Most drivers understand the dangers of allowing themselves to become distracted behind the wheel of a car. Even so, many of them still engage in distracted driving behaviors, whether they are using a mobile phone, talking to other passengers or doing anything besides driving. Georgia police say that distracted driving may be to blame for a recent fatal car accident that claimed a woman’s life and left three other people seriously injured. If true, it would be yet another example of just how dangerous this driving behavior can be.
According to authorities, the crash happened on a recent late afternoon near an intersection on a state highway. Police say they believe that a man driving a pickup truck was following another vehicle too closely. The truck apparently rear-ended the vehicle before swerving into the oncoming lane of traffic. There, police say that it hit another car, killing a woman riding in it. Three people were also seriously injured — the driver and passenger of the first car and the driver of the third car.
Police say that while they cannot comment on specifics, they are certain that criminal charges are forthcoming. They say the charges will likely stem from distracted driving, though they are waiting to get results from blood tests before making a final decision. This could mean they believe that intoxicated driving may have been a contributing factor in the crash.
The injured victims as well as the family of the woman who died may want the driver deemed responsible to be held accountable. No matter what the outcome of any criminal charges may be, they could decide to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in connection with this tragedy. It is likely that they will incur significant costs from the car accident, including hospital bills, funeral expenses and more. An attorney here in Georgia with extensive knowledge of this type of case law can be very valuable to a family in distress.