Educate Yourself Before You Hire an Oregon Personal Injury Lawyer

Underage Drunk Driver Causes Head-On Crash | Portland Personal Injury Lawyer

Date: January 17, 2010
Location: Highway 126E near Vida, Oregon
Names: Candace Lee Chitty, Jacob A. Curtis

Candace Lee Chitty, 63, of Eugene, Oregon, was seriously injured in a head-on crash after a car driven by Jacob A. Curtis, 19, of Eugene, crossed the center line and hit another car on Highway 126E near Vida, Oregon, according to an OSP press release.

The crash occurred around 4:10 PM on January 17, 2010. Curtis was westbound on the highway near milepost 23 when his car crossed into the eastbound lane and slammed into Chitty’s car.

Chitty was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend.

Curtis had minor injuries, which were treated at the same hospital. OSP then arrested Curtis and took him to Lane County Jail on multiple charges, including DUII, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, and assault in the third degree. He was also cited for having an open container of alcohol in the car and refusing a breath test.

We send our thoughts to Chitty as she recovers, and hope she is out of the hospital soon. This crash and injury never should have happened.

Underage drinking is a crime. It's reckless. It raises the stakes and probably the amount of money involved, if the injured parties decide to pursue justice.

We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon. And even though “sue” has become a dirty word, it’s there for a reason – especially one like this. You need to know your rights. When a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and an injured victim should contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney. To help you find the best lawyer for your needs, we offer guidelines and hard rules on choosing the best personal injury lawyer for you.

We would never try to talk someone into taking legal action. It is an individual decision that can only be made by an individual and his or her family. But if you have been in a drunk-driving crash and want to ask some questions, call us at 503-222-4411; we can answer many questions for free and help you decide the next step in a drunk-driving case.

Important questions to consider when hiring a lawyer:
Does the lawyer understand how to help me pay my medical bills after an accident?
What about testimonials?
What kind of time limits are involved?
What if I have a smaller case?
Are there any hard rules to follow when looking for a great personal injury lawyer?