A driver should always remain alert when changing lanes on a crowded interstate. Even a relatively minor mistake in depth-perception or a careless lack of focus can result in hitting another vehicle. That kind of mistake by a driver on a Georgia Interstate recently caused a fatal accident that took the life of a 41-year-old man from Lawrenceville.
The three-vehicle accident took place on I-75 near the Canton Road Connector, according to the Georgia State Patrol. The fatal accident occurred when a vehicle changed lanes and hit a Honda Civic being driven by the victim. The impact caused by the negligent person spun the Honda into the path of an oncoming Ford Expedition.
The Expedition struck the Honda on the driver’s side, killing the driver and causing personal injury to a passenger. Although the reported details of the accident are somewhat sketchy, it is presumed that the injured person was a passenger in the Honda and not in one of the other vehicles. The passenger was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. His condition remains unknown at this point.
The possibility of charges was left open by the GSP, pending the completion of an investigation by its Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team. The scarcity of details about the accident leaves some questions that will have to wait for the published police reports and the final investigation. However, it appears fairly certain that the driver of the vehicle that was changing lanes was likely negligent by striking the Honda. There are no indications that the Honda swerved or did anything to invite the intrusion.
Under Georgia law, the wrongful death and the personal injury in this fatal accident were both substantially caused by that initial striking of the Honda. It’s very unlikely that the driver of the Expedition was also negligent by failing to avoid the collision, but if that were the case, then the two drivers would be jointly liable to compensate both the injured passenger and the estate of the deceased victim. It’s helpful to remember that an interested party can get the answers to questions relating to a serious accident by speaking with an experienced professional and discovering early on what rights and remedies may exist.
Source: Marietta, GA Patch, “GSP: 1 Killed in I-75 Accident,” Rodney Thrash, March 28, 2013
