Suwanee, GA – 10 injured, 6 Dead in Crash on I-85

Suwanee, GA (May 30, 2021) – A deadly crash occurred on Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Gwinnett County on I-85, just northeast of Atlanta, resulting in 6 deaths and 10 people injured in a 16-passenger van, along with minor injuries to a lone bystander.

Witnesses say that before the accident, a second vehicle made an abrupt lane change in front of the van, which caused the van driver to lose control before the van flipped onto its side and burst into flames.

The van driver, Monica Manire, among 10 who survived the crash, was later charged with six counts of vehicular homicide after an investigation determined that Manire made a reckless lane change. Our thoughts are with the families of all those dead, injured and otherwise impacted by this tragic accident.

Multiple Party Personal Injuries and Claims

Sorting out the details and complexities of an accident with multiple victims and claims in Georgia is never easy. Whether the responsible party is one person or many, multiple personal injury claims for the same incident may have a variety of legal implications. Some important points to consider when there are multiple passenger claims against a possible negligent driver include:

• Unlikely passenger liability – Barring such actions on the part of a passenger interfering with the driver, the driver in a one-vehicle accident will likely be found liable.
• Driver’s liability coverage – Passengers will usually file a third-party claim under the insurance of the driver. This means that multiple claims from passengers’ injuries or fatalities claims in total may exceed the driver’s liability coverage. In this case, unless the claimants each agree to receive a lower split for payments per insurance company offers, the insurance company may rescind their offers. Each passenger or their family would then need to file separate lawsuits to secure a settlement in line with their injury claims.
• Passenger as plaintiff – There are two things a passenger must prove in their personal injury claim: The liability of the driver, and their damages. Liability, as stated, is usually easy to prove, especially if the driver was cited or charged. Possible damages paid in a settlement could include medical costs, pain and suffering, rental vehicles, lost wages and wrongful death.
• Statute of limitations – Passengers have 2 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Injured Passengers Need Representation

According to a report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2019, Georgia yielded over 1,500 fatalities resulting from 1,440 fatal crashes in 2017. Since only 21% of these crashes involved drunk drivers, it’s wise to consider a variety of unexpected factors involved in fatal vehicular accidents. Drivers must be aware of safety measures and driving practices when behind the wheel, knowing how to properly and safely respond to dangerous road events. As a passenger in a driving accident, you aren’t in control of the driving, but you must have legal representation looking out for your best interests without relying on other passengers’ claims and representation for your best outcome.

Georgia passengers with injury claims and families who experienced the loss of a family member through a fatal car accident need proper representation to work toward fair and legal compensation. No amount of compensation can undo the effects of a tragic car crash, but it can relieve some financial burden and assist in moving forward after a tragedy has occurred. The Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown may be able to help you receive financial compensation for injuries or the loss of your loved one. Contact us today at (678) 505-0559 to schedule your free first consultation.

Disclaimer: Our staff at the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown have worked hard to become valued members of the Georgia business community. We write accident news stories with the intent and purpose of bringing awareness to the dangers of driving in our community with hopes that our fellow community members will use added precautions when operating a motor vehicle and avoid being seriously injured in an Alabama accident. This post is not intended to be a solicitation for business. The information provided in this post is not meant to be legal advice or medical advice. The picture used in this post is not representative of the accident described in this post.