Bicycles are a common form of transportation for Portland residents. They are small and easy to maneuver through the city, and they are environmentally friendly alternatives to motor vehicles. Many people who drive to work each day choose to ride their bikes for fitness and recreation when they are able, and Oregon children often work hard to master the challenges of pedaling on two wheels.
With cycling being a big part of the community’s collective life, drivers should be used to seeing bikes and riders out on local roads. However, too often encounters between cars and bikes end in tragic and sometimes fatal collisions. Readers of this blog may wonder just who is liable when a vehicle and a bike are involved in a crash.
The answer to this seemingly easy question is that it will depend on the circumstances of an accident. Either a driver or a cyclist can be liable for a crash, and each must exercise a duty of care to others when they are out on the road. However, as bicycles and their riders are small and drivers are not always looking out for them, it is not unusual for vehicle drivers to cause serious crashes with bicycles.
When building a case for damages after a car-bike crash, a victim’s personal injury attorney will help them assess the facts that were present at the time of their collision After a careful assessment of the circumstances of their case and the relevant laws, their attorney may be able to provide them with case-specific information on how liability may assigned in their pending legal matter.
