Two Single-Vehicle Fatalities
in Berrien and Bibb Counties

Two Georgia families have lost loved ones due to single-vehicle accidents in the same day, within the same hour, in 2 different counties.

Keagan Kung-Korte, 17, was driving home from Valdosta State University and was 2 miles from his parents’ house when he hit the fence that ultimately killed him.

An hour later, around 5:00 pm, witnesses reported seeing a crash on Mercer University Drive in Bibb County. The man has been identified as Albert Caines, 71, from Macon. Caines was traveling east when his car went off the roadway and continued through a parking lot before crossing Eveline Avenue then hitting a tree that made the vehicle stop.

No one else was injured in either accident, but both cases are still under investigation to identify the causes. According to the coroner and sheriff’s office in Berrien County, Korte did everything he was supposed to do. His phone was put away, his seatbelt was buckled correctly, and both hands were on the wheel.

While the same has yet to be confirmed for Caines, the circumstances surrounding both car accidents are unusual enough to make Georgians wonder how they happened in the first place.

Common causes of single-vehicle accidents

Who’s at fault?

If you, your car, and nobody else are involved in a single-vehicle collision, that doesn’t always mean you’re the one at fault.

Reckless drivers

Drivers who weave in and out of traffic lanes or excessively speed can cause other drives to veer in order to avoid being hit. Even though the reckless driver didn’t make contact with the other vehicles, this can increase the risk of other drivers hitting each other or swerving into a post, fence, or guardrail.

Truck drivers with unsecured loads

Shipping companies and flatbed trucks carrying improperly secured loads can cause other vehicles on the road to veer in order to avoid being hit by objects. This means that if you hit a guardrail or your car falls into an embankment because of this, a thorough investigation might reveal the shipping company or contractor is at fault.

Pedestrians and cyclists

Pedestrians and bike riders are responsible for adhering to traffic laws just as much as car drivers. While they may fall under a different set of rules, they can still cause problems when they fail to cross the street at designated crosswalks or suddenly run into traffic and ultimately cause a car wreck. This means they could be held liable for your accident.

Vehicle and automotive parts manufacturers

Sometimes the cause of an accident doesn’t involve pedestrians or drivers, but poor manufacturing. Automotive parts can malfunction while the car is in motion, such as a faulty airbag or brake parts, without ever coming into contact with other objects. When this happens, the manufacturer can be held liable for damages and injuries if the part is proven defective.

Government agencies

Poor road conditions aren’t limited to flooding and ice and wet leaves. Georgia roads are riddled with potholes, sharp curves, fallen debris, and poorly marked traffic lanes or intersections, making these areas dangerous for drivers. If that’s the case, the local or state government responsible for maintaining these roads could be held liable for damages and injuries.

Proving who’s liable can be difficult

For example, if a truck driver with an unsecured load doesn’t realize an object has fallen from their truck, they’ll probably continue driving without realizing they’ve caused an accident. When this happens, proving who’s at fault can be challenging. Contacting an experienced Georgia car accident attorney in these situations can help.

Located in Macon, Albany, and Warner Robins, the team of attorneys at the law firm of Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson have successfully represented injured and disabled clients for over 50 years. As one of Georgia’s oldest and most distinguished law firms, we promise to fight on your behalf so that you don’t have to settle for less.