume our caregivers shared a similar exchange. Once in the patient room, my doctor was attentive and thorough. He wasn’t concerned with my khaki shorts and polo shirt I had selected to wear to the appointment, just in case he was making the same assessments as the ER doctor. He took X-rays of my neck and back to rule out any fractures that may have been missed in the ER. He also did a physical exam to check for other injuries. Squeezing my fingers, checking the reflexes of my knees, he painstakingly recorded his observations. He was very thoughtful in how he spoke to me and at this point he did not know I was a lawyer. After about a 20-minute or so exam, he recommended I go to physical therapy, prescribed more medication to help me get some much needed rest and scheduled a follow up appointment 6 weeks later. As he exited the room, I took the deepest breath I had taken in a week and felt my spirit lighten. After all those excruciating days and even though my family had been wonderful, I was finally feeling like I had some control. I was thankful to have the chance to go to physical therapy and get my life back on track. The route we took home avoided that faithful intersection allowing me to hold on to that small feeling of peace. These are the things you can’t see in the police reports or accident narratives or witness statements. No one asks you how would you rate your peace after trauma on a scale from 1 to 10. Even if you can perfectly make sense of the events of the accident or your pain level, there is so much that goes unspoken. My clients aren’t generally lawyers who have knowledge about how records are used in litigation. They don’t have medical training. If I was overwhelmed as an attorney with my family in the room with me, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be when my clients, who have no knowledge of this process, have to answer waves of questions while fighting through pain and making sense of their trauma. Medical records do not account for the fear, anxiety, pain and confusion that are involved in seeking treatment after an accident. What if I had a physically demanding job, or other responsibilities that made it difficult to just slow down? Even with my discomfort, I was lucky that I could take the time off. And, I felt guilty that I knew most people didn’t have that luxury or the support system to take the time they needed. We slowly turned safely into the driveway of our home. Up to this point, my phone and even mailbox had been flooded with insurance companies hoping to get a statement. I finally felt like I could give them a call back.

Since 2014, Gino has been serving with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. For National Mentoring Month, Gino was able to share a look into his life as a mentor and brother to his “little”, Javon. Check out their evening playing games at the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA and see more about how their relationship has grown over the years. Watch the full video here: To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta visit: https://www.bbbsatl.org/

Attorney Gino Brogdon Jr, The Brogdon Firm, LLC, appointed to Georgia Senate study committee (August 22, 2019, Atlanta, GA) – Gino Brogdon Jr was recently appointed by Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan to the Senate Study Committee on Reducing Georgia’s Cost of Doing Business. The study committee will be tasked with reviewing the current legal climate and other areas that impact the cost of doing business in Georgia. The committee will study the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to the legal climate and its impact on the cost of doing business and performing healthcare services in Georgia. The committee is comprised of 15 individuals whose professional backgrounds meet specific criteria. The study committee will meet over the next several months and report its findings before or on December 1, 2019. The office of Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan distributed the following press release on August 7… [Georgia] Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan announced today the members of two Senate Study Committees: Senate Resolution 464 (Senate Education Outcomes Study Committee) and Senate Resolution 433 (Senate Reducing Georgia’s Cost of Doing Business Study Committee). “To keep Georgia the number one state for business, we have to make sure our higher education system is innovative and our economy is strong,” said Duncan. “Both of these committees will take a look at these important issues in the coming months in order to make deliberate, informed decisions to better our citizenry.” The Senate Education Outcomes Study Committee will be chaired by Senator P. K. Martin. The Senate members appointed to serve on this committee are… Sen. Sally Harrell Sen. Sheikh Rahman Sen. Lindsey Tippins Sen. Brian Strickland Sen. Frank Ginn Sen. Bill Cowsert The Senate Reducing Georgia’s Cost of Doing Business Study Committee will be chaired by Senator John Wilkinson. The Senate members appointed to serve on this committee are… Sen. Steve Gooch Sen. John Kennedy Sen. Bill Cowsert Sen. Ben Watson Sen. Emanuel Jone Additionally, the following individuals will also serve on the Senate Reducing Georgia’s Cost of Doing Business Study Committee… Cade Joiner, Shred-X Will Barnette, Home Depot Gilbert Barrett, G&H Poultry Farms Ben Gillis, Gillis Ag & Timber Andrew Reisman, M.D., Longstreet Clinic Mark Tilkin, State Farm Will Fagan, MagMutual Insurance Company Barbara Marschalk, Drew Eckl & Farnham, LLP Gino Brogdon Jr, The Brogdon Firm, LLC You can see the full Senate Resolution here: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/SR/433 For further information please contact:  Melissa R. Brogdon, Operations Manager at intake@brogdonfirm.com, 404-977-0385 About the Brogdon Firm, LLC: The Brogdon Firm, LLC specializes in results-driven legal solutions for victims of personal injury and professional negligence. Learn more about our practice areas here.

It’s our pleasure to share that The Brogdon Firm, LLC will be recognized in the University of Georgia Alumni Association’s 2021 Bulldog 100 list of fastest-growing businesses for the second year in a row. UGA’s Bulldog 100 acknowledges top businesses and organizations owned or operated by UGA Alumni, every year. Over 429 businesses were nominated for the 2021 list. The annual ranking includes businesses of all sizes, from over 20 different industries including technology, realty, media and travel. We’re excited to be awarded a position on this list along with fellow UGA alumni and a growing number of Black-owned companies, including the #1 business on the list for the 2nd year in a row LeaseQuery. Nominated applicants were measured by their business’ compounded annual growth rate during a three-year period. The Brogdon Firm, LLC, owned by Gino Brogdon Jr. (UGA ’11), specializes in results-driven legal solutions for personal injury victims. Since 2014, The Brogdon Firm, LLC has remained committed to serving the Greater Atlanta community with world class legal representation and mediation. Learn more about our practice areas here. “Being recognized for the second year by my alma mater means so much to me. We missed sharing this moment in person with the other participants this year but it was great to cheer from home and see many familiar faces back on the top list!” The UGA Alumni Association hosted a virtual celebration of the annual Bulldog 100 Celebration on Feb. 11 to celebrate these alumni business leaders and count down the ranked list to ultimately reveal the No. 1 fastest-growing business. Visit www.alumni.uga.edu/b100 to view the Bulldog 100 list of businesses. “Everyday, these leaders inspire us by bringing better solutions and building stronger communities, so we will ensure they are celebrated even as necessity requires this to be done virtually,” Meredith Gurley Johnson, Executive Director of the UGA Alumni Association shares. The businesses on The Bulldog 100 list embody the best of UGA and are always leading and serving their communities to make them better. That is the Brogdon Firm, LLC’s very commitment to you when resolving your legal situation. You can trust our team to lead you in the right direction and serve you at every step of the process.Contact us for a free case review to get the help you need, right now.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted so much in our lives. We’re sharing answers to the top questions we have received to help you understand what’s next for your case. It’s been over a month since our team transitioned to working from home for our safety and the safety of others. We have been hard at work to push your case forward despite the impacts of Covid-19 and develop new tools to keep you updated on your case status. Below, Gino answers some of your most frequently asked questions. My treatment was disrupted by Covid-19. How will this impact my case? COVID-19 is affecting us all in many ways. If COVID-19 has caused your treatment facility to shut down or has in some way prevented you from getting necessary treatment, please give us a call. We take our Government’s orders to quarantine very seriously. We also want to advise you so that we can comply with the law and get the treatment you need. Does COVID-19 stop you from getting my medical records & bills? While we are able to send out medical record and bill requests from our home offices, many of the medical record distribution facilities have shut down or drastically reduced production. This means we are seeing slower response times and your case MAY be delayed temporarily. We are working diligently by sending out multiple requests as soon as treatment is complete and following up with these companies to get time tables for completion of the requests. If you are done treating, please notify us so that we can begin processing these requests as soon as possible. If courts are closed, is my case on hold? If your case is still in the pre-suit phase, meaning you are in treatment or negotiations, the closing of the Courts will not delay your case. If a lawsuit has been filed for your case, the Courts being closed may affect the timeline in resolving your case. Currently, the Georgia Supreme Court has extended the closure of all Courts until May 13, 2020. I was in an accident right before the shelter-in-place orders were made and now I can’t get treatment. What should i do? This is a very unfortunate circumstance that leaves very few options. If you are in pain, you should try to receive treatment that you need. Please give us a call so we can discuss the factors that affect your case and how to go about getting medical attention during the pandemic. I am staying home. What no-contact options do I have to stay in touch with my attorney or case manager? We would love to stay in contact with you and keep you updated on your case. We have a new system for keeping you updated through our new phone app, Case Status. If your case is pre-suit, meaning you are in treatment or negotiations, you will receive a text inviting you to download Case Status which gives you access to personal case updates and information. You can always give us a call, but this new App will allow you to get real time progress updates as we work hard on your case. I was recently injured. Is now a good time to get started on my case or should I wait until things get back to ‘normal’? Choosing an attorney is an important first step to getting your case settled. While you may have limitations on your ability to get some treatments, now is a great time to get things moving. Waiting to pick an attorney could put you at the bottom of a long list of other legal matters when the courts reopen. We are happy to provide a virtual, free 30 minute consultation to share our approach that gets our clients the justice they deserve. For further information please contact:  Melissa R. Brogdon, Firm Administrator at melissa@brogdonfirm.com, 404-618-4780 About the Brogdon Firm, LLC: The Brogdon Firm, LLC specializes in advanced solutions for complex disputes related to injury and professional negligence. Learn more about our practice areas here.

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 left many businesses shuttered for longer than they ever expected. One of the most affected industries included restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues. Nearly 400,000 jobs where people dine or consume beverages were lost due to the pandemic; leaving many restaurateurs and owners wondering what they can do to save their businesses. In order to rebuild our local hospitality industry serving thousands of residents, the City of Atlanta stepped up to help restaurants by passing an ordinance to allow restaurants to offer on-street dining (Dec 2020) for proper social distancing and dine-in space. Also, Georgia passed a law to allow licensed alcohol retailers to deliver beer and wine to customers with to-go orders. With reduced curfews and capacity restrictions, these added capabilities have provided an upside to restaurants for pandemic recovery. Now, the Georgia Senate has passed Bill 236 to extend the recent alcohol delivery law to cocktails in sealed containers with ordered food. “Since its inception, to-go alcohol introduces a new level of temptation for people to drive under the influence. It also challenges open container laws that have been in place related to driving with alcohol. This could present a lot of issues to police officers and attorneys when considering alcohol related charges and cases,” Attorney Gino Brogdon Jr. explains. By the end of 2020, more than 30 states passed laws to allow to-go alcoholic beverages from restaurants and bars. With the rise in drunk-driving accidents, it leaves many citizens concerned for their safety. The Georgia bil, if signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp, carries stipulations to keep the to-go alcohol packaged throughout the car ride and placing it out of reach – in the truck or backseat. “As a business owner, I certainly recognize the value in passing this law. Small businesses and hospitality are the bedrock of Georgia and the nation at large. This is an opportunity for businesses to prosper and ultimately survive despite a devastating financial year. Ultimately, we will have to see how citizens respond to this new freedom and the care with which they consume to-go packaged alcohol,” Attorney Brogdon continues. As we wait for Gov. Kemp to make his decision on this bill, The Brogdon Firm remains committed to your health and safety. If you find yourself injured due to someone else’s carelessness, please contact us for a free case review. We’ll provide next steps on how your story can be heard and resolved. You can always trust our team to lead you in the right direction and serve you at every step of the process. Get started on a consultation with us to get the help you need, right now.

We only take Driver’s Ed once, but driving laws tend to change almost every year and even the most experienced drivers may not be aware. We want you to make good decisions when on the road amongst others. Get to know these 10 vital Georgia driving laws that could change how we navigate the roads and stay safe. You Need Car Insurance First things first, Georgia drivers are required by law to maintain car insurance on vehicles with active registrations. The minimum state requirement for car insurance in Georgia is considered liability – only covering bodily injury and property damage. That is simply not enough to cover your vehicle. You may want to consider getting collision insurance for coverage of car accident repairs, comprehensive insurance for car repairs from incidents not involving other vehicles, and uninsured motorist insurance for protection from drivers who do not have insurance and damage your car. This Georgia driving law was put in place to ensure that Georgia motorists take the privilege of driving seriously and maintain financial responsibility for any damage or harm they cause while on the road. Tip: Driving a vehicle while the registration and/or your driver’s license is suspended, revoked or cancelled is a criminal offense. Make sure all your car’s official documents are up to date and available via hard copy or mobile device. Keep Your Hands Free Texting and driving is banned in most states, in some manner. In Georgia, the 2018 Hands-Free law extends further than no texting and driving. Drivers are prohibited from holding their phones or having it supported by any part of their body when they are operating a motor vehicle on a public road. This includes when you are at a stop sign or stop light. Speed Up… Georgia’s Slow Poke Law is a common driving rule across the nation. The left hand on any roadway that has two or more lanes is considered the fast lane. The Slow Poke law instructs drivers to move out of the left lane on a highway, even if you are going the speed limit, if a faster car approaches you. If not, you could be stopped for driving too slow in the left lane. Simply put, stay out of it if you’re a slower driver and change lanes carefully to let faster cars pass you by. …But Not Too Fast Speed limits keep everyone on the road safe and protected. In severe weather conditions or traffic, Driving at illegal speeds is a tremendous safety risk that can end in high fines and fatal car accidents. Georgia’s Super-Speeder Law punishes drivers convicted of speeding at 75-or-more on any two-lane roads or convicted of speeding at 85-and-over anywhere in Georgia with at least another $200 in state fees, in addition to any local fines already in effect in the jurisdiction where the speeding offense occurs. Georgia is very tough on high-risk drivers, so be sure to always acknowledge the speed limit and monitor warnings to slow down. Move On Over When you come across a vehicle with flashing lights on the highway or two-lane roads, move over or slow down to at least 10 mph below the speed limit. Georgia’s Move Over Law mandates drivers and motorists traveling in the lane directly adjacent to the shoulder to move-over one lane when emergency and utility vehicles are stopped on the side of the highway and operating in an official capacity. This state law covers all first responders vehicles (law enforcement, fire, EMS), utility vehicles, DOT vehicles, HERO Units and wreckers tending to an accident. Lights On in the Rain This is a pretty simple law to follow considering the features of automobiles manufactured in the last decade. When you find that you’re driving and experience limited visibility or rain is heavy, turn on your headlights. Many cars come with automatic headlights as the sun goes down or there is rain. Just in case you’re riding in something older and more sentimental, flip those headlights on in the evening or when your eyes aren’t able to see too far ahead. Teen Drivers & Joshua’s Law Teen driving can leave parents and loved ones worried about their young people on the road. Georgia’s “Joshua’s Law” requires all 16 year-olds and 17-year-olds applying for a Class D driver’s license to complete an approved driver education course and a significant number of supervised driving hours, day and night. Completion mandates a parent or guardian’s sworn verification that these driving requirements have been met. Learn more about the qualifications for a driver’s certificate of completion here. Tip: Is your 17-year-old joining the U.S. military? They could be eligible for a Class C driver’s license without holding a Class D license for a year. Proof of military enlistment is required. Still, No Open Containers Team Brogdon wrote about this regarding a new Georgia law from 2020. While you can travel throughout Georgia with to-go beer, wine, and cocktails in your car from restaurants to your final destination – make sure to keep those beverages closed or you will receive a ticket. Get a Ride, No DUIs Rideshare has helped lower the number of DUI accidents and cases in almost every U.S. state. Georgia is no exception, but there are still offenders that could hurt others while on the road impaired and under the influence of alcohol or any drug. Any DUI or impaired driving offense will cause drivers to lose their license and pay high fees for disobeying the law. Coordinate a designated driver or be prepared to take a hired car so you don’t experience this punishment. Wear Your Seatbelt Seatbelts are the best way to protect yourself and others in a car accident. While we recommend all occupants of a car wear a seatbelt, Georgia’s Click It or Ticket law says only the driver and occupant of the front seat in a car are required to wear a seatbelt. There are exceptions to this rule and you can find out if they apply to your driving situation here. Conclusion At The Brogdon Firm, we always want to give you the tools to stay safe on the road and if necessary, recover from incidents with your car quickly. If you get into a car accident, you want the best results for your case and we can help you get the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today to get started on a free consultation with us. We Listen. We are available. We understand and want to help.

Getting hurt in a car accident is never expected, so it is important to know how to handle such a situation before it occurs. If you’ve never been in a car accident before, it can be a challenging situation to handle because your adrenaline is running high and you may begin to panic. However, knowing what to do can help give you the confidence you need to properly handle the situation. STEP 1: STAY WHERE YOU ARE. It may seem like common sense, but it’s important not to drive away after getting into a car accident. Doing so can lead to serious consequences. STEP 2: KEEP THE SCENE AS SAFE AS YOU CAN. If you have flares, setting them up around the scene can help prevent further accidents. You can also turn on your hazard lights to alert others of the crash. STEP 3: CALL 911. Even if no severe injuries are incurred, it’s a good idea to call the police so they can come and make a report about the crash. Having a police report is good for your claim because it helps show that you contributed less to the accident than the other party(s) if you contributed to it at all. If your car is in the way of the flow of traffic, move it out of the way after snapping a few quick photos. However, if your car is not in the way of traffic, leave it where it is so the police officers can see it for themselves. Additionally, be sure to ask the investigating officers for the police report number once the report has been finished so that you can retrieve it online when it becomes available. STEP 4: BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE POLICE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. It’s in your best interest to be as honest with the police as possible about the events that lead to the accident. If there are certain details you are unsure about, be truthful about that with the police and say you don’t know. Don’t try to speculate or make assumptions about anything that happened because doing so can hurt you more than it can help you. STEP 5: CAPTURE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SCENE. Use your phone to take pictures of the visible damage to the vehicles involved in the crash, including your own. It’s wise to take photos of your visible physical injuries too. STEP 6: EXCHANGE INFORMATION WITH OTHERS INVOLVED AND WITNESSES. Be sure to gather the following information from anyone involved in the accident, drivers and passengers alike: Names Addresses Phone numbers Additionally, obtain the following information from any drivers involved in the crash: Auto insurance information (take a photo, front and back) Driver’s license (take a photo, front and back) If anyone witnessed the accident occur, ask for their contact information as well. STEP 7: SEEK MEDICAL CARE. Even if you don’t feel seriously injured, if you’ve been involved in a major crash, it’s a good idea to have yourself checked out anyway. When you are in shock, it may take time for the symptoms of your injuries to present themselves. You may not feel any pain for hours, days, or even weeks following a crash. STEP 8: CONTACT AN ATTORNEY. Perhaps one of the most important things you can do for your claim is to hire a skilled car accident attorney to help handle your case. The last thing you want is to miss out on valuable compensation that a professional could have helped you obtain. STEP 9: REPORT THE ACCIDENT TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. Your auto insurance policy likely states that you are required to report an accident to the insurance provider within a reasonable amount of time following a crash. Keep in mind you are not required to provide a statement over the phone, as it will be recorded. You may provide an accident statement to the insurance company in writing, or your attorney may do it for you. STEP 10: MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZED FILE WITH ALL YOUR DOCUMENTATION. It’ll be tremendously helpful for your case if you are organized with all of the documentation related to your case. This information should include: Claim number Claim’s adjuster handling your claim Names and phone numbers of all relevant contacts Rental car receipts Proof of other costs incurred due to the crash WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU Sustaining injuries in a car crash that wasn’t your fault is not only extremely frustrating, but it is also painful. If this has happened to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to our skilled team right away to discuss the details of your case. We have helped many others in similar circumstances and we will do everything in our power to fight for justice on your behalf too. Contact our skilled attorney here at The Brogdon Firm by calling (404) 698-1090 or you can fill out our online contact form to learn more about how we can help.

Driving just about anywhere can be dangerous under the right conditions. Unfortunately, certain roads tend to pose more dangers to drivers than others. As a Georgia resident, it can be helpful to know which roads you should stay away from whenever possible, as they tend to be more dangerous than other routes. Read on to learn about three of the most dangerous Georgia roads. #1 INTERSTATE 75 IN HENRY COUNTY Interstate 75 (I-75) in Henry County is the most dangerous road in Georgia. From 2015 to 2019, there were 35 deaths in the county, a total of 255 fatalities, and a total of 246 fatal car accidents. This amounts to 103.7 fatalities per every 100 crashes. #2 - INTERSTATE 20 IN DEKALB COUNTY Interstate 20 (I-20) in DeKalb County is the second-most dangerous road in the state. From 2015 to 2019, there were 21 deaths in the county, a total of 154 fatalities, and 142 fatal car accidents. This amounts to 108.5 deaths per every 100 crashes. #3 - INTERSTATE 85 IN FULTON COUNTY I-85 in Fulton County is the third-most hazardous road in Georgia. From 2015 to 2019, there were 28 deaths in the county, a total of 125 fatalities, and 118 fatal car accidents. This amounts to 105.9 deaths per every 100 crashes. WE CAN HELP INJURED CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident as a result of another’s negligent actions, you may be eligible for compensation. In addition to compensatory damages such as those for your medical bills, you may also be able to recover non-compensatory damages for your agonies, such as those for pain and suffering. Don’t delay—reach out right away to discuss the details of your case with a member of our experienced team. Contact our skilled attorney here at The Brogdon Firm by calling (404) 698-1090 or you can fill out our online contact form to learn more about how we can help.

Driving through Atlanta can be challenging at times. Certain areas experience heavier traffic than others, like I-75 North at Chastain Road and I-285 West at I-75. Knowing when and where to expect heavy traffic can make your commute much more pleasant. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) offers an online resource to help you more easily navigate your way around the city. Read on to learn more. DOT 511 The GDOT 511 website provides a free resource for you to use to help you avoid traffic jams. It will even give you directions to your destination and avoid heavy traffic areas to save you time. The navigation tool also allows you to choose your mode of transportation—car or public transit. Here’s what the map looks like: As you can see from the image above, you have the option to toggle between customizable views so that you’re able to plan your route around active road closures, incidents, and construction zones. You can also view where you’re able to find the following key areas: Evacuation routes, Rest areas, Ports of entry, and Express lanes. WE'RE HERE TO HIELP INJURED CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS Unfortunately, as you know, driving in heavy traffic can be very dangerous. Not everyone is great at staying focused behind the wheel, so it is relatively common for accidents to happen when traffic is at its worst. If you’ve been hurt in an Atlanta car accident as a result of another’s negligence, you may be owed compensation for your losses. You deserve justice and we will do everything in our power to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our skilled team right away with any questions you may have. Contact our skilled attorney here at The Brogdon Firm by calling (404) 698-1090 or you can fill out our online contact form to learn more about how we can help.

When you're driving, the last thing you want is for your attention to be divided. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can distract you while you're behind the wheel. From texting to talking on the phone to eating, it is easy to get sidetracked. In this blog post, we will discuss five essential tips that will help you stay focused while driving. Implementing these strategies can help keep you safe on the road and minimize distractions! Read on to learn more. #1 - GET FRESH AIR. Rolling down the window and getting some fresh air can help you stay alert and focused while driving. If you're feeling drowsy, this is a great way to wake yourself up. #2 - TURN YOUR PHONE ON DO NOT DISTURB MODE. Turning your phone on Do Not Disturb mode will prevent you from being distracted by incoming calls and texts. You can also place your phone in the trunk or another area of your vehicle where you cannot reach it while driving. This can eliminate the temptation of checking the notifications on your phone behind the wheel. #3 - REQUEST ASSISTANCE WHEN NECESSARY. You can also ask your passengers to help you minimize distractions while you're driving. This includes refraining from talking to you while you're driving, keeping the volume down on any music or audio they are playing, and notifying you of any potential hazards on the road. #4 - TAKE BREAKS. Make sure to take breaks every few hours when driving long distances. This will help you stay refreshed and minimize fatigue. You may not immediately notice you are becoming fatigued after driving for a few hours, but it is important to realize that even if you don’t recognize how tired you are, driving wears down your body and mind. Taking a short 10-15 minute break every few hours can make a big difference in your focus levels during long drives. #5 - ONLY DRIVE WHEN YOU ARE ALERT ENOUGH TO DO SO. Finally, avoid driving when you're too tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These substances can impair your ability to focus and make good decisions while driving. Nodding off behind the wheel may seem innocent enough, but taking your eyes off the road for just five seconds is equivalent to driving the entire length of a football field without looking. That’s a lot of distance to cover in a short period of time. A lot can happen on the road very quickly, which is why you must remain focused and alert at all times. WE CAN HELP INJURED DISTRACTED DRIVING CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS By following these tips, you can stay focused and safe while behind the wheel. Do not let distractions take away from your attention to the road. Unfortunately, not all drivers follow these tips and some choose to engage in distracted driving behaviors regardless of the dangers doing so can present. If you've been injured or your loved one lost their life in a car accident due to a distracted driver, you may be owed compensation for your losses. An experienced car accident lawyer from our team can review your case and help you understand your legal options. The distracted driving personal injury attorney at The Brogdon Firm has successfully represented countless accident victims and their families in court. Our team has the knowledge and resources necessary to take on even the most complex cases. To learn more about how we can help you, reach out right away. Contact our skilled attorney here at The Brogdon Firm by calling (404) 698-1090 or you can fill out our online contact form to learn more about how we can help.