Common Car Accident Scenarios — Causes & Determining Fault

There are thousands of car accidents annually in Portland, OR. Although each accident has unique facts and outcomes, officials categorize them in several ways, including contributing factors and crash type.

After a crash, insurers and lawyers review common car accident scenarios, causes, and determine fault to allocate liability. A Portland car accident lawyer from Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can analyze your crash and explain your options for pursuing compensation. We have 17 years of combined legal experience and have recovered millions of dollars in damages.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

How Tillmann Law Can Help After A Car Accident In Portland, OR

Tillmann Law is a top-rated law firm representing injured people in Portland, Oregon. 

Our firm will assist you in the following ways after you suffer an injury in a car accident caused by another person’s carelessness:

• Reviewing your situation with you and discussing your legal options
• Collecting evidence and preparing an auto insurance claim
• Negotiating with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to resolve your case
• Taking your case to court if the auto insurer denies liability

You should not have to bear the financial burdens of someone else’s negligent driving. Our experienced Portland car accident attorneys are here to walk you through the legal process. Our legal team includes attorneys who have been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers and Super Lawyers.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Portland personal injury attorney.

Determining Liability For Car Accidents

Liability for a car accident depends on the at-fault driver’s actions. If the driver intended to strike your vehicle, they may have committed the intentional tort of battery. To recover compensation under this legal theory, we must prove the other driver intended to make harmful contact with you. 

The more common scenario occurs when a driver unintentionally hits you or creates a situation where you hit them. Negligence occurs when someone fails to exercise due care and, as a result, causes an injury. Specifically, the law expects all drivers to exercise ordinary care and avoid exposing other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists to unreasonable risks.

A driver who intentionally or negligently causes a traffic accident is liable for the resulting injuries and property damage. Victims can pursue compensation for their economic losses, such as medical bills and lost earnings, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.

Common Car Accident Causes

According to the most recent Oregon Traffic Crash Summary, Portland had 6,500 traffic crashes in 2022. This report identifies certain car accident scenarios as the most common.

Rear-End Collisions

The most common type of crash in Portland that year was a rear-end collision, also called a front-to-rear collision. This type of accident occurs when a driver slams into the vehicle in front of them. According to the state’s Crash Summary, the most common scenario for a rear-end crash happens when the rear driver follows too closely, and the vehicle ahead of them stops.

The cause of these crashes arises from a lack of stopping distance. A vehicle’s stopping distance is the distance a driver requires to see the vehicle in front of them stop, react by pressing the brake pedal, and stop their vehicle. When a driver’s following distance is less than the stopping distance for their speed, they may strike the vehicle in front of them.

The driver of the rear vehicle is often liable for these crashes since they control their following distance. However, the driver of the leading vehicle will occasionally be liable if they cut off the rear driver, leaving them no room to brake.

Intersection Accidents

Intersection crashes often involve a right-of-way violation. This violation occurs when a driver fails to yield the right of way as required by the law. Multiple vehicles proceed at the same time, resulting in a collision. The driver who went out of turn is liable for these accidents.

DUI Crashes

Impaired driving is the most common cause of traffic deaths in Portland. Drugs and alcohol can dull a driver’s senses and slow their reactions. They can also affect a driver’s judgment and perception of speed and distance. 

Although marijuana is often viewed as a “safe drug,” deaths in marijuana-related crashes increased after the state legalized recreational use.

The liability for DUI crashes often falls on the impaired driver. However, this is not necessarily always the case. An impaired driver might fall victim to a careless driver through no fault of their own.

Contact Our Portland Car Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation

Even when a crash falls into a common scenario, proving liability can require legal knowledge and experience dealing with insurers. Contact Tillmann Law to schedule a free consultation with one of our Portland car accident attorneys.