Marietta Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

It may be rare to see a case where passengers traveling in a vehicle on Marietta's roads are not familiar with its driver. People may tend to be forgiving of their acquaintances' mistakes, preferring instead to be supportive and willing to help them work through things. However, there may be times when the consequences of a friend's decision are so great that those affected by them have little choice but to seek action. Even in cases where it is shown that a friend may have been negligent, the decision to hold them accountable may not be any easier. 

The family of a Cherokee County teen may soon be facing just such a decision. The young man was killed when the car carrying himself and three friends lost control, left the road and struck a tree. The driver of the vehicle and another passenger were also seriously injured in the accident; the third passenger escaped with only minor injuries. Authorities have yet to conclude their investigation into the crash, yet they feel confident enough in some aspects to say that excessive speed certainly played a factor. 

According to records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of people killed in all motor vehicle accidents in Georgia last year was down slightly from the previous year. There were 1,540 vehicular fatalities statewide in 2017 compared to 1,556 in 2016. This decrease was also seen in the number of people who died in accidents involving both speed and alcohol. The number of deaths in crashes involving large commercial trucks, however, rose.

Across Georgia, 179 lives were lost in large truck collisions in 2016. Last year, that number jumped to 214. In Cobb County, 2017 marked the second year in a row in which the number of large truck fatalities increased. In 2015, two such deaths were recorded followed by four in 2016 and then eight in 2017. The eight deaths last year represented almost 16 percent of the county's total accident fatalities. Overall, in the five years from 2013 to 2017, Cobb County lost 28 lives in large truck accidents.

When Georgia residents hit the road in the autumn, they may not consider the fact that there are new hazards they need to be aware of. There are a few hazards specific to this season and it is good for people to be aware of them before they start driving.

Some people may think they only need to worry about sun glare in the summer. The American Association of Retired Persons says that people usually still need to think about glare once autumn hits. This is because the sun gets nearer to the horizon during this season. People tend to experience more glare because the changed angle means the sun can reflect off more buildings and cars. Because of this, it is important for people to make sure they have good visibility and keep their sunglasses within reach. Additionally, the road may sometimes be more slippery because of the falling leaves. It is a good idea for people to slow down when they drive down roads covered with leaves, especially if the road is also damp.

When one is involved in a car accident caused by a teenage driver in Marietta, he or she may want to give the youthful motorist a pass due to said teen's inexperience behind the wheel. However, the expenses that can often accompany such an accident may make it necessary for him or her to seek compensation. While a teen would likely not have the resources needed to help cover one's accident costs, his or her parents might. Yet in order to hold a parent responsible for the actions of a teen driver, one must typically apply the legal principle of negligent entrustment to his or her case. 

Negligent entrustment allows liability for an accident to be placed on a third party in certain situations. In a recent ruling issued by the Court of Appeals for the state of Georgia, two elements were recognized as having to be present in order for this doctrine to apply. First, it must be proven that the owner of a vehicle entrusted it to a driver knowing that the driver was inexperienced and/or incompetent. Next, it needs to be shown that the incompetent driver's negligence was the proximate cause of an accident.