Early-Morning Crash Kills Pedestrian | Oregon Injury Accident Attorneys

Date: January 11, 2010
Location: Highway 42S, near Bandon, Oregon
Names: Randall Earl Tourney, Brenda Rae Wilson

On January 11, 2010, around 6:20 AM, Randall Earl Tourney, 49, of Bandon, Oregon, was killed after being struck by a car driven by Brenda Rae Wilson, 46, also of Bandon, according to the Bandon Western World. It was the first Oregon traffic fatality of 2010.

Tourney was walking in the westbound lane of Highway 42S wearing dark clothing.

OSP officers later discovered Tourney’s van in a ditch at Elmira Avenue and Sixth Street. In a January 21 update story, Capt. Steve Smartt told the Bandon Western World that police are working on a reconstruction report, but they believe Tourney’s car went into the ditch and he started walking toward town.

“That’s our presumption, but, of course, we have no way of knowing for sure,” said Smartt. Tourney’s vehicle did not appear to have extensive damage.

Because Wilson showed no evidence of impairment at the scene, no toxicological samples were taken. No charges were pending. She was not injured in the crash.

Before the crash, a driver called police and reported seeing and nearly striking a man walking east on the highway and wearing dark clothing. Tourney was struck and killed about 30 minutes later.

Services for Tourney were held January 17 at Seabird Chapel Church of God in Bandon. Our hearts go out to his family; and our thoughts are with Wilson as she deals with this unfortunate accident.

If a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk, it is generally considered the driver’s fault. However, just like everything in the law, there are exceptions. If the pedestrian was drunk and wearing dark clothes, and it was dark, the driver can sometimes escape prosecution. Or if a pedestrian darts out unexpectedly into an intersection, the law may take the driver’s side too. But in most cases, the law will consider it to be the driver’s fault, and the pedestrian or the pedestrian’s family will be able to get legal compensation. All cases are different, of course, so contact a knowledgeable lawyer if you have any questions about your case.

 

Car Crashes into Tree, Injuring Two | Portland Accident Lawyers

Date: January 1, 2010
Location: NW Mason Hill Road near NW Jackson School Road, Hillsboro, Oregon
Names: Richelle Peterson, Craig Robinson

According to The Hillsboro Argus, a car crashed into a tree on New Year’s Day, around 8 AM, injuring a man and woman from Portland, Oregon.

The crash occurred near the intersection of NW Mason Hill Road and NW Jackson School Road in Hillsboro, when a Honda Accord driven by Richelle Peterson, 31, crossed into oncoming traffic, left the road and crashed into a tree. Peterson and her passenger, Craig Robinson, 40, were taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with serious injuries.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office said that speed and alcohol were contributing factors.

Robinson is not Craig Robinson, the Oregon State basketball coach.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are up to 36 deaths and 700 injuries every day in the U.S. due to motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The CDC reports that in 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. This comes to almost one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths. And in 2007, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence – but this is less than 1% of persons who admit to driving impaired each year.

Have you been injured in a drunk-driving crash? It is important to understand what to do after you’ve been involved in a crash where alcohol is a factor. We hope you will never need this information, of course, but you may want to check out this informative video. We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit without an attorney. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney.

 

Crash Seriously Injures One | Oregon Car & Truck Accident Lawyers

Date: December 29, 2009
Location: Highway 370, between Prineville and Redmond, Oregon
Names: Casey Renee Purcell, Adam Purcell, Tyrell William Azbill

On December 29, 2009, around 7:55 PM, during sub-freezing temperatures, two people were injured in a head-on crash on Highway 370, between Prineville and Redmond, Oregon, according to The Portlander and KTVZ.com.

The accident happened when Adam Wesley Purcell, 46, of Sprague River, lost control of his car on the slick road. The car traveled into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into a truck driven by Tyrell William Azbill, 17, of Prineville.

A passenger in Purcell’s car, Casey Renee Purcell, 21, of Prineville, was seriously injured and was flown to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. Adam Purcell sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was self-admitted to the same hospital. Azbill was not hurt.

Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by Crook County Sheriffs Office, local area fire and rescue personnel, and ODOT. Part of the road was restricted to one lane for over three hours.

It was not immediately known whether any of the vehicles’ occupants were wearing safety restraints.

We want to offer our well-wishes to everyone involved in this crash. We hope anyone who was injured will be completely recovered soon.

The Oregon Department of Transportation, in “Winter Driving Can Be Tricky,” warns that better cars, better roads, and better tires don’t take the place of careful driving.

Tips for Winter Driving:

•    In snow or fog, drive with your low beams on. And keep headlights clean – dirty headlights can cut visibility in half.
•    Keep a good grip on the steering wheel. Do not make sudden turns; if you skid, correct your car using a light touch.
•    Increase following distance, then increase it some more. ODOT recommends at least three times the normal following distance in snow or ice.
•    Plan ahead for intersections.
•    If you find yourself skidding, ease your foot off the accelerator. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch. While keeping your foot off the brake, steer the same direction your car’s rear end is skidding.
•    If you hit a patch of ice, ease up on the accelerator and let your car “roll” through.
•    Remember that posted speed limits are meant for dry conditions, not rain, snow, sleet, or ice. Slow down during winter weather.

Many questions arise out of a car crash. And unfortunately, our minds don’t often focus on recovering; they usually go directly to the financial – medical bills, insurance policies, lost wages. How will you and your family get through it? Fortunately, victims have resources. That’s why we’re here. We’re not ambulance chasers; we’re lawyers who feel it is our duty to help injured people deal with the insurance companies. And the first thing you should do after getting the medical help you need is to go to our website – not to give us your business, but to read our free tips, download helpful documents, or request a free copy of our book. And if that’s not enough, you can always contact us to ask us any questions.