A young driver faces criminal and potential personal injury liability after an early morning incident on an Oregon roadway. The man was at the wheel of a SUV-type vehicle that was involved in a single-car crash. The car accident ended with injury to all of those who were in the car when it happened.
Though they are continuing to investigate the car accident, Oregon officials say that the SUV was on U.S. 97 near Madras when the incident occurred. Three people were in the vehicle as it headed north. For reasons that are as yet unclear, the car crossed the center line of the road.
Once there, it hit the shoulder and rolled over before righting itself in the on-coming lanes of the highway. During the incident, one young man was thrown from the vehicle. Two others, including the 18-year-old driver, were injured. All were taken to local hospitals where they are recovering from their injuries.
The driver was cited for traffic related crimes. In addition, he may face personal injury claims from his two passengers. These claims could stem from Oregon personal injury laws and may include the costs associated with this unfortunate car accident. In many cases, those who were injured due to the actions of another are able to seek an award for damages such as pain and suffering or lost wages. Though the evidence will determine which claims and how much damage was suffered in this case, it is common for those in our state who have been involved in these types of incidents to seek a personal injury claim against the driver deemed to have been at fault.
Source: oregonlive.com, “Police investigate crash on U.S. 97 north of Madras that injured 3,” Lynne Terry, May 15, 2013
