Portland Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Some Portland neighborhoods are highly walkable and pedestrian-friendly, but the city overall is largely car-dependent, and many streets are designed to move as much vehicle traffic as swiftly as possible. The safety of pedestrians is sometimes left out of this design, and the advocacy group Smart Growth America ranks the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro region 50th among the 100 most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians. Oregon’s own Department of Transportation reports nearly 1,000 pedestrian crashes on average every year, taking the lives of scores of pedestrians and injuring hundreds more. Statistics further show injury or death in almost every pedestrian crash, which is unsurprising given the sheer vulnerability of pedestrians to harm from a motor vehicle impact.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families face tremendous costs and upheaval in their lives. If this has happened to you, the attorneys at Rosenbaum Law Group can help you get the financial recovery you need and deserve to compensate you for the harm you have suffered because of a negligent driver. No matter how seriously you have been hurt, our firm has experience successfully going to bat for injury victims and achieving settlements and verdicts appropriate to the damage caused. Call our experienced Portland pedestrian accident lawyers today for a free consultation to share your story and find out how we can help.
Dangers of Pedestrian Accidents in Portland
Pedestrians traversing the busy streets of Portland face many risks of collisions with motor vehicles while walking down the sidewalk or crossing the street. Walkers can help protect themselves by staying visible, cautious and alert, obeying traffic signals, and watching out for cars. Even so, pedestrians can’t always avoid getting hit by a negligent driver who isn’t watching out for them. Some of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents in Portland include:
- Drivers turning left or right at intersections when pedestrians are crossing the street
- Drivers negligently pulling out into the street from a side street, alleyway or parking lot
- Drivers backing out of a driveway too swiftly without checking first to make sure the path is clear
- Drivers swerving around a car that has stopped at a crosswalk to allow a pedestrian to cross
- Running red lights or trying to beat yellow lights
- Texting while driving or other distracted driving that takes a driver’s eyes and attention off the road
- Speeding
Drivers can prevent pedestrian accidents by keeping their eyes on the road and not their phones, and not passing vehicles that have stopped at a crosswalk. Drivers should also avoid stopping their cars inside the crosswalk, which forces pedestrians to walk outside the crosswalk, or stopping too close to the crosswalk, which blocks visibility for other drivers. Drivers should also take special care when driving in residential areas; near parks, schools, playgrounds or other places where children are likely to be, and around bars and restaurants, especially at night or on the weekend.
Drivers who fail to drive with due care for pedestrian safety are liable to pedestrians they hit for the full amount of harm they cause, including medical expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and other damages. The dedicated Portland pedestrian accident attorneys at Rosenbaum Law Group work tirelessly to get the best results for pedestrian accident victims after a serious accident.
Oregon Pedestrian Safety Laws
Pedestrians are required to obey crossing signals and markings. Pedestrians have the right-of-way in a marked crosswalk at an intersection, or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection (any intersection is a crosswalk in Oregon, regardless of whether it is marked or not). Drivers are required by law to stop at a crosswalk where a pedestrian is crossing and to stay stopped until the pedestrian has cleared the driver’s lane and the next lane. If turning, drivers must wait until the pedestrian is out of the lane they are turning into and has crossed at least six feet into the next lane.
Contact Rosenbaum Law Group Today
If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident in Portland, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal collision with a motor vehicle, the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Rosenbaum Law Group are here to make sure you are fully taken care of and that all your needs are met. Call our experienced Portland pedestrian accident lawyers today.
