Female Passenger Dies in Residential Accident in Lexington Kentucky
On December 14, 2022, a 21-year-old female passenger in an automobile was killed as a result of a passenger-side impact from a pickup truck in a residential area in Lexington, Kentucky. This auto accident occurred at the intersection of Mason Headley Road and Duntreath Drive. Not many details were available about how the accident occurred, but it is likely the young female was a front passenger in a vehicle attempting to make a left-hand turn and did so in front of the truck that was traveling straight on Mason Headley Road. The front passenger is always exposed to oncoming traffic during a left-hand turn.
How to avoid serious injury or death as a passenger in an auto accident?
It is unusual for a death to occur in a car accident to a young person in a residential area where the speed limits are normally 35 mph. The force of a side impact would cause the passenger to hit the passenger window and, if she was not wearing a seatbelt the impact would be even greater to her head against the window, which could lead to life- threatening injuries. A very strange and sad day for someone to die in a residential car crash.
The first thing every passenger can do is wear their seatbelt. The impact of an accident is likely to be enhanced if the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt. This certainly would be the case in the Lexington accident described above. Our bodies naturally move toward the point of impact, which makes the impact more severe and the seatbelt can reduce the speed at which our body moves toward the impact and can prevent us from impacting solid objects within the vehicle like the windows.
The second thing the passenger can do is pay attention to the traffic as if they were driving the vehicle to make sure the driver does not make a bad decision or fails to see or appreciate a hazard. As passengers, we tend not to pay attention to traffic and we are usually are looking at our phones. In a sense, cell phones distracting passengers can cause accidents. We need to appreciate the fact that the driver has our lives in their hands when they are driving us somewhere and if we appreciate this fact, then we can make sure the driver is not distracted with their phone or anything else.
Thirdly, passengers need to make sure they are not a distraction to the driver. We are quite casual with our attitudes toward driving because we have traveled safely many times in the past. We carry on conversations with the driver like we would if the driver was not driving a car and this can be distracting to the driver. Some drivers have a hard time not looking at the person they are speaking with and this causes their eyes to be taken from the roadway in front of them. Accidents happen in an instant and when drivers are not looking in front of their vehicle.
Passengers can make sure that the driver is not driving while under the influence of any substance that would affect their ability to drive. If a passenger is injured in an accident where they knew or should have known the driver was impaired, then Kentucky law says they bear some measure of responsibility for their injuries. The passenger can also use their eyes to make sure that the car or truck is safe to drive. The passenger can determine if the tires are properly inflated before the ye get into the vehicle. Flat or under-inflated tires can lead to hydroplaning on wet surfaces or loss of control on any surface.
The next time you ride in a car as a passenger, remember to use your observation powers to protect yourself and others from a potential accident. You only have one life and over 700 people a year die in Kentucky auto accidents every year.
Contact Lexington Auto Accident Lawyer
The circumstances in the above Lexington accident will require the services of an experienced Lexington auto accident attorney to investigate the cause of the accident and maximize all benefits available to the victims in this auto accident. Matthew Troutman, a Lexington auto accident lawyer, of the Troutman Law Office has been handling auto accident claims, almost exclusively, since 1986 and has the experience and talent to obtain the best result for the victims in the above car accident. It is very likely that the at-fault driver will not have enough insurance to fully compensate the victims in this car accident, and, therefore, it will be important for there to be underinsured motorist benefits available.
If you need legal assistance due to a motor vehicle accident, contact Lexington auto accident attorney Matthew Troutman directly at 859-696-0001 or 502-648-9507 and he will meet with you in the hospital, your home or wherever is convenient for you. He will give you direct access through his cell phone and guide you through the difficult process necessary to obtain the best result possible for you in your car accident claim. To learn more about Lexington car accident attorney Matthew Troutman and the Troutman Law Office, click here.