Multi-Vehicle Accident with MARTA Bus Results in Serious Injuries

Very few details have been released regarding a big accident involving multiple cars and a MARTA bus that occurred at the intersection of Delowe Drive and Campbellton Road.

As of right now, multiple people - drivers and passengers included are complaining of injury as a result of the accident.

If anyone is found to be responsible for causing the multi-vehicle accident by violating a law of the state of Georgia such as DUI or driving recklessly, then he or she or they might be facing felony charges. In today's post, I will outline the law behind the offense of serious injury by vehicle which encompasses such actions.

Serious Injury by Vehicle in Georgia

Serious injury by vehicle in Georgia is defined by the law in the Georgia Code as:

“When a driver causes 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 Reckless Driving or DUI.”

Serious injury is not defined by this law in particular. However, 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.

This law does not require that any malicious intent to harm be proven.  As a result, defenses that include a driver not intending to get in an accident, drive recklessly, or driving under the influence are not allowed.

Serious injury by vehicle is classified as a felony offense. The prerequisite offenses are reckless driving in Georgia or DUI in Georgia. This means that if a driver is convicted of serious injury by vehicle, then he or she is facing up to 15 years in prison.

Practice Note

As I mentioned above, as of right now, no charges have been filed. If, however, fault is placed on a particular driver or multiple drivers, then they are facing some serious charges.

Contact a Georgia DUI Attorney if you have been arrested. We can help you now.