Common Road Dangers For Motorcyclists In Portland

Portland, Oregon, offers sweeping views and open roads that can tempt you out on your motorcycle. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents aren’t rare in the city. In one recent year, 11 deaths in Portland occurred because of motorcycle accidents, accounting for 17.5% of all traffic fatalities that year.

At Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our Portland motorcycle accident lawyers can help if you’ve suffered losses in a collision. Learn more about the common road dangers for motorcyclists in Portland and what kind of damages you can claim if you’ve been involved in a crash. Contact Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers or give us a call at (503) 773 3333 for a free initial consultation.

How Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After An Accident In Portland, OR

Motorcycles don’t offer the same level of injury prevention as other motor vehicles. Your level of protection is limited to your helmet and any protective clothing you choose to wear, which is why catastrophic injuries are so common in motorcycle accidents. At Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our Portland, Oregon, personal injury attorneys offer representation to those who have suffered injuries in a collision. 

Our team provides services such as:

• Assessing your case during a free consultation
• Investigating the accident
• Gathering evidence to prove you deserve compensation
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Taking your case to court, as needed

We have more than 17 years of experience helping clients recover losses. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, there is no need to stress about payment until we win your claim. If you’ve suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, contact our Portland motorcycle accident lawyers for help. 

Portland Road Dangers For Bikers

Being aware of the road dangers every time you head out on your bike in Portland can reduce your risks. 

Potholes

Potholes are a problem throughout the country. Each year, pothole damage costs U.S. drivers an average of $3 billion or about $306 per driver. However, a pothole is not a significant problem for a car unless it’s extremely large. That’s not the case for motorcycles. Bikes can easily get stuck in potholes or get thrown off balance.

Although Oregon doesn’t have the worst roads in the country, the roads still have potholes that can cause bikers to lose control of their motorcycle. Colliding with other vehicles or with stationary objects can result in severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. 

Uneven Road Surfaces

In a similar manner to potholes, uneven road surfaces can cause motorcyclists to lose their balance. Unevenness can occur from regular wear and tear or construction debris. Edge breaks are another problem. These occur when two lanes of traffic are at different heights, which is a problem on highways. This change in height can topple a bike. 

Open bridge joints, which hold bridge sections together, can also create uneven surfaces. Open bridge joints are wide and difficult for bikes to navigate. 

Railroad tracks also create uneven surfaces. They have many crevices that motorcycles can get stuck in, potentially leading to serious collisions. 

Debris

Everything from loose sand to debris that falls from trucks can lead a motorcycle to spin out of control. Furthermore, in an attempt to avoid debris, a car driver can also swerve without checking any blind spots, potentially hitting a bike. 

Slippery Surfaces

Rain, snow, and ice can make roads slippery and dangerous for all motor vehicles, but this risk increases for motorcycles. Because a bike only has two tires, it doesn’t have the same level of traction as a car, making it much more likely to slide on the road. Rain after a dry spell can be particularly dangerous because there may be oil and other slippery materials on the road that rise to the surface. 

Damages Available In A Motorcycle Accident Claim

After a motorcycle accident results in injuries, you can claim compensatory damages, which include economic and non-economic damages that compensate you for what you’ve lost in the crash. 

Economic damages focus on recovering financial losses. A key factor in this category is medical expenses, which cover everything from hospital bills to ongoing medical care. You can also recover lost wages. This type of compensation reimburses you for the wages you would have received if you’d not been in an accident. If you can’t return to work, you can also claim a loss of earning potential.

Non-economic damages compensate you for losses that aren’t financial. These losses include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium if you lose a loved one because of the accident.

Schedule A Free Consultation With a Portland Motorcycle Crash Lawyer

If you’ve suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident that was the result of someone’s negligence, you can file a claim to get compensation. At Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our Portland, OR, motorcycle accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation.