The Van Matre Law FirmThe Van Matre Law Firm2026-10-12T13:39:29Zhttps://www.jvm-law.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1103021/2019/08/cropped-site-icon-1-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[Can I seek compensation if my neighbor’s “friendly” dog bit me?]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=511522026-10-12T13:39:29Z2026-10-12T13:39:29ZAfter a dog bite, a neighbor’s first response may be to defend a pet they have always considered gentle. But a dog’s familiar presence or friendly reputation does not explain why an attack happened or determine who bears responsibility. For someone left with an injury, medical bills and time away from work, the question is what Georgia law says about the owner’s responsibility.
How Georgia’s one-bite rule affects a claim
Georgia law generally requires injured people to establish that a dog posed a danger and that its owner had reason to recognize the risk before the attack. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-7, an owner may face liability if careless handling or allowing a dangerous animal to roam causes injury.Despite its name, the rule does not require a dog to bite someone before its owner can be held responsible. Evidence that the dog previously snapped, lunged at people or acted aggressively may help establish the owner's knowledge. Witness statements and reports of earlier incidents may also support a claim.Georgia law also recognizes an important exception involving local leash ordinances. Local leash laws may also affect a dog bite claim. When an owner lets a dog roam freely in an area where local rules require a leash, that violation may help support the injured person's case.The injured person must still meet other requirements for liability, including showing careless management and a connection between that conduct and the injury.
What if the dog never showed aggression before?
A lack of prior bites does not automatically end a potential claim. However, if the owner had no reason to know the dog posed a danger and no applicable legal violation helps establish liability, proving a case may become more difficult.The circumstances also matter. Georgia law excludes injuries that the injured person provoked through their own actions. The owner's responsibility may depend on the evidence surrounding the encounter, the dog's behavior and applicable local rules.Depending on the facts, compensation may cover medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. Photographs of injuries, medical records, witness information and animal control reports can help document what happened.
Understand the options after a dog bite
A neighbor’s confidence in a dog’s temperament does not necessarily reflect what the law considers reasonable or safe. The details of the incident, the owner’s knowledge and any applicable leash rules may all affect whether a claim succeeds. Anyone weighing the cost of an injury against the strain of a dispute with a neighbor can consult a Georgia personal injury attorney to understand their legal options and decide how to proceed.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[When are homeowners liable for outdoor Halloween decor injuries?]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510872026-10-04T00:08:29Z2026-10-04T00:08:29ZSome homeowners go all-out for Halloween. There’s often at least one house in the neighborhood where the entire yard is filled with ghosts, witches and other Halloween creatures. There may be tombstones, spiderwebs and giant pumpkins (real and inflatable). At night, the yard and home may be lit to create spooky effects.
These decorations can create potential risks for those who go into the yard or elsewhere on the property. Can someone hold them liable if they or their child suffers an injury on or due to one of these decorations?
What are homeowners’ responsibilities to visitors?
Property owners always owe a duty of care to those who are invited onto their property. When it comes to children, even if they haven’t been explicitly invited, Halloween decorations would be considered an “attractive nuisance” that can be expected to draw children, whether invited or not, even if it’s not yet Halloween. That duty of care would extend to them. On Halloween night, trick-or-treaters and their parents or other chaperones typically are considered to be welcome in any accessible outdoor part of the property if lights are on inside and there are decorations in the yard, walkway and other outdoor areas. That means homeowners have a responsibility not to have hazards like loose electrical cords that could be tripped over, holes in the ground and poorly assembled decorations that could tip over and injure someone.They also need to minimize or eliminate potentially flammable objects like lit jack-o’-lanterns lining the walkway or outside the door. These could easily tip over and ignite someone’s costume. Darkness can add to the general spookiness of the scene. However, driveways, walkways, porches and other areas where people will be walking should always be well lit to avoid unnecessary trips and slips that can result in serious falls.Further, homeowners have an obligation to keep their dogs inside – or at least on a leash if they want to dress them up to welcome visitors or walk them around the neighborhood. That’s for everyone’s safety, including the animals’. Dogs who get excited and run outside can easily get carried away and knock over a child – or worse, bite them. Even a child they know from the neighborhood may be unrecognizable to a dog if they’re in a costume and mask.
How to determine whether there’s a case
Certainly, those going from home to home on Halloween have the same responsibility they always have to watch where they’re walking and take basic precautions as they would any other time. However, homeowners also have a responsibility to do everything reasonably possible to prevent injuries. Each case is unique, but when someone is injured by a Halloween or other decoration outside a home, it’s wise to get more information about whether the property owner can be held liable. Getting experienced legal guidance is a good first step.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[Why do stepchildren sometimes make false accusations?]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510772026-09-18T22:20:53Z2026-09-18T22:20:53ZThere’s no question that blended families experience challenges. A child may harbor serious resentment against a stepparent, even if the stepparent hasn’t done anything wrong. Eventually, the stepparent may end up portrayed as a villain – especially if the child accuses them of domestic violence.
Every domestic violence accusation should be taken seriously, but that doesn’t mean every allegation is factual. A stepchild may exaggerate, leave out context or make blatantly false allegations that can lead to a police investigation, a protective order and criminal charges for the stepparent. Why do these situations happen? There are multiple reasons:
Resentment, pressure and a need for attention can all drive the narrative
The stepparent changes the dynamics in the home. A young child feeling displaced in their biological parent’s affections by the stepparent may see lying as a way to shift the dynamic again. A teen may respond to their anger over new rules or a stepparent’s perceived overreach in trying to exercise authority with anger, resentment and a desire for revenge. Either may believe that an accusation will force the stepparent back out of their home and return things to the way they were.In other cases, a young child may be responding to pressure from their other parent living outside their household. For example, if a child’s biological father despises the child’s new stepfather, they may not be shy about expressing their feelings. They may even regularly quiz the child about the stepfather’s behavior, looking for evidence that the stepparent is a “bad guy” or abusive. If the child picks up on that, their desire to please the distressed biological parent can sometimes drive them to lie.
A small number of facts may be interwoven with the falsehood
Sometimes, a child fabricates a lie out of whole cloth. Often, however, allegations will contain a little bit of truth while omitting details that explain the situation. For example, imagine that a stepfather attempts to ground a teenager from their phone. When they reach for it, the stepchild tries to yank it away. Their hands briefly make contact as they struggle over the device. The phone drops and breaks. When the teenager tells the story later, they say their stepparent “screamed” in their face about the phone, “yanked” their arm as hard as possible to take it from them and then “threw” it on the floor to destroy it. That’s a big difference.Georgia law on domestic violence specifically covers stepparents and stepchildren. An accusation, unfounded or not, can lead to your removal from the home and other restrictions, plus damage to your reputation. It’s important to seek legal guidance immediately. A skilled domestic violence defense attorney can look at the accusations and identify inconsistencies and family dynamics that support your defense.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[New Georgia law addresses clergy sexual abuse]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510722026-08-30T21:24:04Z2026-08-30T21:24:04ZWhat does the law say?
The law broadens the definition of sexual abuse by members of the clergy to include “improper sexual contact…while in a pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship with the victim…by means of undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, false pretense, or intimidation….” It also eliminates consent by the alleged victim as a defense by those accused of sexual abuse under this law.
A “pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship” is defined under the law as one where the clergy member provides “spiritual guidance, pastoral care, religious instruction, confession, mentoring, or emotional or spiritual support in circumstances where a reasonable person would view the clergy member as exercising influence, trust, or authority over another person's spiritual, emotional, or personal well-being.”
Conviction can carry serious penalties
Violation of the law can bring various degrees of criminal charges. A first-degree offense “knowingly engages in sexually explicit conduct with the victim. This can carry a prison sentence of up to 25 years and a $100,000. A second-degree offense involves “sexual contact, excluding sexually explicit conduct.” The consequences increase with multiple convictions. It should be noted that there is a statute of limitations of 15 years for reporting any clergy sexual misconduct from the date it occurred.
The new law is intended to sharpen the boundaries around what kind of behavior is and is not legal in these sensitive and critical relationships between clergy and those who seek guidance from them. It applies to clergy members of all religions and denominations.
Of course, these relationships can be complicated and involve strong emotions and potentially mixed messages. Anyone who is facing a criminal charge under this law should get experienced legal guidance as early as possible to protect their rights and their future, given that the state is likely to try and mount an aggressive approach to prosecution.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[When online stings cross the line: Georgia law and entrapment]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510692026-08-18T13:49:16Z2026-08-18T13:49:16ZWhat does the law say?
According to Georgia law, “A person is not guilty of a crime if, by entrapment, his conduct is induced or solicited by a government officer or employee, or agent of either, for the purpose of obtaining evidence to be used in prosecuting the person for commission of the crime.”
To claim “entrapment,” a defendant must show that “the idea and intention of the commission of the crime originated with a government officer or employee…and…the accused would not have committed [the act] except for the conduct of such officer.”
Opportunity vs. coercion
That generally means an undercover officer can present an opportunity to break the law, but they can’t coerce someone into doing it or threaten them if they don’t. They also need to be sure the person with whom they’re communicating knows what is involved and isn’t being tricked into doing something illegal.
The law does allow officers to use some deception. For example, the fact that an officer isn’t actually a minor is not a defense against agreeing to illegal activity if the defendant believed they were. Because entrapment can be a gray area, prosecutors will look at the full interaction if that defense is used.
Ultimately, unless a defendant pleads guilty, it’s up to a jury to determine whether they were entrapped into committing a sex crime or other offense. That’s just one reason why, before using this approach as a defense, it’s crucial to get experienced legal guidance.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[Why insurance adjusters review your medical history after a crash]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510672026-08-14T13:38:50Z2026-08-14T13:38:50ZPre-existing conditions and the eggshell plaintiff rule
Georgia law protects injured victims through a rule known as the eggshell plaintiff doctrine. This rule states that a careless driver is responsible for the harm they cause, even if you had a prior injury.
If a crash makes an old health issue worse, the driver must still pay for that new harm. Insurance adjusters often ignore this rule during settlement talks. They may try to blame your pain on an old sports injury or back strain. Adjusters look for specific items in your past files:
Old physical therapy visits for the same body part
Scans that show normal joint wear from age
Doctor notes about past pain or injuries
Adjusters use these details to try to lower the value of your personal injury claim.
The danger of signing a broad medical release form
Insurance representatives frequently send crash victims blanket medical authorization forms soon after a wreck. Signing these forms allows the insurance company to collect decades of personal health information, including mental health records and unrelated treatments.
You are not legally required to sign a blanket authorization form from an opposing insurance carrier. Providing unrestricted access gives the adjuster direct access to private documents that they will attempt to use against you.
How to protect your compensation and health records
You can control which health records the insurance adjuster sees by restricting access to files relevant to the crash. Working with an attorney ensures that you fulfill legal disclosure duties without giving away your private medical history.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[Compensating psychological trauma after a dog attack ]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510652026-08-10T20:18:46Z2026-08-10T20:18:46ZDog attacks often leave visible injuries such as puncture wounds, broken bones and scarring. These physical injuries are usually the first focus of medical treatment, but they are not always the only harm that a victim experiences. Many people – adults and children alike – also suffer significant psychological trauma that can linger long after their physical wounds have healed.A traumatic dog attack may trigger anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress symptoms. Some victims experience recurring nightmares, panic attacks or intrusive memories of the incident. Others develop an overwhelming fear of dogs or avoid parks, neighborhoods and other places where they might encounter animals. Mental and emotional injuries can interfere with everyday life in meaningful ways. A person may struggle to sleep, return to work or participate in activities they once enjoyed. Parents may notice behavioral changes in a child, including increased clinginess, withdrawal, irritability or declining school performance. These challenges are real injuries that deserve appropriate attention and treatment.
Seeking practical and legal guidance after a dog attack
Seeking professional care is an important part of recovery. Psychologists, counselors and other mental health professionals can help victims process their trauma and develop healthy coping strategies. Keeping records of therapy appointments, diagnoses and treatment recommendations may also help document the full extent of the emotional harm suffered for legal and financial purposes.In many personal injury cases, compensation is not limited to medical bills for physical wounds. Depending on the facts of the case and applicable law, damages may also include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress and the psychological effects of an attack. When emotional injuries require ongoing treatment, future mental health care may also be considered when evaluating a claim.To that end, pursuing compensation for both physical and psychological injuries can help to ensure that victims receive the resources they need to move forward with healing and recovery as successfully as possible.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[How poor truck maintenance leads to highway accidents]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510612026-07-29T18:23:06Z2026-07-29T18:23:06ZBrake system failures cause rear-end collisions
Truck brakes face extreme stress during long hauls. Worn brake pads, damaged fluid lines, and faulty air brake systems reduce stopping power. A fully loaded truck traveling at 65 mph may need more than 500 feet to stop, a distance greater than the length of a football field and a half.
According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study, brake system issues were a factor in about 29% of crashes where a vehicle problem contributed to the collision. Drivers ahead of a truck with failing brakes face serious injury risk during sudden traffic slowdowns.
Tire defects create dangerous highway hazards
Trucking companies must check tires for tread depth, air pressure, and sidewall damage before each trip. Neglected tires overheat, separate, or blow out at high speeds. Debris from a blowout can strike nearby vehicles or cause drivers to swerve into other lanes.
Georgia law adopts federal motor carrier safety standards, which require commercial vehicles to undergo regular inspections and meet minimum safety requirements for brakes, tires, and other critical systems. Economic pressures and tight delivery schedules often push companies to delay maintenance, creating real dangers for everyone sharing the road.
Liability extends beyond the driver
Georgia applies a modified comparative negligence standard in trucking collision cases. Victims may recover damages if they are found to be less than 50% at fault. Trucking companies can be held accountable when evidence shows that failure to properly maintain a vehicle directly caused the accident and resulting injuries.
Proving that a mechanical failure resulted from neglect requires detailed investigation. Attorneys often work with mechanical experts to trace brake failures or tire defects back to skipped inspections or ignored repair orders. Maintenance logs, inspection reports, and repair invoices become key evidence in these cases.
Protecting rights after a truck crash
Companies that skip brake checks or tire replacements to save money or meet tight schedules can face liability when that neglect causes crashes. Speaking with an attorney can help clarify your options and preserve key evidence before it disappears.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[Spinal cord injuries can lead to millions in lifetime costs]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510592026-07-17T13:09:46Z2026-07-17T13:09:46ZChristopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a 50-year-old person who suffers high tetraplegia could be looking at lifetime costs greater than $2.5 million. If they are younger, such as 25 years old, those costs could be over $4.7 million.
Why is it so expensive?
The key is to take into account all of the potential damages related to one’s injury. This includes emergency treatment immediately after the injury occurs, time spent in the hospital and lost wages.
On the medical side, a person may need to work with a physical therapist, undergo future surgeries, take medication, pay for in-home care or even make renovations to their home so that they can continue to live there comfortably after their injury.
In terms of wages, a person could lose the ability to work in their chosen field entirely. They may have reduced earning potential or a reduced earning capacity, and they often deserve compensation for their lost future wages.
Seeking appropriate compensation
Because the total cost of a spinal cord injury can be so significant, it is absolutely critical that injury victims understand what legal options they have when holding the responsible party accountable for their harm. Seeking personalized legal guidance immediately is, therefore, generally very wise.]]>On Behalf of The Van Matre Law Firm<![CDATA[Proving that business negligence caused a slip-and-fall]]>https://www.jvm-law.com/?p=510562026-07-01T03:15:34Z2026-07-01T03:15:34ZWhen is a business negligent?
The legal standard for negligence relies on the judgment of reasonable adults. Plaintiffs seeking compensation in a personal injury lawsuit must show that other reasonable people would view the circumstances as unsafe.
Negligence can involve either failing to do what is necessary for safety or engaging in conduct that is clearly unsafe. In a slip-and-fall accident, negligence often relates to ignored slipping or tripping hazards. If there is a spill that workers do not address, maintenance that goes unperformed or a lack of employees on hand to keep a facility safe, another reasonable person could potentially recognize the risk.
Preserving evidence from the scene of the incident, reporting what happened to management and working with an attorney can all help people meet the legal requirements imposed when pursuing a negligence-based premises liability claim. For those with proof that business facilities were unsafe and caused unnecessary danger, it may be possible to hold a business accountable for lost wages and medical expenses generated by a slip-and-fall incident.]]>