The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm Blog

4 Reasons Why You Need a Lawyer Now

A lawyer in a blue suit stands in front of a staircase. — A good lawyer can help you avoid a bad lawsuit.

It’s not always obvious when a situation calls for the expertise of a lawyer. You could find yourself involved in something that seems so straightforward that it doesn’t occur you to enlist outside help. However, when it comes to things like your physical well-being and personal property, it’s often best to err on the side of caution and consult with an attorney.

Lawyers can help in ways you might not have considered

Most people think of a lawyer, standing in a courtroom, arguing a case, and while that happens, there’s a lot an experienced attorney can do for you outside of the courthouse. The knowledge they have that directly relates to your specific situation can be invaluable in establishing the validity of your case, the compensation you deserve, and the strategy to reach the best possible outcome. They can also:

Help you collect evidence to make your case
Coach you through a conversation with an insurance company to protect your best interests
Conduct an independent evaluation of your case to help establish fault
Guide you through the legal process to ensure you take all the proper steps for proceedings
Serve as your advocate

Having a dedicated attorney on your side when facing situations like personal injury, car accidents, DUI offenses, and even traffic tickets can positively impact the outcome of your case and help you reach the best outcome possible.

Personal Injury

Suffering a personal injury can result in physical, emotional, or mental issues that can lead to costly medical expenses. Some injuries can take a prolonged amount of time to heal, causing you to lose income from missing work in addition to paying extra bills. If your personal injury was caused by the negligence of another, you’re entitled to receive compensation. Some examples of personal injury cases include injuries sustained in a car or motorcycle accident, dog bites, medical malpractice, slips or falls, product liability, and wrongful death.

There are three main requirements to establish a personal injury case.

Did you suffer more than just property damage in the situation?
Was the injury caused because of the negligence of another person or entity?
Are there recoverable damages?

In some situations, negligence can be difficult to establish, but a personal injury attorney can help you navigate the process of compiling your case.

Car Accident

Whenever a car accident involves physical injury, fatality, or significant property damage, a lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve to cover your losses. The key is to contact an attorney early so they can help you through the process from the start. When insurance companies are asking you to provide a statement and medical costs and car repairs begin taking place is an important time to have the knowledge of an experienced attorney behind you, protecting your interests and helping you assess the full damage of the accident so you can be properly compensated.

DUI Defense

After you’ve been charged with a DUI, it’s imperative you engage a lawyer who can act quickly on your behalf. This can help save your license, if it’s at risk of suspension, as well as jumpstart the process of collecting evidence to use in your defense. Even if you’ve been charged, there’s no guarantee you’ll be convicted as guilty, so there’s still time to fight with the help of a DUI defense lawyer.

Georgia DUI laws are intricate, with established parameters for fines, license revocation, jail time, fees, and probation costs. With a clear understanding of all these details, a DUI lawyer knows when to challenge the validity of a DUI charge, working toward the ultimate goal of ensuring your rights are protected and the best possible outcome is obtained.

Traffic Tickets

Getting a ticket for speeding or something non-accident related doesn’t mean you simply have to pay. Working with an attorney in situations like these can provide you with a better understanding of the possible solutions to your case and the best course of action to take. You don’t have to navigate the system alone, lose when a violation could result in more than just a fine.

The added protection of an attorney can help prevent you from dealing with increased insurance rates, jail time, or a license suspension. Even if you feel as if the ticket is very cut-and-dry, lean on the expertise of an attorney to ensure you’re handling things in a way to reach the best conclusion for you.

Partner with the right law firm to get results

Scrabble tiles in a line spelling "laywer." — It's easier to win if you line things up in your favor.

Whichever situation you find yourself involved in, the first thing to do is not panic. The second thing? Contact a lawyer specializing in cases like yours.

At The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm, each of these practice areas is addressed by an accomplished attorney who will treat your case with care and respect. Through personal attention and a wealth of knowledge, our law team works to get you the best results possible for your case.

Avoiding Injuries in Snow and Ice

A snowflake closeup amidst snow and ice — A snowflake amidst snow and ice.

Winter weather brings on unpredictable conditions, especially here in Georgia where black ice and dangerous conditions can linger long after the storm has passed. Walking and driving in snow and ice can be especially dangerous here in Atlanta where winter weather is an infrequent visitor. People are often unprepared to handle these conditions or are unsure how to react when forced to get around in these conditions.

Using some basic knowledge when navigating through wintery weather like taking extra care when walking or driving in snow or ice can help prevent injuries that result from car accidents or slips and falls.

If you’re walking

Snow and ice in Chinatown, New York during Christmas.

Slipping and falling on ice can be scary. You usually go down so fast you don’t have time to protect yourself from injury. Even if you manage to catch yourself from falling, a slip can lead to muscle strain or other personal injury.

Ice is a tricky thing too since it can appear overnight and then take a while to melt. It’s something to always be on the lookout for in wet, freezing conditions since it can be hard to see both during the day and at night. What you think is a pool of water could actually be a solid sheet of ice, so it’s always a good idea to step carefully.

To avoid slipping on ice:

Wear footwear designed for icy or snowy conditions.
Take shorter steps.
Walk slowly.
Exhibit extra care when getting out of a vehicle.
Don’t carry stuff. Your arms can help stabilize you if you start to slip.

You should also keep your home safe in wintry conditions to ensure others don’t slip and fall. Make sure to sand or apply de-icer to any slick areas like your driveway or front porch. Take extra care in clearing walkways for the safety of yourself and others. Place a towel or doormat down inside your front door so that puddles don’t collect from the ice and snow melting off shoes.

If you’re driving

An overhead view of a winding road in the middle of snow and ice — A winding road in Mount Saint Helens in the middle of snow and ice

According to the Federal Highway Administration, over a 10 year period, snow and sleet on the roads, across the country, injured almost 55,000 people and resulted in almost 220,000 car crashes. Driving in wintery weather is dangerous and should be avoided when possible. Conditions you may face driving in winter include roads that are wet, icy, or even coated in snow and ice. Sleet and slush also settle on roads, making driving conditions challenging. This pileup of precipitation can make it difficult to see what you’re really driving on. A sheet of ice could hide under newly-fallen snow, making it easier to lose control of your car and cause an accident if you’re not careful.

While you can’t prevent all slips and slides while driving in snowy or icy conditions, there are steps you can take to decrease the risk of a collision:
Keep a snow brush in your car to clear it of snow and ice.
Drive slower so you’re able to fully stop on slicker roads.
Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you.
If you skid, remove your foot from the gas, don’t break, and run the wheel in the direction you want to go until your tires regain traction.

While you might not need to use these strategies too often in Atlanta, the inexperience of local drivers in winter weather means you should take all precautions to decrease your risk of an accident or injury.

What to do if you're injured this winter

Should you sustain an injury or end up in a car accident related to winter weather, you don’t have to deal with the aftermath alone. Working with the experienced team at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm means an attorney, well-versed in personal injury law, will guide you through getting the compensation you deserve.

Whether negligence at a place of business led to your injury or wintery weather led to a collision with another car, we will thoroughly evaluate your case before recommending the proper course of action to ensure your needs are covered. There’s no cost for an initial consultation, so give us a call today.

Common Causes of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving today accounts for about 25% of all car crash fatalities and about 80% of car accidents in general. Taking your eyes off the road for only three seconds can lead to an accident. With statistics as severe as these, it’s no wonder there are so many laws being put into place to keep drivers focused when they’re behind the wheel.

What distracts us while driving?

The number one distraction while driving — simply zoning out. We’ve all had those moments behind the wheel, driving a familiar route, where our mind just wanders. We feel like we’re still concentrating on the road, but in fact we impair our reaction time when our mind meanders.

Cellphone use comes in second on this list, specifically texting. This common activity for drivers equates to one of the main reasons car accidents occur.

Other activities that lead to distracted driving include:

Turning to look at something outside the car like an accident or another person.
Reacting to other people in the car, especially when being asked for something by a child.
Reaching for something.
Eating or drinking while driving.
Changing radio stations or adjusting the car's controls.

It’s so easy to get distracted while driving, and each distraction increases the risk of an accident taking place.

How Georgia has addressed distracted driving

Georgia, along with many other states, has taken action against distracted driving. This summer, the state became the 26th state to enact a hands-free law. In Georgia, drivers can no longer hold their cell phones. The phones cannot touch any part of your body. You can still take calls. However, you can no longer read from your phone or take pictures or video. Additionally, texting, posting to social media, and reading emails is prohibited.

Your first offense results is a $50 fine and 1 point on your driver's history. Tickets are distributed for handling or touching your phone rather than using your car’s Bluetooth to access features. The only time you can touch your phone while driving is in an emergency.

Enacting this cell phone law led to an instant impact on decreasing the potential for people to drive distractedly. Within the first four days of Georgia being a hands-free state, nearly 1,000 tickets and warnings were given. During the first month, a variety of citations related to the hands-free law were given:

588 went to motorists for holding or supporting a mobile device,
65 were given for sending text-based communications while driving,
15 were for for watching videos or movies on a wireless device, and
5 were issued for using more than a single button to initiate or terminate a voice conversation

A driver texts while driving distracted. — Texting while driving is just one type of distracted driving likely to result in an accident.

Had an accident as a result of distracted driving?

According to the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety, first time offenders of the hands-free law have a way out of their ticket. They can show they’ve gotten a device that enables hands-free access to their phone and have the charge dropped.

However, if you find yourself in an accident as a result of someone else's distracted driving, consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm we work tirelessly to provide you with the best guidance for your case.

Whether dealing with a citation or the repercussions of an accident, our expert knowledge can help you get the best possible outcome for your case.Contact the attorneys at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm today for a free consultation.

Safe Travels for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2017 broke the record for holiday travel. An estimated 51 million people in the US left home for Turkey Day celebrations and travelled at least 50 miles to their destination. While car travel equals the primary choice for Thanksgiving, airports and train stations fill up with holiday goers as well, so it’s important to be aware and safe if you too are leaving home this year for turkey and stuffing.

Thanksgiving is the second most dangerous holiday out on the road. Only the 4th of July is more dangerous. While fatalities were down, between 2001-2006, over 500 were reported annually during this travel period. The primary cause, many employers don’t give people the Wednesday before off, forcing people to travel on Thanksgiving Day. This tends to cause people to rush, drive distracted, and be fatigued on the road.

In Georgia alone, the Department of Public Safety predicted almost 3,000 traffic crashes over Thanksgiving this year. This will lead to around 1,300 injuries and 20 deaths, so it’s important to travel as safely as possible this holiday season.

Driving to your destination

Preparing to safely drive to your Thanksgiving Day dinner starts the night before departure. Make sure you get enough rest to stay fully aware while on the road. You don’t want to be impaired in any way when you get behind the wheel, and while most people worry about drinking too much, being exhausted while driving can be equally dangerous.

Next, check driving conditions before you leave. Often this time of year weather is unpredictable, so you’ll want to know what’s coming. Watch out for hazardous weather that can lead to treacherous roads. Driving through severe storms can also be dangerous because of decreased visibility or slick roads. Consider altering your driving plans if the weather report shows storms on the horizon.

With the green light to hit the road, make sure when packing up your car that you can still see through all mirrors. Overloading your car can impair your vision. It may also put more weight into your car than it can safely transport. Secure everything so nothing shifts around too much while on the road as well.

Most importantly, while you’re on the road, don’t drive distracted. Everyone always gets more chatty en route to a holiday, but resist the urge to talk on your cell continuously as the driver. Any texts can wait until you’re able to pull over and fully stop. Missed calls will go to voice mail so you can check them when it’s safe. Consider using an app like Waze for directions so that you can share your ETA with the family waiting for you to arrive. This way they’ll know when you’re coming and won’t have to call or text to ask, leaving you distraction-free to concentrate on the road.

Taking to the air

While a bit safer than car travel, the biggest risk when traveling via plane for the holidays becomes germs. There’s nothing like a crowded airport, moving people through by the thousands, to collect all kinds of winter germs. Stay healthy during the holidays!

Wash hands frequently.
Attempt to have minimal contact with public items.
Keep your belongings close to avoid having others leave their germs on your stuff.
Carry hand sanitizer and wet wipes with you, especially if traveling with children.

Nobody wants to spend their Thanksgiving with a runny nose and a fever, so do what you can to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible.

Protect your home while you’re away

Preparing to travel for the holidays also means protecting your home while it sits empty. Make sure your home stays protected while you’re gone. Set an alarm if you have one and refrain from posting your travel plans on social media in real time. Set a few lights inside your home on timers and lock all windows and doors.

If someone comes to your house regularly while you’re away to feed pets or bring in the mail, give them an extra key instead of hiding one on your property. If any neighbors are doing Thanksgiving at their house, ask if they can keep an eye on your home just as an extra precaution. You may also want to leave a light on at your front door and even over your garage.

Taking the proper precautions for your home while you’re away will help you have a more enjoyable Thanksgiving with one less thing to worry about.

Handling an accident over Thanksgiving

Risk of an accident still exists, even with taking all the precautions to ensure you’re a save traveller over the holidays. With so many additional people making their way around the country to celebrate with friends and family, more drivers and flyers come through Georgia who are unfamiliar with our roads, the airport, and weather patterns.

Should an accident occur, don’t panic and don’t let it overshadow your holiday fun. Contact The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm to get the personalized help and support you deserve to navigate the confusing process of working through an accident. With a free consultation, the experienced lawyers will review your case and advise you on the best course of action.

Preventing a DUI

A taxi in traffic at night — Calling an Uber or other taxi is perhaps one of the easiest ways to avoid getting a DUI.

When you get pulled over under suspicion of a DUI, police, among other things, often request a test of your blood alcohol content (BAC) to attempt to determine if you driving under legal limits, not impaired and safe to operate a motor vehicle. Following the one drink per hour rule can help you stay within legal levels.

The one drink per hour rule

It is a good rule of thumb to try and have only one drink per hour. This is a surefire way to keep your BAC within legal limits. While having more than one drink may still keep you within safe limits, it’s important to note that an average male hits a dangerous BAC range after only having three drinks in a single hour.

Not fully understanding what constitutes one drink is the primary reason this practice fails. The definition of a drink isn’t about the size of the glass, but rather the amount of alcohol within that drink. An average beer is around 12 ounces and is 5% alcohol. This equals a single drink.

As the alcohol content rises, the size of your drink will decrease. While 12 ounces of beer is okay, wine drinkers can have about 5 ounces in a single glass. If you’re drinking something a little stronger, a single shot may equal a drink, which would be all you can safely have within an hour.

You’re an average man, around 180 pounds, out for the night and have five drinks in a single hour. Three hours later, your senses are still impaired and you really shouldn’t drive. Five hours later your BAC is almost back to zero, but this is five hours without any additional drinks. An average woman, weighing around 160 pounds wouldn’t be safe to drive five hours after having five drinks.

Surefire ways to avoid getting a DUI

Because it’s so easy to accidentally drink too much to safely drive, it’s best to not drive yourself if you’re going out for the night. There are so many alternatives to driving today should you need them, including:

Taxis, Uber, Lyft – the options to have someone else drive you to and from a night out have multiplied significantly in the last few years. It’s now so much easier to secure a ride. You just use your phone, wait a little while, and safely get home.
Designate a driver – if you often go out in a larger group, taking turns as the designated driver helps ensure your whole friend group safely gets home.
Stay put – if your night out takes place at a friend's house, don't be afraid to ask if you can crash on their couch. If you don't feel safe driving, staying where you are can be the best option to ensure your safety without leaving your car behind.

If you have to drive, there are now apps to help you control your BAC. Check out this list of options which all help you determine whether or not you've had too much to drink to drive. Please remember though, these aren't 100% accurate. Your safest option and the best away to avoid a DUI is to not drive and find an alternative way home.

What to do if you get a DUI

Getting convicted of a DUI stays on your driving record permanently, so it’s important to talk to an experienced attorney before going to court. Should you get a DUI, contact a law firm well-versed in handling this type of charge. Not only can they help you navigate the legal process, but they may prevent you from paying typical penalties such as fines and court fees.

Working with a lawyer may also help prevent more serious penalties such as jail time and a license suspension. The talented team at The Patterson Cozzo Law Firm offer a free consultation to review your DUI case. Contact them today to get the help and personal attention your case needs.