Washington woman files $3.6M suit over injuries from driving over SW Capitol Hwy pothole
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A woman from Clark County, Wash. filed a lawsuit against the City of Portland, Multnomah County, and the Oregon Department of Transportation, claiming she suffered "severe" injuries after driving over a pothole on Southwest Capitol Highway.
The lawsuit, filed on April 19, alleges the city, county, and agency failed to maintain the roadway or notify drivers about the pothole, and is seeking more than $3.6 million in damages.
The incident occurred in April 2022 as she was driving northbound on SW Capitol Highway between Alfred and Huber streets when she hit the pothole, according to court documents, adding the pothole was not visible to oncoming traffic until drivers were directly over it.
Driving over the pothole, she was "abruptly and forcefully lifted out of the seat of her car and hit her head, causing her to suffer severe and permanent injuries,” the lawsuit states.
According to court documents, the woman suffered several injuries including a concussion, traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, torn rotator cuff, cuts, and bruises.
She also suffered emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression because of the incident, the lawsuit claims.
The City Attorney’s Office, Multnomah County, and ODOT declined to comment on the lawsuit.