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…
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…
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…
“Ridesharing” services like Uber and Lyft are not about sharing. Make no mistake about it, Uber and Lyft are money making enterprises also commonly known as “businesses”. If you were injured in an auto accident as a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle or hit by a ride sharing car, you may be wondering what insurance applies,…
Lately, the city of Portland has faced troubling statistics involving traffic reports. We are ranked as the 9th city with the worst congestion in the US, have some of the worst drivers, and for the past two years our fatal accident rate has escalated. 2015 saw a sharp uptick in traffic fatalities, with 37 traffic…
Sunday May 10 was a wonderful day for an outing. With bikes atop, Jill my wife and I travelled to Silverton to visit a friend who lives in Silverton. Then it happened. An elderly lady, eyes wide, drove her vehicle the wrong way and was heading directly toward the vehicle in which Jill and were passengers. Thanks…
One car becomes two pieces. Another catches fire and rolls in ditch. The suspect, a driver of a third vehicle reportedly bites an arresting police officer. Police dog bites the suspect after feeling scene. Suspect is charged with Driving under the influence, assault, failure to perform duties of a driver in an injury crash, reckless…