A teenager sustained injuries in an Oregon car accident after she and another girl were hit by a car while walking home from school the afternoon of January 12, 2010. According to a KPIC news report, the girls were walking on the sidewalk of Highway 99, in Winston, when 47-year-old Noble Elliott turned right out of the parking lot and on to the roadway. He apparently stopped before making the turn, but failed to see the two girls. One girl escaped without injuries, but the other girl suffered a broken ankle. Police officials cited Elliott for failure to yield right-of-way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk.

I hope and pray that this teenager did not sustain serious injuries and wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.

Oregon Accident Statistics

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), there was one fatality and five injuries in Winston involving pedestrian accidents in 2007. Also, during the same year in Douglas County, Oregon, there were 23 fatalities and 536 injuries due to traffic accidents.

Laws and Liability Issues

Failure to yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk is a traffic violation under Oregon Statutes Section 811.025 (1), which states: "The driver of a vehicle commits the offense of failure to yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk if the driver does not yield the right of way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk."

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver was not paying proper attention to his surroundings as he was pulling out of the driveway. Drivers must be aware of people not only walking beside them, but also those walking ahead of the vehicle. In such cases, it is also important to look into whether the driver was impaired or distracted at the time of the accident.

Victims or their families in such cases would be well-advised to consult an experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer who will analyze all aspects of the incident and make sure that the victims' rights are protected and that they receive fair compensation to cover their injuries and losses. If a dangerous or defective roadway condition caused or contributed to the accident, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining the roadway could also be held liable. In Oregon, any claim against a governmental entity must be filed within six months of the accident or injury.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.