Atlanta Driver Arrested for Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident

According to recent reports, a local man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a pedestrian, killing her, and then fleeing the scene.

Upon arrival, officers located a female who appeared to have been struck by a vehicle and was deceased on scene. Witnesses reported that the woman flipped twice in the air before she landed from the striking.

The driver said that he was unaware that he had hit her at all. He has been arrested. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will be outlining the law behind leaving the scene of an accident in Georgia in today's post.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia

Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia is the offense charged when a driver violates the legal responsibilities laid out by the Georgia Code. The Code lists out the responsibilities that any driver who is in an accident must complete by law.

The law is as follows:

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person or in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident or shall stop as close thereto as possible and forthwith return to the scene of the accident and shall:

(1) Give his or her name and address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving;

(2) Upon request and if it is available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with;

(3) Render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the transporting, or the making of arrangements for the transporting, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such transporting is requested by the injured person; and

(4) Where a person injured in such accident is unconscious, appears deceased, or is otherwise unable to communicate, make every reasonable effort to ensure that emergency medical services and local law enforcement are contacted for the purpose of reporting the accident and making a request for assistance.

The driver shall in every event remain at the scene of the accident until fulfilling the requirements of this subsection. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

If such accident is the proximate cause of death or a serious injury, any person knowingly failing to stop and comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

Practice Note

Call our offices today if you or a loved one has been arrested for a DUI related arrest.