Most drivers in Georgia go to great lengths to ensure that they are following all traffic laws to protect both their personal safety as well as the safety of others they may encounter. Unfortunately, it may be impossible for even the safest of drivers to avoid the negligent acts of others. For example, a fatal accident involving a tire on a tractor-trailer recently resulted in a woman's death. The incident happened on a day in mid-August. According to reports, a 31-year-old man from out of state was driving a tractor-trailer in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75. Two wheels on the tractor-trailer apparently came off one of the axles of the truck. One of the tires flew across a concrete median and struck a southbound sports utility vehicle. Law enforcement officers claim that the tire took most of the top of the vehicle off. The 36-year-old driver of the SUV, a…

Drivers in Georgia likely come across a variety of different flashing lights, warning signs, and other precautions to protect their safety. Unfortunately, some people may choose to ignore these signs or fail to see them, potentially placing their own lives at risk as well as the lives of their passengers or others in the area. In fact, a recent fatal accident in Georgia -- which could ultimately result in a wrongful death lawsuit -- appears to illustrate the potential dangers of failing to obey flashing lights. The incident happened just before 7 a.m. on a day in early August. According to reports, a 45-year-old man drove a van onto train tracks. The man allegedly ignored several warnings that a train was coming. Reports indicate that the intersection was equipped with several safety tools, including crossbucks, lights, gates, and bells. Video of the incident reportedly shows the man leaving the van just…

Obedience to the rules of the road is vital to a driver who wants to remain safe. Although the actions of other drivers cannot be predicted, fatal accidents can often be avoided when everyone drives with care. An 18-year-old Georgia girl is facing charges after police say her actions caused one of the state's most tragic fatal accidents this year. According to police reports, the girl and another driver were on their way to school in January when she hit the back of the other car. The car was pushed off the road and hit a tree. The driver died from his injuries. The girl's car went spinning, also off the road and landed in a ditch. Her injuries were minor and she was able to hold a rational conversation with responding emergency personnel. A collision reconstruction unit recently concluded its investigation and advised police charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving,…

It seems there are a number of people who think the rules of the road do not apply to them. Distracted driving, drug use or alcohol consumption before driving, or otherwise negligent behavior behind the wheel are all causes of fatal accidents on Georgia roadways. A man faces multiple charges after causing one of the state's most recent fatal accidents. The man and a friend were headed south when his 2007 Chevrolet sedan left the road. After hitting some trees, the car went spinning back onto the road and hit another vehicle going north. Rescue personnel found the man injured and his friend dead when they arrived at the scene. There was no mention of any injuries to the occupants of the second vehicle. The man was taken to a local hospital. However, he left the hospital before the admission process was completed. U.S. Marshals located and arrested him on numerous…

Too often do family and friends have to say an earthly farewell to a loved one because another person was negligent while driving. The option of filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the perpetrator is available in most cases of death due to negligent or reckless behavior. The family of a Georgia couple appears to have grounds to pursue financial damages from a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of a couple. The husband and wife, both 71 years of age, were in their Ford F-150 and were traveling through an intersection when a semitrailer ran a stop sign. The pickup hit the side of the semi, causing the semi to roll on top of the pickup truck. The couple died upon impact. Georgia State Patrol officials have not released details of the accident but state they are still investigating the matter. They indicated that charges will likely be issued to the 30-year-old…

Georgia residents who own dogs know their pets need to be walked on a daily basis. Most set out at a convenient time of day to ensure the dog gets the exercise it needs, never thinking it may end in tragedy. A family lost someone they loved in a wrongful death accident when he was walking his dog. The woman believed responsible apparently left the scene but has been identified by police. The 66-year-old man was in his own yard when a vehicle, suspected to be a silver Infiniti and going too fast for the weather conditions at the time, hit him and his dog. Both the man and the dog were killed instantly. Later in the day and less than a mile away, police found the vehicle they believed to be used in the hit-and-run accident. Police discovered the owner of the vehicle was in jail but used various means,…

A needless death at any age is devastating, but to lose a teenager because of the negligence of another person is indescribable. Many family members who have lost a child, parent, or spouse, as a result, have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, in part, to hold the negligent individual responsible for his or her actions. A Georgia family will have the option to file a wrongful death lawsuit after the death of their 17-year-old son. According to information in police reports, a 17-year-old driver was alarming his three passengers as he was driving erratically down the road. He crashed into a tree after losing control of the vehicle. The crash caused flames to erupt, engulfing the entire vehicle. A 911 call was made, but dispatchers had difficulty determining where the vehicle was located. The passenger in the front was killed in the crash, and the other two in the back seat…

The needless loss of life because of the negligence of another person is often devastating to loved ones left behind. Typically, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed against the person deemed responsible for the death, often bringing a measure of comfort to grieving family members. The family of a Georgia woman likely have cause to file a wrongful death lawsuit after a collision killed her and her daughter. The woman, a criminal justice professor at Georgia College, and her 15-year-old daughter were traveling on a two-lane highway when a pickup truck headed toward them crossed over into their lane and hit them head-on. A sheriff's deputy at the scene stated the deaths of the mother and daughter were instantaneous. The driver of the pickup truck survived but was injured. The 38-year-old pickup driver was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for several injuries, including a broken pelvis.…

Each day, parents in Georgia put their children on school buses out of convenience or necessity. These parents trust the bus drivers to get their precious loved ones safely to school and back home, never even thinking of the day they might not see their child again. Although the number of fatal accidents involving a school bus is lower than those of other vehicles, any life lost is devastating to family and friends. A young girl was killed in one of those fatal accidents, and the bus driver was recently arrested on newly developed charges. In January 2018, the driver was taking her load of children home after school when she lost control of the bus as it came to a curve in the road. Investigations showed she was driving too fast for the trajectory of the road. The bus landed on its side after leaving the road and rolling. A…

Death as a result of another person's negligent actions can be devastating to family and friends left behind. Once grief has somewhat abated, a course of action is often taken in the form of a wrongful death lawsuit. The family of a 42-year-old Georgia man may soon be contemplating filing their own wrongful death lawsuit after he was killed in a recent car accident. The initial investigation shows that the 34-year-old driver of a BMW convertible lost control of his car and crashed off the side of the road. The impact threw the passenger from the vehicle, causing serious injury. The driver was also injured although not as severely as his friend. Emergency rescue personnel took both men to a nearby hospital where the passenger died as a result of his injuries. At the time of a report on the accident, the driver had been admitted to the hospital but is…