Laurie A. Kalstad, 33, sustained critical injuries in an Oregon car accident after her 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee collided with a tow truck. According to a news report in The Oregonian, the injury collision occurred the morning of May 24, 2010 on Oregon 6 at the Oregon 47 junction, in Banks. Kalstad was traveling west on Oregon 6 when her Jeep crossed the center line and went into the eastbound traffic lanes. The tow truck driven by 30-year-old Richard A. Burden sideswiped the Jeep despite the driver's attempt to swerve and get out of the way. Kalstad was partially ejected from the vehicle and was airlifted to a regional hospital.

My heart goes out to this injured victim. I sincerely hope she makes it through her critical injuries and pray that she has a quick and complete recovery. She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

What Caused this Accident?

Based on this news report, it appears that Kalstad's vehicle was the one that crossed the center line and went into opposing lanes of traffic. There are several questions here. Why did Kalstad lose control of her vehicle? Was there an auto product defect or mechanical malfunction in the Jeep that caused it to go out of control? Was there a dangerous condition or debris on the roadway? Was this accident caused by driver error?

If I were a member of Kalstad's family, I would also question how and why she was ejected from the vehicle. Was she wearing a seatbelt? If that was the case, was there seatbelt failure, which caused her to be partially ejected from the vehicle? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to ascertain what occurred here.

Auto Product Liability Issues

If Kalstad's critical injuries were the result of seatbelt defects, then the auto maker or the manufacturer of the defective seatbelt could be held liable for the injuries caused. In these types of accidents, victims could seek compensation to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other damages.

It would be a good idea to preserve the Jeep so an expert can thoroughly examine it for auto product defects, mechanical malfunctions and other evidence. In many similar cases, law enforcement investigators hastily determine that an ejected accident victim was not wearing his or her seatbelt. Sometimes, this is not true. They are ejected because of a defective seatbelt. An experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled seatbelt defect cases can help victims and their families in such cases pursue their rights.

Have you experienced seat belt failure? We would like to hear from you.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is 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 us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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