Motor vehicle accidents in Portland are one of the most common causes of personal injuries. These impact thousands of road users each year and have the potential to prove fatal. Sadly, the number of people killed in crashes has risen alarmingly in recent years. Find out more about the risks and the rights of surviving family members in holding those at fault responsible.
Motorcyclists Killed In Portland Motor Vehicle Accident
In late March 2022, Oregon Live reported on a fatal accident involving a motorcyclist and another vehicle. It happened in Portland’s Piedmont neighborhood, shortly before 2:00 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon.
The accident occurred when a pickup truck carrying the driver and his 8-year-old son had the green light and was entering an intersection near Vancouver Avenue. A 26-year-old Portland resident riding a motorcycle approached from a side street, ran the red light, and crashed directly into the side of the vehicle. Police reports indicate the motorcyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed and the impact caused the truck, which was towing a trailer, to completely rollover and into an opposing lane. The motorcyclist was killed while the pick-up driver and his child were taken to a local hospital with serious personal injuries.
Sadly, these types of crashes are all too common in our area and have steadily increased each year. Motor vehicle accident reports from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) show 36 drivers, passengers, and motorcyclists killed in 2021. Only a third of the way into 2022, crash reports already show more than half this number.
Help For Surviving Family Members
Losing a loved one due to a motor vehicle accident in Portland is devastating but, sadly, it is a tragedy many families end up facing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), crashes and collisions claim the lives of roughly 32,000 people each year. Reckless driving behaviors, such as speeding, running red lights, and driving distracted or under the influence, are often to blame.
If you are struggling with this type of loss, it is important to know that help is available. Under the Oregon Revised Statutes, you have the right to hold those at fault accountable in a wrongful death claim. Filing this type of claim provides a sense of justice and sends a message to other drivers, warning them of the hazards and costs while potentially sparing other families from experiencing the same type of loss. It also helps in providing the compensation your family needs to recover, including:
- Coverage of outstanding medical costs and funeral expenses;
- Reimbursement for lost wages and losses in future income your loved one would have otherwise earned;
- Compensation for your pain, suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment in life.
Contact Our Portland Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
At the Johnston Law Firm P.C., we provide the caring support and trusted legal guidance surviving family members need when fatal accidents happen. To request a consultation, call (503) 546-3167 or contact our Oregon motor vehicle accident attorneys online today.