“One death on our city streets is too many,” reads Vision Zero’s tagline. In a noble attempt to tackle the recent surge in traffic-related deaths, the City of Portland launched a special initiative. Vision Zero was officially adopted in June 2015 with the goal of eliminating serious injuries and deaths caused by traffic accidents. The…

Did you know that Oregon is home to a quarter of the country’s llama population, or that The Simpsons creator Matt Groening was born and raised in Portland, and based the entire series in Springfield, Oregon? It’s no secret that the state of Oregon is an oddball, beloved for its many idiosyncrasies. The Beaver State even defines…

In November of 2015, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill that sought to improve insurance benefits for victims who are injured in motor-vehicle collisions. Senate Bill 411 (SB 411), was signed into law by Governor Kate Brown. The bill expands coverage for two key areas of car insurance policies: personal injury protection (PIP) and under or uninsured…

In June 2015, the Portland City Council made a commitment to eliminate traffic deaths by the year 2025. Called Vision Zero, the plan was to execute improvements to the city’s roads and overall traffic system to curb severe accidents that result in serious injury or death. Despite Vision Zero’s heartfelt intentions to reduce traffic deaths throughout…

Tragically, mass shootings are becoming more and more common. The Orlando massacre at Pulse nightclub reminds us that it could happen anywhere, anytime where people gather. You need a plan, If and when faced with an assassin, there will be little time to react or think. The US Department of Homeland Security advises civilians to…

In the old days, I mean the 1980s and 90s claims examiners were human beings with human brains, judgment a sometimes heart. While heart is good for image, heart can cut into profits. Insurers have found the solution. First, use cute mascots and cool commercials to trick consumers into believing the insurer “cares”. Then, behind…

Its only early June and Oregon roadway fatalities are up about 6% from this time last year. Many serious motor vehicle collisions occurred the last week May 2016. First, on Sunday May 28 a 45 year old woman from Gaston, Oregon needed to be extracted from a vehicle when the driver of her car rear…

“…the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” -Hubert Humphrey Lincoln, Thomas Payne, Pope John Paul II and Jimmy…

Yes, I’m a lawyer, but in a former life I was a YMCA boating instructor, camp counselor and life guard. In that context safety was front and center. Sadly, I have seen safety take a back to recreation as children become young adults… until tragedy strikes. Memorial Day weekend will be here in a few…

Lately, a commute from Hillsboro to downtown Portland takes about the same time as Salem to Portland. It’s not your imagination. Portland highways are packed like never before. Portland is growing and an improving economy coupled with lower gas prices translates to crowded highways. Each year Portland sees about 10,000-12,000 motor vehicle collisions and 6…