oregon rollover accident

Date: January 29, 2011
Location: Highway 205 South of Burns
Name: Kathleen Largent

Oregon State Police are investigating a one-car rollover crash that resulted in the death of the driver.

The crash took place on Highway 205 near milepost 25 south of Burns. A passing motorist reported the accident to police at about 7:30am. Police surmise that the driver, Kathleen Largent, age 56 of Diamond, was northbound when she lost control of her GMC Envoy because of icy road conditions. There was also a freezing fog in the area. The car rolled several times off the shoulder of the road and Largent, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from her vehicle and died at the scene.

We are saddened by the death of Ms. Largent and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this very difficult time.

When a person tries to correct the wheel while driving, a car should skid, not roll over. It should be very difficult to make a car roll over. However, it’s an unfortunate truth that there are some models and makes of vehicles that roll over very easily. These makes and models are well known and there have been successful lawsuits against the companies who build, sell and profit from these vehicles. When a vehicle rolls over it may be entirely driver error or it may be partially driver error and partially poor design. The difference is that the driver error is to be expected. We all know that drivers sometimes make errors and sometimes a quick correction is necessary, for example, when an animal runs across the road or in poor driving conditions. A driver should be able to jerk the wheel, make a sudden maneuver around an obstacle or to correct a drift without the car flipping over and killing everyone inside it.

In addition to being more stable and less likely to roll over, a car should be designed so that if it does roll over, there is enough strength and stability in the roof that the people inside don’t get crushed. Whenever there’s a rollover crash like this one causing death it may be easy to blame the driver. But there is another very important factor. And that is the companies who are making this car who know very well that the car is dangerous but who do nothing to correct it because it would cut into their bottom line.

Many traffic crashes are difficult to explain, and when death or injury is involved, it is important to contact a qualified Portland personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation. We provide information on finding a good personal injury lawyer, and if you have questions after a car crash, please contact us.

Date: July 26, 2010
Location: Highway 26 near Banks, Oregon
Names: Brittany R. Spady

Could pets in your car be as dangerous as texting while driving?

On July 26, 2010, according to an OSP press release, a 21-year-old woman was distracted by her cat, which was loose in the car, and lost control of the vehicle. Brittany R. Spady, 21, of Manning, ended up with non-life threatening injuries from the resulting crash.

On August 19, a study by AAA confirmed just how dangerous it is to have a pet loose in your car, calling it just as distracting as texting, and warning that pets are now the third worst distraction for drivers.

Spady was driving west on Highway 26 near Banks, Oregon, around 7:55 PM, when her pet cat crawled onto the driver’s side floorboard and got between the brake and gas pedals. Spady lost control of the car and veered into the westbound side ditch, where the car rolled and hit a tree.

Spady was transported by LifeFlight to OHSU for treatment of her injuries, and has since been discharged.

Good Samaritans at the scene searched for about 45 minutes for the cat, but could not find the animal.

We hope Spady recovers quickly from her injuries, and wish her the best. We also hope the cat will be found.

In addition, we hope our readers will use this opportunity to make sure they never drive with an unrestrained animal.
It’s just as dangerous as sending a text message while driving, said AAA, noting that taking your eyes off the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of a crash. They also discovered that having a pet in the car is the third most dangerous distraction, behind talking on the phone and texting.

According to the study, 80 percent of drivers say they travel with pets in the car – but less than a quarter of those keep the animals restrained. Two-thirds of dog owners often drive while playing with their pups or petting them, and sometimes even give them food and water. One in five allowed their dogs to sit in their lap.

Very few states have any laws dealing with pets in cars, and most of them only deal with dogs. To compound the problem, fines may be little more than a slap on the wrist – in Oregon, for instance, a violation is a class D traffic violation, with a fine of $90.

In Oregon and seven other states, drivers must secure animals when they are in an open area of a vehicle – like the back of a pickup truck. No state, however, requires animals to be restrained inside a car, and most laws only address dogs, not cats or other animals.

If you’re planning to travel with your pet, visit a pet supply store for a selection of crates and barriers that can help prevent a tragic Oregon auto accident. Here are a few more tips for driving with animals:

• Always transport cats in a travel crate designed specifically for cats. Cats like to sit on your lap or cuddle up on the dashboard – or even worse, interfere with your gas and brake pedals – and should never travel unrestrained.
• Your dog should always be tethered in a pet-designed seat belt or harness. If not, a sudden stop could send your dog flying forward with up to 500 pounds of pressure, risking serious harm to both you and your dog.
• Even though dogs love to hang their heads out the window, don’t let them. It’s not safe for the dog, and it can distract other drivers.

Date: July 10, 2010
Location: I-5 near Halsey/Brownsville interchange, Brownsville, Oregon
Names: Amy Elizabeth Langler, Evan Langler

State police are trying to determine the cause of a single-car rollover crash that killed a Portland mother and seriously injured her son on July 10, 2010, as they drove southbound on I-5 near the Halsey/Brownsville interchange in Brownsville, Oregon.

Around 9:40 AM, a car driven by Amy Elizabeth Langler, 43, of Northwest Portland, changed from the right to the left lane and drove partially onto the center gravel shoulder, according to an OSP press release. Witnesses said it appeared that the driver tried to get back into the southbound lane, but over-corrected and lost control. The car rolled several times, coming to a stop on the center grass median strip.

Amy Langler was pronounced deceased at the scene of the Oregon car accident. Her son, Evan Langler, 8, who was riding in the car, was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with serious injuries, then transferred to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Evan is expected to survive.

Amy and Evan Langler were the only people in the car. Both were wearing safety restraints.

OSP troopers from the Albany Area Command office are trying to determine what might have caused the crash.

We send our most heartfelt wishes to all of Amy Langler’s family and friends, but especially to Evan for a fast, complete recovery.

Here are some facts about rollover crashes.

When a person tries to correct the wheel while driving, a car should skid, not roll over. It should be very difficult to make a car roll over. However, it’s an unfortunate truth that there are some models and makes of vehicles that roll over very easily. These makes and models are well known and there have been successful lawsuits against the companies who build, sell and profit from these vehicles.

When a vehicle rolls over, it may be entirely driver error or it may be partially driver error and partially poor design. The difference is that the driver error is to be expected. We all know that drivers sometimes make errors and sometimes a quick correction is necessary, for example, when a deer runs in the road or even a cow. A driver should be able to jerk the wheel, make a sudden maneuver around an obstacle or to correct a drift without the car flipping over and causing injury or death.

In addition to being more stable and less likely to roll over, a car should be designed so that if it does roll over, there is enough strength and stability in the roof that the people inside don’t get crushed. Whenever there’s a rollover crash like this one, it may be easy to blame the driver. But there is another very important factor. And that is the companies who are making this car who know very well that the car is dangerous but who do nothing to correct it because it would cut into their bottom line.

Shulman DuBois LLC represents victims of accidents. Our clients deserve representation with our experience, sensitivity and tenacity. Should an unfortunate episode find you or someone you know in need of representation as a result of an accident-related injury or death, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated by reading our Frequently Asked Questions, exploring our Oregon Injury Research Library, or ordering your free copy of 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. If you still have questions, contact us.