Oregon Injury Lawyer Blog
Auto accident fatalities are, as Portland Mayor Keith Wilson recently pointed out, a “fully preventable cause of death.” Optimized highway and roadway safety requires cooperation and collaboration between drivers and government authorities — the former must observe safe driving practices, while the latter must ensure safe infrastructure. Among the most devastating outcomes of these crashes are head injuries in car crashes, which can result in traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, and long-term cognitive impairment. Even as state and local leaders work to improve roadway and highway infrastructure, auto accidents — and their tragic consequences — are still a serious problem.
If you have lost a loved one as a result of a fatal auto accident, or if you or a family member has suffered serious harm such as a head injury in a car crash, you have many pathways you will need to navigate to get the financial recovery you deserve. This may include interactions with the civil justice system, insurance companies, and more. As you work through this process, having legal representation from a skilled car crash injury attorney can be integral to holding the responsible parties accountable and recovering everything you are owed. An experienced personal injury car crash lawyer understands the full extent of these damages — including medical bills, lost wages, and long-term rehabilitation costs — and can fight to protect your rights.
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Portland’s Traffic Fatalities Hit a Low Point
Earlier this month, OregonLive reported on some good news regarding fatal auto accidents in this area. The Portland Bureau of Transportation recently announced that last year the city logged 39 traffic deaths, a 38% decline from the average of the last four years.
Traffic fatalities began spiking in 2019, when the number climbed to 50 from 35 the year before. (That 35 figure in 2018 marked the last time Portland had fewer than 50 traffic deaths before this year’s total of 39.) In each succeeding year, the number rose still higher, topping out at 69 deaths in 2023.
While these numbers are encouraging, it’s important to remember that behind every statistic is a real person and family. Many survivors of serious crashes face life-altering injuries — including traumatic head injuries — that require years of treatment. In those situations, consulting a car crash personal injury attorney is often a critical step toward securing justice and long-term financial stability.
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Pedestrian Deaths Also Trending Downward
Another bit of positive news is that the number of pedestrian deaths is also trending in the right direction, although not as sharply as other traffic deaths. In 2022, 28 of the 62 deaths in Portland were pedestrians. Since then, the number of pedestrians to die in Portland has dipped to 24 in 2023, 22 in 2024, and 20 last year.
Pedestrians and cyclists who survive serious crashes frequently suffer severe head injuries and other trauma. If you or a loved one was struck as a pedestrian, a car crash personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you need for recovery. Cyclists face many of the same dangers on Portland’s roads, and a Portland bike injury lawyer can help injured riders hold negligent drivers and unsafe road conditions accountable.
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East Portland Sees Dramatic Improvement
One area where the news was especially positive was East Portland. As OregonLive noted, the area east of Interstate 205 is home to “many of the city’s most dangerous roads and intersections.” Last year, only 11 people died in East Portland crashes — a number that had been 20 or greater each year from 2019 to 2024. The 11 figure represented a 56% drop over the four-year average of 25 logged from 2021 to 2024.
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Enforcement Plays a Key Role
One specific area where both the government and drivers can play a role is safe driving. The government can help by enforcing laws against illegal driving practices such as reckless driving, speeding, and impaired driving. Last year, Portland police made more than 220 arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants and issued more than 7,500 citations. Portland logged zero drunk-driving-related traffic deaths during last year’s holiday periods, which is normally when such deaths peak.
Crashes caused by impaired or reckless drivers often result in serious harm, including catastrophic head injuries that can permanently alter a victim’s quality of life. If you were injured by a drunk driver, a drunk driving accident attorney can help you pursue claims not only against the negligent driver, but also against other potentially liable parties — including bars or restaurants that overserved alcohol. This area of law, sometimes handled by a liquor liability attorney, can be complex, but it opens additional avenues for compensation that many victims don’t realize are available to them.
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Progress in Portland and ‘Vision Zero’
The city remains committed to Vision Zero, which is “an operating structure that seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities through infrastructure changes and police enforcement.” The mayor issued a statement praising the significant progress made in recent years while acknowledging that more work lies ahead. Mayor Wilson expressed pride in “the lifesaving progress we’ve made,” while also noting that “39 of our neighbors were lost last year to a fully preventable cause of death.”
Drivers play an integral role as well. Avoiding dangerous habits — speeding, aggressive driving, unsafe lane changes, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and driving under the influence — can save lives. When drivers fail in that responsibility and cause serious injuries, including head injuries in car crashes, victims deserve strong legal representation.
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When You Need the Best Auto Crash Attorney on Your Side
If your loved one lost their life — or if you suffered a serious injury, including a traumatic head injury — because someone else drove negligently or because a roadway was negligently constructed, you need a skilled legal advocate in your corner. Choosing the best auto crash attorney for your situation can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
The experienced auto crash injury attorneys and car crash personal injury lawyers at Kaplan Law LLC have an extensive track record of helping injured people and their families get justice and hold wrongdoers accountable for their negligence. Whether you need a car crash personal injury attorney to handle complex insurance negotiations, a drunk driver car crash attorney to take on an impaired driving case, a drunk driver car crash lawyer to fight for full compensation, or a victim of drunk drivers lawyer ready to go to trial, we are here to help. We also work as a liquor liability attorney when third-party alcohol providers share responsibility for a crash.
To learn more, call (503) 226-3844 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
