58-year-old Sheila Smith was struck and killed by a car while walking to work at the Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville Thursday, December 19, 2013.
According to Lawrenceville Police, Sheila Smith was crossing Duluth Highway/GA 120 on her way to work at the Gwinnett Medical Center when she was struck by a blue Hyundai Elantra driven by 25-year-old Barry Carter. Tragically, Ms. Smith perished at the scene.
The accident occurred just before 6:00am at the Gwinnett Medical Center Boulevard intersection. Advocates for pedestrian rights and personal injury attorneys at The Murray Law Firm are now investigating this tragic accident and question what factors may have contributed:
- The posted speed limit on Duluth Highway is 45mph. How fast was the driver traveling at the time he struck Ms. Smith?
- What factors lead to the driver's failure to notice Ms. Smith crossing the roadway? Was the driver engaged in distractive devices, such as a cellphone, radio or gps, at the time of the accident? Was a blood test performed on the driver and, if so, did it reveal the use of any drugs, medications or alcohol?
- Police note a lack of lighting as a potential factor in the fatal accident. Hundreds of patients and employees pour into the Gwinnett Medical Center daily and this intersection serves as a major emergency room entrance. Yet, there appears to be no street lighting, crosswalk, or sidewalk at this entrance. What actions have local city planners and hospital administration taken to improve pedestrian access to the facility?
As the details of this tragedy continue to emerge, pedestrian rights attorneys believe it is possible that the hospital and city planners failed to provide adequate, safe access for employees and patients. Further, should the driver in this accident be found at fault for speeding, distraction or impairment, the family of Sheila Smith may elect to hold him civilly liable in her wrongful death. Such claims will serve as a grave reminder to all Georgia drivers to share the road with pedestrians and to stop distracted and impaired driving. Perhaps most importantly, these claims will demand hospital administrators and city planners re-evaluate pedestrian safety and hospital access at this entrance. The addition of improved pedestrian safety measures, such as street lighting, crosswalks and pedestrian bridges, may save hundreds of lives.
Our sincere condolences and prayers are with the family of Sheila Smith. The Murray Law Firm works tirelessly to protect victims and families of pedestrian accidents and we offer our legal expertise, if needed.
Anyone seeking further information on our investigation is encouraged to contact us at 404.842.1600.
