The Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland in 2024

Accidents occur frequently in Portland. In fact, the city sees between 10,000 to 12,000 crashes each year, according to one source. Even if you practice safe driving in Portland, you may still experience an unexpected car accident. This is because you can not control the actions of other drivers on the road.

One of the most high-risk areas in the city for drivers to suffer an accident is its intersections. Since you may frequently drive in the city, knowing which intersections are the most dangerous and being familiar with safe driving tips when driving in these areas can save your life.

If you or a loved one has recently experienced a car accident at an intersection or anywhere else, remember you have rights. The best way to protect your rights is by speaking to a car accident lawyer with the Johnston Law Firm. Our lawyers have the experience and resources needed to make sure you receive the compensation you are entitled to receive.

What Makes an Intersection Dangerous

The mere fact of multiple vehicles coming from multiple directions, converging on a single area, is enough to increase the chances of an unexpected accident occurring. However, there are additional factors present at intersections, which can heighten the danger for drivers. 

These factors include the following:

• Bad drivers: A driver may be distracted by using the phone, eating, or engaging with passengers. Some drivers simply misgauge their stopping distance. Other drivers break the law by speeding, failing to yield, or making illegal turns. All such bad driving habits contribute to accidents at intersections.
• Lack of visibility: If the intersection is on a hill, an approaching driver may not see vehicles that are stopped at a red light until it is too late. Buildings, trees, and even bad weather conditions may also hide vehicles and other obstructions from a driver’s line of sight.
• Pedestrians and bicyclists: Drivers may not clearly see a crossing pedestrian or bicycle rider until the last minute, especially at night. Sometimes, a pedestrian’s own negligent actions may contribute to an accident occurring. Some examples of negligence include jaywalking and using the phone while walking into oncoming traffic.
• Dangerous left turns: When a driver turns left, he or she must watch for crossing pedestrians while judging the speed of approaching traffic. He or she must also gauge if there is enough space for the car to clear the intersection after the turn. All these factors highlight why left turns are so dangerous at intersections.
• Poor or obstructed signage: In some cases, lane markings may have faded, or stop and yield signs may be obstructed due to overgrown trees. Such poor signage may leave drivers confused about what action to take to successfully navigate through traffic.

This list is by no means comprehensive. However, it does highlight that there are various risk factors present at intersections in Portland, and any one of them can be the cause of an accident.

Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland, OR

Although any intersection can be dangerous due to the factors already highlighted, some intersections in Portland are more prone to accidents than others. 

According to the city’s official website, the following 10 intersections reported the highest number of crashes from 2018-2022:

• SE Division St and SE 122nd Ave: 99 accidents
• SE Powell Blvd and I-84 Fwy Ramp: 86 accidents
• SE Stark St and SE 122nd Ave: 86 accidents
• SE Powell Blvd and SE 82nd Ave: 84 accidents
• NE Glisan St and NE 122nd Ave: 82 accidents
• NE Halsey St and NE 122nd Ave: 75 accidents
• SE Powell Blvd and SE 174th Ave: 70 accidents
• SE Powell Blvd and SE 92nd Ave: 64 accidents
• NE Glisan St and NE 99th Ave: 64 accidents
• NE Glisan St and NE 102nd Ave: 62 accidents

Of course, there are other dangerous intersections in the city, such as SE Powell Blvd and SE 148th Ave, and SE Stark St and SE 148th Ave, which both recorded a high number of crashes. However, the 10 intersections listed here represent the highest number of crashes recorded in a 4-year period.

How to Avoid an Accident While Driving in a Dangerous Intersection

When you are approaching a dangerous intersection in Portland, you should always be cautious and practice defensive driving. 

Other tips that can help you to avoid an accident are:

• Avoid distracted driving: Since there are many objects moving at once, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, you should always avoid any form of distracted driving. Distracted driving includes using your phone, putting on makeup, engaging with passengers, or even daydreaming. Having your attention diverted, even for a second, could result in disaster.
• Avoid trying to beat the light: Many drivers hate waiting at a red light. In an effort to avoid this, they tend to speed up rather than slow down when the light turns yellow. This is dangerous because the car in front of you may decide to make a sudden stop to avoid running a red light. Also, a car in the opposite direction may attempt to make a quick left turn, which could result in a collision.
• Be mindful of red light runners: This is the opposite of the scenario mentioned above. Imagine you are at a red light, waiting for it to change. When the light finally turns green, you may be tempted by habit to proceed immediately, but remember, this is a dangerous intersection. That means cars in the other direction may be attempting to beat the light. It is wise to wait a few seconds after it turns green, just to be safe.
• Always use turn signals: You should never assume that other drivers automatically know when you are going to make a turn. Always let other drivers know your intentions by using your turn signals. Turn your signal on early enough to let the driver behind you know that you will be slowing down to make a turn. Failure to do so could result in you being involved in a rear-end collision.
• Do not tailgate: When you are approaching an intersection, remember to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. There is always a risk of the driver having to brake sharply to avoid a jaywalking pedestrian or a bicycle rider that happens to weave into his or her lane. If such an expected event occurs, maintaining a safe distance will help you avoid crashing into the other driver’s vehicle.
• Always check for pedestrians and bicyclists: As mentioned earlier, pedestrians frequently cross the street while looking down on their phones. The danger lies in a driver making a left turn who does not see a distracted pedestrian until it is too late. The same is true for bicyclists who fail to obey traffic safety laws. Just to be safe, you should always check to your left and to your right before proceeding.
• Do not stop in the crosswalk: When coming to a stop at either a red light or a stop sign, make sure your car does not cross the white line of the intersection. If this were to happen, pedestrians would be forced to cross either behind your car or in front, closer to cars moving near the crosswalk.
• Be extra cautious when driving at night: If driving in dangerous intersections is risky during the daytime, the risks are increased at nighttime. This is mainly due to decreased driver visibility. Also, nighttime driving brings the added risk of drowsy drivers, whose reaction times are slowed.

These are just a few tips to keep in mind while driving in a dangerous intersection. Following these pointers cannot completely guarantee that you will not experience an accident, but it will certainly increase your chances of avoiding a crash.

Our Car Accident Lawyers Stand Ready to Help

If you or your loved one has recently experienced a car accident at a dangerous intersection in Portland, the law in Oregon entitles you to pursue compensation for any damages suffered. Don’t make the mistake of trying to handle your claim on your own. Some have gone that route, only to regret it later.

Insurance adjusters are very skillful at using tactics to minimize or even dismiss your claim. Remember, their job is to help the insurance company to save money. The best way to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation you are legally entitled to receive is to hire an experienced personal injury law firm — like Johnston Law Firm.

Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience helping clients to get fair compensation for their losses. We will fight for you while you focus on healing. 

Remember, the law firm that you choose will have a direct impact on the outcome of your claim, whether for better or for worse. So, make the smart choice and go with Johnston Law Firm. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Our compassionate lawyers look forward to assisting you with your claim.