Bike and Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Oregon
Due to the lack of protection surrounding them, pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly vulnerable to serious injury when involved in an accident. Staggering medical costs and long recovery times can leave you wondering how you’ll pay your bills and support your family. If you’ve been hurt or have lost a loved one in a pedestrian or bike accident, our personal injury lawyers at Johnson and Taylor, serving injured clients throughout Oregon, can evaluate your case and advise you on the best way to move forward to recover compensation.
Bicycle Crashes
With more people using bicycles as their main form of transportation, accidents that cause injury or death to cyclists continue to rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recent bike safety report, 938 bicyclists were killed in crashes in the United States in 2020 alone. The majority of bike accidents occur in urban areas like Portland.
It’s crucial to wear a helmet and obey all traffic laws when riding your bike. Proper lights for riding at night are also necessary to help you stay safe on the road. Wearing a helmet can decrease the risk of head injury by 88%, but helmets are required only for riders under the age of 16 in Oregon.
Whether you’re a serious competitive rider or a parent with children who ride on the weekend, traveling in congested areas can be dangerous. If an accident happens, our bicycle accident lawyers help you recover fair compensation from negligent parties and handle all negotiations with their insurers.
Pedestrian Accidents
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are increasing as well. Pedestrian deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents have grown 59% since 2009. In addition, pedestrians make up 17% of all crash fatalities, according to pedestrian fatality statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Bike and pedestrian collisions are becoming more prevalent due to the uptick in distracted drivers texting or using electronic devices behind the wheel.
Although most pedestrians are struck while walking next to a road or crossing at an intersection, there are cases in which people are hurt simply strolling down the sidewalk or in a parking lot. Our pedestrian accident attorneys aren’t afraid to take on negligent property owners, government agencies, and their insurance companies. Sidewalk accident lawyers are well-versed in the tactics they often use to deny or minimize bike and pedestrian injury claims. Our team is well-versed in personal injury law and has helped thousands of clients throughout Oregon recover the full and fair amount of compensation they need and deserve.
Injuries Sustained in Bike and Pedestrian Accidents
Whether someone is hurt walking across the street or is hit by a motorist while riding their bike, these types of accidents can lead to catastrophic injury and fatalities. Common injuries sustained in bike and pedestrian accidents include:
- Broken or crushed bones
- Head, neck, and spine injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Amputation
- Cuts, lacerations, and skin abrasions
- Dental and facial damage
- Psychological conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression
These injuries can have a significant impact on a victim’s life, leaving them unable to work and enjoy things they once loved. Long-term medical treatment may reach into the millions of dollars. Our bicycle accident lawyers understand how to accurately evaluate personal injury claims, fight for your rights, and protect your interests.
Recovering Damages in a Bike or Pedestrian Accident Case
Bike and pedestrian accident cases are complex. Often, injured victims believe they cannot recover compensation if they contributed to an accident in any way, so they don’t try to pursue compensation. However, Oregon is a comparative fault state. This means that even if you were partially responsible for your injuries, you may still be entitled to compensation if a negligent driver was at least 50% at fault.
Insurance companies offer minimal settlements and may try to force you to use your own auto or health insurance to cover your medical bills. Our personal injury lawyers are familiar with their tactics and won’t back down in our mission to help you make a full recovery for damages such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future wage loss
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of companionship and consortium
If you have lost a loved one in a bike or pedestrian accident, you may be able to bring a wrongful death claim against any negligent parties.
Why Choose Our Accident Lawyers?
Our pedestrian accident attorneys understand how difficult dealing with serious injuries and losses can be, and we know clients often have many questions about personal injury claims. We’re passionate about making things right for victims and their families. Our bicycle accident lawyers handle all negotiations with insurance companies and will not hesitate to file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf if a reasonable settlement agreement can’t be reached. We advocate for your rights and provide compassionate, quality legal services and representation you can trust.
Contact Our Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Oregon
Our personal injury lawyers at Johnson and Taylor are here for you — we offer free consultations and work on contingency, which means you won’t incur any up-front costs and you won’t pay attorney fees unless we help get you compensation. Our personal injury lawyers serve to Johnson and Taylor litigates personal injury, divorce and family law and estate planning and probate cases. Our personal injury lawyers serve clients in Salem, Eugene, Bend, the Oregon Coast, Medford, and throughout the entire state of Oregon. Members of our team are fluent in Spanish as well. To schedule a consultation, call 503-990-6641 or contact us online.