Sometimes the severity of an accident can actually be minimized by the slower-moving speed of rush hour traffic. A recent three-vehicle accident in Georgia caused personal injury to four people during rush hour traffic in an incident that could have been even worse if traffic was moving at a faster pace. It was nonetheless serious enough to send four people to the hospital.
The car accident occurred on GA 400 during the evening rush hour. The Georgia State Patrol investigated and reported that two vehicles were heading northbound in the left lane and a third vehicle was going in the same direction in the right lane. As they slowed down for traffic congestion, the second vehicle in the left lane rear-ended the vehicle in front of it.
The car that was hit crossed over into the right lane where it struck the left side of the third car. That impact resulted in sending the first two cars careening back into the cable median barrier, where they came to a stop. The driver who caused the initial rear-end collision was a 23-year-old Alabama woman. She was injured and taken to the hospital.
She was charged with following too closely. The car that was initially rear-ended was driven by a 65-year-old male from Gainesville. He and his two passengers, a 66-year-old female from Gainesville and a 39-year-old female from Dahlonega were taken to the same hospital with unspecified injuries. The driver of the third car was uninjured.
The Georgia laws of negligence would most likely impose liability for personal injury on the Alabama woman who rear-ended the first vehicle. The Gainesville man and his two passengers in the car that was hit from behind in all likelihood have a right to recover damages from her. Damages could include pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, lost wages and lost earning capacity. Medical bills and property damage to the vehicle are also generally covered. If the at-fault driver was insufficiently insured to pay for the full extent of the injuries, the victims can also turn to their own auto policies for possible additional coverage.
Source: Cumming, GA Patch, “3-Vehicle Accident in North Forsyth Sends 4 to Hospital,” Liz Kennedy, April 14, 2013
