The Oregon bicycle accident attorneys at the law office of Tawni Tagaki are committed to recovering the compensation that our clients deserve while they recover from serious bicycle accidents. Our personal injury attorneys handle a wide variety of bike accidents and are devoted to seeking maximum compensation that our clients are entitled to. We will work to resolve your claim by whatever means necessary – whether that involves settlement negotiations, arbitration or mediation, or aggressive trial advocacy.
Bicycle Accidents Are Common And Can Have Serious Consequences
Collisions between a bike and a motor vehicle often result in catastrophic injuries to the bicyclist involved. These kinds of collisions tend to be disproportionally devastating to the bike rider given their serious lack of protection. The body of a motor vehicle serves a shield for those riding inside. Obviously, bicyclists do not have the privilege of such protection.
Thousands of bicyclists are injured each year and many of them suffer severe injuries. It’s no wonder, considering that the average passenger vehicle weighs in excess of 3,000 pounds. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your associated losses. Our attorneys will evaluate the facts of your case and determine if you are eligible to receive compensation. If we judge that you are in fact eligible, we will then provide you with an estimate of the value of your bicycle accident claim.
Determining Liability: Oregon’s Rules of the Road
Under Oregon law, bicyclists get treated like other motor vehicles and as such are expected to obey Oregon traffic laws. At the same time, drivers of motor vehicles must follow additional safety precautions that are intended to protect bicyclists. A few statewide precautions taken for the benefit of Oregon’s bicyclists include:
- Drivers are required to yield to cyclists if they are riding in a bike lane.
- Drivers of passenger vehicles have to yield to bicycle riders on sidewalks.
- Reckless vehicular assaults against bicyclists are prohibited.
- Drivers are required to drive to the left of the bicyclist as they pass, at a safe distance, and are only to return to their original lane after achieving a significant distance from the rider.
Bicycle Accidents in Oregon
Many reckless actions may lead to a serious bicycle accident. Some of the most common of these include:
- Intoxicated drivers
- Distracted drivers
- Aggressive drivers
- Fatigued drivers
- Anxious or impaired drivers
- Roads that are in despair.
Serious bicycle accidents in Oregon have the potential to lead to permanent life changes that reduce or eliminate your ability to work and participate in life’s activities. While an attorney cannot reverse your injuries, he or she can retrieve for you the financial compensation necessary to best cope with the conditions you face. Such damages in Oregon include medical expenses, lost wages, disability compensation, and pain and suffering. An experienced attorney can help you determine which damages to pursue. Contact one of our Oregon bicycle accident attorneys as soon as possible.