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Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers - Personal injury attorneys located in 101 SW Main St. #1905 Portland, OR 97204

Portland Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Portland Pedestrian Accident AttorneyIf you or a loved one was injured during a pedestrian accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and the suffering you’ve endured. Contact a Portland pedestrian accident attorney at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (503) 272-8986. We are ready to fight on your behalf!

Pedestrian accidents are events that should never happen. With due care, proper attention to the road, and abidance by the law, drivers, and pedestrians can avoid these often-deadly collisions.

Unfortunately, human errors and negligence frequently compromise the safety of Portland’s roads and crosswalks. In 2018 alone, the City of Portland reported 16 pedestrian deaths and many more injuries.

Contact our legal team in Portland today for a free initial consultation! We have handled Portland motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death claims, slip and fall cases and more.

Why Choose Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers?

  • We have obtained millions of dollars on behalf of clients in the past several years.
  • We are always attentive and responsive to our clients’ needs, now and in the future.
  • We benefit our clients with our former insurance claim professionals on staff.
  • We are happy to make home and hospital visits if clients cannot come to our office.
  • We represent Portland pedestrian accident claims on a contingency fee basis.

Portland Pedestrian Accident Resources & FAQs

How Can a Portland Pedestrian Accident Attorney Help?

Pedestrian accident law can be a difficult field to navigate on your own. As a victim, you will need to contend with at-fault parties and insurance companies that do not want you to settle for a large amount. Hiring a lawyer can be the simplest and most effective way to stand up for your rights and obtain fair compensation for your damages. Your lawyer will take over settlement negotiations for your pedestrian accident claim so you can focus on healing. Portland pedestrian accident attorneys can manage difficult tasks such as investigating your accident, collecting evidence, building an injury claim, and going head-to-head with insurance companies on your behalf.

Portland Pedestrian accident attorney

Common Injuries Pedestrian Accident Victims Suffer

Pedestrians are vulnerable to very serious injuries during traffic collisions. Because a person is much smaller, lighter, and lacks the same protections as a motor vehicle, he or she is more likely to suffer serious damage compared to drivers and passengers.

Below are some of the most common injuries that Portland pedestrian accidents experience:

  • Traumatic Brain Damage: In a pedestrian accident, it is very easy to hit your head on a hard surface or be struck in the head by an object. Any head injury can lead to traumatic brain damage and cause potentially life-threatening bruising, bleeding, and swelling in the brain. Many instances of brain damage result in permanent disabilities.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries: When you are struck by a motor vehicle, your spinal cord can be compressed, severed, or broken. When this occurs, you can suffer from spinal cord damage and become paralyzed below the injury site. A spinal cord injury can be partial or complete.
  • Broken Bones and Fractures: Broken bones are among some of the most common injuries in pedestrian accidents. The impact of the collision can cause your bones to fracture, or you may break a bone when a car runs over your body. Broken legs, arms, ribs, and hips are especially common.
  • Cuts, Bruises, and Abrasions: Many pedestrians suffer painful cuts and abrasions during a collision. In severe cases, you can be dragged across the surface of the street and develop a condition known as road rash, a burn-like injury that results in severe pain and scarring.
  • Soft Tissue Injuries: Soft tissues like the muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be torn and sheared in a pedestrian accident. These soft tissue injuries can cause severe pain that lasts for weeks or even months following the collision. 

Many of these injuries do not show symptoms until a few hours or longer after the initial accident. For this reason, it is critical to seek medical care as soon as possible following the collision. Failure to seek medical care could lead to potentially life-threatening complications, so it is important to go to the hospital as soon as you are able. 

What Caused Your Portland Pedestrian Accident?

Before you can bring a claim to damages, you must understand who or what caused your accident. This party will serve as the defendant during your personal injury claim in Multnomah County. The Portland pedestrian accident lawyers at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate your case and name the defendant on your behalf, if necessary. We can help you determine the cause of your crash using proven investigative techniques.

An incompetent, inexperienced, negligent, or careless driver could easily cause a preventable pedestrian collision in Portland. Other hazards can contribute to these wrecks as well, including dangerous roadways. The defendant could be the driver that struck you, the government for a defective public roadway, a private property owner, a product manufacturer, and/or other parties depending on your case.

Are You Eligible for Compensation?

Naming the defendant is just one of many tasks we can accomplish for you at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers. Our pedestrian accident lawyers’ commitment to client success means we have all the resources and abilities you need for a strong claim to damages. A strong case could equal maximum compensation for your losses.

In general, your pedestrian accident case will be worth more the more serious your injuries and damages are. Hiring the right Portland accident attorney can go a long way toward increasing your financial recovery. Speak to the lawyers at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers today to find out if we may be able to help you.

What Can I Do When Pedestrian Accidents Result in Long Term Disabilities?

Because pedestrians are so vulnerable to injuries in a collision, many accidents result in long-term disabilities. You may be unable to walk or move without assistance. You may experience problems with concentration, speech, memory, or bodily functions. It can be difficult to return to work or complete daily tasks alone.

If you find yourself in this situation, you deserve justice. By filing an insurance claim or lawsuit for your catastrophic injury, you could recover compensation to pay for the full value of any losses that you suffered. These may include:

  • The cost of your long-term medical care
  • The cost of any disability accommodations, such as live-in care, home and vehicle modifications, and disability equipment
  • The loss of future earnings and benefits that you would have earned had you not been injured
  • The difference between your wages before and after your accident, if you were forced to take a lower-paying job
  • The pain and suffering that you endure as a result of your disability, such as emotional distress, permanent loss of function, and loss of quality of life

Because cases involving long-term disabilities usually result in higher settlements, insurers and at-fault drivers may fight aggressively against them. To protect your right to a fair settlement and prove your right to recovery, it is important to enlist the help of a Portland pedestrian accident lawyer.

An attorney from Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you gather the evidence necessary to establish the driver’s liability and right to recovery. Your lawyer will contact expert witnesses, such as medical professionals, who can testify to the extent and nature of your disability and the damages that you are claiming. With this level of support on your side, you are better prepared to fight for your right to maximum compensation.

Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Portland For a Free Consultation

How Evidence for a Pedestrian Accident Is Collected

The right evidence is critical to proving a pedestrian accident claim. You want to gather enough information that shows that the driver caused your collision and that you are entitled to recover the damages that you are claiming. 

Evidence is freshest in the moments just after the accident. If you are able to move without risk of further injury, you can take the following steps to gather information:

  • Take photographs and videos of the area around the accident, your visible injuries, damage to any property, and the vehicle involved in the crash.
  • Speak to any witnesses in the area and ask for their contact information so that they can testify in your future case.
  • Call the police and report the accident to law enforcement. The responding police report will be valuable evidence in your case.
  • Go to the hospital immediately and receive treatment for your injuries. You can obtain your medical records afterward to use in your claim.

If you are not able to gather evidence immediately after the accident, do not worry. Your lawyer can conduct an in-depth investigation into your accident and help you obtain the evidence that you need to prove your claim. Your attorney can review traffic camera footage, enlist the help of experts, and gather other documents that will be essential to your case.

How Our Lawyers Hold Hit-and-Run Drivers Accountable

While the law requires drivers to stop whenever they are involved in an accident, this is not always the case. In some devastating situations, hit-and-run drivers strike Portland pedestrians and flee the scene without exchanging information.

If you find yourself in this situation, a lawyer from Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help. Your attorney can review evidence like surveillance footage, witness testimonies, and notes taken by you on the day of the accident to help identify the driver. 

Your lawyer can also explain your options for compensation, even if the driver is not identified, and work to recover a fair settlement. In the event that you are able to find the hit-and-run driver, your attorney could use evidence that he or she fled the scene to secure additional compensation on your behalf.

How to stay safe as a portland pedestrain

Safety Tips for Portland Pedestrians

When walking in Portland, it is important to be safe, stay aware of your surroundings, and follow the rules of the road. These safety tips can help you protect yourself as a pedestrian and avoid a collision with a motor vehicle driver:

  • Always walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk to the far-left side of the road in the direction facing traffic.
  • Wear bright-colored clothing to increase your visibility. If you are walking at night, carry a flashlight so drivers can see you.
  • Do not walk while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These substances can make it difficult to walk safely.
  • Always cross the street at an intersection or at a crosswalk. Drivers expect pedestrians to be in these areas, making them safer to traverse.
  • Before crossing a street, always look both ways to ensure that there is no oncoming traffic. Continue to watch traffic when you cross.
  • Be alert at all times. Do not look at your phone while walking and avoid wearing headphones. 

Steps To Prevent Pedestrian Accidents in Portland

Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Drivers also have a duty to prevent pedestrian accidents, obey the right of way, and stay alert in neighborhoods with lots of foot traffic. If you are driving in Portland, take the following steps to keep everyone in the area safe:

  • Always keep an eye out for pedestrians. Although you may not expect someone to walk into the street, it is possible to encounter a pedestrian in an unexpected place.
  • Be extra careful when driving at night, in a poorly lit area, or during bad weather. Slow down and look for pedestrians.
  • Always yield and stop for pedestrians in the road, even if the pedestrian is jaywalking or breaking the law.
  • If you are traveling in an area where children may be playing in the road, stay alert. These areas may include neighborhoods, school zones, and places near parks.
  • Always follow the speed limit, especially in areas with lots of pedestrian traffic. Speeding could limit your reaction time, leading to a serious accident. 

Portland Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Pedestrian accidents are unfortunately common in Portland, leading to serious injuries and devastating fatalities. According to the 2021 Vision Zero Traffic Crash Report, pedestrian deaths have increased from 18 in 2020 to 27 in 2021. Sadly, pedestrians made up 43% of all traffic deaths in the city in 2021.

Contact a Portland Pedestrian Accident Lawyer You Can Trust

Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers is 100% dedicated to protecting the rights of Portland’s most vulnerable road users: pedestrians. If you or a loved one was recently in a pedestrian collision in Portland, do not hesitate to contact us for a free legal consultation. We can discuss your case and claim to damages in more detail at no cost or obligation. Call to reach a Portland personal injury lawyer directly.

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