A fiery three-vehicle accident on southbound Georgia 400 earlier this month left one woman dead and put the life of a paralyzed man in danger, according to reports by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department. Three Good Samaritans who witnessed the collision stopped their vehicles to pull James Carnes from his van, which had erupted into flames, and have been credited with saving the man’s life. The Georgia car accident was reportedly caused by the driver of a Toyota Yaris, who struck the rear end of a semi-truck before veering out of control and colliding with Carnes’ Econoline van. If you have suffered injuries in an auto accident in Marietta, Atlanta, or elsewhere in Georgia, contact our car accident attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today for legal help.
Driver Collides With Semi-Truck, Van
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department reports that 60-year-old Maria Martinez was traveling south on Georgia 400 near Pilgrim Mill Road when she rear-ended a tractor-trailer. The impact caused Martinez to lose control of her vehicle and strike a 2004 Ford Econoline van driven by James Carnes. Martinez’s Toyota Yaris and Carnes’ van veered off the road and came to a stop near a wooded area, officials reported. Three Good Samaritans who stopped at the scene of the accident first attempted to help Martinez, until they heard Carnes, who is paralyzed from the chest down, crying for help from his van, which had caught fire. They were able to free Carnes from the vehicle, and he and Martinez were transported to a local hospital, where Martinez was later pronounced dead.
Consult Our Personal Injury Lawyers Today
Although the official cause of the deadly collision is still under investigation, it’s possible that Martinez was distracted in the moments leading up to the accident. Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of fatal accidents in Georgia and throughout the United States, resulting in thousands of deaths and even more injuries every year. If you have suffered car accident injuries in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal crash, consult our knowledgeable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the person or party found at-fault in the accident, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.
