Grant’s Pass, Oregon

Located in southern Oregon, northwest of Medford, Grant’s Pass is the seat of Josephine County. A city of just under 35,000, Grant’s Pass is best known as a gateway to some of the best recreation our state has to offer. The city is said to have been named in honor of General (later President) Ulysses S. Grant, though actual evidence supporting this claim is, at best, spotty. It was originally settled in the 1840s, but was not incorporated until 1887.

Grant’s Pass is well-known for the recreational opportunities it offers tourists: the Rogue River runs through the city and is the focus of both one of the city’s main parks (which lies along its banks) and of boating, canoeing and other popular pastimes. The river is also the site of a boat festival every year over Memorial Day weekend. Downtown Grant’s Pass features a vibrant local arts scene, centered on the restored and revitalized Rogue Theater. The city’s historic district is popular with shoppers in search of everything from antiques to local specialty foods. Oregon Caves National Monument, 30 miles south of Grant’s Pass, is another popular destination.

The many recreational opportunities in and around Grant’s Pass, however, are also a reminder of how important public safety is and must always be. Americans today lead active lives, especially here in Oregon. Yet data compiled by the Oregon Health & Science University also serves to remind us of the danger active sports can pose. According to the university:

• More than 3.5 million children 14 and under are injured every year playing sports
• Almost 50% of sports-related head injuries are caused by skateboarding, cycling or skating accidents
• More than 775,000 children age 14 and under have to go to hospital emergency rooms each year as a result of sports injuries

Facts like these are a reminder of the importance of safety. Adults are responsible for seeing that equipment is appropriate both for the sport a child is participating in (ski and bike helmets have very different designs for a reason) and that it is properly maintained and used.

Portland-based Kaplan Law LLC has years of expertise in the field of Oregon sports injuries, particularly those involving children. Kaplan Law is the place to turn for those unclear on how the law can help and protect them in the aftermath of an avoidable tragedy.

Kaplan Law’s Portland office is located at 50 SW Pine St #302 Portland, OR 97204. The office telephone number is (503) 226-3844.

Resource:

Oregon Health & Science University: Sports Injury Statistics