Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The Champion Firm does not represent anyone involved in this incident at the time of this post’s writing.
Gwinnett County Police arrested a 37-year-old man earlier this week after he seemingly intentionally drove a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon SUV into 30 parked cars in a Gwinnett County neighborhood. The disturbing scene was documented by several neighbors and reported on by local news outlets:
The driver “went from driveway to driveway” as one news outlet described the scene, driving the G-Wagon over curbs and through lawns, and “crashing into almost every car he could see.” He smashed into dozens of vehicles in the process. Some victims of the attack have reported that their cars were so badly damaged they are no longer driveable.
While the man did not live in the neighborhood and neighbors had no idea what caused him to act in such a way, police have said that they believe the driver was suffering from a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
The driver was arrested at a McDonald’s four miles away from the scene of the damages and charged with 28 felony counts of property damage. Police believe the G-Wagon belonged to the suspect’s parents. It is estimated that the driver caused at least $14,000 in damages to the 30 vehicles he hit.
Why You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Georgia
The residents of the Gwinnett County neighborhood were extremely fortunate that no one was physically harmed as a result of the G-Wagon driver’s erratic and dangerous behavior. At The Champion Firm, we have seen many cases where property damage and bodily injury occur together.
In a case such as this, the car may not have insurance, or it may have insurance coverage that does not apply because of an intentional acts exclusion, or if there is coverage there may not be enough to cover all the damage done. This is why it is important to ensure you have the proper coverages on your own vehicle.
One type of coverage that can be very helpful in this kind of case is uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage applies if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover the damages.
You can learn more about what to do if your vehicle is hit by an uninsured driver here:
Luckily, in this case, all the neighborhood residents stayed away from the G-wagon driver and no one was injured. However, the potential for serious harm to come to someone in a situation like this is very serious. If you or someone you know is injured in a car accident, as a pedestrian, or otherwise as a result of someone’s negligence, contact The Champion Firm for a free consultation. We never charge fees upfront, and you only pay us if and when we win your case.
About the Author
The Champion Firm is a full-service personal injury law firm serving the greater Metro Atlanta area. Our award-winning team of attorneys specializes in car accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, and slip-and-fall cases. Learn more about our team here.