Too many Portland drivers have been turning a blind eye to our local speed limit signs, and more and more pedestrians are paying the ultimate price because of it. From 2017 to 2019, 75% of the 48 fatal pedestrian accidents in Portland resulted from a speeding driver.
Excessive speed has long been a top contributor to Portland pedestrian accidents, but the COVID-19 pandemic has only exaggerated the issue. At the beginning of the pandemic, despite having hardly anyone out on the roads, speeding citations increased in Portland from two on February 9, 2020, to 29 citations on March 29, 2020. Even after workers began to return to work and rush hour reappeared, drivers still refused to slow down. According to Willamette Week, once people made the return to their offices and routines, traffic deaths still rose.
Although pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere in Portland, some intersections are considerably more dangerous than others. The most dangerous intersections for pedestrians in Portland are primarily in East Portland, where over $120 million of city funds have yet to make intersections like Stark Street and Southeast 122nd Avenue any safer.
Why Is Portland So Dangerous for Pedestrians?
Speeding drivers cause numerous serious, sometimes fatal pedestrian accidents in Portland, but speeding is only part of the problem. Other reasons pedestrian accidents occur on Portland streets include:
- Texting and driving
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted drivers
- Tailgating
- Changing lanes without looking
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drowsy drivers
Pedestrian accidents are not just plaguing the City of Roses. In fact, within the last decade, pedestrian fatalities have risen nearly 46% across the nation, as reported by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
Are Relatives of Pedestrian Accident Victims Eligible for Compensation in Portland, OR?
The State of Oregon provides relatives of deceased victims of Portland pedestrian accidents with the right to file a claim for wrongful death.
If you have lost a loved one in a Portland pedestrian accident caused by a negligent driver, seek legal counsel from a pedestrian accident attorney right away. Many family members of deceased pedestrian accident victims in Oregon are eligible to receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses between the time of injury and death
- Funeral and burial costs
- Pain and suffering (before passing)
- Loss of companionship
- Lost wages, including loss of future earnings
Pedestrians injured in Portland traffic accidents can also file a personal injury claim against the driver involved in the accident.
Portland Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Representing Victims and Their Families
When a car hits a pedestrian, the accident is usually the fault of the driver, regardless of whether the victim was in a crosswalk or not. Oregon State Law requires negligent drivers to compensate relatives of pedestrian accident victims who have succumbed to their injuries. Even if a pedestrian is partially at fault in a traffic accident, the deceased pedestrian’s family can still sue the driver of the vehicle if the driver also shares at least part of the blame.
Our founder, Richard Rizk, is a former insurance company insider who knows how to motivate insurers to pay claims because he has authorized claim payments himself. He, and the rest of the Rizk Law team, believe that negligent drivers should always be held responsible for the pain, suffering, and financial losses they cause victims and their families.
If you have questions about your rights after losing a loved one in a pedestrian accident, we are here to help. Call us to schedule a free evaluation of your loved one’s fatal pedestrian accident today at (503) 245-5677 or complete our contact form to request more information about how we can serve you.
