Date: May 26, 2009
Location: Steel Bridge and NE Lloyd Boulevard, Portland, OR
Type: Bike Accident
Outcome: 1 Minor Injury
Names: Unknown
A Portland woman was injured last week in a hit-and-run bike-on-bike collision. According to BTA Board Member Mary Roberts, the woman was riding her bicycle eastward up to the bike/ped trail junction at NE Lloyd Blvd when a southbound cyclist rounded the corner wide and collided with her. The woman then fell from her bike and was unable to get up; the other cyclist, seemingly unharmed, biked away from the scene without stopping.
The collision left the woman with a broken bone in her leg that required hospitalization and surgery. At this point, it may be months before she is able to ride her bicycle again.
We wish the very best for the injured biker and pray that she makes a full and speedy recovery. To be biking one day and in a hospital bed the next must be a truly traumatic experience. Our hearts go out to her and her family.
As fellow members of the Portland biking community, we at Shulman DuBois are deeply disturbed by the apparent lack of human empathy on the part of the second bicyclist. We believe that Portland should be a safe place to ride your bike — and that includes looking out for one another.
This kind of collision also raises questions about the overall safety of Portland roadways for bikes and bikers. According to Roberts, the intersection where the collision took place is “treacherous” and “poorly designed for the level of use it gets.” In this case, the injured victim may want to consider consulting a personal injury attorney with experience in bicycle accidents about her options in this case — and to do so soon.
While the normal time limit for filing an Oregon injury lawsuit is 2 years, if the victim decides to sue the City of Portland or Multnomah County for creating what appears to be a dangerous bike intersection, she has to file a tort claim notice within 180 days of the incident. This time limit is strict. Failure to meet it would mean she loses all rights to hold the City or County responsible for creating a dangerous situation.
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As of the date we posted this blog, Shulman DuBois LLC does not represent any of the parties. If you are mentioned in this article and believe you may need legal help, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Oregon law firms specializing in personal injury, including us, will provide free and confidential consultations, so do not hesitate to call and ask questions.
