Currently, health insurance companies provide countless pages of “fine print” information on what’s covered under your plan.  Comprehending that information takes time and a certain level of understanding that not many people possess.  The Obama administration is addressing this by requiring new, easy to understand, summaries of coverage.  Officials are calling these summaries a “nutrition label for health care,” naming it after information panels found on packaged foods in supermarkets.

What Is A “Nutrition Label For Healthcare”?

Earlier this month, after attempting to determine the requirements for new health care labels for over a year, the White House finalized a key provision of the health reform law: standardized labels for health insurance plans. Starting on September 23, 2012, all employers and health insurance companies that offer individual or group plans will be required to comply with the new nutrition labels. Like the nutrition labels that they are named for, these summaries will provide easy-to-understand facts for health insurance plans. Health plan labels will include six pages for consumers to review, including price estimates for health care services, maximum out-of-pocket costs and a glossary. Although the labels won’t include monthly premium amounts, consumers will know what the baseline of the premium is before evaluating the plan details.

These “nutrition labels for healthcare” will provide an easier method to determine what health plan to select. Because the summaries will all use one standard format, it will allow for side-by-side comparisons of health care plans. By revealing select information in a standard location on these labels, families attempting to select between multiple employer plans and those purchasing coverage directly from insurance companies will be able to compare in a less stressful and more understanding manner. Although consumer representatives, insurers and employer groups were concerned with the fine print involved at first, they are more comfortable with them after thoroughly investigating the details. Eventually all private and employer health plans will be required to provide “nutrition labels for healthcare” so American consumers will get a chance to decide for themselves what they think is the best health insurance plan is for them.

Marietta Personal Injury Attorneys Understand Medical Coverage Plans

With over 40 years of combined experience representing injured victims throughout the state of Georgia, the top injury attorneys at Andrew W. Jones, P.C. have a vast knowledge of health insurance companies and coverage plans. The Woodstock personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones have developed an extensive directory of medical contacts, so understand what to look for in health insurance plans. Below are some tips on how to compare plans, which will be much easier to do with the implementation of the new “nutrition labels for healthcare”:

• Determine a monthly amount that you can afford to spend on the monthly premium.
• Research deductibles and select one that you would be comfortable paying.
• If in-network and out-of-network visits are important to you and your family, determine whether the plans you’re reviewing cover those.
• If you have a primary care physician, ensure that they’re covered with the plan.
• Determine any out-of-pocket costs that you may be liable for and ensure that you can afford them.
• When the labels are introduced, read them entirely so that you have a thorough understanding of what you’re purchasing.

Determining the correct health care plan for you and your family is a big step and research is important.

Kennesaw Personal Injury Lawyers Have Your Best Interests at Heart

Being injured in an accident can be frightening and disorienting.  If you have been injured in an accident of any kind, you should seek medical attention immediately. Your health should be the foremost concern. Whether victims experience severe injuries and pain immediately after a car accident or an onset of pain and other symptoms later on, seeing a doctor right away is the only way to ensure your safety. Many accident victims attempt to endure the pain to avoid medical bills and fees, but seeking the appropriate care is extremely important.  Only a qualified physician will be able to provide you with an appropriate evaluation and treatment protocol.  Having appropriate health-care coverage makes any situation easier on those involved.

Whether your personal injury occurred in Acworth, Smyrna, Roswell, Woodstock, Decatur, Macon or anywhere throughout Georgia, do not hesitate to contact the Marietta personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones. The affordable accident injury lawyers at our firm not only have experience representing every type of personal injury victim, but can also assist you in determining your health care insurance coverage. Please contact the Kennesaw auto accident lawyers at Andrew W. Jones, P.C. today for a free consultation and affordable representation. We are eager to discuss the ways in which our firm may be able to help you through a difficult time.

Just last month on Tuesday, January 24, a drunk driver made a mistake that ended in tragedy for local Atlanta Police Officer Gail Thomas.  The drunk driving accident occurred on the ramp from I-75 southbound at I-85 northbound when Officer Thomas was exiting her car to help another officer.  Stone Mountain resident Chasity Jones struck the officer with her vehicle and is being charged with first-degree homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence and reckless driving.  Jones is being held without bond and is scheduled to have her next hearing on February 9.  Thomas had been with the Atlanta Police Department for 20 years and left behind a 22-year-old daughter.  In memory of Officer Gail Thomas, hundreds of police officers paid tribute in a motorcade from Turner Field to Elizabeth Baptist Church where her funeral was held on January 30.

2009: 10,839 Killed In Alcohol-Related Auto Accidents

Thousands of people are injured each year in auto accidents resulting from the negligence of a driver impaired by drugs or alcohol.  Not only could you injure or kill someone else, but you could hurt yourself as well.  Not only that, but driving under the influence could cost you financially as well.  Even if you think you’re sober enough to drive, think about others on the road and choose one of these safer alternatives:

• Assign a designated driver at the beginning of the night.
• Call a cab or taxi.
• Use public transportation.
• Walk.
• Call someone that you know will be sober (possibly a family member).  They may be upset to get a call that late at night, but they’ll be much happier picking you up than if you were to drive under the influence.
• Local ride options – Many local communities have safe ride programs in place that offer sober rides home for free.

Local Marietta Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

When people make the decision to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they not only risk hurting themselves and others, but could take the lives of innocent bystanders.  The affordable Kennesaw accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones offer aid to victims of Georgia drunk driving crimes across the state, including metro Atlanta areas such as Kennesaw, Acworth, Marietta, Canton, Sandy Springs, Woodstock, and Smyrna.  Our Acworth drunk driving accident attorneys understand the complexities of alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents and have the best experience to maximize the value of your claim.  If you have been injured in a Cobb County car accident by a drunk or otherwise impaired driver, Andrew W. Jones and M. Chase Swanson can help you recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, physical and mental pain and suffering, and physical impairment.  Our top personal injury firm can also assist the families of catastrophically injured victims seek to recover for the wrongful death of their loved ones.  You deserve to be represented by local Marietta personal injury attorneys with the experience to prosecute your claim appropriately.

Affordable Marietta Personal Injury Attorneys

It is imperative that a trial attorney with experience handling alcohol-related injury claims begin investigating your accident as soon as possible. Oftentimes, the preservation of certain evidence can be key in making a claim for personal injury or wrongful death. Unlike other attorneys, the affordable drunk driving accident attorneys at Andrew W. Jones, P.C. work on a contingency fee basis.  This means that we represent our clients without any upfront costs as our fee is simply a percentage of the amount recovered for you.  In other words, if we do not recover financial compensation for you, you do not owe any legal fees or costs.

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed by a drunk driver in Georgia, contact Marietta drunk driving accident lawyers Andrew W. Jones and M. Chase Swanson immediately for a free consultation and to discuss the ways in which our firm may be able to help you through a difficult time.

Catastrophic injuries or fatalities are often the result of Atlanta pedestrian accidents. There are over 110,000 preventable pedestrian accidents each year in the United States alone. Most of those pedestrians are seriously injured or killed as a result.  In 2010, the National Center of Statistics and Analysis reported 168 Georgia pedestrian fatalities. These losses account for 11% of motor vehicle fatalities. Since last year, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by almost 4 percent in the U.S.

Usually, pedestrian deaths are higher in urban areas because of pedestrian activity and traffic volumes being greater than in rural areas. Surprisingly, the majority of these accidents do not occur at intersections. Areas with higher speed limits are more dangerous for pedestrians because drivers are less likely to be expecting the need to stop or slow down.

What’s Causing Atlanta Pedestrian Accidents?

There are numerous causes for Georgia pedestrian accidents. At the top of that list is negligence and distracted driving.  Usually, it’s the driver of the motor vehicle that is at fault, but the pedestrians that are harmed sometimes cause accidents themselves.

Occasionally Atlanta pedestrian accidents are almost impossible to prevent, including situations such as:

• The pedestrian and vehicle operator simply not seeing each other in time to prevent the accident.  This could occur in driveways, parking lots, or on highways.
• The pedestrian falling into the road, leaving the driver with inadequate time to stop the vehicle.
• “Freak Accidents”, including pedestrians being chased by dogs or colliding with a bicyclist.

However, Marietta pedestrian accidents are oftentimes preventable. Situations where negligence of the vehicle operator or pedestrian leads to injury can include:

• Pedestrians jaywalking
• Drivers speeding
• Pedestrians running in the street
• Pedestrians crossing on a red light
• Vehicles running red lights
• Vehicles failing to stop at a stop sign
• Drivers not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Drivers or pedestrians using cell phones
• Drunk driving by the driver
• Any form of inattentiveness by either party

These are just a few common causes of Marietta pedestrian injuries. If you or someone that you know has been injured in a similar pedestrian accident, the affordable Atlanta accident attorneys at Andrew W. Jones, P.C. can help. Our pedestrian automobile accident lawyers have experience in personal injury accidents and want to help recover compensation for your injuries. We strive to be the best personal injury attorneys in Georgia.

Preventing Pedestrian Accidents in Marietta and Cobb County

Many preventable pedestrian deaths occur right here in Cobb County, so measures should be taken to ensure better safety for everyone on our roads. Possible ideas that could positively affect the number of pedestrian accidents and deaths include improving the design and materials of roadways to include more space between pedestrians and vehicles, reducing speed limits, and implementing new educational programs in communities to further detail the problems associated with Atlanta pedestrian injuries and deaths. By simply taking these steps, obeying drinking and driving and speed limit laws, and acknowledging the list of preventable situations above, Marietta roads can become safer for pedestrians. These small factors could save Cobb County lives if taken into consideration by motor vehicle drivers.

Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney

Being involved in an Acworth pedestrian injury accident can be terrifying and disorienting. The affordable attorneys at Andrew W. Jones, P.C. understand your need for clarification and take pride in the excellent representation of every client.   The experienced Georgia pedestrian auto accident attorneys represent clients throughout metro Atlanta, including Kennesaw, Acworth, Marietta, Canton, Roswell, Woodstock, Decatur, Macon, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, and the entire state of Georgia.  Regardless of where you are located, our top-notch pedestrian injury attorneys understand the unique issues involved in auto accident claims.

With over 40 years of combined personal injury experience, the pedestrian injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones know what it takes to win compensation for your injuries. If the result of a pedestrian accident is catastrophic, we can help gain closure for the victim’s family with a wrongful death claim. If you or someone that you know has been injured in a pedestrian automobile accident, contact our Marietta law office today to learn more about how our crosswalk injury attorneys can help. To speak with a Kennesaw pedestrian injury attorney at our firm about an accident of any kind, contact the experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones at (770) 427-5498. We offer free consultations and charge no fees unless compensation is recovered for you.

According to the Department of Transportation, there were over 6 million people involved in Georgia motor vehicle crashes from 2000 to 2006.  The CDC reports that about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year and 9,000,000 slip and fall or trip and fall accidents occur each year.  In 2009, 90,000 motorcyclists were injured and over half of all single vehicle accident deaths were attributed to rollover accidents.

These are intimidating numbers, but not every personal injury has to have an unhappy ending.

Personal injury claims are not all automobile accidents, but can include premises liability, wrongful death, product liability, and medical malpractice.  Being injured because of someone else’s negligence is never a great experience, but can be made easier if the injured parties are educated and take the necessary steps after the incident.

10 Things You Need To Know When You’re In An Accident

1. What should I do after an accident?

• If medical attention is required for anyone involved, medical personnel should be called.
• Exchange information with the involved parties, including insurance and driver license information.
• Contact law enforcement so they can document the scene, take statements, and file an accident report.
• Take photos of the vehicles, license plates, parties involved, scenes, and injuries involved.

2. Should I contact my own insurance company?

• Most insurance companies require their policyholders to report every accident.

3. Should I talk to the other driver’sinsurance company?

• NO!  You should never give a statement to the other party’s insurance company without consulting an experienced Marietta personal injury attorney first.
• Insurance companies’ claims adjusters have experience in using every technique to persuade you into disclosing information that can compromise your claim.

4. How much money can I expect for the property damage to my car?

• Expect to be offered the amount it will take to restore your vehicle to its condition prior to the accident or the fair market value of your car if it is totaled.
• Insurance companies use different methods to determine these values, so contact an experienced Marietta car accident attorney to ensure those prices are fair.

5. I have been in a motor vehicle accident.  Should I see a doctor?

• YES!  If you have been injured in a car accident, you should see a doctor immediately.
• Even the smallest ache could be something significant, and only a doctor can tell you for sure.
• If you decide to bring a legal claim against the at-fault driver, you will need documentation of injuries and what you did to fix them, so seeing a doctor is important.

6. How much is my personal injury case worth?

• An exact number cannot be pinpointed until your case is close to a resolution.
• There are many factors affecting the amount, so contact an experienced Kennesaw personal injury lawyer to decide whether to pursue legal action.

7. What if the insurance company offers me a check right away?

• You should not accept or sign anything from an insurance company until you are aware of your legal rights.
• Accepting a check can mean that you are giving up your right to pursue your claim for damages.
• Consult an experienced Acworth car accident attorney before accepting or signing anything from insurance companies.

8. How much does legal representation cost?

• Andrew W. Jones, P.C. works on a contingency fee basis.
• If we obtain financial compensation for you, we will take a percentage of the award as payment for our fees, but if we do not recover financial compensation for you, you do not owe any legal fees or costs.
• We understand that many people cannot afford the hourly fees that many attorneys charge for counsel and are pleased to offer clients this contingency service.

9. Do I really need an attorney?

• By law, you have the right to legal counsel to protect your rights when another person’s negligence has caused damage to you or your property.
• The at-fault insurance company may tell you that you do not need a lawyer, but this can leave you with an unresolved claim.

10. How much time do I have to pursue my claim?

• You have two years from the accident date to bring a lawsuit for damages.
• It is always better to involve an experienced Marietta attorney early in the process to help develop your case.

Contact An Experienced Cobb County Personal Injury Attorney

Georgia personal injury accidents are an unfortunate part of society, but it does not have to end badly for the injured party.  If you or someone that you know are involved in a personal injury accident, contact the experienced lawyers at the Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones.

At the Cobb County Law Offices of Andrew W. Jones, we represent personal injury victims throughout the Atlanta area and the state of Georgia, including Marietta, Smyrna, Roswell, Woodstock, Decatur, Macon, Kennesaw, Acworth, Canton, Sandy Springs, and Dallas.  If you or someone you know has been injured because of someone else’s negligence, contact a Marietta personal injury lawyer today.