In pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles, serious and potentially life-threatening injuries often occur. While reckless driving behaviors such as speeding, driving distracted, or being under the influence are often to blame, a lack of proper safety precautions plays a significant contributing role. In Portland, the city is working to address safety issues concerning pedestrians, which includes creating more crosswalks at intersections and making sure there are safe walkways along roads. Unfortunately, while these improvements go through the slow process of being implemented, the fatality rate for pedestrian accidents in Portland continues to rise.
Latest Pedestrian Accident Fatality Is Sixth This Year
A recent pedestrian accident in South Portland claimed the life of a local man. According to a March 1, 2019 news report by KATU 2, police have yet to release the victim’s identity or many of the details regarding how the accident occurred. What has been disclosed is that it happened on a Friday morning, just after 8:00 a.m. near the corner of Southeast 92nd Avenue and Southeast Holgate Boulevard. While the driver remained at the scene, the victim was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries.
Unfortunately, KATU reports that this brings the total number of people killed in Portland due to pedestrian accidents in 2019 to six. According to a March 5 report on the issue, the city continues to seek input from the general public regarding the PedPDX plan, which aims to install over 3,500 marked crosswalks and 350 miles of sidewalks over the next few years in an effort to bring down the pedestrian accident rate and increase overall public safety.
As Pedestrian Accident Rates in Northwest Drop, Portland Continues to Struggle
A summary report issued by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GSHA) in February 2019 addressed some trends that are likely to be disturbing to Portland residents:
- Nationwide, the number of people injured or killed in pedestrian accidents continues to rise at an alarming rate.
- However, among Pacific Northwest states these numbers have, in general, significantly decreased over the past several years.
- Portland is the exception in this matter. While accident rates for 2018 were down marginally, they do not reflect the drops experienced elsewhere throughout the region or in the state.
Oregon experienced a close to 20 percent drop in pedestrian fatalities between 2017 and 2018, reducing the number of people killed in these accidents from 34 to 28. In Portland, there was only a 10 percent decrease, resulting in 16 pedestrian accident-related deaths in 2018 compared to 18 in 2017. With the spate of fatal accidents so far this year, Portland may meet or even exceed these figures.
Our Portland Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Are Here To Help
When pedestrian accidents happen, the impacts can be devastating. At the Johnston Law Firm, we provide the trusted, caring legal representation you need to hold those at fault accountable. To find out how we can help you, call (503) 546-3167 or contact our Portland pedestrian accident attorneys online and request a free consultation today.