Automobile and truck drivers often just don’t watch for motorcycles and bicycles. Driving your motorcycle or riding your bike on Oregon roads can put you in severe danger. Serious injuries, which can be life changing, often result from crashes involving motorcycles and bicycles. Drivers of cars and trucks who are speeding, who fail to obey the traffic laws, who may be on drugs or have been drinking, or just don’t look out for motorcycles and bicycles place everyone in danger.
There is no shortage of trails and country roads in the Rogue Valley perfect for bicycle rides. Unfortunately, many times these routes converge with busy city streets and intersections leaving bicyclist at risk for accidents. Between 700 to 800 bicycle accidents result in fatality in the United States each year.
Common Types of Bicycle Accidents include:
Drivers emerging into the path of cyclists
Motorists turning across the path of cyclists
Vehicles running into the back of cyclists
Drivers or passengers opening doors in the path of moving cyclists
Sudden lane changes by drivers without seeing cyclists
Drivers blocking cycle lanes causing cyclists to swerve into the path of other vehicles
Drivers failing to give way to cyclists
The types and severity of injuries incurred from these accidents depends on factors such as:
The type of impact
Whether a helmet was worn
The speed of the parties involve
Whether a motor vehicle was involved
The condition of the road
Many motorcycle accidents result in serious injuries. Since motorcyclists have little to no protection around them, collisions with cars, trucks, and other vehicles often leave the motorcyclist incapacitated sometimes permanently. Injuries are often severe and can include brain and spinal cord injuries as well as amputation and wrongful death.
The most common causes of motorcycle accidents are:
Automobile drivers violating motorcyclists right-of-way by turning into his or her lane. This can often be attributed to the automobile driver being distracted by their cell phone.
Automobile drivers failing to yield to motorcyclist at highway exit and entrance ramps. In Oregon, the vehicle code gives motorcycles the same footing as automobiles. However, automobiles are much bigger, and motorcycle drivers can easily be lost in a blind spot.
Poor road conditions; potholes, uneven payment. One of the main benefits of having a motorcycle is riding on roads less traveled. Unfortunately, these road can also be less maintained and hold hidden danger for motorcycle drivers.
Poor weather conditions; poor night visibility. Rain and severe weather cause accidents every day. However, a severe weather accident for a motorcycle driver could be much more devastating to a motorcycle driver.
Defective helmets and/or motorcycle equipment. On a motorcycle, there isn’t anything between the driver and the world around him or her. It is imperative that the safety equipment required be in perfect working condition.
Tara Millan Law handles cases involving motorcycle and bicycle accidents and can guide you through the complicated and often lengthy process of fighting against the insurance company or navigating the case through the court.
If you, or someone you care about, has been hurt in a motorcycle or bicycle accident here in Oregon, call Tara Millan Law at 541 879 3333 for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.