Springfield, Oregon

Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, caused a minor stir in the spring of 2012 by telling an interviewer that the animated yellow family’s hometown was inspired, at least in part, by Springfield, Oregon, where he spent time as a boy. Websites comparing views and structures in Oregon’s Springfield to their alleged animated doppelgangers sprouted within days, generating enough buzz that a short time later the program’s opening credits featured Bart scrawling on a chalkboard the words “The true location of Springfield is in any state but yours.” So much for that.

Oregon’s Springfield, located in Lane County just east of Eugene, boasts a history stretching back to the mid-19^th century and the days before Oregon became a state. For many decades Springfield was a lumber town, but the industry in this part of Oregon is far smaller than it once was. As a result, medical services in the form of several large hospitals and a research laboratory are now the largest employers in this city of 59,000. Springfield’s proximity to Eugene, the seat of Lane County, also offers residents the opportunity to share in the educational, cultural and athletic activities offered through the nearby University of Oregon’s. Eugene is also a center of legal activity for the area, as the home of Oregon’s 2^nd Judicial district, of which Springfield is a part. All of Lane county is able served by Kaplan Law LLC. Based in Portland with an office at 50 SW Pine St #302. Kaplan Law provides a wide range of legal assistance to clients throughout Washington and Oregon. Call (503) 226-3844 to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.

Kaplan Law is particularly well-placed to help victims of distracted drivers. Oregon’s law banning texting and the use of handheld cellphones by people operating vehicles is still relatively new. Our focus on this emerging legal field places Kaplan Law at the cutting edge of Oregon’s legal community.

According to Oregon Department of Transportation figures, in 2011 there were 269 vehicle crashes in the state in which use of a cellphone could be identified as a contributing cause. The broader category of “sick sleepy or distracted” drivers (to use the official terminology) accounted for 4,068 crashes – 8.3% of the entire statewide total. Cellphone use played a role in four vehicle fatalities and in 24 “sick sleepy or distracted” fatalities (7.7% of the statewide total for that category).

As these numbers indicate, the problem of distracted driving is real, and is a significant factor in broader traffic accidents and fatalities. ODOT figures show that 2011 saw 693 crashes just in the relatively small city of Springfield, resulting in four fatalities and 451 injuries.

Kaplan Law LLC can help residents of Springfield and other Lane County communities deal with the aftermath of these and similar problems. Our office is conveniently located at 50 SW Pine St #302, Portland, OR 97204.

Resource:

Oregon Department of Transportation – publications page