Portland Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Auto Accidents Involving 
Distracted Drivers in Portland and Throughout Oregon

In today’s society, multitasking is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, millions of people decide to engage in other tasks while they are behind the wheel of a car. Driving is a complex task and requires your full attention in order to stay safe, avoid collisions, and prevent injuries to yourself and others. When a driver chooses to engage in other behaviors besides driving on the road, they can become distracted. Needless to say, the results can be devastating.

At Johnston Law Firm, we believe that all distracted drivers should be held liable for the losses they cause for accident victims. We represent the rights of victims of distracted driving crashes in Portland and throughout Oregon. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, call our Portland office today at 503-546-3167 or contact us via the online form if you would like to discuss your case with an experienced car accident lawyer. Your consultation is free.

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Injured by a Distracted Driver? Here’s How Our Attorneys Can Help

A distracted driving accident can leave you facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about what comes next. Our Portland distracted driving accident attorneys guide clients through every stage of the claims process, protecting their rights while pursuing the full compensation they deserve.

• Conduct a thorough investigation: We collect police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, phone records when available, and other evidence to demonstrate that distraction contributed to the collision and establish liability as clearly as possible.
• Build a strong damages claim: We carefully document your medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, pain and suffering, and other losses to ensure your claim reflects the full impact of the accident.
• Handle insurance company communications: We manage negotiations with insurance adjusters, respond to requests for information, and protect you from tactics designed to reduce or deny the value of your claim.
• Work with trusted professionals: When necessary, we consult accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, vocational professionals, and economists to strengthen your case and accurately calculate long-term damages.
• Pursue every available source of recovery: We identify all potentially liable parties and applicable insurance policies, particularly when distracted driving involves commercial vehicles, employers, or multiple negligent drivers.
• Prepare every case for trial: While many distracted driving claims settle, we prepare each case as though it may be presented before a jury, strengthening our negotiating position throughout the process.

Oregon’s Distracted Driving Law

Oregon has some of the nation’s strictest distracted driving laws. Under ORS 811.507, drivers are generally prohibited from holding or using a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. The law applies to activities such as texting, making phone calls, browsing the internet, entering GPS information, reading emails, or using social media while driving. Except for limited situations, such as reporting an emergency or using approved hands-free technology in compliance with the law, drivers may not manually operate electronic devices behind the wheel.

Violating Oregon’s distracted driving law can result in substantial fines, particularly for repeat offenses. More importantly, evidence that a driver violated these laws may help establish negligence in a personal injury claim. However, distracted driving is not limited to cell phone use. Eating, adjusting vehicle controls, interacting with passengers, or reaching for objects can also divert a driver’s attention from the road. Our attorneys investigate every potential source of distraction to build the strongest possible case for injured clients.

Texting and 
Cell Phone Use

The most notorious reason behind the rapid increase in distracted drivers on the roads in the U.S. is the rise in smartphone ownership. With smartphones, everyone feels connected all of the time and is constantly checking their messages or posting information online. Many people cannot stay away from their phones while they are driving, and the results have been tragic. The following are some common distracted driving activities involving electronic mobile devices:

• Dialing or talking on a handheld phone;
• Sending or reading texts;
• Sending or reading emails or other electronic messages;
• Updating a social media status;

• Taking “selfies”;
• Playing mobile games;
• Reading information on the internet.

Texting or using a smartphone involves all three types of driving distractions – cognitive, manual, and visual. Therefore, it is an extremely dangerous activity with a high rate of leading to crashes. In response to these dangers, Oregon is one of most states that banned text messaging for all drivers. These laws are not enough to stop drivers from continually focusing on their phones while driving. In addition, even hands-free technology for smartphones can cause drivers to become distracted, which means these systems are not necessarily a safe alternative to texting.

At the Johnston Law Firm, we know that cell phones are not the main culprit here, but instead the drivers who make the reckless decision to use their cell phones. We are committed to helping victims of texting accidents recover the maximum amount they deserve from dangerous drivers.

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Other Causes
of Distracted Driving

Using an electronic mobile device is far from the only activity that can lead to distracted driving accidents. The following are more examples of the many distracting behaviors in which drivers often engage:

• Eating or drinking;
• Personal grooming or putting on makeup;
• Paying attention to children in the backseat;
• Engaging in lively conversations with passengers;
• Adjusting the radio;
• Putting information into a GPS;
• Using in-car infotainment systems;
• Listening to audiobooks or podcasts;
• Reaching for items on the floorboard;
• Searching for items in a bag or purse.

If a driver is not focused on the road, they may not hit their brakes in time for slowing traffic or notice traffic or pedestrians around them. Distracted driving accidents commonly involve rear-end collisions or collisions resulting from a driver departing from their intended lane. Such crashes can cause devastating injuries and often leave victims with long-lasting effects from their injuries.

Steps to Take After Being Injured by a Distracted Driver in Portland

The hours and days following a distracted driving accident can significantly affect both your health and your legal claim. Taking the right steps early helps preserve valuable evidence while protecting your ability to recover fair compensation.

• Seek medical attention: Obtain prompt medical evaluation, even if injuries initially seem minor.
• Call law enforcement: Request an official accident report documenting the collision and involved parties.
• Gather evidence: Photograph vehicles, injuries, road conditions, traffic controls, and surrounding damage.
• Identify witnesses: Collect contact information from anyone who observed the accident.
• Preserve documentation: Save medical records, repair estimates, receipts, and insurance correspondence.
• Avoid discussing fault: Refrain from giving recorded statements before understanding your legal rights.
• Consult an attorney: Speak with a distracted driving accident lawyer as soon as reasonably possible.

Taking these steps cannot guarantee the outcome of your claim, but they can make the investigation more effective and reduce opportunities for insurance companies to dispute liability. Early legal guidance often helps preserve evidence that may otherwise be lost over time.

Compensation Available After a Portland Crash Involving a Distracted Driver

If a distracted driver caused your serious injuries, you should always seek information regarding your legal rights. Specifically, whenever another driver is negligent and causes your crash, you have the right to seek compensation from them for all of your accident-related losses. Such losses can include the following:

• Medical bills for any relevant treatment;
• Estimated costs of future medical treatment for your injuries;
• Past and future lost earnings from missing work due to your injuries;
• Loss of enjoyment of life from your injuries;
• Pain and suffering and emotional distress you experienced;
• Permanent disabilities.

Our attorneys can help you seek such compensation through the insurance process or by filing a legal claim, whichever is necessary to best help you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Distracted Driving Accident Claims