SALEM BICYCLE
ACCIDENT LAWYER

We Represent 
Bicycle Accident Victims in Salem and Throughout Oregon

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Salem is one of the best cities in the country to get around on two wheels. The city has implemented a bicycle-friendly program that has revamped the already quality infrastructure and led to more bicycle lanes and paths throughout the city. Unfortunately, even the initiatives of the city are not always enough to keep bicyclists safe. Drivers do not always respect bicyclists when they encounter them, and they simply do not watch for them in the same way they watch for other drivers.

If you or someone you love has been hurt while out on their bike in Salem, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our Salem bike accident lawyer can help you recover the full and fair settlement you are entitled to.

You Can Claim
Compensation for Your Injuries

You have a number of options for claiming compensation after a bicycle accident. If you have your own auto insurance policy, you may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company. Insurers throughout Oregon are required to provide a no-fault provision that allows you to claim personal injury protection (PIP) benefits following an accident. If you do not have your own auto insurance, or the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, our Salem bicycle accident attorney can help you pursue a lawsuit against the negligent driver that caused your injuries. We can also deal with the insurance company on your behalf.

The damages you can recover for financial compensation include your current and future medical expenses, lost income, the loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to the same type of work, pain and suffering, and more. Our auto accident attorneys can advise on the compensation available in your case and will negotiate for the fair compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

Common Causes
of Bicycle Accidents In Salem

What Causes Bike Accidents in Salem?

• Negligent drivers: By far the most common cause of accidents involving bicycles are negligent drivers. Motorists who speed, fail to yield to bicyclists, tailgate, text while driving, or drive impaired all put cyclists on the road at risk. Unfortunately, these are just a few careless acts on the parts of drivers that cause bicycle accidents.
• Faulty road conditions: Even though the infrastructure throughout the city has been modified to better accommodate cyclists, there are still times when negligent or faulty road conditions can cause a crash. Bicycles are not as stable as vehicles on four wheels and so uneven road surfaces, potholes, gravel roads, and a failure to install traffic signals and traffic lights can all result in a devastating bicycle accident.
• Accidents involving fixed objects: It may sound as though accidents with fixed objects are the cyclist’s fault, but that is not usually the case. Improperly maintained roads and debris on roadways can cause cyclists to swerve unexpectedly, which can cause an accident with a fixed object. Dooring, which occurs when a driver of a parked vehicle opens their door into the path of an oncoming cyclist, is another common type of bicycle accident that involves a fixed object.

Don’t miss out on these common personal injury mistakes.

Get the legal counsel you need to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim.

Steps to Take
After a Bicycle Accident in Salem

Any bicycle accident is likely going to result in serious injuries. It is natural to feel shocked and confused afterward, and you may not know what to do. The steps you take after any crash, though, are not only important for your health and safety, but also to protect any future injury claim you may file. The most important steps to take after a bicycle accident are as follows:

• Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries, even if you do not think you sustained serious injuries.
• Report the accident to law enforcement immediately so they can visit the accident scene and write and file a report.
• Write down a description of the motorist who hit you, a description of the vehicle, and the time, place, and date the accident occurred.
• If you can, take pictures and video footage of the accident scene, damage to your bicycle and any other vehicles involved, and your injuries.
• Obtain a copy of the police report, which should contain the insurance information and contact information for the negligent driver.

Although the above are certainly steps you should take, there are also some things you should never do after an accident. You should never admit fault, or even apologize that the accident happened at all. The insurance company will use this against you to show that you were at least partially at fault and so, you do not deserve full damages. If any of these things have or haven’t happened, give our bicycle accident lawyers a call! We will be happy to help in any way that we can!

Common Injuries
Sustained in Bicycle Accidents

With little else other than a bicycle helmet to protect them, cyclists are extremely vulnerable when they are out on the road. Due to the lack of protection they have, bicyclists sustain some of the worst injuries when they are involved in a crash with a much larger vehicle. Some of the most common ways in which cyclists are injured during an accident include:

• Deep lacerations, cuts, and road rash
• Soft tissue injuries, such as damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Burns
• Injuries to the back, neck, and head
• Fractured bones
• Crushing injuries
• Injuries to the abdomen
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis