Sunday morning, Atlantans awoke to hear the horrific news that a Cobb County teen had been killed by a suspected drunk driver—while he was sleeping in his own bed.

About 3 a.m. Sunday morning, neighbors were awakened by what sounded like an explosion. A Ford F-250 pickup truck driven by a woman suspected of being drunk careened through a Cobb County neighborhood before plowing into and going through a house.

The accident killed 14-year-old Elliot Savary as he slept. His sister Leah, who is 13, was injured.

Police believe Janette L. Eason, 44, of Dallas, was driving drunk when she turned into the neighborhood and weaved down the street, knocking down mailboxes along the way, before slamming into the Savarys’ home. Charges against Eason were pending late Sunday.

Eason's truck entered through the garage and went out the other side, through a wall into Elliot's bedroom, running over him. The truck pushed him through a wall into his sister’s bedroom, where she was sleeping.

A family spokesperson called the tragedy, “incomprehensible.” The Law Offices of Michael L. Neff express our sorrow to the family. It is a horrible way to lose a loved one. If you see someone who has had too much alcohol, we urge you to take their keys—prevent them from driving. Call the police. We should do our part to prevent these senseless nightmares from happening.

Labels: Cobb County, dead, drunk driving

In 2005, Ms. Kathleen Donovan was stopped in traffic north of Ventura, California, when her sedan was rear-ended by a pickup truck driven by Patrick Gallagher, an employee of Gold Coast Erectors. Larry Johnson, another driver and an employee of Weatherford USLP, had been driving between Donovan and Gallagher, but swerved out of the lane when Donovan stopped. Ms. Donovan sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene of the wreck.

Her mother, Constance Donovan, sued Gallagher, Gold Coast Erectors, Johnson and Weatherford USLP, alleging negligence.

Gallagher and Gold Coast Erectors admitted liability but argued that Johnson and Weatherford were also negligent. Both Johnson and his firm denied liability. Gallagher contended that he was driving behind Johnson’s vehicle, which blocked his view of Ms. Donovan. Gallagher argued that Johnson did not slow appropriately, forcing him to swerve out of the lane when Ms. Donovan stopped and that this was negligent, because it compromised his opportunity to avoid the collision.

Constance Donovan did not seek any economic damages, as she was not financially dependent on her daughter at the time of her death, but asked the jury for $3.5 to $4.5 million in noneconomic damages for the value of her daughter's life. The jury awarded her $1.2 million in noneconomic damages, with 90 percent of the fault to Gallagher and Gold Coast Erectors and 10 percent to Johnson and Weatherford USLP.

Even though you may be among the safest drivers on the road, you never know when the actions of those around you can cause injury and death. The Law Offices of Michael L. Neff ask you to drive defensively; and if you or a loved one has been injured in a Georgia car or truck accident that was someone else’s fault, call us or email us immediately before evidence is destroyed. Let us help you get the settlement you deserve.

Labels: car accidents, car wreck, damages, dead, death, injury attorney, lawsuit, pain and suffering, truck accident