A recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation highlights a troubling trend in Georgia: the frequent use of Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuvers by the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) during high-speed pursuits — and the serious injuries and fatalities that often follow.
While PIT maneuvers are intended to stop dangerous drivers, the investigation raises important questions about how often, how fast, and under what circumstances these tactics are being used — and who ultimately pays the price.
What Is a PIT Maneuver?
A PIT maneuver is a law enforcement tactic designed to end a vehicle pursuit by striking the rear side of a fleeing car, causing it to spin out and stop.
When performed at low speeds and in controlled conditions, PIT maneuvers can reduce risk. But at high speeds, especially on busy roadways or near neighborhoods, the results can be catastrophic — turning a fleeing vehicle into an uncontrollable projectile.
What the AJC Investigation Found
According to the AJC’s reporting, between 2019 and 2023, Georgia State Patrol troopers used PIT maneuvers thousands of times, often at speeds that many experts consider unsafe.
Key findings include:
- Georgia ranks among the highest states in the nation for police-pursuit deaths
- More than half of GSP pursuits ended in crashes
- Passengers and innocent bystanders — not just fleeing drivers — were frequently injured or killed
- PIT maneuvers were sometimes used for non-violent or traffic-related offenses
Perhaps most concerning, the investigation revealed that GSP policies place few limits on when or how PIT maneuvers may be used, including no clear maximum speed and limited supervisory oversight.
When Law Enforcement Tactics Harm Innocent People
Many of the most tragic cases uncovered involved people who were never suspected of a crime at all — passengers in the vehicle, drivers in nearby traffic, or families inside their own homes when a pursuit ended violently.
For victims and families, the aftermath is overwhelming:
- Severe injuries or loss of life
- Mounting medical bills
- Lost income
- Limited legal options due to government immunity laws
In Georgia, pursuing accountability after a law-enforcement-related crash can be legally complex, but it is not always impossible — especially when policies are violated or negligence is involved.
What Can Be Done?
Public safety advocates and policymakers have begun calling for reforms, including:
- Limiting high-speed pursuits to serious violent offenses
- Restricting PIT maneuvers to lower-speed, controlled situations
- Requiring greater oversight and accountability
These discussions are important — but they don’t help families already dealing with devastating consequences.
How Morrison & Hughes Can Help
At Morrison & Hughes, we have seen firsthand how dangerous pursuits and aggressive law-enforcement tactics can change lives forever. If you or someone you love was injured — or killed — during a police pursuit or PIT maneuver, you deserve answers.
Our firm can help you:
- Understand whether your rights were violated
- Determine if the pursuit followed proper procedures
- Navigate complex immunity and notice requirements
- Seek accountability and compensation where the law allows
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
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