Couple Injured by Freak Accident at Outdoor Georgia Mall

According to reports out of Alpharetta, two shoppers were injured after what police are deeming a “freak accident.”

Fortunately, both people have been released from the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The incident occurred when a delivery truck cut a corner and hit a sign pole. The pole ended up falling on top of the couple.

The woman was quoted saying, “I literally was thinking, ‘this is it. It was so scary. ... All I remember seeing was two of the wheels come up onto the sidewaIk.”

As of right now, the driver is not being cited for any criminal wrongdoing or traffic violation. However, as a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law that might be potentially charged as violated as by the driver.

Striking a Fixed Object in Georgia

Striking a fixed object in Georgia is also known legally as violating the duty upon striking a fixture. This is, as I mentioned above, another common traffic violation that pairs with DUI in Georgia.

The law is as follows in O.C.G.A. §40-6-272:

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a fixture legally upon or adjacent to a highway shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of his name and address and of the registration number of the vehicle he is driving and shall, upon request and if available, exhibit his operator's license.

Violating the above-mentioned statute is considered a misdemeanor in Georgia. This means that the penalty can include a fine up to $1,000 and 12 months in jail.

Practice Note

There are many violations that are related to DUI in Georgia. If you or a loved one has been charged or cited with a serious traffic or moving violation - call our offices now.