Gwinnett Misdemeanor Amnesty

Do you have a misdemeanor probation warrant pending?
Beginning May 1 through June 30

The Gwinnett State Court has a one-time deal for you: If you have an outstanding misdemeanor probation warrant for failure to pay fines and costs or failure to comply with other probation conditions then you may be eligible to have your bench warrant recalled and not subject to arrest on the outstanding warrant. Click here for all conditions of this offer.

http://www.gwinnettcourts.com/documents/state%20court%20amnesty%20press%20release.pdf

Preventing Dog Bites

Teach children basic safety around dogs and review regularly:

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Do not run from a dog and scream.
• Remain motionless (e.g., "be still like a tree") when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (e.g., "be still like a log").
• Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
• Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
• Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.

A CDC study on fatal dog bites lists the breeds involved in fatal attacks over 20 years (Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998 ). It does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic. Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities; about 0.0002 percent of the total number of people bitten. These relatively few fatalities offer the only available information about breeds involved in dog bites. There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill.
Many practical alternatives to breed-specific policies exist and hold promise for preventing dog bites. For prevention ideas and model policies for control of dangerous dogs, please see the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions: A community approach to dog bite prevention . *

this information originally posted  at :  By CDC

If I make a claim on my own insurance can my rates increase due to the claim?

TITLE 33. INSURANCE
CHAPTER 9. REGULATION OF RATES, UNDERWRITING RULES, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

O.C.G.A. § 33-9-40 (2007)

§ 33-9-40. Prohibition of motor vehicle insurance surcharges relating to accidents in which insured not at fault
No insurer shall surcharge the premium or rate charged on a policy of motor vehicle insurance or cancel such policy as a result of the insured person's involvement in a multivehicle accident when such person was not at fault in such accident.

HISTORY: Code 1981, § 33-9-40, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 1184, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 3, § 33.

Appellate Practice : Beyond the Trial Court

Sometimes taking a case to trial is only the beginning of the battle. If you are successful it is common for the insurance company to appeal in the hope of avoiding payment. Sometimes a loss is the result of mistakes made by the judge. In either situation you will need an attorney who is prepared to skillfully continue arguing your case in the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. We at the Law Office of David Hibbert have an excellent track record on appeal, and have defeated insurance companies and established precedents in Georgia’s higher courts. We will go the distance with your case.
Sometimes insurance companies choose to stand and fight after a lawsuit is filed but before it can reach a jury. Motions to dismiss your case, declaratory judgment actions claiming you or the person who hurt you failed to comply with the terms of the insurance policy, motions for summary judgement, all these and more are tools in the arsenal of insurance defense lawyers. But we are experienced, aggressive and usually successful in these battles. We are not just comfortable in the courtroom, Mr. Hibbert and Ms. Brown also have excellent skills in motion practice, brief writing, and legal research. We step up and fight back on paper too, and we are well prepared to advance your case on every front, however it is attacked.

Good Advice about Auto Accidents and Collisions

Get a copy of your insurance policy and read it!

Notify your insurance agent or carrier immediately of any loss, even if it wasn’t your fault, even if you don’t think it’s a big deal, and even if you don’t think it’s covered. Keep notes and a record of what you reported, exactly who you reported it to, and when you did this.
BUT
Don’t give a written or recorded statement to the insurance company unless your policy specifically requires it, and even then, get the advice of an attorney before you go “on the record” talking to anyone about the incident.

Be sure you have adequate uninsured motorist coverage. Too many injuries are caused by habitual bad drivers who have no insurance, drivers from out of state who are not required to have liability coverage, hit and run / unknown drivers, or people who do not have permission to operate the car they are driving. In all these situations uninsured motorist coverage may be your only hope for compensation. So be sure you have all the uninsured motorist coverage your budget can accommodate.

If you are on a jury hearing about an injury case, the parties are normally not allowed to mention insurance. 99 times out of 100 it is an insurance company who is paying to defend the case, and who will pay the verdict. There is usually not much point in suing a private individual who has no insurance unless you are actually making an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance.

The Law Office of David W. Hibbert
2302 Brockett Road, Suite C
Tucker, GA 30084-4455
770-414-8055

Medical Negligence : Malpractice

People usually have no choice but to trust their doctor. Medical professionals provide services that require highly specialized training, and often our need for medical expertise is urgent. Most medical care providers live up to these expectations admirably, but some do not. When a person is a patient they are at their most vulnerable. To be injured at such a time is particularly devastating.
If you or a loved one has had your trust betrayed by a doctor, nurse, dentist, hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare provider it is important to discuss the situation with a qualified attorney. Recent “tort reform” efforts have made medical malpractice cases more complicated, expensive and difficult to pursue than ever. But if your injury at the hands of a medical professional is serious, then you need legal counsel and help from the earliest possible moment. If you believe you may have been the victim of medical malpractice don’t delay, call us for a free consultation. We are here to help.


The Law Office of David W. Hibbert
2302 Brockett Road, Suite C
Tucker, GA 30084-4455
770-414-8055

Wills , Estates, Probate, planning and litigation

It pays to be prepared. You will have greater peace of mind knowing that you have attended to obtaining a will to properly distribute your estate someday. And equally important, you should have an advance directive that expresses your wishes for medical decision making if you are unable to speak for yourself someday. Having these documents drawn up long before you need them may seem unnecessary, but by the time you need to use them it will be too late. Properly drafted documents also will save time and trouble for your family members when they are already otherwise going through a very hard time. Call and talk with Mr. Hibbert about your needs. We offer a very reasonable price for the most useful and popular groups of documents for estate and medical care planning.

The Law Office of David W. Hibbert
2302 Brockett Road, Suite C
Tucker, GA 30084-4455
770-414-8055