The Umpqua Post reports today that a single-car accident occurred around 9 AM today on Highway 101, near Dunes City.
The accident occurred when Craig Prater, 19, of Florence was driving northbound near milepost 200. The car moved from the road to the northbound shoulder. After trying to steer the car back to the road and failing, Prater crossed both lanes of traffic and landed on the driver’s side. Rescue workers from Lower Umpqua Ambulance, Gardiner Fire Department and Reedsport Fire Department pulled Prater from the wreck. Prater is not cited for the wreck and the cause is listed as ‘fatigue’.
We are relieved that neither Prater nor anyone else was hurt in this accident. When driving, if you feel fatigued, take advantage of the many rest-stops available on the way to your destination. A quick cat-nap could save you or someone else from a potentially fatal accident.
While accidents like this one can seem black or white, a closer investigation will sometimes turn up a surprise. Many will assume that Prater fell asleep at the wheel, or stopped paying attention for some other reason. And perhaps that is exactly what happened. But there are many other possibilities as well. Poor road conditions may have caused this wreck – for all we know, there may have been a large pothole that has already caused three prior accidents, or maybe there’s a blind curve with a missing warning sign. If that is the case, there may be a lawsuit available against the city/county/state. Such a lawsuit would allow the injured person to receive compensation and hopefully prevent future accidents on that stretch of road. Maybe the car was recently brought in for a tune-up, and the mechanic replaced the steering mechanism carelessly, and the car lost steering. These things do happen, and when someone is seriously injured, a competent Oregon personal injury attorney can investigate and find out what truly happened. Usually at no cost. For more information on what to do in the case of an Oregon accident, contact our office or read 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.
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