Young people often do not consider the consequences of their actions, and sometimes it is others who are affected the most. A 15-year-old girl sustained serious head injuries when she fell from the back of an SUV in Abilene. The SUV was in motion in a supermarket parking lot. After police and EMTs were called, she was rushed to Hendrick Medical Center. There, the doctors stated she was in critical condition. She was later transferred to a hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for further treatment.
The vehicle was identified as a 2004 Mazda Tribute. It was being driven by a 17-year-old young man. Two other people were also in the car at the time of the incident. Officials have said that alcohol was not involved in the accident.
Though the car was only driving at parking lot speeds, a fall from any distance onto asphalt, concrete or other hard surfaces can cause a head or brain injury. The victim and her family could be facing long-term care, high medical costs and other situations that could seriously affect their lives. In addition, a victim of any kind of brain trauma could suffer from permanent disability and other afflictions that could change their lives forever.
Whether or not the victim or her family will press criminal charges against the reckless driver, they can still file a claim for personal injury compensation. An experienced attorney will be able to help the family correctly file such a claim and navigate the Texas civil court system.
Source: ABC Abilene, “Abilene teen seriously injured after falling off moving SUV,” Mari Cockerell, June 1, 2015
