In most fatal car accidents that take place in Georgia and the rest of the country, the driver responsible for the accident is aware of the damage he or she caused. For this reason, hit-and-run drivers often face harsh criminal sentences when they are found. In rare cases, however, it may be possible for a driver to cause a fatal accident without realizing it.
When a 53-year-old Alpharetta man stopped on the side of Interstate 75 to replace a flat tire, he was killed. Although a man driving a pickup truck with a boat trailer passed the man, the vehicle did not hit the man directly.
Authorities believe that a tire on the trailer that came loose may have killed the man. If this theory proves accurate, it is possible that the driver of the pickup is unaware of his role in the man’s death and he will likely avoid charges for fleeing the scene of a fatal accident.
In the meantime, local authorities are still searching for the man who caused the accident so that they can learn as much as possible about the cause of the Alpharetta man’s death. It is unknown whether the victim’s family members have plans to file a personal injury lawsuit against the pickup driver.
Anyone who has lost a loved one in a fatal car accident may want to talk to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Even if the driver is uninsured or underinsured, an attorney may be able to help victims receive compensation to cover medical expenses as well as the mental anguish of losing a loved one.
Source: 11 Alive, “Searching for driver in fatal Lamar County accident,” July 17, 2014
