Motor Vehicle Accident in Newport Vermont Hospitalizes Driver

Newport Vermont Motor Vehicle Accident Hospitalizes Driver

Recent car accidents in Vermont, remind us to use caution during the winter driving season.

Two recent motor vehicle crashes in Vermont, serve as a reminder to all Vermont and New Hampshire drivers that road conditions can be very dangerous during the winter. 

On December 31, 2008, two family members from Richmond, Vermont were seriously injured on Route 117 in Jericho.  According to the Vermont State Police, Diana Hansen, age 24 lost control of her vehicle and collided with Katherine Buxton, age 17.  Diana Hansen was accompanied by 2 year old Jane Hansen.  They were both taken to Fletcher Allen Hospital for treatment.  Although the accident remains under investigation, the Vermont State Police have indicated that the roadway was slippery at the time of the collision. You can click here to read the full Burlington Free Press article.    

Similarly, on January 14, 2009 two men were seriously injured on Route 140 in Tinmouth, Vermont.   According to Vermont State Police, driver Kevin Ballantine slid off the roadway, hit a snowbank, and started to roll.  Nicholas Jones was a passenger in his vehicle.  They were both taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.  You can click here to read the full Burlington Free Press article.

If you are a passenger in a motor vehicle that is involved in a car accident due to negligent driving, you may have a personal injury claim.  The driver of a motor vehicle has a duty to operate the motor vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner.  This standard of care applies in dangerous, wintry weather conditions as well.  If you have been injured in a car accident, see Auto Accident Checklist, for detailed information on how to protect your rights. 

Winter drivers, remember to give yourself more time to get to your destination and drive with extra caution to avoid an accident.

Massive Pile-Up in New Hampshire, 100 injured.

On January 11, 2009 vehicles piled-up on Interstate 93 in Derry, New Hampshire.  Roughly 100 people sustained injuries, and 19 were transported to local hospital with more serious injuries. 

Apparently, a car had stopped on the interstate, and in an attempt to avoid it, a school bus filled with Boy Scouts applied its breaks.  When this happened, cars began sliding to avoid the bus at 50 mile per hour.  In total, 46 cars, three buses, and two tractor-trailers were involved in the pile-up. 

Seventeen ambulances and dozens of EMTs searched car by car in an attempt to identify the injured.  Luckily, no one sustained life-threatening injuries, however many people did sustain serious personal injury, such as broken legs and ankles.  On man had to be pulled out from underneath a tractor-trailer. The story was reported by WMTW and the Boston Herald. 

This accident serves as a reminder that road conditions can be dangerous in New Hampshire during the winter driving season.  Winter drivers, remember to give yourself more time to get to your destination and drive with extra caution to avoid an accident.   If you have been injured in a car accident, see Auto Accident Checklist, for detailed information on how to protect your rights. 

What To Do If You've Been Involved In An Accident

If you have been involved in an auto accident caused by another driver there are certain actions that you should take to preserve your rights. The accident attorneys at Van Dorn and Curtiss have been serving victims of auto accidents in Vermont and New Hampshire for years. During this time we have compiled lists of information it is important for every accident victim to know. These documents are found in our library pages. The first important document contains a checklist of things to do if you have been involved in an auto accident. You can find it by clicking here: Auto Accident Checklist for Negligence Claim.

The second document provides general information about steps to take if you are in a car accident. Find it by clicking here: Steps You Should Take If You Are In A Car Accident.

The third document and perhaps the most important is our checklist to use when hiring an accident attorney to represent you for your personal injury claim. You can find it by clicking here: 22 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney . This last document may be the most important one because the most important decision an accident victim can make is to choose the right attorney. To learn more about the differences in the firms that hold themselves out as personal injury attorneys you can click here: How To Find The Best Law Firm For Your Personal Injury Case. We hope that you and your loved ones are never involved in an auto accident, but if you are the information in these documents found in the Van Dorn & Curtiss library will be helpful.

 

One person killed and five others injured in Arlington Vermont car accident

On Saturday, December 13^th one man was killed and five injured in a serious car accident on Route 313 in Arlington Vermont. The accident happened when the driver, Raymond Smith, 27, apparantly lost control and failed to negotiate a curve in the road sending the vehicle, a 2000 Dodge Durango, off the road.  The car became airborne when it hit large boulders, came to rest on its roof and finally rolled back to an upright position.

John Oney, 67, was killed in the accident. The five injured passengers were Elizabeth King, 33, Christopher Davis, 15,  Nicholas Davis, 16 and  Christina Smith, 36. One passenger,  Smith was critically injured and airlifted to the Albany Medical Center. For a full report on this accident click here to see the recent Burlington Free Press Article.

Winter car accidents occur all too frequently in Vermont, especially on rural highways. This tragic accident is a somber reminder that we should all drive more carefully when winter weather effects road conditions.