Bicycle riding is fun, great exercise, and an inexpensive way to travel, but when bicyclists are involved in an accident, the results can be catastrophic. Victims may end up in the hospital with serious injuries and face a long, painful recovery, and some injuries may lead to death. Survivors may need continuing care and face mounting medical and household bills at a time they cannot work, and life may never be the same.
If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has died in a bicycle accident you may be entitled to receive compensation through insurance or a personal injury lawsuit. However, Oregon injury laws are complicated, and insurance companies and their attorneys often try to deny claims or get you to accept less than your case is worth.
Fortunately, there is help available in the fight for fair compensation. The Portland bicycle accident lawyers at Strong Law know the laws, the system, and how insurance companies operate and are fully prepared to stand up for your rights, whether negotiating with an insurance company or taking your case to court.
We offer a free consultation to discuss the facts of your accident and determine the best way to move forward. There are no fees to you unless and until we win your case, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Call us today at 206-737-3496 to get started.
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How Our Portland Bicycle Accident Attorney Can Help
Why Choose Us?
There are many lawyers in Portland, and you should look for one you not only feel comfortable with but who has experience with bicycle accidents and the resources to thoroughly investigate and handle your case. Here are some reasons why we feel you should choose Strong Law:
- We are experienced. Attorney Jed Strong, the founder of Strong Law, once worked for GEICO insurance company as one of its in-house attorneys, so he has learned the inner workings of insurance companies. He uses this inside knowledge to help negotiate with insurers and advocate for his clients. He is a strong litigator who has taken numerous cases to trial and obtained exceptional verdicts for his clients.
- We get results and have a long record of success. We have won 98% of our cases, including a $1.1M car accident case verdict.
- We work closely with and take a personal interest in our clients. You can read our client testimonials to prove it.
- We are available and you can call us 24/7 for emergencies.
- We are licensed to practice in Washington, Oregon, and Utah to better serve all your case needs.
- We negotiate forcefully with insurance companies but are ready to take your case to court if necessary.
- We offer free consultations to discuss your issues and show you how we can help.
How Our Portland Work Accident Lawyer Works for You
When you have our Strong Law legal team on your side, we will start working on your behalf immediately. We will:
- Meet with you to discuss how the accident happened, who the at-fault parties may be, and what type of settlement to go after.
- Ensure you get proper medical care and that all symptoms and treatments are documented.
- Investigate your and gather evidence to help prove your claims, such as photographs and videos from traffic cameras, interviews with witnesses and first responders, and police and medical reports and records.
- Hire experts to reconstruct the accident and determine fault, and experts to testify as to your damages and losses and how they will affect you into the future.
- Handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies so you do not have to.
- Build your case and take it to court, if necessary.
Our Portland bicycle accident attorneys at Strong Law will do everything possible to get you the settlement you deserve. Call us today at 206-737-3496 to get started while evidence is available, and witnesses can be found.
Damages Our Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Portland May Recover
Compensation Should Cover All Your Losses
In a successful lawsuit, our Portland, OR, bicycle accident lawyers may win an award for your damages — the expenses and losses you suffered from the accident. Oregon law allows bike accident victims to recover the following damages:
- Economic damages these cover the monetary losses caused by your accident, such as medical and rehabilitation expenses, lost wages from being unable to work, and property damage from the accident.
- Non-economic damages are for the non-monetary losses that negatively impact your life, such as mental and physical pain and suffering, disability or disfigurement, and loss of consortium and enjoyment of life.
In some rare situations, you may also receive punitive damages to punish a defendant and discourage such actions in the future. According to Oregon law, (ORS 31.730), these can be awarded where the crash was caused by a defendant who “has acted with malice or has shown a reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm and has acted with a conscious indifference to the health, safety, and welfare of others.
Amounts of Damage Awards
There is a wide range of damage amounts that you may receive in a successful bicycle accident lawsuit, from the thousands to millions of dollars. The amount you receive depends on the individual factors and circumstances of your case.
In general, the more severe injuries that involve permanent damage and require long-term care or result in death often bring the highest settlement awards. Other factors affecting award amounts include the individual jurisdiction, judge, and jury if there is a trial, and the skill and negotiating power of your attorney to come up with an optimum settlement.
When you contact us, our Strong Law attorneys can provide an estimate of what your case should be worth by considering all of your expenses and damages.
We’ve helped thousands of accident victims like you
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“Very professional, and treated me as an equal.”
Just wanted to say thank you to Jed and his team at Strong Law. Not only was I happy with the outcome, but the entire process as a whole. I would definitely recommend this firm to anyone. Thanks again.
“Unbelievable work!”
I had a claim involving my own insurance company. I tried to negotiate with them, and they completely denied my claim – two times. I then hired Strong Law, and the change was instant. The insurance company immediately began negotiating, and Jed was able to secure an unbelievably good settlement. I will never again attempt to take-on an insurance company without Strong Law in my corner. Thank you!”
“I got justice and awesome compensation.”
“I hired Strong Law after my car accident. Jed and his team worked hard on my case. They were professional and compassionate through my surgery and as I recovered, and they were awesome on communication. I got justice and awesome compensation. I would recommend Strong Law to anyone in my situation.”
Bicycle Accident Attorney Explains Relevant Portland Bike Laws
There are times when bicyclists do something that causes or contributes to an accident. If you are partially at fault, you can still get a settlement, if the fault attributable to you is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants in the case.
However, according to Oregon law, (ORS 31.600) your award will be reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault you are found to have for the accident. For example, if your settlement was for $100,00 and you were 20 percent at fault, you would receive $80,000.
Portland laws regarding bicycles you are required to follow. If you fail to do so, violations can lead to having a settlement reduced or eliminated. Bicyclists must:
- Always maintain control of the bicycle.
- Yield to Pedestrians.
- Ride in the same direction as traffic unless you are in a specifically marked “contra-flow” bike lane (ORS 814.400).
- Obey traffic signals and signs.
- Signal your turns, stop, or slow.
- Use lights on the front and rear of your bike at night and in poor visibility conditions (ORS 815.280).
- Stay to the right and use the bike lane if present.
- Give an audible warning to a pedestrian when passing them on a sidewalk or path.
- Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle if under 16 years old.
In addition, bicycles may use the sidewalk, except downtown in an area bounded by SW Jefferson Street, Front Avenue, NW Hoyt Street, and 13th Avenue (Portland City Code 16.70.320 E).
Portland Bicycle Accident Attorneys Look for Causes and Fault
In any bike crash, it is important to determine how the accident happened and who was at fault and then hold the negligent parties responsible. To prove another party, the defendant in the case, was at fault legally, our Portland bicycle accident attorneys must show the existence of the following elements:
- Duty – The defendant owed you a duty of care not to cause harm
- Breach – The defendant breached that duty by acting or failing to act
- Cause – This breach caused an accident that resulted in your injuries
- Damages – You suffered damages as a result.
Depending on the situation, there may be several different parties that contribute to a bike crash. For example, if your accident was caused by another vehicle, our attorneys would have to show that the driver failed to exercise a reasonable degree of care, such as by running a red light or texting while driving.
If your accident was caused by road conditions such as a large pothole or obscured traffic signal, premises liability laws require property owners in Oregon to keep their property free from conditions that pose an unreasonable risk of harm, so the owner of the property may be held liable. If your bicycle accident was caused by a defective bike or part, such as a faulty brake system, the manufacturer can be held liable if unreasonably dangerous conditions caused your injuries.
Our Strong legal team will look to find all possibly liable parties, as they all may have assets and insurance that can go toward a settlement.
Portland Bicycle Accident Lawyers Answer FAQs
We Address Your Concerns
After being injured in a bicycle accident, it is natural to have questions and concerns. These are best addressed in your free consultation, but to get started, here are some answers to questions our attorneys are often asked:
Are There Time Limits to Filing a Lawsuit?
Yes, Oregon has a statute of limitations (ORS 12.110) and a deadline for filing an injury lawsuit that is generally two years from the time of the accident. If you fail to file on time, the courts are likely to refuse to hear your case.
Does Insurance Cover A Bike Accident?
Oregon has a fault-based insurance system, so whoever causes an accident is responsible for paying the damages and injured bicyclists can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy.
Your car insurance policy generally will not cover an accident that you caused while riding your bicycle, unless you have additional coverage, such as PIP that might apply. If a motor vehicle driver fled the scene, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage will cover the damages up to the policy limits.
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company?
No, the less you say to insurance companies, the better. Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible and use tactics such as making a lowball offer, they hope you will accept quickly or trying to get you to admit that the accident was your fault. Tell the insurance company to talk to your attorney, and let Strong Law handle all negotiations to get you the settlement you deserve.
What if a Bike Accident Results in Death?
If the bike accident results in death, our attorneys can file a suit for wrongful death. Wrongful death cases can be thought of as personal injury cases where family members or the personal representative of the deceased bring a claim for their loved one who can no longer bring it themselves.
How Much Does a Portland Bicycle Accident Lawyer Cost?
The good news is that there is no up-front cost to hire our Strong Law bicycle accident attorneys. We work on a contingency basis, so there are no fees to you unless and until we win your case, and then fees are taken out of the settlement award based on a previously agreed-upon percentage.
When you have our Strong Law attorneys on your side, we will be there for you throughout the entire legal process, answering your questions and keeping you informed.
Get Help from Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Portland, OR
If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence or fault, the bicycle accident attorneys at Strong Law are fully prepared to help fight for justice and the settlement you deserve. We will take the burden off you by handling all investigations and legal hurdles involved with your case so you can focus on your recovery.
Do not delay. Call us today at 206-737-3496 to get started while witnesses and evidence can be found.
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How Strong Law will handle you case
Gather evidence, interview witnesses, and assess the circumstances surrounding the accident to establish facts and liability.
Determine the extent of damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Engage in discussions with the opposing party or insurance companies to reach a fair settlement outside of court.
If negotiations fail, proceed to court where legal arguments and evidence are presented before a judge or jury for a final decision.
Insider experience
We know how to fight big insurance companies
Prior to representing accident victims, Jed worked for GEICO insurance company as one of its in-house attorneys – representing the insurance companies. After learning the inner workings of insurance companies, he quit and began representing accident victims.
No upfront fees
Absolutely ZERO upfront fees
We want to help you get the legal advice you need with no upfront fees. There is no obligation to use our law firm and we only get paid if you win your case.
First class service
First class customer service
Our team of legal experts pride themselves on going above and beyond for our clients. We provide you answers and solutions to the legal issues you may experience from your accident.
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We are here to help you recover from your accident physically and fiscally. Let us help you maximize the compensation you deserve.
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Frequently asked questions
Have other questions? Get in touch with our team at info@stronglawattorneys.com
What Is the Value of My Case?
The value of an injury case depends upon many factors related to the extent of your injuries and any other losses associated with your claim. You may have medical bills, lost income, costs associated with pain and suffering, among other possible damages. To learn the possible value of your case, contact the team at Strong Law. In a free case evaluation, we’ll let you know how much your case may be worth.
What Are Your Hours?
Strong Law is open five days a week between 9am and 5pm. In addition, we offer after hours return calls, weekend calls, and online chat.
What Kinds Of Cases Are Personal Injury?
Call us to know for sure, but a good rule of thumb is when an “accident” that happened to you because of the acts of or misdeeds of another party. Examples are: Auto accidents; motorcycle accidents; semi-truck accidents; wrongful death; medical malpractice; slip, trip and fall; boating accidents, faulty equipment, nursing home abuse; and many others.
Will I Be Charged To Consult Or Talk With You?
No, not ever. Strong Law is a contingency personal injury firm offering specialized experience along with access when you need it. Our goal is to gain the best settlement and provide comfort in the process, so easy access to us is part of our best practices.
What Does Contingency Mean?
Contingency in a legal matter means an expense to the client based on the outcome of a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty. Said another way, Strong Law gets paid only if your case settles.
Can You Give Me An Assessment Of My Case?
Absolutely. While we cannot guarantee anything, nor do we imply a settlement, our willingness to take your case (and do it on contingency) is our voice that we feel your case has strong merit. After speaking with you, we can provide a merit assessment over the phone. However, we caution that accepting your case does not promise anything, your outcome is reflected in the law firm you choose.
What Should I Do If I’m Having Problems, Like Their Insurance Company Is Calling Me?
Always secure an attorney first. If you sign up with Strong Law now, you can advise their insurance company that you have representation and give them our name and contact information. From that time forward, they should not be contacting you again; it’s the law. If you do not sign with an attorney, like Strong Law, you will need to speak with them and represent yourself to resolve your injury. We strongly urge against this; insurance companies are skilled at ensuring their best interests over yours.
What Are Common Reasons For Insurance Injury Denials?
Make sure you receive medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident, otherwise insurance may argue your pain is from an unrelated incident.Insurance companies will be going out of their way to find some proof that the accident was your fault. Don’t be intimidated.If you have preexisting medical conditions that make you more likely to suffer an injury, it is not uncommon for insurance agencies to deny claims based on this.
How Long Does A Case Take To Settle?
It depends on many factors like medical care, future needs, evidence, proof of liability, and many others. Some cases take months while others can last a couple years. Ultimately, our goal is to represent you and what is going to be best for you in the long run.
Why Can Cases Last Years?
Because the law dictates it. There are many layers to make sure the insurance companies treat you with optimal care. For example, there will be time spent for medical treatments you might need. There is time to gather the needed medical reports and discover any long term impacts this injury will have on your life today and into the future. There is time for the other side to review our demands, research, and respond as well. It can feel like a long time, but we follow the law and strategize for the best benefit to you. We are with you the whole time.
