According to the most recent data1 released by the Department of Motor Vehicles, there were 50,000 car accidents in Oregon in 2019. Approximately 80% of these accidents involved more than one vehicle, and half of all multi-vehicle accidents2 occur at an intersection.
Click on the cities below to see data on the highest number of total Oregon motor vehicle accidents3:
- SE Portland
- NE Portland
- Salem
- Eugene
- Beaverton
SE Portland
11,721
Total Accidents
NE Portland
9,334
Total Accidents
Salem
7,013
Total Accidents
Eugene
4,793
Total Accidents
Beaverton
2,595
Total Accidents
Top 6 Deadliest Counties in Oregon for Intersection-Related Crashes:
Hover over the city name to see the statistics.
(Source: NHTSA Safety Facts Annual Report Table4, click on Oregon (Intersection-related crashes))
Top 3 Most Dangerous Interstates in Oregon
- Interstate 5
- Interstate 84
- Interstate 205
The likelihood of getting into a car accident, while ever-present, is relatively low. However, in certain accident prone areas in Portland, both motorists and pedestrians have a much higher chance of being struck by a car. In fact, not only do some of these areas present the highest risk in Portland, they are also included in the most accident prone areas in Oregon.
What Makes an Intersection Dangerous?
Given the high rate of accidents occurring at intersections, all intersections carry the potential to be incredibly dangerous. However, not all intersections are equal. Certain factors can increase the chance of a serious accident occurring at an intersection. The factors that make an intersection more dangerous fall into three categories: design elements, maintenance issues, and external factors.
Depending on the type of roadway, the state or local government is responsible for designing and building the road. Governments typically conduct traffic studies during the planning process. However, sometimes, these studies fail to consider important information that can result in increased danger to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. The following design elements can make an intersection more dangerous.
The state or local government is also responsible for maintaining roads. Poorly maintained roads are one of the most significant contributing factors to many Oregon car accidents, especially those occurring at intersections. For example, the following maintenance issues can contribute to an intersection’s dangerousness.
Finally, certain external factors can also make an intersection more dangerous. These elements have nothing to do with the design of the intersection or whether the government maintained the road. Most notably, these include a high volume of traffic or the presence of bars or restaurants in the immediate vicinity. As the amount of traffic increases, so too does the chance for a serious accident. Similarly, if there are several bars located near an intersection, the likelihood of a DUI accident increases.
Dangerous Portland Intersections
Motor vehicle and pedestrian crashes are a leading cause of preventable injury. Thus, there is a significant effort put into understanding what makes intersections dangerous and where the most accident prone intersections in Oregon are located.
According to one report5, the following are among the most accident prone intersections in Portland:
- SE 122nd Ave. & Stark St.
- SE 122nd Ave. & Division St.
- SE 82nd Ave. & Powell Blvd.
- SE 148th Ave. & Stark St.
- SE 148th Ave. & Powell Blvd.
- NE 82nd Ave. & Glisan St.* (tied)
- SE Foster Rd. & I-205 Northbound Ramp* (tied)
- NE 99th Ave. & Glisan St.
- SE 92nd Ave. & Holgate Blvd.
- SE 122nd Ave. & Powell Blvd.
- SE Division St. & I-205 Southbound Ramp
What to Do After a Serious Oregon Car Accident
If you’ve been injured in an Oregon car accident, you may have missed work and, at the same time, faced significant medical expenses. By bringing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, you can recover for your accident-related expenses. However, determining how to go about bringing a lawsuit after an accident occurring at an intersection can be complex. In some cases, you may have a claim against the local government responsible for designing and maintaining the road. In other cases, you can bring a case against the negligent motorist responsible for causing the accident. Each of these cases has procedural requirements that you must meet to avoid the court dismissing your case. Check out the following resources for more information:
- What to do after a car accident in Oregon
- How to take pictures for evidence after a car accident
- How to correct mistakes on a police report
Sources:
12019 Oregon Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes Quick Facts. (n.d.). Oregon.Gov. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Data/Documents/QuickFacts_2019.pdf
2Transportation Data Section Crash Analysis and Reporting Unit. (n.d.). 2018 OREGON TRAFFIC CRASH SUMMARY. Oregon.Gov. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Data/Documents/Crash_Summary_2018.pdf
3OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – POLICY, DATA AND ANALYSIS DIVISION TRANSPORTATION DATA SECTION. (n.d.). CRASH ANALYSIS AND REPORTING UNIT CRASH SUMMARIES BY YEAR BY CITY. Oregon.Gov. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Data/Documents/Crashes_City.pdf
4Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report Tables. (n.d.). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/stsi.htm
5High Crash Network Streets and Intersections. (n.d.). Portland.Gov. https://www.portland.gov/transportation/vision-zero/high-crash-network#toc-high-crash-network-intersections
