Portland Car Accident Statistics

Oregon is one of the most dangerous states to drive in, surpassing the national average for deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and for traffic accident deaths per 100,000 people. If you have to drive in Portland every day, you may find yourself wondering just how likely it is that you’ll get in a car crash.

If you’ve been hurt in a Portland car accident, the personal injury lawyers at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers want to help. Read on to discover Portland car accident statistics and how our attorneys can help after a crash. Call us at (503) 773-3333 for a free consultation today!

How Can a Portland Car Accident Attorney From Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers Help?

Before we dive into the statistics around Portland car accidents, let’s talk about how our Portland car accident lawyers can help after a crash. When you’re involved in a car accident in Portland, you may find yourself facing a legal battle to get the compensation you deserve.

At Tillman Law, our lawyers know every move the insurance companies will make and can protect you from them. We’ll defend you if they try to blame you for the accident, collect all the evidence needed to prove your side of the story, and account for every penny you’re owed. 

When you hire us, we will

• Investigate your case
• Gather evidence
• Talk to witnesses
• Calculate your full settlement amount
• Negotiate with insurance companies
• Take your case to court if needed

Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we’re ready to go to bat for you, too.

Total Portland Accident Statistics

Each year, more than 9,000 car accidents happen in Portland alone. Close to 50 people die in these crashes each year, and another 7,000 or so get injured, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Crash Analysis and Reporting Unit. 

Those numbers dropped off in 2020 during the pandemic, but as life has returned to normal, we’ve seen a rebound in Portland traffic accidents.

These statistics also don’t cover crashes that happened in the suburbs around Portland. These injuries turn thousands of lives upside down and leave Portland residents healing from devastating wounds and struggling to cover medical bills. If you’ve been injured in a Portland car accident, schedule a free consultation with the attorneys at Tillman Law.

When Do These Accidents Happen?

You may not be surprised to learn that most crashes in Oregon happen in the late afternoon, when people are getting off work. 

Between 5 and 6 p.m., there are about 13 crashes every day in the state of Oregon. The hours of 4 to 5 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m., respectively, are the most dangerous after that.

Fridays also tend to be more dangerous than any other day of the week. People are ready to get home for the weekend and may be speeding more than normal. Surprisingly, Tuesdays are the second-most dangerous day, followed by Wednesdays and then Thursdays.

Dangerous Intersections in Portland

You might be surprised to learn that 60 percent of deadly accidents in Portland happen on just 8 percent of streets. 

Powell Street tends to be fairly high risk, with seven of the thirty deadliest intersections in the city located on this road. Division Street has five of these intersections, and 122nd has six of them, two of which are at Division and Powell Streets.

A majority of dangerous intersections in Portland are located in low-income neighborhoods. Notable exceptions include an intersection on 4th Street and an intersection on Foster Street.

Common Causes of Accidents in Portland

There are several driving behaviors that tend to cause traffic accidents in Portland. 

You won’t be surprised to learn that alcohol is a leading cause of car accidents and traffic fatalities. About twenty people die every year in Portland accidents involving drunk drivers.

Speeding tends to make a driver more likely to crash, and accidents at higher speeds are often more fatal. 

Not wearing a seat belt is another fatal error that is far too common. About half of all passenger vehicle fatalities could be prevented if the person involved was wearing a seat belt.

So what do you do if you weren’t drunk, weren’t speeding, and were wearing a seat belt, and you were still hurt in a crash? Our Portland personal injury lawyers can help you get justice in your case and recover a fair settlement.

Who’s Responsible for a Portland Accident?

After an accident, one of the first questions that need to be answered is who’s at fault. Portland is a “tort state,” meaning that blame does get assigned after an accident. The person who was responsible for the crash may be required to pay damages to the person injured in the accident.

In fact, assigning blame can often become one of the most contentious parts of a personal injury claim. Insurance companies may try to blame you for the accident in order to get out of paying a settlement. 

Our personal injury lawyers can defend you from these claims and make sure you get the money you deserve.

How Many Crashes Cause Serious Injuries?

Every year across Oregon, more than 1,300 people are seriously injured in car crashes. Almost another 1,600 have suspected serious injuries. Statistically speaking, Portland experiences about 700 serious injuries in traffic accidents every year. While pre-existing conditions can complicate claims, Oregon law allows for recovery if the accident worsened these conditions. For defective child seats, manufacturers may also be liable for resulting injuries.

Common car accident injuries can include

• Soft tissue injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken ribs
• Internal bleeding
• Broken bones
• Cuts
• Burns

If you’ve experienced any of these injuries, you could be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Our lawyers can help you get the money you deserve, and we never charge unless we recover money in your case. Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss your options.

Damages Available to Accident Victims in Oregon

There are three types of damages you may be entitled to after a Portland car accident.

• Economic damages – These damages cover anything that comes with an attached dollar value. Examples include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and loss of future earning potential.
• Non-economic damages – Although these damages don’t come with an inherent dollar value, they are no less important. Examples include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, scarring and disfigurement, and mental anguish.
• Punitive damages – These damages are extremely rare in personal injury cases. They only apply in situations where the defendant acted in an especially malicious way.

Our lawyers will dig deep and make sure we calculate every dime you’re owed. We’ll account for every injury you suffered and fight to get you a full and fair settlement offer. Curious what these Portland car accident statistics could mean for your case? Learn more about how we calculate the value of a personal injury case in Oregon.

Contact a Car Crash Lawyer in Portland Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

Being injured in a Portland car accident can be devastating, leaving you with a months-long recovery process and a pile of medical bills you may not be able to pay. Our lawyers want to help. We’ll gather evidence in your case, fight for your rights, and make sure you get every penny you deserve.

Our lawyers always work on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t pay us a thing unless we recover a settlement for you. Schedule a free consultation with us today, no obligation required, to discuss your case.

We’re standing by to provide you with top-rated legal services. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our car accident attorney in Portland. Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Portland at 101 SW Main St #1905, Portland, OR 97204. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 45.51612408324096, -122.6754185

Car Accidents We Cover

• Distracted driving
• DUI accidents
• Head-on crashes
• Hit-and-run crashes
• Intersection crashes
• Lane splitting accidents
• Passenger negligence
• Rear-end crashes
• Road defects

Car Accident Resources

• FAQs: Car Accident Reports in Oregon
• How to Find Traffic Accident Reports in Oregon
• How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take To Settle?

Our personal injury law firm in Portland, OR also provides:

• Bus Accident Lawyer in Portland, OR
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