Oregon Injury Lawyer Blog
Portland is a place with a lot of pedestrians. Some people eschew horsepower for foot power to help the planet, others do so to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the city, while still others do so out of financial necessity. Whatever the reasons, Portland pedestrians should be safe as they traverse the city’s roads. Too often though, that doesn’t happen. Sometimes, it’s the result of a negligent driver. Other times, hazardous conditions on and around the road play a role. Whatever the specifics of your case, an experienced Portland pedestrian accident lawyer can help you at all steps in the process, from investigating the accident scene to the resolution of your case.
Oregon Route 213 is known by many names, including Lancaster Drive, Silverton Road, and Cascade Highway. However, Portlanders know Route 213 better as 82nd Avenue.
Following a recent unanimous vote of the City Council, the City of Portland will take ownership from the state of a seven-mile stretch of 82nd Avenue that runs through East Portland from the international airport to the city’s southern boundary, Oregonlive.com has reported.
Many residents of the area, along with others that use 82nd Avenue, view this change as a major victory. Under state control, neglect in the form of overlooked safety upgrades and neglected repairs left 82nd Avenue as one of the most dangerous places in Portland for drivers and, especially, for pedestrians, according to the report.
According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), some 19 people have died on 82nd Avenue in East Portland, including two pedestrians killed in April 2021 and a motorcyclist who died in September 2021.
The Many Ways that a Road Can Be Dangerous for Pedestrians
There are, of course, many ways that a road can be unreasonably dangerous. Sometimes, a road is dangerous as a result of its design. Perhaps it lacks proper safety barriers or has intersections with especially poor sightlines.
Other times, the hazardous nature may relate to issues outside road design and construction, such as speed limits that are too high or inadequate (or inadequately maintained) lighting. For example, the PBOT asked the state, in May 2020, to reduce the speed limit on a 5.5-mile stretch of Northeast 82nd Avenue from 35 to 30 mph. The following April, when two pedestrians died in two accidents that occurred just a block apart from one another near the 4900 block of Northeast 82nd, the speed limit remained at 35 mph, Willamette Week reported.
Both of those accidents happened after dark. Per a BikePortland.org report, “lighting conditions” was one of the factors police officers were considering as a contributor to the fatal incidents.
The city’s plans for the stretch of road are multi-faceted. At a recent meeting, city staff announced those plans as including “better lighting for the streets, adding 18 new pedestrian crossings and extending some current paving projects,” according to the Oregonlive.com report.
Whether your pedestrian accident was the result of a speeding driver, a driver who was drunk, distracted, drowsy or otherwise negligent, inadequately painted crosswalks, insufficient (or improperly maintained lighting,) or a combination of multiple factors, a skilled legal representative can help you as you pursue your case. The experienced team of Oregon pedestrian accident attorneys at Kaplan Law LLC is proud to represent people harmed as a result of negligence on the roads in Portland, and around Oregon and Washington, as they seek the justice they deserve. Call us today at (503) 226-3844 or contact us online to set up your free consultation.
