Georgia College Student Victim of Hit and Run

A West Georgia college student is in a hospital with serious injuries after a hit-and-run accident.

Alma Beauvais has broken bones in her legs after being hit by a car on her way back to the University. According to reports, she was hit by a truck. The driver fled the scene.

“I saw it when it was literally hitting me,” she said. “I thought it was not real, and then I saw it leaving and I saw my leg was twisted.” 

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the offense of serious injury by vehicle in today's post.

Serious Injury by Vehicle in Georgia

According to O.C.G.A. §40-6-394, serious injury by vehicle in Georgia is defined as:

Whoever, without malice, shall cause bodily harm to another by depriving him of a member of his body, by rendering a member of his body useless, by seriously disfiguring his body or a member thereof, or by causing organic brain damage which renders the body or any member thereof useless through the violation of Code Section 40-6-390 or 40-6-391 shall be guilty of the crime of serious injury by vehicle. A person convicted under this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 15 years.

The law itself does not define what constitutes a serious injury. Other Georgia laws define it as a “fractured bone, severe burns, disfigurement, dismemberment, partial or total loss of sight or hearing, or loss of consciousness.”  To be considered serious, the injury does not need to be permanent. Instead, a serious, temporary injury is sufficient and only needs to impair or injure a person's appearance. 

In the past, injuries such as loss of vision in one eye, blurry vision, a two-inch scar on the forehead, broken ribs, and severe bruising have qualified as “serious.”  Whether an injury is serious is a question of fact to be determined by the jury.

Serious injury by vehicle is classified as a felony offense. The penalty if convicted of serious injury by vehicle can include up to 15 years in prison.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested or accused of a serious traffic violation, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney now.