Riding your bicycle is good for your health, the environment and entertainment. You may enjoy cruising the city streets or pedaling through the rural areas of town. Whatever you do, you know that you are at some risk of being hit by drivers on the roads, even though you have the same legal right to use the roads as they do. When you are struck, you’re at a higher risk of serious injuries from falling off your bike and impacting the ground or vehicle.
Portland is rated as a bicycle-friendly city, so drivers should be aware of the potential for cyclists to be on the road. The issue is that distractions and negligence can still take place, even with special biking lanes in place. All it takes is for a vehicle to enter the wrong lane or to cross a line while the driver’s distracted, and you could be left with a life-altering injury.
There are several main causes of bicycle accidents. Sometimes, drivers fail to yield to the right of way of a cyclist and other times, drivers may go through a stop sign or red light. Distracted and drunk driving leads to accidents, and speeding and reckless driving can result in crashes when a cyclist can’t get out of the way fast enough for the negligent driver.
After being in an accident, your crash will need to be investigated. Discovering negligence and the cause of your accident can help you get the compensation you need. Our website has more information about bicycle crashes and statistics in Portland, so you can have more knowledge for your case.
