Recent Blog Posts

Shocking Kids Into Safe Driving

David M. Van Sant — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:30:00 GMT

Scaring teens into safe driving habits is a tactic that was in vogue for decades all across America. Many adults remember gruesome films we were shown as teen drivers. But as public school budgets have been cut, more public schools have eliminated driver's education, and the gory films, from their curriculums, leaving kids to be taught by private driving schools or their parents.

A recent exercise at a Sonora, California, high school caught the attention of students. Public safety personnel in that city, in conjunction with the Sonora High School, staged a DUI accident that simulated four students taken by ambulance from a head-on collision, one student taken away in a hearse, and the student responsible for the accident driven away by police in hand-cuffs. Students got the idea, as many resorted to tears witnessing the simulation.

The act was part of a program called Every Fifteen Minutes, which is a two-day educational program that helps teach teen drivers about the dangers of drunk and impaired driving. According to the Every Fifteen Minutes program, someone in the U.S. is injured as a result of a drunk driver every fifteen minutes. According to Georgia statistics more than 400 people die each year in Georgia as the result of a drunk driver.

If you are involved in an accident with a drunk driver in Georgia, you need an Atlanta personal injury lawyer. Contact David Van Sant. He works with accident victims to ensure they get the medical attention and compensation they deserve.

Petting a Puppy Good for Stress Reduction in Accident Victims

David M. Van Sant — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:25:00 GMT

When it comes to puppies and kittens, we're softies like everyone else here at the Law Offices of David Van Sant. While it's not unusual for a case we're working on to deal with a "bad dog," we still are fans of animals. We just don't like dogs that bite.

Since we like animals, and stress reduction techniques are something we like to share with our clients, it was interesting to read this week in the Buffalo (NY) Business Journal about how the University of Buffalo had brought in puppies for students to pet as part of Stress Relief Week.

If it's been a while you since you were in college, you may have forgotten just how stressful it can be to go through final exam week. This time of year, it's also the end of the school year, the weather is good, and there are so many other distractions for students in the 18 - 22 age group. Bringing puppies onto campus to help relieve stress was an idea that seems to make some sense.

So we're going to promote this "therapy" to our clients. If you have stress after an accident, we aren't suggesting you rush out to the nearest shelter and adopt a litter of puppies, but if petting a puppy for as little as 30 seconds can change your mood and reduce stress, maybe a visit to the shelter or the local park is is worth a try.

If you've been injured in an accident and need the assistance of an Atlanta Accident Lawyer, contact David Van Sant.

Property Owners May Be Responsible for Pool Injuries

David M. Van Sant — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:55:00 GMT

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are ten drowning deaths in America every day. In Georgia, clear guidelines establish pool property owner liability. If there is a pool on your property, there are several things you should do to prevent pool-related injuries.

The most important thing any swimming pool property owner must do to guarantee the safety of his or her swimming pool is erect a four-sided fence that prevents un-intended access to the pool area. Owners are responsible for providing proper pool equipment and supervision and may be liable for injuries that result from failures in this area.

For example, a property owner's failure to repair a broken pool light could create a known pool safety hazard. Injuries caused by failure to provide a line of demarcation between the deep and shallow ends of a pool may also be the responsibility of a property owner.

The most common non-fatal swimming pool injuries include head injuries related to slips and falls or shallow diving that cause traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. Small children can suffer disembowelment and evisceration with accidents involving faulty pool filters. Injuries that are non-fatal can be extremely severe.

If you or your child is involved in a pool-related injury we can help sort through the insurance and liability issues. Contact David Van Sant, an Atlanta personal injury attorney.

It's National Playground Safety Week

David M. Van Sant — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:55:00 GMT

This week has been National Playground Safety Week, so as we head into the weekend, we think it's appropriate to share some information about playground safety. The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) sponsors efforts to reduce the number of playground injuries. It's a great idea, because more than 200,000 kids are seen in emergency rooms every year for playground injuries.

While many of the recommendations made by the NPPS are aimed at municipalities and school districts, individual property owners can find themselves responsible for play equipment injuries that occur on their properties. Here are some tips to help protect children as they use outdoor play equipment:

Supervision—play areas need to be designed so that supervisors have access to and clear views of the entire play area.

Age-appropriate design—outdoor play areas should be structured to meet the needs of individual, target age groups. A play area designed for a two-year-old should include different equipment than an area designed for a ten-year-old.

Fall-surfacing— 70 percent of injuries on a playground happen as a result of a fall. Surfaces other than asphalt, dirt, and grass should be used. Softer, looser materials like pea gravel, shredded rubber, mulch, sand or special surfaces designed specifically for playgrounds are recommended.

Equipment maintenance—playground equipment should be maintained on a schedule to ensure that it is in optimally safe condition.

Following these S.A.F.E. playground practices is important for the safety of children. No one wants to see a child injured and many injuries can be prevented.

If your child has sustained a playground related injury, we can help you sort through the insurance and liability issues. Contact David Van Sant, an Atlanta personal injury attorney who represents claimants who suffer playground injuries.

"Sharing Economy" Raises New Liability Questions

David M. Van Sant — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:33:00 GMT

The New York Times is following a story that involves liability issues in a fatal car crash that was caused by a driver who was using a car from a "car sharing" service known as RelayRides.

RelayRides is one of dozens of businesses that are popping up to help out in this economy. The business serves as an online matching service that allows individuals to rent their cars by the hour to other people who need one. Most renters have lost their cars to the bank or simply can't afford to own one due to high gas or insurance costs. The concept is to make transportation available to everyone, but when you put cars on the road, there is liability involved.

While RelayRides has a $1,000,000 blanket insurance policy to cover accidents, in the case of one driver who crashed into a car carrying four people, that amount of insurance is simply not going to be enough. The insurance company that covered the "loaner" has denied claims based on the situation, and that's bringing attention to dozens of businesses that help consumers rent or "share" everything from rooms in their home to a cubicle in their office space.

The idea of renting out your stuff for money or renting from others who "have" when you "have not" is catching on in what has been dubbed the "sharing economy." The idea sounds good, but the liability issues it raises are confusing, and as the RelayRides example shows, there are not a lot of precedents for the type of concerns that can arise.

You have some people with a lot, and others who have nothing. Eliminating the expensive middle man (the typical business that supplies goods and services) seems like a great idea and a way to provide goods or even services without having to spend a lot or qualify for credit. For example, Person A "loans" their car to Person B for a day and an agreed upon fee. They are matched through an internet based service.

While it's not a lot different than loaning your car to your friend or sister, when there is money exchanging hands, it is different. Even if your insurance covers other drivers of your vehicle, if you "rent" your vehicle, your insurance company may decide that's not a "normal situation" and they could deny a claim if an accident occurs.

This situation is gathering attention, and FastCompany called 2012 the year when this sort of sharing economy will gain popularity. The RelayRides situation will help determine future rulings on whether or not insurance companies are liable when a terrible accident occurs under these sorts of situations, and it's definitely an issue we're keeping our eyes on at Van Sant & Associates. Stay tuned!

David Van Sant is a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta who works to help accident victims get the compensation and care they deserve.

Personal Injury Attorneys Handle All Types of Claims

David M. Van Sant — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:00:00 GMT

On Monday mornings I often reflect on my weekend. As a personal injury attorney in Atlanta, I'm sort of a like a doctor. You know how it is: everyone is always asking for a "spot diagnosis" at a cocktail party or church event. "Hey, Doc, do you think this is anything?"

As an attorney, I get a little bit of that too. People are always curious about the type of cases that a personal injury attorney deals with, and most people I meet have a "brother, cousin, friend..." who has "a slight problem."

While the attorney/client privilege makes it impossible for me to discuss the specifics of any of the cases I'm working on, people usually are curious about what sort of cases a personal injury attorney works on week to week. So for those who are curious, here's a little primer on "What does a personal injury attorney do?"

A personal injury attorney deals with cases that have left someone injured. The most common, of course, is an automobile or truck accident. However, there are many other types of personal injury cases. Our clients are people who have had accidents with their cars, boats, motorcycles, trucks or bikes, or they are people who were injured at work and are facing steep medical bills and lots of confusing insurance claims. Dog bites, slips and falls, product injuries, nursing home abuse or neglect, and just about any other type of situation where insurance claims and/or medical bills are involved can benefit from having a personal injury attorney involved..

A personal injury attorney will help maneuver you through the often complicated process of filing insurance claims, pursuing damages from the individual,company, or organization responsible for your injury, and he or she will file the court case and deal with the administrative proceedings. Your personal injury attorney will fight, on your behalf, for what is right. I like to think we rarely take "No" for an answer.

So, if you or someone you know in the Atlanta area needs the assistance of a determined, responsible, personal injury attorney to represent him or her in a personal injury case, please contact our offices, and we'll get started right away.

David Van Sant is a personal injury attorney in Atlanta who helps victims get the compensation and judgments they deserve.

Diminished Value Claims Can Add Up

David M. Van Sant — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:40:00 GMT

When you are involved in an accident in the state of Georgia, and the accident is not your fault, you may be eligible for a diminished value claim.

A diminished value claim takes into account what your car is worth before an accident, and what is worth after an accident. Even if your car is completely repaired and you can't tell there was ever damage, the fact that it was involved in an accident means that it is worth less money than before the accident.

If you're scratching your head at the concept, and are thinking, "No one ever told me that before," there's good reason. Insurance companies don't necessarily want you to know that your car is not back to 100 percent. If a claim has been paid and a car is repaired, they want you to be perfectly satisfied. However, things are not "status quo." if you pull a report on your car (a Carfax) for example, you may find that the details of the accident have been reported and your car is now worth less when you go to sell it or trade it in.

To help take care of that loss, insurance companies in Georgia may be required to pay you a diminished value claim. You may not find clear information about these types of claims anywhere within your insurance literature, but it's definitely worth checking out.

At the Law Offices of David Van Sant, we help accident victims deal with all the complexities that arise from car and truck accidents in Atlanta. If you believe you may be eligible for a dminished value claim, or if you are having trouble with an insurance company or another driver, contact us and we will help.

Avoid Accidents with Defensive Driving

David M. Van Sant — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Spring is in the air, and that means pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists, motorcycles, skateboards and scooters are out in full force. If you are driving a car or truck, you have a distinct size advantage over these other modes of transportation, and that means you need to take responsibility for driving defensively to keep the rest of the people on the road safe.

"What? Is this guy really telling me I have to think for everyone around me?" In not so many words, the answer would be, "Yes."

As the driver of a car or truck, you do need to be careful around pedestrians, bikes, motorcycles, scooters, and other forms of transportation. It's called driving defensively.

You've probably heard about defensive driving, and perhaps you've even taken a required course after getting a ticket to avoid having points assessed to your driver's license. But actually defensive driving is something you should do every day of your life.

Defensive driving means always assuming that the pedestrian is going to walk out in front of you, the bicycle is going to run a red light, the cars halfway through the intersection are going to turn left after the light is red, and that the drivers all around you are distracted.

Wow. That sounds a little scary, doesn't it? But if you drive defensively, you give yourself a much better chance of avoiding accidents that could hurt you or your passengers, and certainly you give the pedestrian and the bicyclist a chance to avoid being hit by you.

How do you drive defensively? You pay attention to what you are doing. You avoid all outside distractions – no cell phone calls, no texting, no consulting the GPS – just drive! You watch the right hand lane for bikes, you watch the crosswalks for pedestrians, and you drive the speed limit at all times.

There is no meeting you have to go to, no deadline you are trying to meet that makes it worth risking your life, your passenger's lives, or the lives of the motorists and others around you.

Defensive driving takes practice. It also takes planning. That means don't leave your home with "just enough time" to get where you need to be. Leave early. If your son needs to be at soccer practice on time to avoid running laps, don't rush in traffic to get him there, leave early enough to get him there safely. A few laps of running is better than a lifetime of debt caused by a wrongful debt suit for hitting a pedestrian.

So slow down, people! Plan ahead! Put away your smart phone! Turn down the radio! Drive defensively and keep everyone on the roads safe.

David Van Sant is an Atlanta accident lawyer who works with the victims of accidents of all types. For more information on personal injury law or to discuss your case, contact Mr. Van Sant today.

More Former Football Players Join Lawsuit Against NFL

David M. Van Sant — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:25:00 GMT

NBC News has reported that more former football players from the National Football League have joined a lawsuit against the NFL that is being filed on behalf of the NFL Players and the NFL Players Association.

The lawsuit has grown from complaints from former players who are experiencing the long- term effects of concussions that were received when these players were playing the game. At least 70 additional players recently added their names to a suit being considered in federal court in Philadelphia. Some expect as many as 1000 former players will participate in this type of suit.

The suit may possibly hinge on determining whether or not the NFL knowingly kept information about the long-term effects of concussions from its players. If it did, then there is definitely some fuel for the fire.

Attorneys for the NFLPA and the NFL, while claiming they are both concerned for player safety, will soon be at odds in the Federal Courts.

"If, for some reason, this doesn't go in favor of us, we've at least reached out and shown there's a group of concerned former athletes struggling with their own issues that wants to build awareness so that no one else has to go through what we're going through," said Mark Rypien, a former quarterback for the Washington Redskins who says he has to tape record important conversations with his girlfriend to ensure he remembers what was said. He blames his memory loss on the hundreds of hits he took as an NFL QB.

Rypien says his goal is to ensure that the current players don't have to endure what he and hundreds of others named in the lawsuits are currently dealing with.

As with these players, the long-term impacts from accidents and injuries of all types need to be considered when you are involved with a personal injury. A personal injury attorney can assist you , whether you are a professional athlete or a regular citizen.

David Van Sant is an Atlanta personal injury lawyer who is experienced at helping accident victims deal with the current and long-term impacts of an injury. He will pursue justice on behalf of his clients, whether you are the victim of an automobile accident, a work-related injury, or any situation in which you were injured.

Contact David Van Sant for more information on how he can help with your own personal injury case.

Caution Advised for Personal Injury Victims When Filing Bankruptcy

David M. Van Sant — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:20:00 GMT

There are many situations that we deal with as personal injury attorneys in Georgia, and oftentimes the outcome of a situation is difficult to predict. However, in this economy, there are several precedents emerging for the victims of accidents who later file for bankruptcy that may involve losing the proceeds from a personal injury claim.

If you have been the victim of an accident and you are faced with personal bankruptcy, the law offices of David Van Sant strongly advises caution in your proceedings. The laws vary from state to state, and the findings in bankruptcy court will vary from case to case, but, if you file for bankruptcy because you are unable to work as a the result of an injury, the bankruptcy court may rule that the settlement you receive should be divided first among your creditors.

There are certain exemptions that may apply to your individual case, but the general rule is that, if you cannot claim the potential lawsuit recovery as exempt from consideration in your bankruptcy case, the trustee on your bankruptcy can take the money.

Timing is a key element in a complicated case that involves a personal injury settlement and later bankruptcy. Bankruptcy exemptions play a big role in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, and a bankruptcy attorney may be required to help you sort through the exemptions that are available to you. Each state has its own exemptions, and the federal government has another set.

Cases involving personal injury and bankruptcy can become even more complicated when a minor child is involved in and injured in an accident that his or her parents are not involved in. A teenager, for example, who is involved in an accident, may receive personal injury settlements that do not flow to the parents except for purposes of paying medical or other expenses associated with the minor child.

If you are injured in an accident, you need a competent personal injury attorney. Even if the situation seems minor at the time, future issues, such as a family bankruptcy, could complicate the matter down the road. An attorney can help ensure that you have documentation of all issues associated with your personal injury claims and/or judgments.

For more information on personal injury law in Georgia, contact David Van Sant, an Atlanta personal injury attorney.

Good News: Chocolate May Lower Stress!

David M. Van Sant — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:34:00 GMT

Now here's something just about everyone can get excited about, particularly with Easter just around the corner:

A new study, sponsored by none other than Nestle, suggests that eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate, in small quantities every day helps reduce the level of stress hormones in your body.

The study concluded that the chemical compounds contained in dark chocolate help reduce the hormones in your body that cause stress. In other words, chocolate can make you happy!

This is good news to every parent and grandparent out there who looks forward to next Sunday's chance to bite the ears off a chocolate bunny. If it's a dark chocolate bunny, it may actually be good for you!

Nestlé scientist Dr Sunil Kochhar, who led the study, has said "When you are stressed your body's chemistry becomes unbalanced. In the long term this can be harmful to your health. We have found that eating a moderate amount of dark chocolate on a daily basis can help to balance the body chemistry of people who are stressed."

Dr Kochar has also commented "It is possible to speculate that making dark chocolate part of a healthy balanced diet might lead to a chemical composition in the body that is better able to handle stress." This study offers the interesting consideration that eating some chocolate everyday may help you beat stress, which can cause a variety of physical and emotional conditions in the long run.

Every week I work with accident victims and individuals who have been injured. Stress is a big part of what they are dealing with every day, so we are always pleased to be able to offer advice to our clients and readers of this blog.

So, if you are the victim of an accident and need to reduce your stress levels, contact a good lawyer, and treat yourself to a little dark chocolate too We suggest you follow the study regimen, and eat about four squares (four ounces) of dark chocolate per serving.

We hope this helps to alleviate your stress. In addition, if you need the assistance of a competent attorney and his team, contact David Van Sant, an Atlanta personal injury lawyer. Mr. Van Sant works hard for accident victims, and is interested in helping clients who need his assistance dealing with insurance companies, medical providers, employers, and others who are involved when a personal injury occurs.

Spring Means More Dogs and Potentially More Dog Bites

David M. Van Sant — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:33:00 GMT

It's officially spring, and you know what that means: litters of puppies are being born in Georgia. Everyone loves a cute little puppy, but every cute little puppy turns into a dog, and sadly, some dogs are not "good dogs."

As an Atlanta personal injury attorney, I have dealt with some severe injury cases that were caused by dog bites. Dog bites can become serious medical concerns, particularly if the dog is homeless or a stray or if the owner has failed to vaccinate and train the dog appropriately.

What types of dogs bite most? If you are like most Americans, you guessed the answer right away: pit bulls. While some owners will say, "Pits are only mean if their owners train them to be mean," statistics on dog bites say otherwise.

In a three year period between 2006 and 2008, pit bulls were responsible for at least 52 deaths in the United States, a full 59 percent of all fatal attacks recorded. Rottweilers were responsible for 14% of the dog attack deaths that were reported during the same period. Between the two breeds, that is more than 70% of fatal attacks. With statistics like these, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that perhaps Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are not the best animals to have in your home.

DogBites.org compiles statistics on dog bites throughout the United States, and it turns out that most fatal dog bite attacks occur on the "dog's" property, but the victims are not typically "predators," they are usually friends and family members, and often they are children.

If you have children, you need to teach them to be wary of strange dogs. While you don't want to create unnecessary fear of dogs in your child, you do need your child to understand that every puppy is not friendly and every dog has the potential to bite.

As a personal injury attorney in Georgia, I know that dog bites can create long-term, serious medical consequences. In Georgia, there are breed specific ordinances in several communities dealing with potentially dangerous dogs. The most far reaching thus far in Georgia is the city of College Park, which has declared several breeds potentially dangerous, including pit bulls, Staffordshire terriors, rottweilers, German sheperds, and Dobermans. Owners in College Park are required to register their dogs as potentially dangerous, and the dogs are required to wear a brightly colored tag on their collar to warn citizens that the dog is of a breed considered potentially dangerous.

While dog activist groups are rallying against "breed profiling," the safety of citizens remains paramount. If you are injured in a dog attack, or if you know of someone who has been bitten by a dog, contact David Van Sant, an Atlanta accident lawyer. He will work with you to ensure that you get the compensation and victim's rights you deserve.

Utility Trailers May Pose Hazard on Georgia Roads

David M. Van Sant — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:09:00 GMT

I recently spoke with a client who had been injured when a utility trailer being towed by a large, luxury RV came loose on a highway and smashed into his vehicle. After a little research, I found an interesting website that documents these sorts of accidents, which it turns out, are quite common.

The website, called Dangerous Trailers, allows you to search by state, where you will find documentation on 100 accidents in the state of Georgia that were caused by utility trailers. According to the website's owner, there are close to 3,000 accidents that have been written about in Georgia newspapers that involved utility trailers .If you look nationwide, there are more than 500,000 people who have been injured by runaway trailers since 1988.

These trailers are used by commercial businesses of all sorts (from carpet layers to construction companies). They are used for recreational purposes to carry motorcycles or ATVs, and they are used often behind motorhomes and luxury buses to transport items like bicycles, gas grills, porch swings, or other "camping gear."

Tthe sheer number of accidents that indicate trailers "got loose" and became fast moving and even deadly objects, needs to be addressed. Manufacturers claim that it is human error that causes most of the runaway trailers. Drivers fail to secure the trailer with a safety chain. they say, relying solely on the hitch. And yet the weight of the trailers, when combined with a bumpy road, poor weather conditions, high winds, or high speeds, can easily cause the trailer to come loose from the hitch, becoming an unmanned projectile that can veer in any direction, causing dreadful accidents, destruction, and even death.

If there is a moral to the story, it is that, if you are injured in an accident that involves a runaway trailer, there may be more at fault than simply the driver. With more than 500,000 people nationwide injured since 1988 by loose utility trailers, there is a problem that the manufactuers are well aware of but seem unwilling to address

IWhen you're on the road, steer clear of vehicles pulling utility trailers, particularly in high winds, poor road conditions, or heavy traffic. If you need a personal injury attorney, contact David Van Sant. He is an Atlanta personal injury attorney who will represent your best interests.

Liability for Accidents Involving Liquor Sales and Service Clarified

David M. Van Sant — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:05:00 GMT

If a bar sells liquor to an underage person, and that person later goes out and has an auto accident that injures or kills someone, is the bar partially liable? Based on legislation passed in Georgia, the answer just might be yes.

The same is true if the person who provided the alcohol is simply a social host who provided alcohol to a minor. This is where things really can get serious, and it's why people need to keep any alcohol in their home away from those who are underage. Even if you are out of town and your teenage children get into your liquor cabinet with their friends, and those friends have an accident, you could be liable if the liquor was readily accessible. It's scary, isn't it?

At the risk of confusing the situation, the rules change completely if a person over 21 purchases or consumes alcohol and then later goes out and has an accident that hurts or kills someone. In that case, neither the bar or in party host would be legally liable.

However, if the person who is over 21 was visibly drunk when the alcohol was served or sold, the person or establishment that provided it could be held liable if that individual causes an accident, property damage, injuries or deaths. If the host or bartender knew the person was about to drive and sold alcohol to him or her, the rules change again.

It's a tricky bit of legislation, but most of the states in the country have passed some form of this ruling. In many areas, it is called a Dram Shop Law. Dram shop is the original name of a place that sold liquor. In earlier days, it was assumed that the selling of liquor was not the cause of an accident, the consumption was. Since the consumption was an individual decision, dram shops were not held liable.

New laws have changed that in the case of minors or those who are already drunk and are "over-served."

If you are injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver and you need a personal injury attorney, contact David Van Sant. He can help you sort through the laws and understand your legal rights. In the meantime, remember that if you serve alcohol to a drunk person or someone who is underage, you could be personally liable for any injuries or other damage that is later caused by that individual.

At Ski Resorts, Injuries are Your Responsibility

David M. Van Sant — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:30:00 GMT

With spring break ski trips on many people's minds this month, it's important to remember that, when you go skiing, it's "at your own risk."

The purchase of a lift ticket at ski resorts throughout North America includes your agreement that you are skiing at your own risk and that any accident you have on the mountain is your responsibility. Ski resorts assume no liability for injuries by skiers on their mountains. If you are hurt while skiing, mountain patrol will help you off the mountain and transport you to medical care, but after that, you are on your own.

A personal injury case in Nevada is making its way to the courts. On Feb. 22 of this year, a woman who was a beginning level skier was on the slow run at the bottom of a hill at Heavenly when she was wiped out by an off-duty Heavenly employee. The crash knocked the woman unconscious and has left her with memory loss and the need to see a neurologist.

Vail Resorts, the parent company to Heavenly, contends that, because the employee was off duty at the time of the accident, the incident is a skier-to-skier case and the resort has no part in it.

Attorneys for the victim say that, because the employee is in the United States on a visa that allows her to work as a seasonal worker at the resort, and because she is provided with free housing, a free ski pass, and free access to the mountain during her off time, she is the responsibility of Vail Resorts.

Attorneys are suing both the individual employee and Vail Resorts. This case will make its way into U.S. District Court. The couple is seeking $75,000 and legal fees.

If you are planning a ski trip this spring break, please be careful out there. If you need an attorney to assist with any personal injury claims from auto or truck accidents or vacation injuries, contact David Van Sant, an Atlanta personal injury attorney.