A 55-year-old woman was severely injured in a pedestrian-car collision at about 6:30 p.m. in Omaha on Jan. 14. Police believe that a distracted driver caused the crash.
According to reports, a 41-year-old woman driving on Northwest Radial Highway struck a woman who was standing next to her vehicle at the intersection of North 51st Street and Northwest Radial. She was in the process of retrieving things from her car when the wreck transpired.
Medical personnel who arrived at the scene transferred the injured pedestrian to Nebraska Medicine where she underwent emergency surgery for major injuries. The other woman who allegedly caused the accident did not report any injuries. Moreover, both cars sustained substantial damage. The driver explained to law enforcement officials that she lost control of her vehicle because she was attempting to reach for her cell phone that had fallen down. She faces possible charges once authorities complete their evaluation of the incident.
Pedestrians and other drivers who become victims of a negligent driver are often subject to injuries that could be catastrophic in nature. Such injuries could seriously affect a person’s ability to live normally, especially if the injury causes them to be disabled for life. Recovering from severe injuries also places a financial strain on a person who may lose a job during recovery.
Because negligence is based on a lack of care while operating a vehicle, anyone injured by the actions of a negligent driver may be able to hold the driver liable for damages caused in the crash. If the official police investigation suggests that a driver is at fault in a collision due to driving under the influence, speeding or distraction from the use of a mobile device, the injured victim could file a personal injury claim in an effort to recover economic losses such as medical expenses and property damage.
Source: WOWT, “Distracted driver hits woman”, Malorie Maddox, Jan. 15, 2015
