Driver Left the Scene of an Accident After Striking Pedestrian in Atlanta

Atlanta Municipal Court

Atlanta, Ga. – Officers with the Atlanta Police Department are asking the public for help in identifying and finding a driver who has been accused of hitting a pedestrian in West Atlanta.

According to officers, the pedestrian was struck unlawfully and then the driver fled the scene.

As an Atlanta DUI Lawyer, I not only specialize in DUI in Atlanta but all serious as well as related traffic offenses. In today's post, I will focus on the law behind leaving the scene of an accident.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

A driver is charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Georgia when he or she is accused of not fulfilling the following legal responsibilities.

The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person or in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident or shall stop as close thereto as possible and forthwith return to the scene of the accident and shall:

(1) Give his or her name and address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving;

(2) Upon request and if it is available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with;

(3) Render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the transporting, or the making of arrangements for the transporting, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such transporting is requested by the injured person; and

(4) Where a person injured in such accident is unconscious, appears deceased, or is otherwise unable to communicate, make every reasonable effort to ensure that emergency medical services and local law enforcement are contacted for the purpose of reporting the accident and making a request for assistance. The driver shall in every event remain at the scene of the accident until fulfilling the requirements of this subsection. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

All of these responsibilities are outlined in O.C.G.A. §40-6-270.

If it is determined that the accident is the proximate cause of death or a serious injury, any person knowingly failing to stop and comply with the requirements will be found guilty of a felony. The penalty for a conviction of leaving the scene of an accident include up to five years in prison.

Practice Note

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