Category: Oregon Legal Updates

ATV Riders: Without Laws, Injuries Will Increase

All terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a very popular mode of transport for entertainment purposes in Oregon, but personal injury attorneys are warning that if new safety measures aren’t introduced and enforced, the number of serious injuries caused in ATV accidents is almost certain to continue rising. Like motorcycles, ATVs provide very little protection to drivers… read more

Universal Helmet Laws the Key to Improved Motorcycle Safety

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has unequivocally come out in favor of universal helmet laws that would require motorcycle drivers and their passengers to wear a helmet every time they get on a bike. Recent studies justify expanding the helmet laws nationwide, according to the CDC. According to a CDC report… read more

Legal Update: Rental Cars and Recalls

A mother who lost two daughters in a rental car crash in 2004 has made it her mission in life to ensure that the rental car industry is made to abide by federal safety regulations. Cally Houck’s daughters, Raechel, 24, and Jacqueline, 20, were killed when the power steering fluid in their rented Chrysler PT… read more

Driving Myth #5: Stopping for Emergency Vehicles

Myth No. 5 – Slowing down or moving a lane away from stopped emergency vehicles is only a courtesy, but it’s not a law. Well, here’s the thing; it actually is the law in Oregon and has been for a few years now. The law was enacted as a reaction to a number of horrific… read more

Driving Myth #4: Use of Turning Lanes

Myth No. 4:  I can use the left turn lane (or designated center turn lane) as a merging lane or as a lane of travel to get up to my anticipated turning point. This could rank as among the most highly abused of our five Portland driving myths. The incorrect use of left turn lanes… read more

Driving Myth #3: Bicycles on the Sidewalk

Myth No. 3:  I can ride my bicycle on a sidewalk just the same as riding on the street. Here we have another great source of Portland arguments and displays of verbal versatility. Portland pedestrians frequently voice their opinion that there should be a law protecting them from cyclists using sidewalks. Well, there is such… read more

Driving Myth #2: Pedestrian Right of Way

Myth No. 2:  As a pedestrian, I ALWAYS have the right of way over motor vehicles. As well as leading to unseemly arguments and the occasional use of language best left to very, very bad movie scripts, this myth has also led to far too many serious accidents between pedestrians and vehicles. As Portland personal… read more

Driving Myth #1: Yellow Lights

Myth No. 1:  The light was yellow, so it was ok for me to speed up to make it through in time. This particular “urban legend” leads to a large number of T-bone type crashes at busy Portland intersections every year. Yet there is a very specific Oregon statute dealing with this issue. ORS 811.265… read more

Interesting Oregon Personal Injury Lawsuits

Two different major personal injury cases with Oregon connections have been in the news lately. In both cases, the dollar amounts being sought by the victims were substantial, but apart from that, the cases were as different as night and day. Case Against Western Machine Works for Death of Worker In the first case, the… read more

Passing 10 Laws Could Prevent Thousands of Injuries

If you’re between the ages of one and 44, you’re more likely to be killed by an injury than any disease, yet states continue to drag their heels on enacting and enforcing legislation that could prevent injuries and deaths. Oregon has a higher rate of injuries per 100,000 people than either Washington or California, and… read more