The Life of a Boy

An accident in Georgia has tragically taken the life of a six-year-old boy. A 63-year-old woman was driving a Chevy pickup truck with her 10-month-old great granddaughter and her six-year-old great grandson when it hit the back of a tracker truck parked off to the side. The woman and the infant survived with minor injuries, but the young boy’s life was taken. Traffic was brought to a halt to take care of the situation, but cars were soon allowed to travel back on the road. Regardless of fault, the family and community now has to live with the knowledge that a car accident took the life of a six-year-old boy. In addition, the great grandmother is said to have experienced shock and trauma, an understandable result of being involved in such a devastating experience. The question remains; when a vehicle is pulled off on the side of the road and an accident occurs, who is to blame?

A Gray Area

Parked cars on the highway are often a gray area. Did the car have emergency lights on? Was there a reasonable amount of space between that car and your car? Was the car sufficiently pulled off from the road? Based on the given information, it appears that the car was pulled off from the road and was parked on the side, separated by white lines. In this instance, it appears that the grandmother hit the parked vehicle because of a lapse in judgment; she crashed into the vehicle because she drove over from her lane to the adjacent, off road lane. In a situation such as this one, it is likely that she will not only be liable for damages to the passengers in her car, but also the vehicle she struck. If you are in such a situation, make sure that you take note of all the circumstances such as lack of hazard lights or other precautions that are normally expected of a vehicle parked off road.

Domestic Precautions

It is important that you understand the rules of the road and take the necessary precautions for being a safe driver when on the road. Here are some simple tips that may save your case.

• Keep a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you. No matter how good of a driver you are, driving less than 20 feet from the car in front of you is probably a big no-no. Exercise common sense and put a good amount of distance between you and the car in front of you. It will give you plenty of time to brake in case of a sudden stop.
• Recover the other driver’s name, insurance information, VIN number, and take some pictures. There are crucial pieces of information you need to collect in case of an accident.
• Never say sorry. Although it is important to check up on the passengers of the other car, saying sorry often implicates that you take responsibility for the crash. Make sure everyone is alright, but do not say sorry.

Contact Us

It is a lot to deal with in a car accident. Let us be there for you. The Law Office of John B. Jackson is here to help. If you have questions about liability after a crash, we have answers. Contact our experienced Georgia car accident attorneys today to learn more.