Car Strikes and Kills Marietta Man in Motorized Wheelchair

Why Crashes Involving Wheelchair Users Are So Dangerous

A motorized wheelchair user lacks the protective features vehicle occupants have. Because the wheelchair has no seat belt, airbag, or crumple zone between the rider and the car, the vehicle’s force often hits the rider’s body directly. Wheelchairs sit lower to the ground and have a smaller profile than standing pedestrians. This smaller profile makes it harder for drivers to spot them, especially at night. When a vehicle strikes a wheelchair, the impact often transfers the force directly to the rider’s body. And, older riders may suffer more severe or fatal injuries from the same impact.

Nighttime crossings add another layer of risk. Drivers have less time to perceive and react to something in the roadway after dark, and the margin for error shrinks quickly even at moderate speeds. For more information, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) overview on pedestrian safety.

How Georgia Law Treats Pedestrian Crashes

Georgia law imposes duties on both pedestrians and drivers. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-92, the law requires pedestrians crossing outside marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections to yield the right-of-way to vehicles. However, Georgia law also obligates drivers to exercise due care to avoid collisions with pedestrians on the roadway (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-93).

Because of this, courts do not automatically assign blame solely based on whether a pedestrian crossed outside a crosswalk. Authorities evaluate fault based on all evidence, including the driver’s speed and attentiveness, visibility, lighting, roadway design, and the pedestrian’s actions. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule that reduces an injured person’s recovery by their percentage of fault and bars recovery entirely if they share 50 percent or more fault. Investigators often review surveillance or dash camera footage, vehicle data, and witness statements to reconstruct events in cases like this.

What a Loss Like This Can Mean for a Family

When a person dies in a crash, families grieve while facing practical questions. Georgia’s wrongful death statute (O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1) allows certain surviving family members—typically spouses, children, or parents—to file claims for the full value of the deceased person’s life. Estates may file separate claims for funeral and medical expenses and the deceased’s pain and suffering before death. The law determines eligibility based on family circumstances.

Georgia imposes strict deadlines. Most wrongful death and personal injury claims must come within two years under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, though exceptions exist. Because surveillance video can quickly overwrite evidence, the days immediately after a crash matter greatly.

The Marietta police continue to investigate the Church Street and Tower Road crash. As they release more information, a clearer picture of the collision should emerge.

Understanding the Dangers Faced by Motorized Wheelchair Users on Georgia Roads

Motorized wheelchairs provide essential mobility for many individuals, but users face significant risks on busy roads and intersections. The tragic death of Landry Braxton highlights how vulnerable wheelchair users remain, especially when crossing streets outside designated crosswalks or in low-visibility conditions. Drivers must stay vigilant, especially after dark, to prevent accidents involving wheelchair users. At the same time, wheelchair users should exercise caution and cross only at marked crosswalks whenever possible to increase visibility and reduce risk.

For tips on wheelchair safety and pedestrian awareness, visit Wheelchair Pride.