A peaceful Sunday afternoon turned to chaos in the small town of Smithville, just south of Atlanta. Two vehicles collided at the intersection of US Highway 19 and Church Street, and now at least one person is dead, but the real tragedy is in wondering if this tragic loss of life could have been avoided.

While driving through the intersection of Church and Highway 19, a 21-year-old pregnant woman was struck by a Mercury Mystique that had failed to yield. The woman and her unborn child survived the accident with no serious injuries, but the passengers in the other car were not as lucky.

A 4-year-old was thrown from the Mercury that failed to yield, and was flown to a hospital here in Macon, where she is expected to make a full recovery. The girl’s father, who was also in the crash, is teetering on the line between stable and critical condition due to a head injury. The girl’s grandmother, who was driving at the time of the accident, is expected to recover from her injuries, but the third passenger-the 51-year-old mother of the little girl-did not survive the injuries that she sustained.

The Georgia State Patrol is reporting that no one in the Mercury was wearing a seatbelt, and now this family has suffered damages and loss that will plague them for the rest of their lives.

Wearing your seatbelt is a choice, but it can do so much to help protect you and your family from injuries during a traffic crash, and just because you are close to home doesn’t mean you are unlikely to get in an accident. Most crashes happen within 25 miles of the victim’s home, so it is always important to be alert and to wear your safety belt.

This is a message from the Macon motor vehicle accident lawyers at The McArthur Law Firm. We fight for you!