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Were you hurt in a bicycle accident due to the careless acts of another in Portland, OR? If so, you might be able entitled to recover damages. You’ll have the best chance of securing a favorable outcome if you enlist the help of an experienced Portland bicycle accident lawyer at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers. Call (503) 272-8986 for legal help.
However, obtaining fair compensation in a personal injury claim is often easier said than done. Our legal team has nearly 20 years of experience helping clients navigate insurance and personal injury laws – and we’ve recovered millions in the process.
We’re prepared to get you the compensation you deserve after a bike crash in Portland, OR. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your accident, so call our law firm or connect with us online to schedule yours.
Portland has over 400 miles of bikeways, making it a great place to ride a bicycle and avoid traffic congestion. However, although Portland is considered a bicycle-friendly city, accidents still occur.
If you were injured in a bike accident, Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you get back on your feet financially. We understand that it’s a difficult time. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis – meaning there are no upfront fees to get exceptional legal representation, and you only pay if we win your case.
Hiring a Portland bicycle accident attorney from Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers means you’ll have a legal advocate to:
Do you want to learn more about how a Portland personal injury lawyer can help after a bicycle crash? Contact our law office for a free consultation to discuss the benefits of an attorney-client relationship.
The League of American Bicyclists ranks Oregon as the second-most bicycle-friendly state in the country. However, that doesn’t mean accidents don’t occur in the Beaver State.
According to an April 2022 report released by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), there were 475 statewide bicycle (pedalcycle) crashes in 2020. Out of the reported accidents, 14 were fatal.
Nearly 18% of the state’s bicycle accidents occurred in Portland. A reported 85 pedalcycle accidents in the city caused five fatalities.
ODOT reports that the primary cause of bicycle crashes throughout the state is failing to yield the right of way. That includes drivers failing to yield to bicyclists and bicyclists failing to yield to vehicles.
Other than failure to yield the right of way, causes of Oregon bicycle accidents include:
Most bike crashes happen due to driver or cyclist negligence – meaning they are typically avoidable if people use reasonable care. However, others may be caused by defective parts, poor infrastructure, or road debris.
Regardless of what caused your bicycle accident, Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers will help you prove your case.
Every bicycle accident presents a different set of facts, victims, and injuries. Accordingly, the value of your claim will depend on various factors, such as:
Generally, the more severe your bicycle accident injuries, the higher your case’s value will be. However, as you can see, other factors may come into play. During your free case assessment, we’ll discuss your accident. Then, we can give you a better idea of what your personal injury or insurance claim may be worth.
If you were injured in a bicycle crash in Portland, OR, you can generally pursue the full value of your losses, including monetary (economic) and personal (non-economic) damages.
You usually have receipts, bills, and statements available to prove the value of your economic damages, which may include:
Non-economic damages aren’t as straightforward to calculate. They could include:
Oregon courts award punitive damages in rare cases when the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously or consciously indifferent to their safety. If, for example, a drunk driver ran into your bicycle and caused severe injuries, punitive damages may be an option to pursue.
Bicyclists often suffer severe injuries in collisions with motor vehicles. They have little protection if struck by a multi-thousand-pound machine.
Some injuries commonly sustained by cyclists in accidents include:
No matter what type of injury you suffered, a Portland bike accident lawyer at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to assist.
To prove negligence in a Portland bicycle accident case, you have the burden of proving the following four elements:
Proving these elements will require evidence, including:
We’ll help you identify and gather the evidence needed to prove your bicycle accident claim.
The answer to this question depends on your portion of responsibility for the bike accident. Oregon law implements a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar to compensation.
You cannot recover any money if your allocated fault exceeds 50%. If your level of blame is 50% or less, you can receive compensation, but it’ll be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, you were looking at your phone when a driver ran a stop sign and hit your bicycle. You’re assigned 30% fault for the accident, meaning you can only take home 70% of your awarded compensation. If you were found to be 51% at fault, you’d be entitled to nothing.
Unfortunately, insurance companies are familiar with Oregon’s comparative fault rules and frequently use them to minimize or avoid liability. If you’ve been blamed for causing your bicycle crash, you’ll need an experienced legal advocate to fight back and protect your rights.
As a bicycle accident victim in Oregon, you generally have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit and three years to file a claim for wrongful death.
Keep in mind that there could be exceptions to these statutes of limitations that give you less time to act. It’s essential to consult an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Portland as soon as possible. You want to meet the statutory deadline and gather the evidence you need while it’s available.
If you were hurt as a result of a bicycle accident in Portland, OR, contact Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate assistance. We want to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for your financial losses and suffering. The best way to maximize your payout is to get started as soon as possible after your accident.
Contact our Portland bicycle accident lawyer for a free, no-obligation case assessment. We’ll have a discussion and explore your potential legal options for recovery.
Our personal injury law firm in Portland, OR also provides: