Fatal Crash with Motorcyclist Reported in Canton

Cherokee County Justice Center

Canton, Ga. - A young man has died this week after being hit in a T-bone crash in Cherokee County. The collision took place last weekend.

Witnesses to the collision reported that the man was traveling at a very high rate of speed on Alabama Road. He collided with a vehicle that was making a lefthand turn. The collision is still under investigation, and as of right now, no charges have been filed.

However, it is possible that charges could result. As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline one of the possible charges if the other driver is held responsible for the accident which is vehicular homicide in the state of Georgia.

Vehicular Homicide in Georgia

Georgia law O.C.G.A. §40-6-393 outlines the degrees of vehicular homicide in Georgia. A person will be charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree when, without malice aforethought, a death is caused by the person either unlawfully passing a school bus, reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude a police office, or leaving the scene of the accident. Homicide by vehicle in the second degree occurs when death results due to a violation of any other statute other than the ones specified for homicide in the first degree. 

First degree vehicular homicide is regarded as felony-grade vehicular homicide charge occurs when a death is the result of DUI or reckless driving. Convictions of felony-grade vehicular homicide may warrant up to 15 years in prison. 

In addition to penalties decided by a judge, the offender could also face a civil suit brought on by the victim's family. In a civil suit, the judge could award damages such as pain and suffering or loss of company to the victim's family. 

Furthermore, homicide by vehicle convictions can have long-term consequences. A felony conviction can make finding employment difficult as well as precluding the victim from practicing in certain professions such as teaching, the medical field, and other areas. The conviction will appear during background checks and can also affect obtaining housing or credit.

Practice Note

Call our offices today if you are facing serious traffic offenses in the state of Georgia. We can help you now.