Tualatin Area Accident Results in Serious Injuries

Date: January 19, 2011
Location: Interstate 5 Southbound in Tualatin Area
Names: Lauren H. Thomas, Neal Davis

Oregon State Police report that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in a serious injury crash occurring in the Tualatin area.

On January 19 at about 7:09am Neal Davis, age 54 of Estacada, was sitting inside his 1992 Ford L9000 flatbed truck with mounted crane. The truck was parked on the southbound right shoulder of Interstate 5 near Boones Ferry Road.

Witnesses told police that a 2000 two-door Toyota being driven south by Lauren H. Thomas, age 25 of Beaverton, drifted onto the right shoulder of the road without braking and crashed into the back of Davis’s stopped truck.

Thomas sustained serious injuries, although she was using safety restraints and her car’s airbags deployed. She was transported by ambulance to Oregon Health Sciences University, and was later cited for DUII and Reckless Driving.

Davis was uninjured.

We hope that Ms. Thomas recovers fully from her injuries in a crash in which she could easily have been killed. We are also relieved that Mr. Davis was not injured in this crash.

We certainly don’t know what the outcome of this case will be. However, when a drunk driver causes an injury accident in Oregon, there is the possibility that the drunk driver or bar who served the alcohol can be sued. This must be done correctly, and quickly. There are strict time limits for filing a lawsuit in Oregon, and where alcohol is involved, the limits get even stricter. A Dram Shop Notice must be received by the server within 180 days of the incident, pursuant to ORS 471.565.

We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit without an attorney. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney.