SALEM BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

COMMUTING BY FOOT OR BY BICYCLE CAN BE DANGEROUS

• Bicycles and pedestrians are smaller and harder for drivers to see
• Driver distractions include in-dash DVD players, GPS devices, and cell phones
• Bicycles offer almost no protection for the operator
• Pedestrians can be tossed back into traffic and hit by other vehicles
• Some motorists refuse to stop after hitting a pedestrian or cyclist

Your Accident Was Preventable

A large number of collisions are caused by distracted motorists. They are not looking at the road and consequently don’t see the pedestrian or bicyclist in front of them. Too many motorists use cell phones or send text messages while their vehicle is in motion, and innocent people get hurt.

Other accidents are caused by:

Fatigue. A tired motorist has slower reflexes and might even nod off behind the wheel. They is a risk of going right through an intersection when there are pedestrians there.

Intoxication. A driver who is high or drunk will not brake in time to avoid a collision. They might also take unnecessary risks, such as trying to scoot by a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Failure to use mirrors. Accidents increase in areas of heavy foot traffic, such as parking lots. A driver might throw a car into reverse and fail to check their mirrors, so they don’t see the pedestrian stepping behind their vehicle.

Speeding. It is easy to go over the speed limit, but driving fast means there is less time to react to a cyclist or pedestrian who suddenly appears in a lane. Speeding motorists can also lose control in inclement weather, like snow or ice.

Failure to yield. Many pedestrians and cyclists are hit when drivers make a right-hand turn on a red light but don’t come to a complete stop. Anyone in the crosswalk is at a risk of getting struck by a motorist.

5 Steps to Take After a Collision

Attorney Youd recommends that injured pedestrians and bicyclists take these steps immediately to preserve their ability to sue for compensation:

1.   Call the police to report the accident. This step creates a public record of the accident—when it happened, where, and at what time. An officer will probably come to the scene to create a crash report, which insurance adjusters like to see.

2.   Get information from the driver. You should ask to see license, registration, insurance information and remember to ask for contact information like address and phone number. This information helps you begin the claims process.

3.   Talk to witnesses, if there are any. A witness can help others understand what happened. You might have been hit from behind and not know what actions the driver took before the collision. A witness can help. Get their names and contact details so you can reach out to them later.

4.   Take pictures of the accident if you can move around. Use your smartphone and get photos of the side of the vehicle that struck you and other details about the scene, such as where your bike ended up. Other helpful images include anything that might have contributed to the accident, like obscured stop signs or road defects.

5.   Get to the hospital immediately. Pedestrians and bicyclists suffer some terrible injuries, like back injuries and concussions, which can worsen over time. A trip to the hospital shows you are taking your injuries seriously.

Can Injured Pedestrians & Bicyclists Receive Compensation?

Lance D. Youd, Attorney at Law, has the knowledge and experience you need to make a claim for compensation. After you receive medical care, we should have some idea of how much your claim is worth. One reason to work with a seasoned legal advocate is to fully understand the settlement value of your injuries. Many lay people seriously undervalue their claim, so there is a risk they will settle for too little.

We can demand compensation for certain damages:

• Medical bills, should include the cost of doctor visits, diagnostic tests, specialist visits, surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and prescription medication.
• Lost income if you can’t work because you are injured.
• Damage to your bicycle, which might need to be replaced or repaired.
• Pain and suffering, should compensate for the physical and emotional pain you endure because of the accident.

Attorney Youd understands the negotiation process, which requires preparation and commitment. When defendants represent themselves,  their insurance company may claim they are on their side, but their practice is to settle your claim for as little as possible.  Attorney Youd knows the value of accident cases and will help you negotiate for the best settlement.

Comparative Negligence & Your Accident

One area of dispute is how to allocate fault between the parties. Under Oregon law, a victim can sue for compensation so long as their fault is “not greater” than the fault of all defendants. In other words, you are allowed to be up to 50% to blame for your accident but not over.

For this reason, defendants have an incentive to argue you are mostly to blame for the accident. They might allege you were:

• Jaywalking
• Cutting off traffic
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Crossing the road when you didn’t have permission
• Cycling while distracted

Even if your percentage of fault is less than 50%, you will receive less in compensation because defendants only need to pay compensation based on their degree of fault.

Attorney Youd takes a fine-tooth comb to the factual record so that he understands everything that happened in the lead-up to the crash. As a result, he can powerfully advocate for his client’s best interests.

Attorney Lance Youd is fully prepared to sue a motorist in court for an accident if negotiations are stalled.  With the representation of Attorney Youd, most cases settle because insurance companies know Lance and trust his experience, negotiation skills and ability to value a case. 

Contact Our Salem Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Accidents are shocking events. Few people have the financial resources to pay for their medical care, and they have no money saved away to cover bills while they are rehabbing. This is where Attorney Lance D. Youd comes in. He can aggressively negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf and hold a negligent motorist accountable for hitting you.

Contact our law firm today by calling (503) 399-8967. We offer a free consultation at a convenient time and location. We will come to you.