A fatal car crash yesterday in Atlanta, Georgia has police investigating the matter after a driver fled from the scene after the wreck. The crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. yesterday when two cars travelling south on GA 400 were involved in a collision. The wreck left four people injured and killed a 17-year-old. One of the drivers involved in the crash drove off, but was later captured by the police. Charges are pending and few other details have been released about this crash.
The loss of life in this crash can’t be understated. It would have been bad had the wreck not involved a hit and run driver. The fact that it does involve such a driver makes it even worse.
This story is a warning to anyone that is involved in a crash: never flee the scene of the accident. You turn what could be a relatively simple matter into a very complicated criminal investigation. Fleeing the scene of an accident means that you have committed a crime, and if the crash you were involved in turns out to be fatal, you could face a lot of jail time in addition to serious civil penalties too.
For victims of car accidents, may a fleeing driver be involved or not, it is crucial to consider your legal situation after the wreck. A civil lawsuit could hold a negligent driver responsible for his or her actions and earn you the compensation you need to pay medical bills and other costs associated with car accidents.
Source: 11alive.com, “Teen identified as victim in fatal GA 400 hit-and-run crash,” Adrianne Haney, March 23, 2017
