Pickup trucks are attractive vehicles for teenagers. They provide promise of adventure and excitement, but too often, the promise that is fulfilled is serious injury. The open box on a pickup is often used to carry passengers who have no restraint system to protect them from wild or erratic driving. The hazards of using a pickup truck for joy riding was demonstrated by a truck accident that caused serious injuries to a resident of Lowell, Mass.
According to reports of the accident, a young man was riding in the open box of a pickup when he was thrown from the truck. When emergency workers arrived, the young man was lying on the ground. They saw that he was suffering from several traumatic injuries. According to rescue workers, the young man had been riding in the box of the truck, which was being driven in an erratic manner. The unpredictable driving apparently caused the young man to be thrown from the truck. The victim was taken by ambulance to Lowell General Hospital and then flown by medical helicopter to Meth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. His injuries were described as serious and life threatening.
The driver of the pickup was described as a 19-year-old man from Lowell. He was cited by police at the scene for operating a motor vehicle in a manner intended to endanger the passenger and operating an unregistered vehicle. Police said the man constituted an immediate threat to others and that they were taking steps to immediately revoke his drivers’ license.
The victim may well have a claim against the driver of the truck for his medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering. If the young man has suffered disabling injuries, he may also have a claim for permanent disability and loss of future income. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide a helpful evaluation of the evidence and medical records.