Car Accidents

If a traffic accident that injures or kills drivers and passengers could have been prevented long before the accident took place, is it right to still call it an accident? If a design flaw causes a vehicle to roll over after a tire blows out or when a driver makes a sudden turn for whatever reason, and the people who designed the vehicle knew this could happen, is it the driver or the designer who is responsible for the crash?

Portland rollover accidents have had a worrying tendency to involve certain makes and models – and the people who designed these vehicles have known for more than two decades of the car’s potential to roll over in even relatively minor accidents.

From Bronco to Explorer

For more than a quarter of a century, going back to the March 1983 introduction of The Bronco II by Ford, which was the predecessor of the current Explorer range, there have been a mounting array of alarming facts relating to Ford Explorer rollover accidents. Even more worryingly, there are still thousands of Ford Explorers of various ages on Oregon roads with documented stability problems. Across the country, the figure runs to millions, and the accidents just keep on coming.  In the last month alone, for example:

• A Kentucky teen driving a 2000 Explorer veered off the road. The SUV rolled over, and the 16-year-old ended up in the hospital.
• A 23-year-old Maine driver was in his Explorer when it hit a patch of black ice. The driver lost control, but instead of just skidding, the Explorer rolled over and ended up in a ditch. Read the rest »

Our Portland personal injury lawyers may be in for a busier year than usual in 2012. Bumpy roads lead to increased accidents—fact—for both cyclists and motorists, and it’s up to the city to provide safe thoroughfares for the people using them. The latest round of budget cuts, however, would appear to indicate that Portland road users are in for an exceptionally bumpy ride.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation recently announced huge budget cuts on Portland repaving projects. A total of $16 million has been slashed from budget funds that were to be used for repaving pothole-riddled Portland streets. The first “savings” for the PBOT total $4.4 million in 2012, and a grand total of $22 million in overall cuts over the next five years. As

Budget Cuts Haven’t Been This Bad Before

While there have been budget cuts in the past, the sheer size and scale of these cutbacks has come as something of a shock. “It hasn’t been to this magnitude,” said Tom Miller, PBOT director, speaking of previous budget cuts. For example, in the 2011 fiscal year, the PBOT cut $1 million from its funding of major road projects done by outside contractors, like the Sandy Boulevard overhaul.

Portland personal injury lawyers are worried, however, that the condition of Portland’s streets and major roads is deteriorating to a dangerous extent. They point out that residential roads haven’t been repaved since 2009, and each year, budget cuts have been the reason given for not carrying out the work. Lower than expected revenues and money allocated to other long term capital projects have made the cuts necessary, according to the PBOT.

Long Term, This Won’t Save Money

For 2012, the only thing drivers, cyclists and even pedestrians can hope for is the continuation of the existing policy whereby potholes are filled in and “patched,” and some small stretches of very bad roads might get an upgrade by way of having cracks sealed.

Read the rest »

You were driving your pride and joy down the highway on a sunny day without a care in the world.  The stereo was belting out your favorite song, and the weekend was just around the corner. What could possibly go wrong? Suddenly, the answer to that question appeared in the form of a pickup truck on the wrong side of the road. The collision was inevitable; the damage was colossal, and you feel your once beautiful motor has been totaled. The insurance company disagrees, however, so it’s probably time to call in a Portland property damage attorney.

Who decides whether my car is a total loss?

A number of factors will be used to determine whether or not your car is a total loss. An insurance claim adjuster will look to see whether:

• The damage to the car is so severe it cannot be repaired safely
• The cost of repairs is more than the car is actually worth
• The damage is severe enough that Oregon laws require the car to be declared a total loss Read the rest »

For any Oregon driver who has ever had to file an auto accident insurance claim, giving a clear, accurate description of what happened is critical to a successful settlement of that claim. Even if you weren’t directly involved in an accident, but you were a witness, there are a number of key things to remember to ensure that you’re giving an accurate description of an auto accident. You’ll probably have to talk to the police and the insurance companies. These can be stressful experiences, so to make it as painless as possible for yourself, try remembering and following these tips:

• Stay as calm as humanly possible. Shouting, crying or becoming angry and emotional will make you seem less credible, and you will also have difficulty recalling details accurately.
• If no one was seriously injured in the accident, don’t touch anyone, but if someone is in danger, don’t hesitate. Render whatever assistance you can.
• If someone asks you for help, provide it. Other than that, keep your distance to avoid being influenced by one of the accident victim’s version of events. Read the rest »

It’s that time of year again, when people are dashing about, getting ready for the holiday season, always remembering at the last minute that thing they absolutely must have to make the season a success. The store closes in 10 minutes, so even though the sun has gone down and the roads are glazing over a bit, the driver pushes the car a bit faster than they should, and before they can even reach the store, the driver becomes another entry in Portland icy road car crash statistics.

Of course, not all drivers are guilty of driving too fast or failing to recognize the dangers out there, but Portland icy roads car crash statistics bear out the fact that once the winter months arrive, there is inevitably an increase in accidents due to icy roads. In just one day this month (December 9, 2011), icy roads were being blamed for a frightening number of accidents, when freezing fog left early morning hard frost on road surfaces. Read the rest »

Thousands of Oregon motorists are involved in accidents every year, and there is no shortage of work for Portland motor vehicle accident lawyers. As well as coping with the damage to their vehicles, many people also have to contend with injuries that cost them a considerable amount of money in medical treatment and lost wages. On top of all that, dealing with insurance companies and adjusters can be a nightmare at the best of times.

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you’re going to have to face an insurance company sooner or later. When that happens, there is a definite list surrounding the do’s and don’ts of a motor vehicle insurance claim.

To do and not to do…

Here is a list of everything Portland motor vehicle accident lawyers would advise their clients to do when filing a claim.

• Contact your own insurance company as soon as humanly possible after the accident has occurred. By all means, get the medical treatment you need first, but the next person to contact once that has been done is your own insurance agent.
• Get the insurance policy out of the bottom drawer, out from under the dishwasher manual, and take the time to both read it and understand it. Try to get a good idea in your own mind about what your policy will cover, and what it won’t, in order to make an appropriate claim.
• Be your own best source of information regarding your accident. Take pictures of any vehicles damaged in the accident—not just your own—and if you can, take pictures of any injuries sustained. Keep a cool head and remember to get the names and contact numbers of any witness to the accident. You may need them at a later date to validate your claim. Also, get the insurance details of any other person involved in the accident. Read the rest »