When someone gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, that driver owes a legal duty of care not only to other drivers, pedestrians and anyone else who could be harmed by his or her actions outside of the vehicle being driven, but also to any passengers riding along with the driver. When that driver makes a mistake that injures his or her passengers, an Alaska personal injury lawsuit that follows could find that he or she breached that duty of care owed to those passengers.
Sadly, a Wasilla auto accident over the weekend could give rise to this type of legal analysis, even though the driver of the vehicle in the accident at issue was critically injured in the crash. The accident occurred at approximately 3:45 a.m. when a teen-aged driver was headed east on Bogard Road. He apparently lost control of his vehicle, slipped over to the other side of the road and rolled into a ditch just before the intersection with Earl Drive.
Not only was the driver in the accident critically injured, but his two passengers were also harmed and were flown to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Since the driver is a minor, no specific word could be provided on his condition without the permission of his or her parents, but regardless of the fault displayed in the accident, we certainly hope he and everyone else involved is able to overcome the injuries suffered and will recover fully.
Alaska Auto Accident Statistics
This situation is hardly rare. Alaska auto accident statistics reveal that more than 10,000 crashes occur on an annual basis, leading to more than 3,000 injuries and almost 100 deaths every year. That comes to nearly 30 Alaska auto accidents every day with several people injured on a daily basis and nearly two people per week who are killed.
Alaska Auto Accident Lawyers and the Concept of Fault
In this situation, it's possible that the passengers injured could seek legal redress in the form of an Alaska personal injury lawsuit depending on the facts of the situation. Basically, unless the passengers were responsible for distracting the driver and causing the accident, the driver could be liable for negligence. However, police also stated that additional work needs to be done before coming to a definitive conclusion regarding ultimate fault in the situation.
If you or someone you love has been harmed in an Alaska auto accident, you need to seek the help of an Alaska auto accident lawyer who understands how the sometimes-harsh world of legal claims works. Contact Barber & Banker today to schedule a free initial consultation.
Alaska Personal Injury Lawyer