Pedestrian Seriously Injured

Date: January 16, 2010
Location: U.S. 26 near Sandy, Oregon
Names: Alam Salois, Reginald Boyle

State police are looking for witnesses to a pedestrian accident that occurred January 16, 2010, in which a Southeast Portland man was seriously injured as he tried to cross Highway 26 on foot.

According to an OSP press release, Alam Salois, 31, was trying to cross the busy highway near Sandy, Oregon, around 7:50 PM. He was hit by a car driven by Reginald Boyle, 77, of Sandy. Salois was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center with serious injuries. Boyle, who was using safety restraints, was not injured in the crash.

Police request that any witnesses to the accident, or anyone who saw the pedestrian before the crash, contact Trooper Reel at 503-731-3020 ext. 402.

We hope Salois recovers quickly, and we also hope that witnesses come forward to assist with the investigation.

Sometimes a personal injury case can rest on having a witness. Even with doctors and experts, it could come down to one expert’s opinion over another’s. That’s why a witness is so important.

Pedestrians are the most “vulnerable users” on the roads and are at greater chance of being seriously injured. But when a pedestrian is injured, did you know that the driver is not always found at fault? If a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk, it is generally considered the driver’s fault. However, just like everything in the law, there are exceptions. If the pedestrian was drunk and wearing dark clothes, and it was dark, the driver can sometimes escape prosecution. Or if a pedestrian darts out unexpectedly into an intersection, the law may take the driver’s side too. In most cases, however, the law will consider it to be the driver’s fault, and the pedestrian or the pedestrian’s family will be able to get legal compensation.

All cases are different, of course, so contact a knowledgeable lawyer if you have been seriously injured and have any questions about your case.