Georgia Driver Ran Off the Road

A man has been seriously injured and hospitalized as a result of being run off the road by another driver.

According to reports, a driver was run off the side of Ga. 316. The victim stated that  he saw headlights in his rear-view mirror and figured that the driver was just going to pass his car.

However, what happened next he is unsure of because he barely remembers being run off the road, spinning out, and flipping several times. He ended up smashing his car into a tree. He is currently in the intensive care unit.

Authorities have stated that a man has turned himself in to be questioned but as of right now no charges have been filed.

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

Serious Injury by Vehicle in Georgia

In O.C.G.A. § 40-6-394, serious injury by vehicle 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 Serious Injury by Vehicle statute does not define what constitutes a “serious injury.”  Other statutes define it as a “fractured bone, severe burns, disfigurement, dismemberment, partial or total loss of sight or hearing, or loss of consciousness.”  To be “serious,” the injury need not be permanent – a serious, temporary injury is sufficient and only needs to impair or injure the appearance of a person. 

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.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been arrested in connection with serious traffic violations, contact a Georgia DUI Attorney now.