A Portland car accident lawyer explains the spike
Fatal car accidents nationwide have increased dramatically so far this year. And the state with the largest increase in motor vehicle fatalities is Oregon, where deaths are up 51% this year compared to the same time in 2020, according to a recent study conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC).
“These figures are not only alarming but devastating as we see once again too many lives lost on the roads,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO, in a statement. “It is up to each and every one of us to do everything we can to be safe and keep each other safe.”
In addition, car accident fatalities in Portland are significantly higher this year as well, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Specifically, traffic fatalities in Portland for the first half of 2021 were 55% higher when compared to last year, according to ODOT figures provided to Oregon Live.
How bad is the problem in Portland and Oregon?
Nationwide, car accident fatalities for the first six months of this year are 16% higher compared to the first six months of 2020, according to the National Safety Council. In the first half of this year, there were 21,450 fatalities nationwide compared to 18,480 fatalities during the same time period last year.
As for Oregon, there were 261 deaths due to car accidents for the first half of this year, an increase of 88 deaths or 51% more compared to the same time period last year, when 173 people died in motor vehicle accidents statewide, according to the National Safety Council.
In Portland, the death toll due to motor vehicle accidents is 28 fatalities for the first half of this year compared to 18 fatalities for the first half of last year, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Common causes of car accidents in Oregon
The National Safety Council cited several reasons why there were more car accident fatalities this year compared to last year. In many cases, the reasons why fatalities are higher nationwide are the same reasons why there are more car accidents in Oregon and Portland, according to officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) interviewed by Oregon Live.
In particular, speeding and drunk driving have been responsible for some of the largest increases in motor vehicle fatalities in Oregon in recent years. In the past 5 years, car accident fatalities in Oregon involving speeding drivers have increased by 16.8%, according to the NHTSA. As for drunk driving, car accident fatalities statewide involving drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher have increased by 8.4% during the same time period.
Crash victims have rights
You might think you don’t need an attorney if another driver clearly caused your car accident in Portland or another part of Oregon. All you have to do is call the police and file a claim with your car insurance company, right?
Don’t be so sure. In many cases, injury claims turn out to be complicated legal cases. Sometimes, it’s because the driver who caused your crash denies doing anything wrong and tries to pin the blame on you. Other times, it’s because the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company does everything they can to reduce or deny your claim so they can protect their bottom line. This is because you may be entitled to receive compensation for your current and future medical expenses, your lost wages, vehicle repairs, your pain and suffering, and other losses that you suffered as a result of the crash.
We know what’s at stake at Zbinden & Curtis. That’s because our attorneys have years of experience representing accident victims in Multnomah County and throughout Oregon. As your law firm, we can be your advocates for justice. We can investigate your accident and deal directly with the at-fault driver’s insurance company on your behalf. Many agree to negotiate in good faith and make a fair settlement offer once they see we’re serious about your case. If not, we’re not afraid to file a lawsuit for you and fight for your rights in court.
Learn more about how we can help you. Contact our law firm and schedule your free case evaluation with an experienced Portland car accident attorney. We handle injury claims throughout Oregon and Washington.
