Child Dies After Driver Leaves the Scene of an Accident in Doraville

DeKalb County Courthouse

Doraville, Ga. – A driver has been arrested in DeKalb County after causing an accident that resulted in the death of a child.

He allegedly caused an accident on Georgia 141 and then left the scene of the accident. A child in the other vehicle ended up dying as a result of the collision.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law behind leaving the scene of an accident in the state of Georgia. This offense is commonly seen alongside DUI in Georgia.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia

Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia is defined by the Georgia Code in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-270. By law, it is referred to as the duty of the driver to stop at or return to the scene of an accident. The statute outlines the different duties or responsibilities that a person must complete when in an accident or collision in the state of Georgia.

These responsibilities include:

(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 law states that the driver must remain at the scene of the accident until fulfilling the requirements listed above. Furthermore, it states that the stop must be made without obstructing traffic.

Practice Note

The consequences of a conviction for leaving the scene of an accident are very serious. If you or a loved one has been accused of leaving the scene of an accident or any other serious traffic offense, call our offices now.