Four teenagers were sent to local hospitals after a car accident in Cottage Grove, Minnesota last week. A vehicle carrying two teenagers tried to make a left turn but was hit by another car. Those at the scene of the accident seemed to indicate that the wreck was the fault of the turning vehicle, as police said the teenagers pulled in front of the other car.

That car was driven by a 44-year-old woman who had two young passengers - a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old, both of whom were sent to the hospital and eventually released. The conditions of the two teenagers who rode in the at-fault vehicle were not released. The 44-year-old was not taken to the hospital after the car accident.

Authorities are still investigating the crash and no details were released regarding the nature of the car accident. It appears, though, that recklessness may have been a root cause of the collision. The 17-year-old driver could have been playing with a cell phone or changing the radio station. Maybe she was discussing something with her passenger and stopped paying attention to oncoming traffic.

If any reckless or negligent actions were taken by the 17-year-old, she could face extensive penalties. The three members of the other car would have been injured due to the dangerous actions of another driver, and a personal injury lawsuit could soon be coming.

Your pain and suffering does not have to go unnoticed in a car accident. Injuries sustained in a crash can permanently alter your life, dealing you serious injuries, disfigurement or sometimes even fatal circumstances. When this crash comes at the hands of a reckless driver, you are entitled to fair compensation for lost wages, medical expenses and other financial elements that have threatened your livelihood.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, "Cottage Grove car crash sends 4 to hospital," Brady Gervais, Jan. 12, 2012