Portland Personal Injury Attorney

Portland Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Recently, Department of Transportation officials announced 2010 had greatly reduced the number of transportation fatalities to the lowest level in 60 years nationally. In Oregon we saw the lowest level of transportation fatalities ever in 2010. In fact, the Northwest region lead the nation in the lowest level of traffic death in 2010.

Yet, an alarming statistic accompanies this otherwise good news, pedestrian fatalities, "62 pedestrian deaths, compared to 30 in 2009. “The bad news is we’re on the same path with the same number of pedestrian deaths so far this year as last year,” Costales said." [1]

In fact, there were a record number of Oregon pedestrian deaths in 2010. "The number of pedestrians killed on Oregon's roads increased 59 percent last year, according to preliminary figures from the Oregon Department of Transportation. 62 people were run-over while out walking in 2010." [2]

While the focus of this alarm is fatalities, pedestrians suffer serious injury in car accidents, usually to lower limbs, but also frequently serious head injury. In Oregon, and the nation, pedestrian fatalities are even more common than bicycle fatalities. According to the NHTSA Pedestrian Accident fact sheet for 2008, "Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 83 percent of all nonoccupant fatalities in 2008. The 716 pedalcyclist fatalities accounted for 14 percent, and the remaining 4 percent were skateboard riders, roller skaters, etc." Worldwide, pedestrian – car accidents are responsible for over a third of all auto accident related fatalities and injuries. [3]

Pedestrians are often hit even in crosswalks where they do have the right of way whether or not the crosswalk is marked or unmarked. "Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing streets in marked or unmarked crosswalks in most situations. Pedestrian need to be especially careful at intersections where the failure to yield right-of-way often occurs when drivers are turning onto another street and a pedestrian is in their path."[3]

According to the National Institutes of Health, "Pedestrian-vehicle crashes are responsible for more than a third of all traffic related fatalities and injuries worldwide, with lower limb trauma the commonest pedestrian injury, while head injury is responsible for most pedestrian fatalities." [4]

Research to reducing the danger to pedestrians and bicyclists continues. Both road and car design innovations may be helpful in the future to reducing injuries in all accidents. For pedestrians and bicyclists, even motorcyclists who have no protection from the heavy cars and trucks, these innovations may mean the difference between life and death. Some innovations are simple such as bumpers that absorb some of the impact, while some are futuristic such as the passive car systems involving both sensors and passive breaking.

Portland Pedestrian Accident Attorney FAQs

I represent pedestrians injured in car accidents. If you have been injured while walking, please contact me for a free no obligation legal consultation. If I take your case, there are no attorney fees until your case is settled and you have won a monetary recovery.

SOURCES

1. Oregon, Northwest lead nation to biggest decline in traffic deaths since 1940s

2. Record Number Of Oregon Pedestrians Killed In 2010

3. NHTSA 2008 Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians

NHTSA Car v. Pedestrian Accident Facts

4. Toward Zero Pedestrian Fatalities