According to a report from Fox 5, a driver was killed early Thursday morning in Atlanta, after he struck a guardrail and his vehicle became disabled on the interchange of Georgia Highway 400 onto Interstate 85. The accident occurred shortly after midnight on the exit to southbound I-85. The man was outside of his disabled car when he was struck by a second vehicle.
The victim was identified as a 35-year-old man, and was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries. He later succumbed to those injuries. The driver of the second vehicle remained at the scene of the accident. Police had not yet announced if there would be any charges at the time of the report’s publication.
All drivers have certain responsibilities to avoid accidents like this. Drivers of disabled vehicles are encouraged to take safety measures to alert other drivers, if possible, such as turning on hazard lights and attempting to move the vehicle off the roadway if possible. They’re also encouraged to use care when exiting the vehicle to avoid stepping into the path of oncoming traffic.
However, drivers passing by also have the responsibility to operate their vehicles at a reasonable speed in order to allow themselves enough time to see and stop for hazards, and to avoid distractions that would deprive them of the opportunity to react before colliding with a person or a vehicle. Drivers who see a disabled vehicle on the roadway should slow down as they approach the scene and move over a lane, if possible.
If you were injured or lost a loved one as a result of a distracted or speeding driver, contact Cambre & Associates for more information about the personal injury claims process and the services we can provide to assist you in obtaining the compensation you need for the expenses and impacts of your injury or loss.