Portland is known as one of the most walkable cities in the United States. Just about every neighborhood in the Rose City offers safe and beautiful places to walk. But even though Portland is known for having streets that are very friendly to bicyclists, accidents still occur.
Although accidents can happen anywhere, some streets and intersections in Portland are more dangerous than others. Being informed about the street crossings that have more frequent and severe accidents can help you stay safe.
In this article, we’ll go over some of Portland’s most dangerous street crossings and how a Portland car accident attorney can help if you’ve been the victim in an accident.
Risk factors for pedestrian accidents
There has been a marked rise in the number of accidents involving pedestrians in Portland. The reasons behind this increase are complex and multifaceted. But it’s important to note that these accidents are often the result of distracted, intoxicated, or careless driving.
Of course, you can’t control the irresponsible actions of others. But you can help protect yourself as a pedestrian or bicyclist by staying alert. You can also limit your risk of becoming a victim by knowing the factors that make a street crossing particularly dangerous.
Intersections where a high number of pedestrian accidents occur share some common characteristics, including:
- High-speed traffic
- Insufficient street lighting
- Insufficient signage
- A high volume of auto, bike, and pedestrian traffic
- The presence of convenience stores, gas stations, and other businesses
- Flashing lights
- Approaches with poor lines of sight
- Absence of designated turning lanes
- Absence of designated bike lanes
Portland’s 8 most dangerous intersections
1. West Burnside St. & 3rd Ave.
According to recent data from the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Accident History Database, this is the most dangerous intersection for pedestrians. In a 5-year period, this crossing saw 12 pedestrian-involved accidents, 4 of which resulted in serious injuries. Limited lighting and poor visibility are notorious at this intersection.
2. Northeast Glisan St. & 122nd Ave.
Although no serious pedestrian injuries took place at this intersection during the data-collection period, a total of 16 accidents involving pedestrians took place here, 10 of which caused moderate or minor injuries. This intersection sees high volumes of car and pedestrian traffic, and both streets feature more than 2 lanes.
3. Southeast Woodward St. & 82nd Ave.
This intersection features the entrance to a busy shopping center, a bus stop, and limited visibility. In just 5 years, 7 pedestrian-involved collisions took place here, resulting in 8 pedestrian injuries.
4. Northwest Broadway & Everett St.
This street crossing represents one of Portland’s most populated intersections when it comes to pedestrian traffic. Everett is a one-way street, and the crossing features limited signage and visibility. In total, this intersection saw 8 accidents involving pedestrians during the relevant study period.
5. Southeast Division St. & César E. Chávez Blvd.
8 pedestrian-involved accidents took place at this high-traffic intersection between the years 2015 and 2019, causing 1 serious injury, 2 moderate injuries, and 4 minor injuries in total. With high volumes of public transportation, vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians, it’s no surprise that this intersection leads to a disproportionate number of accidents.
6. Southeast 148th Ave. & Stark St.
3 injuries and 2 fatalities resulted from a total of 8 pedestrian accidents at this notoriously busy Southeast Portland intersection in 5 years. This crossing has a variety of visibility issues that drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians have to contend with, making it a hazardous intersection to travel at night.
7. North Denver Ave. & Lombard St.
Like many of Portland’s most dangerous intersections, this crossing features wide roads and nearby convenience stores and gas stations. It saw 5 pedestrian-involved crashes during the data-collection period, which resulted in seven pedestrian injuries.
8. Southeast Powell Blvd. & 31st Ave.
A total of 15 pedestrian-involved accidents took place at this intersection during the study period, which resulted in four injuries. This crossing features exceptionally high pedestrian traffic because one of its corners is home to Cleveland High School’s track and sports field. It also features only one crosswalk and limited signals and signage.
Are you the victim of a pedestrian accident in Portland?
Pickett Dummigan Weinhart, LLP specializes in personal injury law. If you’ve been injured at one of the dangerous intersections on this list or elsewhere in the Portland metro area, we’re here to help. Our pedestrian injury attorneys are tenacious and compassionate. We’ll work hard to help ensure you get the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Schedule a free legal consultation or call (503) 447-8168 to talk about your case.