Hart County, GA – Man Killed in Wrong-Way Accident on I-85
Hart County, Georgia (June 26, 2023) - Authorities say that the heavy rain early on Monday did not appear to be a factor in the three-vehicle accident on I-85 northbound in Hart County, just before the state line bridge.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m., just past Exit 177, when a wrong-way driver entered the northbound lane and collided with an oncoming tractor-trailer, according to a sergeant with the Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post.
According to the Sargeant, a white 2015 Jeep Cherokee driven by a 41-year-old man from Naples, Florida, was traveling southbound in the left northbound lane on Interstate 85 when he collided with a green 2019 International tractor-trailer driven by a 47-year-old man from Mansfield, Georgia, who was traveling northbound in the left lane.
In the northbound left lane of Interstate 85, the front of the Jeep collided with the front of the International tractor trailer.
Upon initial impact, the Jeep became engulfed in flames and debris, striking a white 2021 Kenworth tanker truck traveling northbound in the right lane of Interstate 85.
The jeep traveled across the northbound right lane of Interstate 85 and struck a guardrail, ejecting the driver.
The International tractor-trailer went off the left shoulder and into the grass median, where it came to an uncontrolled stop after colliding with a ditch.
The Jeep driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the northbound lanes of Interstate 85 were closed for an extended period of time for the crash investigation/road clean-up.
According to the sergeant, the driver of the International tractor-trailer suffered serious injuries and was taken to AnMed Medical Center in Anderson, SC. His current condition is unknown.
The driver of the tanker truck was not injured.
The sergeant stated that no charges will be filed against either truck driver.
Fatal Auto Accidents in Georgia
Fatal car accidents are tragic events that can affect not only the people involved but also their families and communities. A fatal accident can be devastating both emotionally and financially.
Driving while intoxicated or high on drugs or alcohol, driving while distracted, driving at excessively high speeds, and driving recklessly are all risky behaviors that can result in fatal car accidents. These collisions are usually avoidable if traffic laws are followed, enough attention is paid to the road, and safe driving is practiced.
When a person is killed in an accident caused by another driver's negligence, the surviving family has the legal right to sue the negligent driver for wrongful death. The deceased's family will be able to seek monetary compensation for the loss of their loved one.
Although no amount of money can ever make up for the loss of a loved one, the system is in place to help the family recover financially from the tragic accident and to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.
If someone you care about dies as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident, the first thing you should do is talk to an experienced Wrongful Death Lawyer about what happened. This will help you determine whether you have a legal right to file a compensation claim.
It can be extremely difficult to manage a wrongful death claim or negotiate with an insurance company on your own. Without a lawyer on your side, the insurance company will either try to settle the case for the lowest possible amount or simply refuse to pay anything.
You will be compensated for the following when you hire an attorney to represent you:
- Funeral and burial expenses.
- Any outstanding medical bills.
- The loss of your loved one’s future income.
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of earning capacity.
- Loss of consortium.
- Loss of caregiving capacity.
- Grief and emotional trauma.
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you should speak with a Wrongful Death Lawyer right away. These lawyers have the knowledge and resources to help you understand your legal options when filing a compensation claim.
The Mabra Firm has a team of highly qualified Fatal Car Accident Attorneys who can assist you if a loved one was killed in a car accident. To schedule a free consultation, call 404-344-5255 right away.
Note: This post was created with the help of outside sources, such as news articles and first-hand accounts. Because the details of this accident have not been independently verified, please notify us immediately if you discover any false information. We will update the post to reflect the correct information.
Disclaimer: At The Mabra Law Firm, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality and safety of our state, and we have been saddened by the outcomes of numerous accidents. We hope that by informing those in our community about these accidents, they will work to prevent other serious accidents in the future. These posts are not intended to be solicitations for business. The information contained within should never be interpreted as medical or legal advice. We wish everyone involved in these accidents a fast recovery.