Georgia Police Searching for Suspect Involved in Deadly Hit and Run in Union City

An unidentified man was hit by a car and killed last night in Union City. His body was discovered on an exit ramp off of I-85. As of right now, authorities are saying it could have been the result of one vehicle or many vehicles.

No one stayed at the scene of the crime. Investigations have been under way since the man's body was discovered.

Similar to my post yesterday, the alleged driver or drivers will be facing charges of hit-and-run and vehicular homicide in Georgia if and when apprehended.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, the crux of my legal experience is aimed at serious traffic violations and offenses. I handle hit-and-run cases quite regularly, and I will expand on the law behind the offense of hit-and-run in today's post as to provide clearer understanding.

Hit-and-Run in Georgia

Hit-and-Run is also known as leaving the scene of an accident in Georgia. The law in Georgia defines certain responsibilities that a driver has if he or she is involved in an accident. If any of the responsibilities are violated, then that violation will result in a charge of hit and run in Georgia.

The responsibilities are listed out by law as:

• Exchange personal information with other involved parties (name, address, vehicle registration information)
• Display a valid driver's license upon request
• Provide reasonable assistance to anyone who was injured in the accident and/or transport him or her to the closest medical facility for treatment, if necessary, and
• Contact emergency medical services and police. O.C.G.A. §40-6-270.

As I mentioned above, every driver involved in an accident is required by law to perform these responsibilities.

Leaving the scene of an accident can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense. 

If the accident involves personal injury or occupied vehicles or any type of property damage, then it will most likely be considered a felony offense. The penalty can include one to five years of prison time, fines, probation, and license suspension.

However, if the accident does not involve any personal injury or occupied vehicles, then it might be charged as a misdemeanor. The penalty can include up to twelve months of jail time and up to $1,000 in fines.

Practice Note

Stories such as the one I covered in today's post are heartbreaking and tragic. However, as a Georgia DUI Attorney, I've found that the majority of people who leave the scene of an accident are not acting maliciously in any way. Most of the time, it is because they are scared. And in some situations (more than we would like to admit), drivers are wrongly accused and charged with this offense.

This is our area of expertise, so if you or a loved one has been charged or arrested for a serious traffic violation in Georgia, contact our offices today.