When a car accident happens, the victims are not always just humans. A little dog named Zorro was just one of the victims of a car accident that occurred in Portland recently. While the dog was able to run away from the accident, three humans were not as fortunate, suffering injuries in the collision.
Local firefighters responded to a car accident at Southeast 96th Avenue and Southwest Market Street in Portland on the afternoon of April 16. The two-car accident involved a Toyota Prius and another vehicle. The Prius ended up on its side when it came to a rest after the collision.
Extracting the victims of the car accident became a challenge for rescuers as they worked to remove the occupants of the hybrid vehicle. The eco-friendly cars can present issues for rescuers due to their electrical systems and the risk electric shock. Firefighters must first disconnect and de-energize the electrical lines in the car prior to rescuing victims.
Once the car was considered safe, firefighters used the Jaws of Life to remove the three trapped individuals from the Prius. Three injured victims of the accident were taken by ambulance to Oregon Health Sciences University. Another was treated at the scene by paramedics.
Police are continuing to investigate the cause of this car accident. As they do, they will likely seek to determine if either of the drivers was at fault. Once a conclusion is reached, any parties deemed negligent in a manner that caused or contributed to the serious injuries sustained may find themselves facing a personal injury claim for monetary damages.
When a person is injured in an Oregon car accident, he or she may suffer injuries that are both physical and economic. Lost wages, other expenses and a potentially long recovery process may await an accident victim. When those injuries were incurred because of the negligence of another, the law permits a person to seek monetary damages occasioned by the negligent acts.
Source: KPTV, “Three injured in southeast Portland crash; dog missing,” April 17, 2012
