Oregon Injury Lawyer Blog

Oregon’s Transportation Commission has decided to move up installation of a traffic signal at a dangerous Tualatin Valley Highway intersection in Aloha, following a serious Oregon traffic accident there last month.

An Oregon pedestrian accident on December 20 left three young people, including a 14 year old boy, injured after they were struck by a car while crossing the road at the intersection in the dark. According to a recent report on KATU.com, the accident has prompted the Oregon Transportation Commission to revise its plan to install a pedestrian-activated crossing signal at the location. Installation of the light will now take place next year, rather than in 2012.

Any traffic accident is tragic, but accidents leading to Oregon injuries to children are especially emotional. In the Tualatin incident the 14 year old boy sustained a broken arm, two broken teeth and will require facial reconstruction surgery. He remains in intensive care, according to KATU.

If you, or your child, have been injured in a Portland-area pedestrian accident taking early action to protect your rights is imperative. Consulting with a Portland pedestrian accident attorney is an important first step. Children injured in Oregon child injury accidents may be entitled to substantial compensation to cover necessary medical treatments and ease their recovery. An Oregon traffic accident lawyer can also advise you on whether responsibility for the accident may extend beyond the driver involved to include elements of state or local government because of safety issues involving roads or traffic signals.

KATU.com: Victim of Tualatin Valley crosswalk collision recovers, ODOT plans signal

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Injuries to Minors , Pedestrian Accidents

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An Oregon traffic accident near Gladstone took the life of a 60-year-old pedestrian over Thanksgiving weekend. Police issued no citations at the site of the accident on McLoughlin Boulevard, but are still investigating.

The Portland fatal pedestrian accident took place Friday evening. According to local media reports, Maria Isabel Cervantes-Gutierrez of Milwaukie, Oregon was attempting to cross State Route 99E Friday evening when she was struck by a van in the southbound lane. The driver remained on the scene and has reportedly been cooperating with police. Cervantes-Gutierrez was taken to a hospital in Portland where she later died of her injuries. Police closed the southbound portion of McLoughlin for about two hours as they worked to reconstruct the Portland pedestrian accident scene.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an Oregon pedestrian accident of this type it is important to contact a Portland pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible. Oregon pedestrian accidents can create civil as well as criminal liability. Consultation with a Portland traffic accident lawyer can help you sort out the issues involved.

In this instance, for example, the fact that the police did not issue a citation at the accident site does not, by itself, mean the driver cannot be sued for Oregon wrongful death. An experienced Oregon personal injury attorney can help you and your family sort through issues like these.

Sources:
Oregon City News: Woman dies crossing McLoughlin Boulevard

The Oregonian: Woman hit and killed while crossing McLoughlin Boulevard near Gladstone

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents

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A 29-year old woman was involved in a Hillsboro pedestrian accident recently while making her way through the parking lot at Sunset Esplanade. The Hillsboro auto accident took place in the late afternoon moments after the victim had exited a bus and as she was heading across the parking lot on the shopping complex’s north side, according to a report in the Hillsboro Argus.

The car struck the woman as she moved through the parking lot at what a police spokesman later described as “a jogging pace”. The woman was thrown onto the hood of the car, hitting its windshield. The police spokesman told the Argus that the victim of the Oregon car and pedestrian collision was taken to an area hospital with a broken back, but that she was not paralyzed as a result of the accident.

Parking lots, with their restricted sight lines and drivers who are not always proceeding as cautiously as they should, can be especially dangerous for pedestrians. Portland traffic accidents in parking lots can lead to serious injuries, or death. If you have been struck by a car in a parking lot consulting with a Portland personal injury lawyer should be a top priority.

Even if police opt not to issue a citation to the car’s driver that does not mean the person who hit you is exempt from civil liability. Recovery of medical bills, compensation for pain and suffering and even punitive damages may be in order, depending on your personal situation. Consultation with a Portland traffic accident attorney is the first step toward assuring that your rights are protected.

The Hillsboro Argus: Pedestrian crossing parking lot injured by car at Sunset Esplanade

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Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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A Portland traffic accident left one woman dead and another in critical condition over the weekend, according to a report from local TV station KGW. The Portland fatal accident took place at the corner of SE 80th Street and Foster Boulevard early Sunday evening, according to police.

The TV station, quoting police sources, reported that the two women were hit while crossing the street at a poorly-lit intersection that has a dangerous reputation among area residents. Police say the two women were in a clearly marked crosswalk, but that the driver probably had trouble seeing them in the dark. The driver is reported to be cooperating with police.

An accident like this can give rise both to Oregon wrongful death claims and to Oregon personal injury claims for surviving victim. Consulting with a Portland wrongful death lawyer who is also experienced in Portland personal injury law is essential at the earliest feasible moment after an accident.

KGW reported that the victims in this case were roommates who lived only half a block from the accident scene and were on their way home from a parking lot at the time. The fact that they knew the area well, but still became Portland pedestrian accident victims attests to the dangerous nature of the intersection where the accident occurred.

“Hopefully this will be a wake-up call for the city to do something more about lighting and control in this intersection,” one area resident told KGW after the Oregon fatal pedestrian accident.

KGW: Woman dies after being hit by car in Portland crosswalk

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Pedestrian Accidents

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A Springfield pedestrian death is drawing new attention to an especially dangerous stretch of road. The Springfield Oregon auto accident took place last week when 49 year old Harold Leroy Singleton was hit by a car while crossing Main Street according to the Associated Press and other media outlets.

The accident occurred last Saturday evening. The AP quoted police saying their initial investigations indicate Singleton was not paying attention when he stepped out into the street, initiating the Springfield fatal accident. Singleton was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in River Bend, where he died a short time later.

No charges have been filed against the 78-year old driver of the car that hit Singleton. The incident, however, highlights the especially dangerous reputation of Springfield’s Main Street. The AP reports that over the last 12 years at least eight pedestrians have been killed and 40 injured on Main Street in Springfield.

Oregon fatal accidents such as this one can often involve liability claims, making it essential to consult with a Springfield personal injury attorney if you have been involved in an Oregon traffic accident, whether fatal or not. An Oregon car accident lawyer can help determine whether you have a legitimate claim against the other party or parties in involved, and can be essential in defending you if you, in turn, are sued.

Eugene Register-Guard: Pedestrian killed in Springfield

KVAL: Pedestrian killed in Springfield accident

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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In Multnomah County Circuit Court, Jack Alvord pleaded guilty to reckless driving, drunk driving, and third-degree assault in the Portland, Oregon pedestrian crash that seriously injured 51-year-old Norman Larkin, who is blind. Alvord, 61, pleaded no contest to hit-and-run driving. Yesterday, a judge sentenced Alvord to 22 months in prison.

Larkin broke his pelvis and legs during the Oregon traffic accident that took place on February 7. Alvord’s car drove onto the sidewalk, struck Larkin, and pinned him against a utility pole. 14 people saw the catastrophic pedestrian crash.

Some of the witnesses followed Alvord and boxed him in so he couldn’t get away. His blood-alcohol level was more than four times the drunk driving limit at .3%.

Following the Portland, Oregon pedestrian accident, Alvord went into rehab and persuaded his insurer to settle with Larkin, who just recently started to walk again. The remorseful drunk driver accepts full responsibility for causing Larkin’s personal injuries.

Unfortunately, not all negligent motorists are as quick as Larkin to take responsibility for their actions. This can make it hard for a Portland, Oregon motor vehicle accident victim to obtain the financial recovery that he or she needs (and is owed) that can pay for surgeries, rehabilitation services, therapy, medication, crutches, wheelchairs, and medical devices.

In many instances, an injured pedestrian will require the help of an experienced Portland, Oregon car accident lawyer to investigate the crash evidence, work with accident reconstruction experts, interview witnesses, and consult with medical professionals who know how to evaluate the extent of the injuries and the amount needed to recover.

It is important that you contact an experienced Portland, Oregon injury lawyer right away so that you can explore your legal options and get the process going. Although the statute of limitations for filing a pedestrian accident lawsuit in Oregon is two years from the date of the incident, there a lot that must be done to get the process going and determine whether an Oregon injury settlement is the best option for your case.

Oregon crash defendant tries to make amends, Associated Press/Google, September 11, 2009

Blind pedestrian struck by vehicle, Columbian.com, February 10, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents with Pedestrians, Nolo

Pedestrian Safety Program, Oregon.gov

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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The hope that using hands-free cell phones while driving is safer than talking on a hand-held phone while operating a motor vehicle went out the window after news surfaced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration withheld research as far back as 2003 showing that use of any kind of cell phone when driving is dangerous. Researchers even went so far as to draft a letter expressing concern that laws banning hand-held cell phones would not be enough to eliminate the safety risk.

Just talking on the phone is a form of distracted driving—it doesn’t matter whether you are holding the phone or using a headset. Talking on a cell phone slows a motorist’s reaction time and takes his or her attention off the road and away from driving and can cause a motor vehicle crash.

Apparently, NHTSA researchers knew as far back as 2002 that cell phone use while driving caused 240,000 traffic accidents and almost 1,000 motor vehicle deaths that year. Yet a former NHTSA head says he was encouraged to hold back the information so as not to anger Congress. The agency was warned to focus on gathering facts, rather than lobbying states to come up with tougher driving laws regarding wireless devices.

If only this information was made available to the public back then, talking on the phone and text messaging while driving may not have become unsafe driving habits that have grown to such epidemic proportion that some states have passed laws restricting cell phone use while driving. Now, even though motorists finally know how dangerous talking on a cell phone and texting while driving can be, many of them are finding it hard to stop.

How many lives could have been saved if this information had come to the surface six years ago? The traffic accident toll from cell phone use—currently about 2,600 fatalities, 636,000 traffic accidents, and 330,000 a year—has almost doubled in less than a decade. Even now, not all US states have laws banning hand-held cell phones. In Oregon, HB2377 was recently passed by legislators seeking to ban hand-held phones while driving. Hands-free cell phones, however, would still be allowed.

Each day, in many US states, hundreds of thousands of drivers continue to talk on hands-free cell phones while driving because they think that they are actually practicing safe driving habits. Meantime, one study from University of Utah psychologists equates cell phone use while driving to drunk driving.

Talking on any kind of cell phone while driving is considered a form of distracted driving that can cause Portland, Oregon car crashes, truck accidents, bus collisions, and pedestrian injuries.

Withheld research confirms driving danger of cell phone use, DelawareOnline.com, July 24, 2009

NY Times: Federal agency withheld warnings about distracted driving risks, Bikeportland.org, July 21, 2009

Related Web Resources:
US Wireless Communication Devices While Driving, NY Times, July 2003

Drivers on Cell Phones are as Bad as Drunks, University of Utah

Continue reading "NHTSA Held Back Information for Years that Using Any Kind of Cell Phone While Driving Can Cause Oregon Car Accidents" »

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: 15-Passenger Van Accidents , Bus Accidents , Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reporting that there were 416 Oregon traffic deaths. This fatality figure is slightly lower than the 455 Oregon traffic deaths that occurred in 2007.

More 2008 Oregon Traffic Facts:
• 290 passenger vehicle occupant deaths
• 91 of the victims were unrestrained
• Alcohol was a factor in 136 traffic deaths
• 128 speeding-related deaths
• 48 Oregon motorcycle deaths
• 51 Oregon pedestrian deaths

Nationally, there was also a decline in US traffic fatalities, with 37,261 deaths last year compared to 41,259 traffic deaths that occurred in 2007.

More 2008 US Traffic Accident Facts:
• 11,733 drunk driver-related deaths
• 716 pedalcyclist deaths
• 4,378 pedestrian fatalities
• 5,290 motorcycle deaths
• 677 large truck fatalities
• 25,351 passenger vehicle deaths
• 2,346 traffic injuries
• 2,072,000 people injured in passenger vehicles
• 23,000 large truck deaths
• 96,000 motorcycle injuries
• 69,000 pedestrian injuries
• 52,000 pedalcyclist injuries (compared to 43,000 injuries the year before)

While there was a decline most kinds of traffic fatalities between 2008 and 2007, there was an increase in motorcycle fatalities—from 5,174 deaths in 2007—and pedalcyclist fatalities—from 701 deaths.

Common causes of 2008 Oregon motor vehicle crashes included:
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy driving
• Speeding
• Cell phone use
• Text messaging
• Driver inexperience
• Poor road conditions
• Defective autos

While the overall declines in Oregon and US traffic deaths are positive, there is always more that can be done to decrease the number of injuries and deaths that occur in the state and throughout the United States. One way to decrease the number of Oregon car crashes is for drivers and truckers and motorcyclists to drive responsibly and refrain from negligent conduct. Motorist negligence can be grounds for a Portland, Oregon personal injury claim.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: Overall Traffic Fatalities Reach Record Low, NHTSA, July 2, 2009

2008 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment - Highlights, June 2009 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
State Traffic Safety Information for Year 2008

Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2009, June 2009 (PDF)

Continue reading "416 Oregon Traffic Deaths in 2008, Says NHTSA" »

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Products Liability , Truck Accidents

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An Oregon landscaper is suing University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer for personal injury. Loretta Jane Brubaker says she sustained serious injuries when she was planting flowers on Frohnmayer’s property and was hit by a motor vehicle rolling down the driveway. There was no one in the BMW convertible that struck her at the time of the accident. Mira Frohnmayer and Marcia Baldin are the owners of the car.

Brubaker says that the Oregon car accident caused her to sustain a concussion, blunt head trauma, a cervical sprain, and other injuries that have affected her ability to work and take part in daily activities. She is seeking $61,000 for medical costs, lost wages, and non-economic damages.

Her Oregon personal injury lawsuit, filed in Lane County Circuit Court, accuses the car owners of negligence because they neglected to turn the front wheels of the car so that the tires were facing the curb and did not activate the parking brake on the sloping driveway. Brubaker accuses Dave Frohnmayer of negligence for failing to warn the other defendants that they needed to make sure that the parking brake in their car was engaged.

Oregon Personal Injury
If you were hurt because of another party’s negligent actions, you may be able to file an Oregon personal injury claim. Oregon follows a system of modified comparative negligence. This means that you are found to be at least 51% responsible for causing your injury accident, you won’t be able to recover from the liable parties. This is why it is so important that you don’t try to pursue recovery from the liable parties without the help of an experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer that can fight for your right to receive compensation. With the state's statute of limitations, you have two years from the date of injury to file your Portland, Oregon personal injury lawsuit.

Frohnmayer sued over injury incident in driveway, The Register Guard, June 4, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Car Accidents Overview, Justia

Proving Fault in Accidents on Dangerous or Defective Property, Nolo

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Premises Liability

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A number of recent, unrelated Oregon motor vehicle accidents have resulted in catastrophic injuries and deaths. On Sunday, a 62-year-old Roseburg motorcyclist’s leg became severed below the knee when he became involved in a hit and run accident near Fair Oaks.

On Monday, police arrested Oakland resident Billy Whitehead for felony hit and run, driving while suspended, and reckless driving. Motorcyclist John R. Granholm sustained his catastrophic injuries when his motorcycle and Whitehead’s Toyota Corolla collided. Granholm flew off his bike, crashed into the car windshield, and landed on the pavement. As of yesterday morning, Granholm, who was admitted to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland, was listed in critical condition.

Near Sandy, an Eagle Creek mother and daughter were killed on Saturday in a motor vehicle collision on Highway 26. Oregon State Police say 42-year-old Pamela Benson and 11-year-old Clarice Marie Benson were pronounced dead at the Oregon crash site.

Preliminary evidence indicates that Benson’s Toyota Corolla was struck on the driver’s side by a 1987 Toyota R Runner. Boring and Sandy fire department workers had to extricate the SUV driver, 18-year-old Estacada resident Daniel Ingle, from his vehicle.

Last week, a 40-year-old Grants Pass man died on Monday after he was hit by at least one motor vehicle on Interstate 5 close to Merlin. Police are investigating the Oregon pedestrian death.

If you were involved in an Oregon traffic accident with an insured motorist, an injured driver, a drunk driver, a hit and run driver, a distracted driver who was talking on his cell phone or text messaging, or any other kind of negligent driver, you should contact an experienced Portland car accident attorney today. Having an Oregon personal injury law firm that is on your side can make a huge difference in terms of how much financially recovery you can obtain from all liable parties.

Hit-and-run deaths near Merlin spur OSP probe, Mail Tribune, April 28, 2009

Hit-and-run crash severs man's leg, NRToday.com, April 27, 2009

Identities released in Sandy double-fatal accident, Oregon Live, April 26, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Oregon Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Recent Oregon Motor Vehicle Accidents Result in Serious Injuries and Deaths" »

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (OBPAC) has written a letter to the Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) calling on it to push for a ban on cell phone use while driving and increase its efforts to notify the public about the dangers of distracted driving. The OBPAC not only wants the OTC to support the National Safety Council's call that all cell phone while operating a motor vehicle be barred, but it wants details about the hazards of distracted driving to be added to Oregon’s DMV manual.

Oregon doesn’t have any laws regarding adults and cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle. The state, however, does currently ban drivers younger than 18 from text messaging or talking on a cell phone while driving.

Next week, the House Transportation Committee will hear House Bill 2377, which bans the use of “mobile communication devices” when people are driving their motor vehicles. The bill makes talking or texting on a cell phone illegal—albeit only a secondary offense, which means an Oregon police officer has to catch the offender committing another offense first. However, the law doesn’t apply to hands-free devices.

According to a 2006 University of Utah study, people who talk on cell phones while driving exhibit behavior similar to that of motorists who are drunk driving. Among the study’s findings:

• Hands-free and handheld held cell phones impair driving to an equal degree.
• Drivers who talk on cell phones tend to drive slower and step on the brakes slower than drivers who aren’t using cell phones.
• Motorists who talked on cell phones while driving exhibited 24% more variation in following distance and were 19% slower when it came to accelerating back to normal speed after braking than drivers who weren’t talking on cell phones.
• Drunk drivers tended to drive slowly but more aggressively than sober drivers. They were also slower to brake and did so with 23% more force.

If you were injured in an Oregon car accident because another motorist was driving drunk, talking or texting on a cell phone, fell asleep behind the wheel, or was impaired, distracted, or negligent in any other way, you may have grounds for filing an Oregon personal injury lawsuit.

Oregon bike/ped committee urges state to ban cell phones while driving, BikePortland.org, April 17, 2009

Drivers on Cell Phones are as bad as drunks, U News Center, June 29, 2006

Related Web Resources:
Oregon Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Oregon.gov

National Safety Council

Continue reading "Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Wants Oregon Transportation Commission to Support Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving" »

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Bus Accidents , Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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According to the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 37,313 people died in US traffic accidents last year. This annual estimated death toll is the lowest in 47 years when in 1961, 36,285 died. Last year’s fatality rate was also the lowest ever recorded at 1.28 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

The decrease in overall traffic accidents last year was clearly reflected in the Oregon city of Portland, where its Bureau of Transportation is reporting that 20 people died in traffic accidents last year—15 motor vehicle occupants and 5 pedestrians—and there were no bicyclist deaths. In the past, there have only been three other years—in 2000, 2006, and 2007—when the number of Portland traffic crash deaths was below 30.

Total number of traffic deaths in Portland were particularly high in the 1930’s and 1940’s before neighborhood speed limits, traffic signals, and sidewalk extenders existed. Now, the city has over 1,000 speed bumps—boasting more than any US city. It also has red light cameras, photo radar vans, and over 350 miles of designated trails, bike lanes, and boulevards. The NHTSA lists Oregon (at 96.3%) as one of the 16 US states where seat belt use is 90% or more.

According to traffic safety specialist Greg Raisman, the fact that more people are biking and walking makes them more cautious when they do get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. This is another reason why there were less Portland motor vehicle deaths last year.

Despite these improvements, there are still some areas that are considered dangerous corridors for potentially deadly Portland traffic accidents:

• Burnside Street (beginning from Southeast 20th Avenue to Northwest Cornwall Road)
• Southeast Foster Road (from 52nd to 92nd Avenues)
• 82nd Avenue (stretching from Northeast Columbia Blvd to Southeast Clatsop Street)
• North Lombard Street (from Williams Ave to the St. Johns Bridge)
• Southeast Division Street (from 82nd Avenue to 148th Street)

The decrease in Portland motor vehicle deaths, is of course, excellent, but Oregon car crashes and injuries and fatalities still happen and can be grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death claim if there are any injuries or fatalities.

Accident fatalities in 2008 lowest in Portland history, TheOutlookOnline.com, April 2, 2009

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Record Low Traffic Deaths, Improved State Seat Belt Use, NHTSA, April 6, 2009

Seat Belt Use in 2008—Use Rates in the States and Territories (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
City of Portland, Office of Transportation

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "US Department of Transportation Says the Number of Motor Vehicle Deaths in 2008 is Record Low Since 1961, and Portland, Oregon Exhibits Lowest Traffic Fatality Figures Ever" »

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Posted In: Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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In Oregon, lawmakers are considering revising the current state drunk driving laws so that they include all substances that could impair someone’s ability to safely drive a motor vehicle. The current Oregon DUI laws cover alcohol and controlled drugs. A person apprehended or who causes an Oregon motor vehicle accident because he or she was abusing medication or overmedicated, however, cannot currently be prosecuted for drunk driving because state law regarding driving under the influence of intoxicants does not define these substances as intoxicants.

Those who oppose changing the law, however, say adding prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs to the list of intoxicants under Oregon’s drunk driving laws would place motorists who actually need to take the medication for their health at a huge disadvantage.

Impaired Driving Caused by Medication
Catastrophic Oregon motor vehicle crashes have been known to occur because a motorist was under the influence of strong medication. For example, one teen driver drank two bottles of Robitussin cough medicine right before becoming involved in an Oregon rollover accident. Although Portland police charged him with Oregon DUI, the criminal charge was eventually dropped.

Medication and Driving
Medication, depending on the kind of drug and the dose taken, can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, difficulties focusing, nausea, vision difficulties, delayed reflexes, and unconsciousness. These are not the kind of side effects you want to have when operating a motor vehicle anywhere in the United States.

While many medications are prescribed by doctors to maintain a patient’s health, especially someone who is suffering from depression, heart problems, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, schizophrenia, and other conditions, it is the responsibility of the person taking the drugs to make sure that he or she doesn’t drive while under the influence of such medicines.

Any kind of impaired driving is dangerous driving. Too many lives are lost every day in drunk driving accidents because someone was driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.

Oregon ponders new drunken driving law, SeattlePINews.com, March 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Impaired Driving, CDC

Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Oregon State Legslature

Continue reading "Oregon Lawmakers Consider Expanding Current Drunk Driving Laws to Include Any Substance that Could Impair a Motorist’s Ability to Drive Safely" »

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Posted In: Bus Accidents , Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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In Portland, a 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was struck by two cars on Interstate 5 on Sunday. The teen pedestrian had just left the Rose Garden where he had been watching the Portland Trail Blazers play against the San Antonio Spurs.

The boy is being treated at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Portland police are investigating the cause of the fatal Oregon pedestrian accident. They think he may have been trying to cross the freeway. One vehicle reportedly hit the boy before he was hit by another car.

Both motorists stopped at the Portland, Oregon traffic accident scene and spoke to local authorities. One woman who had also been watching the basketball game says the boy is not the only one that had been trying to cross Interstate 5.

Oregon Pedestrian Accidents
It is important that pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists take steps to prevent pedestrian accidents from happening. Whenever there is a traffic accident involving a pedestrian, he or she is the one most prone to serious injuries.

The Web site PedestrianSafety.com talks about a list of scenarios on the road that can lead to Portland traffic accidents and resulting pedestrian injuries and deaths:

• A motor vehicle turns into a pedestrian’s path.
• A pedestrian runs onto the street.
• A pedestrian crosses the street in the middle of the road.
• A bus may be obstructing another motorist’s view, making it difficult to see that there is a pedestrian behind a large vehicle unless the driver or motorcyclist is paying close attention.

To prevent pedestrian accidents, a Safety and Consumer Protection Web site advises:
• Yield the right of way to pedestrians whether or not there is a walk signal or pedestrian lane if they have already started crossing the street.
• Do not overtake or try to pass a vehicle that is stopped at an intersection.

Teen Struck By Car After Leaving Rose Garden, Fox 12 Oregon, March 1, 2009

Rules and pointers for pedestrians and drivers, Safety & Consumer Protection

Pedestrian Safety

Related Web Resources:
Bicycle & Pedestrian Program, Oregon.gov

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Continue reading "Portland Traffic Accident Injures Oregon Teen Pedestrian After He is Struck by Two Cars on Interstate 5" »

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Posted In: Injuries to Minors , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents

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This week, the National Safety Council (NSC) issued a call for a US-wide ban that would prohibit motorists from using cell phones while driving. The consumer safety organization says it will lobby all 50 US states and Washington DC to implement laws that ban the use of both hand-held and hand-free cell phones and text messaging whenever a driver is behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

The NSC says that there is now clear scientific evidence to show that use of a cellular phone while driving increases the risks of the driver becoming involved in a motor vehicle crash. According to the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis:

• 6% of traffic accidents (636,000 motor vehicle collisions) that occur each year happen because someone was using a cell phone.
• 330,000 people were injured in these accidents.
• 12,000 of the injuries were serious.
• 2,600 people died in auto collisions that involved cell phone use.

According to researchers at the University of Utah, over 100 million people talk or text message on cell phones when driving. Dr. Gavin Melmed of Baylor University Medical Center in Waco, Texas agrees that legislation, more education, and enforcement are needed to get people to see how cell phone use, like driving without a seatbelt and drunk driving, is unacceptable behavior while operating a vehicle.

While certain US states have a ban on handheld cell phones, no state has completely banned the use of all cell phones while driving. Oregon law bans drivers younger than 18 from talking or text messaging on a cell phone while driving. However, in order to be cited for violating this law, the use of the cell phone must be a secondary offense. This means the young or novice driver had to have violated another law by, for example, speeding or drunk driving. Oregon police officers say that enforcing this law has proven challenging. As of January 8, there were no records of citations in Portland, Eugene, Pendleton, and Bend.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says drivers who use cell phones when operating their vehicles quadruple their chances of becoming involved in a motor vehicle crash. Cell phone use while driving is a form of driver inattention.

National Safety Council Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving, NSC.org, January 12, 2009

Ore. teen drivers not cited, year after cell-phone ban, KTVZ, January 8, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Cellphones and Driving, Insurance Information Institute

Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association

Continue reading "Impose a US-wide ban on using cell phones will driving, says National Safety Council" »

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Posted In: Bus Accidents , Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says auto accidents and fall accidents are the leading causes of accidental teen and child injuries and deaths in this country.

Facts included in the CDC’s report:

• 9.2 million teenagers and children a year are treated in US emergency rooms for accidental injuries.
• 2.8 million teens and young kids are injured in fall accidents annually.
• Over 50% of the nonfatal injuries involving kids younger than 1 occurred during fall accidents.
• About 8,000 minors are killed each year in traffic accidents as pedestrians, vehicle occupants, and pedalcyclists.
• 12,175 people under age 20 die in the US every year because of accidental injuries.
• Approximately 20 kids die every day because of an injury that could have been prevented.
• Some 20 million kids and young adults sustain injuries each year that limit their activity and require medical care.

Leading causes of injury deaths, according to age group:

• Infants – suffocation
• Ages 1 to 4 – drowning
• Ages 5 to 19 – traffic crashes

In addition to fall accidents, other leading causes of nonfatal injuries to kids include:

• Animal bites
• Insect bites
• Getting hit by or falling against an object

Children in the 1 – 4 age group were most likely to suffer nonfatal injuries in fall accidents or due to accidental poisoning. According to CDC Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention Director Grant Baldwin, many of these injuries can be predicted and are preventable.

Many times, these injuries occur while a child or teen is engaged in everyday activities, such as riding in a car, walking to school, or swimming in the neigborhood pool. Such injuries are often caused by reckless motor vehicle drivers, careless property owners, negligent product manufacturers, careless dog owners, or other responsible parties.

Car Crashes, Falls Top List of Accidental Injuries for Kids, US News, December 10, 2008

Childhood Injury Report, CDC

Related Web Resources:

Children Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, NHTSA (PDF)

World Health Organization

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Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Bus Accidents , Car Accidents , Dog Attacks , Injuries to Minors , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Premises Liability , Products Liability , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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As part of its push to keep motorists and pedestrians safe over the holiday season, the Oregon State Police is increasing its DUI enforcement efforts. Their actions are part of a 20-day national crackdown on drunk drivers and runs from December 13 though the New Year. State and local police will also be on high alert for Oregon DUI drivers beginning 6pm on Christmas Eve through Sunday at midnight.

Oregon Governor Kulongoski, who declared December “Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness” month, has reminded drivers that driving with a buzz is driving while impaired—a leading cause of motor vehicle fatalities in the state. Last year, 18 people died in Oregon drunk driving accidents over the holiday season.

Meantime, a recent national study confirms that the number of fatalities due to drunk drivers increases around Christmas and New Year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that from 2002 – 2006, alcohol was a factor in 4 out of 10 motor vehicle deaths that occurred during the last two weeks of December. Also, drivers 21 – 24 years of age are more likely to be involved in a deadly alcohol-related motor vehicle accident than other motorists.

The Oregon Department of Transportation Safety Division’s Impaired Driving Program Manager Gretchen McKenzie has a number of suggestions for how drivers can keep themselves and others safe this holiday season:

• Don’t drive if you’ve had anything to drink.
• Make sure that there is a designated driver.
• Don’t let anyone who has been drinking get behind the wheel of the car.
• Consider taxis, public transportation, or a car service as alternative modes of transportation.
• Make sure you and your passengers are wearing seat belts.
• Call 911 if you see a drunk driver on the road.

Of course, it is important that motorists drive sober throughout the year. Last year, the NHTSA says 12,998 people died in alcohol-impaired auto crashes in the US.

Anyone who drives under the influence of alcohol or drugs is breaking the law and may be charged for Oregon DUI crimes. Victims injured by a DUI driver may also have grounds to file an Oregon personal injury claim for damages.

Governor proclaims December “Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness” month, Oregon.gov, December 1, 2008

State police beef up drunk-driver patrols, The Register-Guard, December 23, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Alcohol Impaired Driving 2007 Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

DUI Laws in Oregon, United States DUI Laws, DUI Driving Laws

Continue reading "To Prevent Oregon DUI Accidents, OSP Steps Up Drunk Driver Patrols Over the Holiday Season" »

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Bicycle Accidents , Bus Accidents , Car Accidents , Motor Vehicle Accidents , Motorcycle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Truck Accidents , Wrongful Death

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In Oregon, a 97-year-old pedestrian died on Saturday after she was struck by a car that was backing out of an apartment complex parking lot. Anne Hemming sustained head injuries and was pronounced dead shortly upon her arrival at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital.

The car’s driver, 79-year-old Milwaukie resident Stanley Keltz, has not been charged with any crime related to the Oregon pedestrian accident.

NHTSA Pedestrian Accidents
• There were 4,654 pedestrian deaths in 2007.
• 903 of these victims were elderly pedestrians, age 65 and older.
• 70,000 pedestrians suffered injuries in traffic accidents.
• 6,000 of the injury victims were seniors, age 65 and older.
• 60% of elderly pedestrian deaths took place at non-intersections.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
• Driver negligence
• Drunk driving
• Motor vehicle defect
• Pedestrian error
• Speeding
• Talking/texting on the cell phone while driving
• Failure to obey traffic signs
• Driver inattention

Elderly people may have a harder time than their younger adult counterparts recovering from a broken hip, a fractured bone, a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or another serious injury. Not only may senior pedestrians need more time to heal from their injuries and infections, but chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease, may create further complications.

Personal Injury or Wrongful Death
Even if Oregon police decide not to pursue criminal charges against the driver or another party responsible for causing a motor vehicle accident, the injured person or the family of a person killed in an auto crash may still be able to hold the responsible party liable in civil court.

Woman, 97, Dies After Being Hit By Car, KPTV.com, November 16, 2008

97-year-old Milwaukie woman hit, killed by car in parking lot, Oregon City News, November 16, 2008

Pedestrians Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:
Older Population Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, NHTSA

Focusing on the Senior Pedestrian, Federal Highway Administration

Continue reading "97-Year-Old Oregon Pedestrian Dies After She is Hit by Car in a Milwaukie Parking Lot" »

Posted by Matthew D. Kaplan | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Motor Vehicle Accidents , Pedestrian Accidents , Wrongful Death

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