Atlanta authorities are still searching for a driver who has been accused of striking and killing a pedestrian with his vehicle.

Reports show that the suspected driver actually abandoned his vehicle and ran away from the scene supposedly on foot. As an Atlanta DUI Lawyer, I am familiar with offenses such as leaving the scene of an accident as well as vehicular homicide in Atlanta.

In today's post, I will define the offense of leaving the scene of the accident as it is outlined by Georgia law. Now whether or not the driver is guilty of committing any criminal offenses will be revealed by further investigation or apprehension of the suspected driver.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Atlanta

Leaving the scene of an accident in Atlanta can best be described as when a person violates the responsibilities laid out by Georgia Law pertaining to when a driver in Georgia gets involved in an accident. The law is as follows:

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.

If such accident is the proximate cause of death or a serious injury, any person knowingly failing to stop and comply with the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years.

Leaving the scene of an accident can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony offense - it is completely dependent upon the circumstances of the crime.

Practice Note

If you or a loved one has been cited or arrested for a traffic violation in Atlanta, contact an Atlanta DUI Attorney now. We specialize in defending against DUI in Atlanta as well as all other related offenses.