Omaha, NE — A single-vehicle accident in Omaha, Nebraska, sent two teenagers to the hospital on Friday, December 26, 2014. The accident took place at the intersection of Eighth and Douglas streets, around 6:45 in the morning.
The two teenagers involved in the accident have been identified as 18-year old Daw-Jawntae Goings and 16-year old Hanna Hike. Hike was riding as a passenger inside Goings’ Jeep Liberty as the two were on their way to buy food when Goings’ crossed the road’s center line, crashing into a concrete pillar.
According to Goings, he blacked out just before the accident occurred.
Both Goings and Hike were taken to Creighton University Medical Center. Hike sustained head injuries, as well as a broken leg. At last report, she was listed in fair condition.
The accident is still being investigated, although police have charged Goings with reckless driving.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
Many people I come across have no idea how liability in an accident like this is determined, or more precisely, who’s held responsible. Many think that passengers who are injured are covered by their own insurance. Others believe they have no coverage. The truth is, passengers injured in single-vehicle accidents are going to protected by a driver’s insurance, thereby making the driver responsible for his passengers. It makes sense. Accidents can be caused by several different things, but if it’s caused because of something the driver did, then the driver should be held responsible. In that case, things between the driver and the passenger would proceed just as if they had been in separate vehicles and had crashed into each other.
There are obviously circumstances which could change who’s held liable following an accident like this. If the accident was caused because of a defect in the car, for example, then liability could shift to the manufacturer, or perhaps a repair garage. The police investigation should be able to she more light on this matter in the coming days.
— Grossman Law Offices