Atlanta police are continuing their investigation into a car accident in Southwest Atlanta that killed a grandmother driving to church on a Sunday morning.
The 68-year-old woman was driving her Honda Accord when she stopped or slowed down near the traffic light. Police said that shortly thereafter a Ford Taurus slammed into the back of the woman’s vehicle at a high rate of speed.
The collision caused the woman to incur severe injuries and also caused a small fire to erupt in the car. Attempts to free the woman from the flaming vehicle by nearby civilians were unsuccessful. Fire crews eventually freed the woman from her car, but she later died at the hospital as a result of her injuries.
Atlanta police have not released information regarding the driver of the Taurus, nor whether he will face any charges. He was reportedly injured in the accident, though not severely.
Unfortunately, while the exact facts regarding the collision have not yet been released, it appears as though the second driver may have been distracted or otherwise not paying attention to the road. This seems to be the most plausible explanation for why he would slam into the already stopped car in front of him at such a high rate of speed. Collisions where one vehicle is already stopped and the second vehicle, be it car or truck, crash at full speed often, if not always, result in fatality.
Georgia law holds liable any party that breaches a legal duty which results in personal injury. Negligent motorists are subject to liability when their reckless driving results in an accidental injury or death. The fault attaches due to the fact that this failure to exercise due caution was the direct cause of harm.
Additionally, and potentially relevant in this case where a fire was ignited, auto makers can be held liable when a defective vehicle or part injures the consumer. Examples of potential products liability cases against manufacturers include claims of a flaw in the product’s assembly, model, or design. Whatever the problem, manufacturers are strictly liable when they fail to repair the defect or warn consumers of attendant dangers.
Serious crashes involving multiple parties and insurers require legal acumen and advocacy in order to ensure the best potential outcome. If you have been injured, or a loved one has been killed, in a car accident caused by another person’s negligent conduct, you should contact an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney as soon as possible. Attorney Stephen Ozcomert is a knowledgeable personal injury attorney with over 20 years of experience, skilled at representing individuals and families who have been injured in Atlanta and elsewhere in Georgia as a result of the negligent or reckless driving by others. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation. You can reach us by calling (404)-370-1000 or through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Cobb County Car Accident Could See Wrongful Death Suit in Addition to Criminal Charge, Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published September 13, 2013
12 Year Old Boy Hurt in Southwest Atlanta Pedestrian Accident, Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, published September 6, 2013