Atlanta Injury Attorneys Blog

We are all aware that law enforcement has a tough job to do in keeping us safe. That job can be made even tougher when members of the public are at the wrong place at the wrong time. This past Sunday, the wife of an Atlanta Braves trainer died when a Georgia State Patrol cruiser was speeding to aid other law enforcement in a hot pursuit and hit the car she was in with her family. Others in the vehicle, including her husband and son, were injured as well. In my experience representing clients as a Gwinnett County injury and wrongful death lawyer, I know this tragic loss of life is devastating to loved ones. My personal condolences go out to the family involved in this terrible accident.

The scenario is one we have read about before, but it never gets easier, especially when life is lost. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that a witness, who saw a state trooper's cruiser speed past him - feared something might happen and it did. He told the AJC that only " '[s]econds later I heard a big blast like a train crash.' " The sound was the cruiser, its lights and siren on, hitting an SUV that was driven by the Braves trainer. The SUV was hit at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Memorial Drive in downtown Atlanta.

The cruiser was driven by a veteran Georgia state trooper, on his way to help other law enforcement in a chase situation. The trooper's injuries did not require hospitalization, although he did get treatment at Grady Memorial. The authorities are working to reconstruct what happened in this tragedy.

Among the many scenarios that law enforcement must face, is the need to travel at high rates of speed when innocent bystanders are also present. It is possible that the trooper was not able to see the intersection or the vehicle he hit - because the witness noted it was at the crest of a hill. Authorities should be releasing more on the crash as information becomes available.

We want to remind our readers about what Georgia law requires in situations like this. Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-6-74 sets out how drivers must operate on the road when an emergency vehicle is approaching. It requires that "[d]rivers of every other vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle or law enforcement vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer." However, emergency vehicle drivers must also "drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway."

In some situations, it is not possible to pull over to avoid an emergency vehicle. Perhaps in this situation, the emergency vehicle came along with so little warning there was no way for the driver to get out of its way. We will only know this after reconstruction occurs.

Georgia's Move-Over Law is also important to remember. This law requires that drivers "move over" one lane when possible when an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on the shoulder of the highway. If traffic is too heavy to move over safely, the law says drivers must slow down to a speed below the posted speed limit and also must be prepared to stop.

My professional experience as a serious car accident lawyer, has given me the opportunity to help families deal with the legal aspects of serious accidents and injuries. My law firm, the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle has convenient offices throughout the Atlanta area. Please contact my law firm to arrange for a free consultation with me on matters ranging from truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, personal injury, wrongful death and estate administration.

What would you do if a live wire fell on your vehicle? Do you know what safety calls for in this situation? Sometimes I get asked very good questions like this in my practice as an Atlanta truck accident lawyer. Well, if you do not know the answer to this question, a somewhat unusual car and truck accident this morning in Atlanta might be instructive.

Earlier today, the driver of a Honda said she had no recollection of hitting either a power pole or fire hydrant on West Marietta Street. The impact resulted in live wires being strewn across a semi-truck with the driver inside. She told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution that she "was at the stoplight and ... blacked out."

Atlanta Fire Rescue was called to the West Marietta Street location where traffic was shut down in the eastbound direction and local power was out for a while.

What is very important to note in this situation is that the driver of the semi-truck did not exit his vehicle because he knew to remain in his cab until he knew that the power had been cut. Had he tried to leave his vehicle, Atlanta Fire Capt. Bobby Ferrell said " 'the downed wires could have proved lethal."

He explained that those within a vehicle near a downed wire should " '[n]ever open the door and get out of your car when wires are down' " since we should "treat all downed wires as if they are live and energized." That might be easier said than done as it would be a very difficult experience to wait for the authorities. But this advice could save a life.

The driver of the vehicle was mainly concerned that her insurance will increase based on this incident. She may be responsible for the damages she caused to the fire hydrant and the power lines, but her carrier would likely pay for this. Insurance carriers can increase your insurance premiums based on your driving record. If a medical condition caused the accident, she still might be responsible for what occurred to public property.

Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner provides an Automobile Insurance Rate Comparison calculator for consumers looking for insurance. Rates vary depending on many circumstances, but this comparison can be helpful to those seeking to find insurance.

As a Georgia accident and insurance lawyer, I am aware that many drivers do not know what their policies cover or provide and when an accident occurs they need expert help. Sometimes the language is difficult to understand and is not written in plain English -- which would make the insurance contract more accessible to the average person.

Whether or not you believe you have insurance that will cover an injury or damage after an accident, it is vital to get the help of a professional who can guide you through the process. And, as I always advise clients, do not talk with the carrier without professional support. Insurance companies often try to intimidate their policyholders after and accident hoping they can reach a quick settlement that is likely not the most fair settlement for you.

As an experienced Georgia personal injury attorney, I can guide you through your insurance concerns. Often there is not one, but several policies that can pay your claim. Insurance is often "stackable" meaning that you could obtain the policy limits of several policies, thereby increasing the total recovery.

Insurance companies are very experienced at avoiding payment of claims. If you have been injured in an automobile or other motor vehicle accident and have any questions about your insurance coverage or your ability to recover your medical and other damages from another driver, please contact me at the Georgia Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle. As an Atlanta car crash and bus crash lawyer, I have the knowledge and experience to help victims get through the legal process.

By now, we all know that seat belts save lives and that "click it or ticket" are mainstays of federal and state government and law enforcement efforts to encourage families to buckle up. In my representation of many serious motor vehicle accident victims and their families, as a Gwinnett County catastrophic injury lawyer, in my view, anything that can reduce deaths and injuries is vitally important.

But for some reason, drivers and passengers are still yet to have learned to buckle up every time they get into a motor vehicle. It is never easy to reconcile human behavior with safety measures that are available to us, but that we do not use. So when it comes to seat belt use, the failure to use a seatbelt even when the dashboard in a modern vehicle is telling us to buckle up, is puzzling and sometimes tragic.

The National Highway Safety Administration touts its "Click It or Ticket (CIOT)" campaign as the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign in the history of our country and says it has helped to create the "highest national seat belt usage rate of 85 percent." The State of Georgia has had its own successful Click It or Ticket campaign and continues to encourage us to buckle up.

The risk of injury or death are greatly reduced when using a seat belt. These simple devices save lives and make otherwise might be deadly crashes, survivable. Although the Click It or Ticket campaigns have created a very compliant public, teens, pick up truck drivers and men between 18 and 34 years of age are less likely to use their seat belts.

The death of a Norcross High School student last month has left many of us saddened and stunned. In the tragic accident, a Gwinnett County resident and high school basketball player, who was enrolled in honors and Advanced Placement classes, and three of his family members were killed in a single vehicle car wreck in Florida last month.

The young man's dad who was driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe tragically crashed in a single vehicle accident on I-75 near Ocala, Florida, the SUV traveled across several southbound lanes, overturned a number of times and ended up on its roof. Reports say that during this crash, six of the eight people inside the SUV were ejected in the crash. Only one person was wearing a seat belt -- the driver who was the young man's father. Speed was apparently not a factor so it is not clear what caused the vehicle to leave its lane.

Could some or all of the people who died in this crash be alive now had they been wearing their seat belts? We will never know the answer to this question. But this accident is important for all of us to pause and pay attention -- make sure that you do not drive or ride in a vehicle without a seat belt.

The Norcross High School community has suffered an enormous loss and it is impossible to imagine the sorrow that this family is experiencing. In addition to those killed in the accident, others were injured. Our hearts go out to the family and the school community.

Please buckle up every time you get into your car or other motor vehicle. You could save your life or the life of someone you love.

If you have been injured in an automobile or other accident, please contact my law firm to arrange for a free consultation with me on matters ranging from truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, personal injury, wrongful death and estate administration. We have offices throughout the Atlanta area in Duluth, Buckhead, the Perimeter and Decatur. for your convenience.

In my law practice as a Gwinnett County catastrophic injury lawyer, I have experience with the dangers of single-car accidents. In fact, I have written about these often serious single vehicle crashes in the past, as they occur frequently in Georgia and as noted earlier this year, these crashes are currently being studied at the renown Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

Last month, two Gwinnett County college students were tragically killed in just such a fatal auto crash. In an accident that is still under investigation, two college freshmen were killed and two others were seriously injured. All had been friends in high school and all had graduated from Collins Hill High School.

The deceased students attended Georgia College and State University and both were from Gwinnett County. The accident occurred in Milledgeville and local police advised the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the students had been shopping at Walmart and were returning to campus when the accident occurred.

Although there is no alcohol alleged as a factor, weather has not been ruled out as a possible factor in the tragic car accident. It is also not certain whether charges will be filed in this crash.

The deceased students were in the back of a Mini-Cooper when the driver lost control and it became airborne. The vehicle flipped, apparently more than once, and eventually hit a tree. Sadly, the young men were pronounced dead at the scene after being removed from the vehicle by emergency personnel. The other two young men were taken to Oconee Medical Center in Milledgeville but were later transferred to Medical Center of Georgia in Macon.

The College has issued a statement about this tragedy saying that: " 'The Georgia College community extends our most heart-felt condolences to the family members, friends and associates of our deceased students ... we will have counselors available to assist any university person or group who wishes assistance.' "

A very moving story about these fine young men and their families reminds us of the delicate balances in life. Most certainly, all families in this tragedy are grieving this loss.

In my profession as a serious car accident lawyer, I help families deal with the legal aspects of such things as wrongful death of a child. But the legal aspects of these accidents is only part of the picture.

The Georgia legal system provides for what is called "discovery" which includes an investigation of the facts of each case. This process involves legal skill and building the strongest legal and factual case possible, including sometimes hiring medical or accident reconstruction experts to support the case for the best outcome. It also involves supporting families emotionally and helping them to deal with the financial aspects of often very challenging life crises.

Many lawyers do not provide this personal level of support and that is what distinguishes someone who is running a law practice that focuses on the clients' needs first, which is what we do at the Law Offices of P. Charles Scholle. Please contact my law firm to arrange for a free consultation with me on matters ranging from truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, personal injury, wrongful death and estate administration. We have offices throughout the Atlanta area in Duluth, Buckhead, the Perimeter and Decatur. for your convenience.

Being in the top five nationally of most lists might be a positive, unless the list has to do with Georgia or Atlanta area fatal car crashes. That is why as a Gwinnett County auto injury and wrongful death lawyer, I report with concern about a recent statistic that was published about fatal auto wrecks in Georgia.

Last month, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an analysis that found Georgia has the dubious distinction of ranking fourth in the nation for the costs of medical and work losses that result from fatal car crashes. The rankings were based on data from 2005, the most recent available.

The cost is a staggering $1.5 billion to victims and to their employers for medical and work losses. The total cost from the top 10 states alone was $41 billion in 2005.

Representing the families of victims of fatal auto crashes, I am all too aware of the cost to victims and their surviving family members. The basis for the high costs in Georgia is not specified. If you read our local newspapers or watch our local media news, you will likely be aware that many of our most-traveled highways, such as I-285, I-85 and I-75 and others surrounding the metro Atlanta area, can be dangerous places to travel.

The CDC Injury Center included some recommendations to lower these statistics nationally, including seat belt enforcement, child car safety policies, graduated drivers license programs that slowly increase teen driving privileges and universal motorcycle helmet laws.

These efforts can make a real difference. The use of motorcycle helmets is said to decrease brain injury by 69% and reduce the risk of death by one-third. The use of Graduated Driver Licensing programs have already been instituted in some states and have been reported to reduce teen crashes by 40 percent for drivers who are 16 years of age.

Recently, Southeastern Georgia's WTOC 11 carried an Associated Press (AP) report that motorcycle accident injury and motorcycle deaths have decreased by two percent during the first three quarters of 2010. Unfortunately, this may not mean that a downward trend will continue for any lasting safety improvement. Practicing as a Gwinnett County catastrophic injury and wrongful death lawyer, and having a platform to speak to the public about safety in the Atlanta Injury Attorney Blog, I want to go through the sobering statistics with our readers.

The statistics show that from January through September 2010, 80 fewer bike riders lost their lives in the same period in 2009. Unfortunately, the situation changed in the last three months of 2010 as fatal motorcycle crashes began to increase again.

Since the 1990's, annual motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled. In 2008, fatalities climbed to 5,312 deaths. And then dropped over 15 percent in 2009.

Some experts believe the reason for the decline in fatal bike crashes, was the economy. These same experts believe that as the economy improves more riders will be out on the roads with a possible rebound in the deaths of recreational motorcycle riders. But others do not see this correlation and believe that increases in gas prices also increases motorcycle ridership and that more bikers are out on the roads when gas is at such high prices.

The most worrisome trend reported by AP is that "the number of motorcyclists wearing federally-approved, impact-absorbing helmets dropped 13 percent in the first nine months of 2010." During this period the use of lighter weight helmets increased by 9 percent. These helmets are said not to protect riders as well as the heavier helmets.

Here is another sobering statistic: helmets that comply with federal safety standards have a huge impact on saving lives. They reduce the biker's chances of being killed in a bike crash by 40 percent. Many bike enthusiasts would prefer not to wear helmets and have successfully lobbied to reverse mandatory helmet laws.

The National Transportation Safety Board says there are 20 states that require motorcyclists to wear helmets and 13 of those states go beyond the basic requirement and require the use of helmets that meet federal standards.

Motorcycle ridership will be up throughout Georgia during the spring and summer months. As we continue to report on Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, we hope our readers will consider the statistics and safety recommendations when they get out to enjoy their bikes.

As part of my practice as an Atlanta injury and accident lawyer, I have represented many clients involved in serious motorcycle accidents in our area. It is well-known that drivers of these vehicles are more vulnerable to motorcycle crashes involving serious injury and death than drivers of other types of vehicles. There are no more enthusiastic drivers than those who own and enjoy riding their bikes.

The National Safety Council (NSC) wants to help avoid death and injury to motorcyclists and keep them as safe as possible. To further that effort the NSC has made the month of May, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. We would like all Atlanta area drivers, whether they are driving a truck, car or a motorcycle, to pay close attention to the information that the NSC has provided.

According to the NSC, many accidents involving cars and motorcycles are caused by the fact these vehicles can be hidden in a driver's blind spot. Those driving a car or truck should always check their blind spots visually prior to changing lanes. Many motorcycle crashes and tragic injuries result from these common maneuvers on the road.
The NSC also urges that motorists share the road with motorcycles by taking extra precautions when they are traveling in proximity to one another. Suggestions for motorists include several important points.

First, motorists should allow more distance when following a motorcycle. Second, it is critical to be very careful when traveling in an intersection. The NSC says that "[m]ost crashes occur when a motorist fails to see a motorcyclist and turns left in front of a motorcycle." Third, the NSC suggests that it is very unwise to try to share the lane with a bike -- instead, give the motorcycle a complete lane.

The statistics of bike crashes, injuries and deaths are not good. In fact, deaths that involved both motorists and motorcyclists increased 131 percent in the decade between 1998 and 2008. Alarmingly, the motorcyclists' death rate by miles was "37 times greater than for passenger car occupants."

The advice to bike riders to avoid crashes is also very important information. If at all possible, do not drive your bike in bad weather. Second, avoid riding in the blind spot of the vehicles around you, whether they are trucks or cars. Third, make sure to signal when you are turning or making a lane change.

As a supplement to our previous post concerning a tragic Atlanta auto accident fatality at the intersection of MLK Drive and Westlake Boulevard, we want to report received a call from a witness to the wreck who did not want to be identified. This witness claimed that the accident was "100% the fault of the truck driver." The witness claimed that the truck turned into the oncoming path of the Toyota. She claimed that she stayed for more than an hour after the accident but that the police would not talk to her.

With auto accidents involving a wrongful death in Georgia, state authorities routinely perform a SCRT Team investigation. The SCRT Team is a specially-trained group from the Georgia State Patrol which conducts a very thorough forensic evaluation, taking measurements, auto damage assessments and witness interviews. I recently learned, however. that the SCRT Team is not always called in. I am the attorney in a pedestrian fatality in Gwinnett County where no SCRTinvestigation was done. Evidently, there is some discretion by local law enforcement.

Hopefully, there will be further investigation in this case so that the conflicting accounts by witnesses are reconciled and the true facts are ascertained.

As an Atlanta car accident attorney, it is always heartbreaking to learn of a tragic death in our area. Saturday evening a head-on collision occurred while a vehicle traveled westbound on Martin Luther King Jr. drive at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard. In this Fulton County truck accident -- the truck driver had no warning of the impending crash as he drove southbound on an Atlanta street.

According the report published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the westbound vehicle driven by Justin Moss, crossed over into the oncoming lane and crashed into a truck. Mr. Moss who was an Atlanta resident and 18 years of age, was driving the westbound vehicle and was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office. He was pronounced dead on the scene of the accident.

Two others were injured in this accident. A passenger in Mr. Moss' vehicle was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condtion. The driver of the truck that was struck by the westbound vehicle, was also taken to Grady Memorial in critical, but stable condition.

Head on collisions are among the most dangerous of all motor vehicle accidents. Even with the introduction of air bags, which we do not yet know were in the vehicles involved in this accident, many Americans are killed or catastrophically injured in these dangerous collisions every year.

And no population is more vulnerable to death on the road than teens. The Department of Transportation launched an effort several years ago to improve the safety of teen drivers since motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of those between the ages of 15 - 20 years of age.

We do not yet know whether alcohol or other factors were a part of this tragic accident.

In a horrible story from this weekend, a recently married woman was tragically killed in an Atlanta tractor trailer accident. The victim, Danyal Holley, was a Woodstock resident according the Medical Examiner of Fulton County. According to police, Jack Parsons, the driver of the tractor trailer, attempted to change lanes on Interstate 285 when he struck Mrs. Holley's Nissan Sentra, forcing it into the guardrail. The driver of the Nissan lost control, crossed into the opposite lane of 285 when it was struck by the cab of another tractor trailer travelling in the opposite direction. The accident blocked all Southbound lanes of 285 for several hours.

As a Gwinnett County truck accident lawyer, I can certainly testify to the power and momentum that a commercial truck brings to bear upon smaller cars. A relatively light tap can cause a small car to careen out of control, and when a small vehicle comes into the path of a large tractor trailer, the small car dosen't have a chance.

Parsons was charged with second degree vehicular homicide and improper lane change. He was arrested and booked Sunday evening into the Fulton County jail. Second degree vehicular homicide is a misdemeanor charge, so Parsons could only receive up to one (1) year in jail. Realistically, absent some type of aggravating factor like DUI, Parsons is highly unlikely to serve any jailtime. Accordingly, the civil justice system is probably her survivor's only option for justice. A Wrongful Death in Fulton County will probably be the appropriate action.

Mrs. Holley's husband, whose name was withheld, was a passenger in the Nissan. One can only imagine the pain and anguish he is enduring right now. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital after the accident with minor injuries.

The Atlanta Injury Attorneys Blog has recently posted on an Atlanta area MARTA bus accident in which a car played a major factor in the crash. We have also posted on the push to implement federal bus safety standards that have been in place for a decade, but are not yet fully implemented.

Last week, a Harmon Brothers Tour bus chartered to carry 52 passengers from the Mill Creek High School in Buford, was traveling on 1-75 in a construction zone when it had to swerve off the highway to avoid a car stopped in its lane. The bus traveled up an embankment and struck an overpass, all to avoid the car.

The car was in the lane in which the bus had been traveling due to a rear-end collision that occurred before the bus came along. The car had been pushed into the lane in which the bus was traveling, after it had been involved in the rear-end collision.

There were 47 Gwinnett County high school students on board the chartered bus when the accident occurred. One bus passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Macon and 19 others were taken to nearby hospitals. The airlifted passenger was said to be in stable condition. The other passengers were taken to the local hospital as a precaution and were not expected to have any serious injuries.

As with so many Atlanta area highway accidents, this colliison occurred in a construction zone at a merge point where three lanes merged into two. Accident and injury can be avoided if drivers slow down in construction areas and allow the merge to occur without trying to rush through the situation.

The Atlanta Injury Attorneys Blog has learned from a report in the Atlanta-Constitution Journal that a Lanier High School student was killed Wednesday morning in a tragic accident. The Gwinnett County car accident that resulted in the student's death may well have been due to weather. But authorities are not certain of the cause.

The crash occurred at around 7 in the morning. Apparently, the car the Lanier student was riding in as a passenger, which was traveling southbound, was struck while turning left at the intersection of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and 1st Avenue. Another car driving northbound broadsided the passenger side of the vehicle as it made the turn and the teen was killed.

The student was pronounced dead at the scene and the drivers of the both vehicles were taken to the hospital. Their injuries are said not to be life threatening.

Our hearts go out to the families of all involved in this tragic Gwinnett County accident.
Although we do not know the cause of this accident we all need to consider our driving patterns in weather conditions.

Please remember that intersections can always be very dangerous and that is the case particularly in weather conditions. It is very important to make sure that on-coming vehicles can see your vehicle making a turn. In addition, if you are driving through an intersection watch your speed and do not rush to get through it. The American Safety Council includes some important information on driving defensively in intersections and we urge our readers to review them.

Last month, the Georgia Department of Transportation took a big turn on roadside memorials. These are the memorials we have all seen along highways and roads that are constructed by family members and friends after a loved one has died in a fatal motor vehicle accident.

Now the Georgia DOT says these memorials along state and federal highways pose a road hazard for drivers who move their eyes away from the road to take a look at the memorial and become distracted. They say they intend to remove them over time as the roadsides are maintained. This does not apply to city and county roads.

We know from the use of technology within a vehicle such as texting while driving, that when drivers move their eyes away from the road it can be deadly. Presumably, it is a similar safety concern for drivers whose attention is drawn to the make shift memorials that often include messages, flowers and religious symbols, such as a cross.

The families of loved ones who have tragically died in a fatal accident on Georgia's roads have been given an alternative by the DOT. The state is offering a more "uniform" solution to the public memorial. They will issue a sign at the cost of $100 that will include the deceased person's name and the notation "Drive Safely, In Memory" and will give the sign to the person who paid for it, after it has stood for one year. No other memorials will be permitted on Georgia's roads. The application for this sign can be viewed here.

According to a recent account in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, some family members are taking the news of this development very hard. Many bereaved families use the memorials they have created as part of their grieving process and for them it might not be the same creating an individualized memorial for their loved one.

In its Highway Safety Memorial Markers policy statement, the DOT states: "The policy is to provide guidance for the application process and uniform design and placement of memorial markers within the State Highway rights of way."

Although the agency appears to understand that this change is not going to be easy for some families to accept, the DOT's policy on this issue stems from the fact that nearly 1500 people die on Georgia's roads annually.

A big factor in the dangers of the memorials constructed by families and friends is the proximity to the edge of the road. When people gather around these memorials they can be at risk of being hit or killed themselves by oncoming traffic.

Early this morning, the Cobb County I-575 ramp at Chastain Road became deadly for a 19-year old car passenger. The driver apparently crossed the ramp and tumbled down an embankment into trees below. Authorities say that it is possible that excessive speed and alcohol may be the reason for this tragedy.

The driver, a 21-year old man and two other passengers were hurt in the crash and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. It is likely that charges will be filed against the driver and his life will be forever changed because of this tragic single-car crash.

Across the Atlanta metro region and throughout Georgia, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be deadly. When taking the wheel of a motor vehicle, it is important to remember that any impairment can lead to the death of those in your vehicle or others on the road, whether pedestrians or other drivers.

If you believe a driver is under the influence, don't get into the car. Carry extra cash in your pocket so that you can call a cab and avoid what happened in this situation.

If you are injured because of someone else's carelessness, including drinking and driving beyond the legal limit, you have rights. It is important to contact Atlanta personal injury legal counsel who can help you recover from your injuries and can hold those responsible for your recovery from injuries.

Most likely, the family of the deceased young man will have the right to file an action for the wrongful death of their son. This may well completely alter the young driver's life as he will have to pay for the loss of life and for the injuries of the passengers.

An Atlanta Metro tractor-trailer accident became a tragedy this week after a six-month old baby died from injuries sustained in a Cobb County crash. The infant's parents were both injured in the crash. The Atlanta Injury Attorney Blog and its affiliated Georgia injury law firm wish to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family.

The truck crash, which also involved several passenger cars, took place on I-75 in Cobb County this past Saturday night. Investigators say that a truck traveling towards the Windy Hill Road exit failed to brake for stopped vehicles on the road. The vehicles, a Toyota Highlander, a GMC Acadia and a Buick LaSabre were stopped in traffic in a construction zone that involved lane closures.

The driver of the truck apparently did not brake and instead slammed into three cars crashing into the rear of the Acadia, the side of the Toyota Highlander and the rear of the Buick LaSabre. The now-deceased baby was a passenger in the Acadia.

The baby's parents who reside in Douglasville, Georgia were immediately treated at Atlanta Medical Center after the accident and their baby was taken in critical condition to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta (Scottish Rite). But sadly, on Monday their baby died from the serious injuries sustained.

The two occupants of the Buick were also injured, while those in the Toyota were not injured.

The tractor-trailer driver is now charged with two misdemeanors -- 2nd-degree vehicular homicide and following too closely. He was not injured in the crash.

Passenger cars on Georgia's roads travel along with heavy vehicles such as tractor-trailers. When they are involved in a collision, the passenger cars are far more likely to be damaged and passengers injured.

This is a matter of weight and speed -- the heavier vehicle cannot stop or avoid a collision as well as a smaller, lighter vehicle. Apparently, in this accident, the truck is alleged to have been following too closely and either did not brake or could not stop in time to avoid the cars.