Georgia Driver Leaves the Scene After Allegedly Hitting Pedestrian

Police in DeKalb County are still searching for a driver who allegedly struck a pedestrian with his vehicle.

According to the investigation, the pedestrian died as a result of the accident. The driver actually abandoned his vehicle and ran away from the scene supposedly on foot.

In today's post, I will define the offense of leaving the scene of the accident in the state of Georgia as it is outlined by law.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia

Leaving the scene of an accident in Georgia can best be described as when a person violates the responsibilities laid out by Georgia Law pertaining to when a driver in Georgia gets involved in an accident. 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.

Leaving the scene of an accident can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense - it is completely dependent upon the circumstances of the crime.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been cited or arrested for a traffic crime, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney now.