portland personal injury lawyer

Dozens of Oregon people are seriously injured, or even killed, each year on what is one of the safest modes of transportation available—the bus. Fortunately, anyone who has been injured in a bus accident has rights, and there are a number of very good Portland bus accident lawyers available to help guide victims through the minefield of dealing with insurance companies and, often, government bodies.

Portland bus accident lawyers understand that many Oregon buses are operated by government entities. School districts and public transportation companies would be two examples, and many people find the prospect of tangling with any form of government body to be quite daunting. School buses, in fact, due no doubt to their large numbers and the amount of miles traveled, account for the highest percentage of fatalities in bus accidents. Almost four in every 10 fatalities occurred on school buses, followed closely by municipal buses, at 37%, according to statistics released by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Common injuries that occur in bus accidents include whiplash, spinal cord injuries, fractures, abrasions, severe sprains, soft tissue damage and burns. In extreme cases, brain damage occurs, or in the worst case, death.

Portland Bus Accident Attorneys can Investigate to Help Determine Cause of Accident…

There are many reasons why Oregon buses are involved in crashes that cause serious or fatal injuries, but sometimes, it takes a lot of investigating to get to the root cause of that crash. This is where Portland bus accident lawyers are invaluable. They know what to look out for, after years of experience in helping victims of bus accidents. They’re not afraid to ask the awkward questions, and they know where to go to get the answers they need to protect their clients’ rights. Some of the main factors that contribute to bus crashes include:

• Inexperienced or even untrained drivers
• Drivers working while overly fatigued
• Drivers operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Poor mainteance practices by the bus company. Buses are extremely heavy, and therefore hard on brakes. Regular servicing is essential, but in some cases, bus companies cut corners in this important area.
• Overloaded conditions. People standing on a bus are far more likely to be seriously injured in the event of an accident.
• Insufficient or missing safety equipment

Sometimes, factors like poor road conditions can play a significant part in a bus accident. In cases like this, the lines determining what party is liable (the bus company, or the state/county responsible for maintaining public roads in a safe condition) become blurred. This is just another area where advice from an experienced Portland bus accident lawyer becomes invaluable.

When someone is injured on a privately-owned Oregon bus, it is relatively easy for Portland bus accident lawyers to prove liability. Private bus companies are considered “common carriers,” and in Oregon, the state requires common carriers to take great care in protecting not only its passengers, but other vehicles and pedestrians on the roads. If a government entity is involved, however, it may not be easy to get an admission of liability, even if the circumstances surrounding the accident appear clear cut. In such cases, it is essential to contact our Portland bus accident lawyers for a FREE consultation.

You’ve looked at all the latest models. They come with every gadget and gizmo imaginable. Nowadays, cars, SUV’s and even pickup trucks have sound systems to rival any movie theater, satellite navigation systems that could have been put together at NASA, and seats that keep you warm in a blizzard and cool in a heat wave. Climate inside the vehicle can be controlled to the nearest degree, and it can be set to keep the hot-blooded driver chilled, and the chilly passenger as warm as toast.

These are considerations when deciding the best vehicle to buy for your family, certainly. However, something that should be read by anyone thinking of getting a new family vehicle, even before the glossy brochures at the dealership, are the latest car safety reports. The discerning driver will put family safety ahead of 0 to 60 mph times, and a responsible Portland car accident lawyer would advise any new buyer that flashy cars and some top-heavy SUV’s, while they might look good, don’t provide the kind of protection a parent would want for their child in the event of an accident.

With that in mind, what safety features would a Portland car accident lawyer recommend family and friends to look for when choosing the next family motor? Fortunately, manufacturers have come up with some innovative new safety features. The following would be excellent additions to the equipment on any car using Oregon roads:

• Stability control. Especially important if you’re considering SUV’s, which have a greater rollover risk than passenger cars, this feature helps drivers maintain control of their vehicle in emergency situations.
• Electronic steering control. Along with traction control and all wheel drive, these features improve traction when road conditions are poor, and are considered especially important in areas like Oregon that are prone to occasional heavy snowfall or lots of rain.
• Roll stability control. Another device that reduces risks of rollover in extreme cornering situations, this feature would be an important addition in tall vehicles with a high center of gravity. The system uses a gyroscopic sensor and works with the electronic steering control to brake one or more wheels and reduce engine power in an emergency situation. Read the rest »

Date: April 12, 2011
Location: Molalla High School
Name: Unidentified teen girl

A 14-year-old girl was airlifted to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital after she was accidentally struck in the head by a shotput.

A Molalla Fire District emergency crew responded to the Molalla High School track at 357 Francis St. at about 4:30pm after receiving a call about the injury. A medical helicopter was then dispatched to the field and the girl was transported with a possible skull fracture.

The Molalla Fire District spokeswoman, Lt. Denise Everheart, declined to release the girl’s name because of the girl’s age and patient privacy laws. She also did not know the facts of exactly how the girl was injured. The girl’s medical condition has not been updated.

Our hearts go out to this young girl, and hope that she will recover completely. We are always distressed when we hear about sports injuries happening to young people, because participating in school athletics has been proven to be a motivator and to help with dropout prevention. School athletics are meant to be a positive factor in a young person’s life.

When minors are injured, the law can get complicated fast. For example, while the standard Oregon injury case must be filed within 2 years of the accident, the statute of limitations for minors, on the other hand, is not so straightforward. ORS 12.160 steps you through the process for figuring out the statute of limitations. First, the regular statute of limitations applies. Second, it doesn’t start running until the child turns 18 years old. But, third, the statute cannot be extended more than five years. And fourth, it cannot be extended beyond the child’s 19th birthday. In addition to the statute of limitations, there’s also the issue of money. Money recovered belongs to the injured child, not to his or her parents. In certain cases, a judge will need to oversee the situation to make sure this happens.

If a city, state, county, or other public body is being sued, a Tort Claim Notice must be received by the entity being sued within 180 days of the injury. Don’t miss this deadline! ORS 30.275 contains the details. If you cannot figure them out by yourself, please call us. We are happy to help.

Date: March 26, 2011
Location: Southeast 82nd Ave and Mill St, Portland
Names: Yeung Ma, Luan Le

Portland police are seeking the public’s help in piecing together what happened to a man who was killed by a car while he walked on a sidewalk.

At about 11:10am on Saturday, March 26, 2011 police rushed to the intersection of Southeast 82nd Avenue and Mill Street when they received a report that a pedestrian had been struck by a car.

Officers found that Yeung Ma, age 72, had been walking north on the sidewalk on the east side of 82nd Avenue when Luan Le, age 60, drove his 1997 Acura Integra onto the sidewalk and struck Ma. Le had been making a right turn onto 82nd when his car accelerated, jumped onto the sidewalk and struck Ma, a parking pole and a tree.

Ma was transported to an area hospital where he later died. Le remained at the scene and cooperated with the police investigation. No charges had been filed. Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the incident contact Officer Barry Busse at 503-823-2216.

We are saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. Ma, who reportedly was not bothering anyone as he simply walked on the sidewalk. We hope that his family will receive the support that they need in the difficult days ahead.

Remember that in a car vs. pedestrian crash, the pedestrian always loses, even if they are not found to be at fault. Drivers owe it to pedestrians to be alert – the car is bigger, heavier, and going faster than the pedestrian. Even if the law is on the side of the pedestrian, that can’t prevent a driver from injuring, or possibly, killing them in an accident. An experienced Portland personal injury attorney can help with the investigation into the accident, and can expedite settlements with insurance companies that can make the aftermath of a tragic accident less burdensome to the family of the victim.

Location: Highway 99E and Territorial Rd, Canby
Names: Meredith Paeper, Maria Cardenas, three adults, three minors

The Canby Herald reported that eight people were injured, six requiring hospitalization, when two SUV’s collided at Highway 99E and Territorial Road in Canby.

Three women and a child were transported to trauma centers in the area; two were taken to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital and two were taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Canby Fire District 62 reported that two toddler-aged boys were treated at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and two other patients were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The Oregon car collision occurred at 4:12pm. Oregon State Police said that Meredith Paeper, age 33 of Hubbard, was driving north on Highway 99E in a 2002 Kia SUV when she ran a red light and crashed into the side of a 2002 Buick SUV being driven by Maria Cardenas, age 47 of Canby. Cardenas was carrying three adults and three minors in her vehicle. The police cited Paeper for failing to obey a traffic control device.

Our hearts go out to everyone involved in this sudden crash, especially the children. We are relieved that there was no loss of life. We hope every person involved recovers quickly, with no longterm injuries.

When children are injured, the law can get complicated fast. For example, while the standard Oregon injury case must be filed within 2 years of the accident, the statute of limitations for children, on the other hand, is not so straightforward. ORS 12.160 steps you through the process for figuring out the statute of limitations. First, the regular statute of limitations applies. Second, it doesn’t start running until the child turns 18 years old. But, third, the statute cannot be extended more than five years. And fourth, it cannot be extended beyond the child’s 19th birthday. In addition to the statute of limitations, there’s also the issue of money. Money recovered belongs to the injured child, not to his or her parents. In certain cases, a judge will need to oversee the situation to make sure this happens.

A competent Portland personal injury attorney can help guide a family through the process of working with the insurance company to best cover the expenses that follow a serious accident like this, and with the police while they complete their investigation. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Date: March 4, 2011
Location: Highway 30 South of Scappoose
Names: Dennis Eugene Gump, George M. Morgan

A St. Helens man was killed in a head-on crash on his way to work.

Oregon State Police report that Dennis Eugene Gump, age 53 of St. Helens, was eastbound on Highway 30 just south of Scappoose on his way to work at about 6:40am. For an unknown reason, Gump’s 2005 Dodge Neon crossed the median into oncoming traffic and collided with a dump truck containing fill dirt being driven by George M. Morgan, age 45, also of St. Helens, for Teevin Bros. Trucking.

Gump died at the scene. Minutes before the crash, Columbia County 911 operators had received two separate reports about a vehicle matching the description of Gump’s car driving erratically. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. There is no evidence that alcohol was a factor in the Oregon car accident.

Morgan was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland with non-life threatening injuries.

Both drivers were using safety restraints.

We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Gump. We can only imagine the pain of losing a loved one so unexpectedly. We also hope that Mr. Morgan will recover quickly and will not suffer any long-lasting effects from this crash.

There’s no way to know what actually happened to cause this tragedy without further investigation. This is certainly a situation that can get complicated fast. A competent Portland personal injury attorney can help family members through the often unpleasant process of working with police investigators and insurance companies.