As a driver in Georgia, you are likely vigilant about traveling its mountain routes and curving roadways, but what happens when you are involved in a hit-and-run car accident? This happens more often than you may think; in fact, the Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that there were over 737,000 of these types of accidents nationwide in 2015. There are several reasons why a driver may leave the scene of a wreck, and the most common may surprise you.
If another motorist hits your car and then flees, it may be that he or she is reacting to a fear response. Such incidents can trigger this response because the driver may not know how to handle them, so his or her first response is to run away. While leaving the scene of an accident is a misdemeanor if there are no injuries and a felony if you or any passengers were to be injured, the instinct for the other driver to flee may be stronger than the urge to obey the law.
Being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, legal or otherwise, may cause a driver to become confused after striking your vehicle. Drunk individuals might not have any idea that they have been in an accident, and those other the influence of drugs may have extremely poor judgment and drive away afterward. Drivers taking prescription medications for high blood pressure or for mental issues may cause them to become confused or have slow reaction times and they may leave the scene without realizing they have hit you.
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
