Staying safe while riding a bicycle on Oregon roads is not just a cyclist’s responsibility. Having said that, the problem is when a car and a bicycle come together, the car might get a scratch or two, but the cyclist is highly unlikely to be so lucky. Following the safety tips we’ve listed here will go a long way to keeping you healthy and making your cycling experience more enjoyable. Sadly, Oregon bicyclists had a bad year in 2011, and more than 100 lost their lives; more than a thousand were injured. If you’ve been a victim of a car accident or in any way been injured through another road user’s negligence, don’t hesitate. Contact an experienced, excellent Portland bicycle accident lawyer who will explain your options in detail, help you deal with the insurance companies and fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
- The right hook. Returning again to the boxing terminology, this knockout occurs when a car attempts to pass you just before an intersection, then makes a right hand turn directly in front of you, giving you no time to avoid running into them. Keeping to your left and taking up the whole lane at the intersection will actually prevent this type of accident, because the car behind you won’t be able to safely get around you without pulling into an oncoming traffic lane. Don’t worry about holding them up for a few moments. Would you rather be an annoyance or a statistic? Keep your eyes on the car behind you as you approach any intersection. If you don’t have a rear view mirror on your bike, make it your next purchase. Read the rest »
We offer here our Top 10 reasons cycling accidents occur, and the best ways to avoid getting hit by a car. The truth is you’d be better off following these tips without wearing a helmet and not getting hit, than to wear a helmet and think that’s the last precaution you need to take, leading you to get knocked off your bike and facing frightening injuries or worse.
- The right cross. Far from being a boxing term, this is actually the most common way for a bicyclist to get hit. Riding happily down the street, the cyclist is suddenly confronted with a car pulling out of a side street, driveway or parking lot on the right. This gives the cyclist no time to avoid the collision, and as any bicycle accident lawyer will tell you, when a car hits a bike, the car wins…every time. To avoid the right cross:
A. Get a light and get yourself seen. Consider bright, flashing LED lights, even for daytime driving. If you can mount a light or lamp on your helmet, it’s even better, because when you look directly at a driver, you’re shining your light right at them, increasing your chances of being seen. Make eye contact any time it’s possible.
B. Wave your hand if you can’t make eye contact. Moving your arm left and right makes a motion that doesn’t match the flow of traffic, making it more likely to be spotted. Consider getting an air horn (really loud) for your bike, and if all else fails, shout “Hey!” if you see a car pulling out. Being embarrassed is better than being flattened.
C. Slow down if you think you haven’t been seen. If you haven’t made eye contact and you think there’s any chance you haven’t been seen, make sure you can come to a complete stop if necessary to avoid the collision.
D. It may go against your natural instinct, as well as your desire not to be hit from behind, but move over to your left a bit. The further right you are, i.e. closer to the curb, the more difficult it is for cars coming from the right to see you. Being seen is the number one key to avoid being hit. On faster roads with fewer intersections, it’s ok to stay a bit further to the right, but statistics show you’re far more likely to be hit by a car coming from the right that can’t see you than a car coming up from behind that can see you clearly.
- The door prize is one you don’t want to win. One of the top three causes of bicycle accidents is caused when a car door is opened directly in front of an oncoming cyclist. Once again, moving over to the left is the best way of avoiding this type of accident, in spite of a cyclist’s natural inclination to worry about cars behind not being able to get past. The fact is the further left you are, the less likely you’ll have the door of a parked car opened right in front of you.
- Crosswalk danger. People riding bikes on the sidewalk are difficult for drivers to see when they’re turning right from one street onto another. Many cyclists are hit as they leave the sidewalk and enter the crosswalk. Avoid this by: Read the rest »
For many people, the winter months would see their bicycles stored safely away in the shed, waiting for the snow and ice to melt and the thermometer to rise. Exercise enthusiasts who schedule regular cycling treks as part of their workout routine, turn to indoor tracks or other means of keeping fit until spring once again beckons them to the great outdoors. Portland bicycle accident lawyers, however, also see their fair share of people who have been injured in cycling mishaps during the winter months. Some of these people continue to use their bikes to get to work. Others are the hardcore riders who see snow and ice as challenges to be overcome rather than reasons to stay indoors.
Regardless of whether you use your bicycle during these dark, cold months of the year by choice or out of necessity, there are ways and means to be prepared for winter riding. Here are a few tips to prepare both your bike and your body to face the elements this winter.
Good Maintenance Means Safer Riding
If you want to save your two-wheeled ride from taking a beating this winter, why not prepare it much the same as you would a car? For example:
- Take the skinny tires off your bike and put on wider tires with more tread. This will give you better grip on snow-covered roads.
- Let some air out of the tires. You might not go as fast, but you’ll definitely have better traction, and that’s all important on slippery road surfaces.
- It’s possible now to buy actual snow tires, including those with studs, for most bike models. If you’re going out on snow alone, this may not be a necessary step, but if you’re regularly cycling on icy roads, consider a set of studded tires for your bike.#
- When oiling the bike chain, use a cold-weather lubricant.
- Always wipe down your bike after every use. The salt and grit used to keep roads safe can be very hard on the bike’s frame and drive train.
- If you can afford it, maybe consider using a different bike during the winter months. Swap your racing bike for a mountain bike or a hybrid, or at the very least a bike you wouldn’t be upset about taking the odd “ding.” Read the rest »
The famous expression, “Only in America…” was almost undoubtedly created by someone who had heard of a ridiculous lawsuit being filed by a person who felt they could get rich quick at the expense of a faceless insurance company or giant corporation. These claims, also known as “frivolous lawsuits” are an expensive nuisance the legal system could well do without. If a Portland personal injury lawyer is approached by someone who cut themselves shaving with a new razor and wants to sue the company that made that razor, they’re going to advise the erstwhile client that the lawsuit doesn’t hold water. However, this doesn’t stop some people from making claims so outlandish, they almost defy belief. But good lawyers understand that these frivolous lawsuits make it harder to pursue legitimate personal injury claims and protect the rights of people who are honest and just trying to receive compensation.
Here, we present a list of some of the most blatantly frivolous lawsuits you may ever come across. In spite of the fact that the overwhelming majority of claims filed are–whether they win their case or not—legitimate, here’s a list that made the Top 5 in an opinion poll regarding outrageous claims.
#5: Bigger Booths Please
A man weighing almost 300 pounds has filed a suit against his local White Castle burger restaurant because they haven’t provided him with a booth he can comfortably fit into, in spite of his repeated complaints to the restaurant. He claims the restaurant discriminates against fat people, even though the restaurant says they have made every attempt to accommodate the man, even going so far as to send him a list of restaurants with bigger booths.
#4: You Should have Taken My Gun Before I Shot Someone
It’s almost impossible to understand the thought process behind this one. A convicted felon from Pittsburgh got into a fight with another man in a bar. In the ensuing battle, both men were shot. The felon, who was carrying the weapon illegally, attempted to sue the owner of the bar for not searching him when he went in. He wanted damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering. The judge threw the case out. This is the exact kind of case a creditable Portland personal injury lawyer would turn away in a heartbeat. Read the rest »
Oregon wrongful death laws can seem complicated, and many questions arise in a wrongful death case, which is a civil lawsuit, as opposed to a murder case, which is a criminal action. In the famous O.J. Simpson case, he was found not guilty in the murder trial, but was held liable in the civil, wrongful death case. One of the reasons this was possible is because a criminal murder charge must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, whereas a wrongful death action simply needs to show by a “preponderance of the evidence” that the defendant was more likely than not to have caused the death.
Wrongful death claims do not seek to put the perpetrator behind bars, though it’s quite possible the person being sued may end up in prison. We set out here just a few of the most common questions and answers regarding wrongful death lawsuits.
What exactly is a “wrongful death?”
The general premise of a wrongful death lawsuit is that, as well as injuring the person who died, the people who have been left behind have also been injured, not just financially, but emotionally and psychologically. Wrongful death is caused by a negligent act by one person that causes the death of another, such as reckless driving or DUII, or a reckless or deliberate act, including but not limited to murder. In Oregon, statute ORS 30.010-30.100 allows family members to make a wrongful death claim against negligent parties. Read the rest »
USAA (which stands for United Services Automobile Association) Insurance was founded in 1922 by 25 U.S. Army officers. They met in San Antonio, Texas, and offered to insure each other’s cars when no one else would. Since then, USAA has grown to the point where they now boast 8 million members and a net worth at the end of 2010 of $18.7 billion. According to their own website, their founding values are service, loyalty, honesty and integrity, but when it comes to paying out USAA Insurance Oregon claims, has the company remained true to those founding values right up to the present day?
USAA Car Insurance is Not Available to Everyone
USAA Insurance was founded by military personnel, for military personnel, and while those criteria have been expanded somewhat, it’s true to say that not everyone can get USAA coverage. Only the following qualify:
- Active, retired and honorably separated officer and enlisted personnel of the U.S. military
- Office candidates in commissioning programs like ROTC, OCS/OTS and Academy
- Adult children of those USAA members who have or had a USAA auto insurance policy
- Widows, widowers and former spouses of USAA members who had a policy
While some USAA products are available to the general public, car insurance is not.
“Among the Best” According to Survey
USAA were included in a recent J.D. Power & Associates review of insurance companies, insofar as they were given ratings and an overall score. They were not included in the “league table” of the 25 companies around which the survey was based, because of the fact they exclude members of the general public from membership. However, their score of 889 out of a possible 1,000 points (the industry average is 846), and a Circle Rating of 4.7 out of 5 means that J.D. Power ranks USAA as “Among the Best” when it comes to providing insurance cover. Read the rest »
