Riding a bicycle can be a fun leisure activity on your own or with family and friends. It can also be a great way to get exercise and even commute to work or get around without needing to spend money on gas for a car. Unfortunately, some people who go out for what they hope will be an uneventful bike ride often end up in accidents that cause injuries. When these accidents were the result of another driver’s negligence, victims may be entitled to compensation for their damages. The Hillsboro bicycle accident lawyers at Rizk Law understand the damages suffered by bicycle riders and are prepared to help you recover fair compensation. Your consultation is 100 percent free and there is no obligation to pursue a case. You will not owe us for representing you unless you are compensated by the at-fault party.
Our trusted attorneys have obtained millions in compensation for victims of negligence. We have thorough knowledge of Oregon laws and requirements for bicyclists and motorists and how to prove your accident was caused by negligence. We are prepared to represent you throughout the claims process and file a lawsuit if it is necessary. We know the compensation is more than just a dollar amount, it is one of the things that helps victims get their lives back after they were injured because of negligence.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form today or call us at 503.342.0783.
Types of Cases
Our Hillsboro bicycle accident lawyers are prepared to represent victims of several different accidents. Some of the most common bicycle accidents that may result from negligence include:
- Right-turn crashes – Motorists must be particularly careful when sharing the road with bicyclists. If a rider is to the right of a car and the driver does not pay attention before turning, he or she could crash into a rider while making a right turn. If the rider was in a car, the accident might only cause property damage. However, even at slow speed, a right-turn accident could cause long-term injury to someone on a bicycle.
- Left-turn crashes – These are accidents that happen when a car hits a bicyclist who is traveling in the opposite direction while the car is making a left turn. At high speed, the accident could be fatal for the rider. Drivers are often so focused on checking for cars that they fail to see bicycle riders.
- Sideswipes – It is usually a good idea to give bicycle riders extra room when passing to be sure you do not hit them. Unfortunately, some drivers are either distracted or misjudge the amount of space between their vehicle and the rider and end up swiping riders as they pass. This can easily knock the rider off the bike, cause serious or long-term injury.
- Open-door crashes – Drivers who are parallel parking need to be careful about opening their doors, particularly in areas where people frequently ride their bicycles. No matter how fast a rider is going, crashing into a door could cause broken bones, soft tissue injuries and other damage. If the rider falls off the bike, he or she could suffer serious scrapes or bruises, in addition to head injuries if there are impacts to the head.
Any of these accidents can cause you to have huge medical bills, miss work because of your treatment, or struggle to continue working in the same field because of your injuries. If your bicycle crash was a result of negligence, or you think it might have been, contacting a lawyer could be a good idea. The Hillsboro bicycle accident lawyers at Rizk Law can represent you on contingency while we investigate and determine the full value of your damages.
Since many injury claims are resolved through insurance claims, we can guide you throughout this process, defending your best interests. Our founder Richard Rizk used to work for insurance companies and he knows how they operate. This is invaluable experience for accident victims who are seeking compensation through the insurance claims process to help them deal with the damages they have suffered.
Contact a Hillsboro personal injury lawyer right now for a free legal consultation at 503.342.0783.
Oregon Laws on Bicyclists
Oregon has laws designed to protect bicyclists from the danger presented by sharing the road with motor vehicles. Some tips are aimed at bicyclists themselves, because there are simple things they can do to make themselves more visible to drivers.
For example, under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 811.028, drivers and bicycle riders must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians if the pedestrian is in the same lane, the lane adjacent or the lane the rider is turning into. Bicyclists and drivers are also required to yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Under ORS 815.280, bicycles must have a front white light and rear red reflector if they are riding at night or when there is low visibility.
Oregon law also says drivers have to yield to bicycle riders if they are in a bicycle lane. Drivers must also yield to riders on sidewalks. Failing to yield often happens when a car is attempting to pull out of a parking lot and there is a sidewalk that runs perpendicular to the car’s path. If the car pulls out too fast, a rider could crash into the car. The driver could be cited for failure to yield to a bicyclist.
Under ORS 811.065, drivers have certain rules about passing bicyclists in a safe manner. For example, drivers can only pass bicyclists if they do so at a safe distance and return to their lane once they have passed the bicycle.
However, passing a bicycle rider in a zone that has been designated as a no-passing zone is evidence of a violation of the law on unsafe passing of a person operating a bicycle. This is a Class B traffic violation in the state of Oregon.
Violations of these laws can be strong evidence that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. That is why our Hillsboro bicycle accident attorneys are prepared to carefully review these laws and apply our existing knowledge of them to your case. We are committed to building a strong case as we pursue the compensation you are entitled under the law.
Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form today to find out how our attorneys may be able to help you. The consultation is 100 percent free.
What Happens if the Victim is Partially at Fault?
You should not automatically assume you cannot recover compensation after a bicycle accident. If you think a driver is partially responsible, you may have a case, even if you did something wrong that contributed to the crash.
This is because of Oregon’s law on comparative negligence. This law mandates that each party be assigned a percentage of fault for the crash. As long as your percentage of fault is not above 50 percent, you can recover compensation if you can prove your accident resulted from another’s negligence.
However, when the victim’s percent of fault is 51 percent or more, he or she is prohibited from recovering compensation under state law.
Even if you are entitled to compensation, your award will be reduced according to your percent of fault. This means 30 percent of fault reduces your claim’s final value by 30 percent.
One of the benefits of having a bicycle accident lawyer in Hillsboro is that he or she will work to try to make sure you are not assigned an unfair amount of fault. We can carefully review the details of your accident, your medical records, and the police report to determine how you contributed to the crash, and what a reasonable amount of fault is based on your actions.
Contact Rizk Law right now for a free legal consultation.
Contact a Hillsboro Bicycle Accident Lawyer Right Now for a Free Consultation
Bicycle accidents often could have been prevented if drivers had been a little more cautious or were not driving distracted. If an accident could have been avoided if the driver was more careful, you could be entitled to compensation for your damages. This includes medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity.
Our Hillsboro bicycle accident attorneys understand what victims of these accidents go through, from the medical treatment to the recovery and financial strain from not being able to work. We can represent you on contingency, which means there is no fee unless you are compensated.
We can manage the entire process on your behalf so you can focus on your health and trying to make the best recovery possible, based on your injuries and treatment options.
Schedule your free, no obligation case consultation right now. Complete a Free Case Evaluation form.