The allure of riding a motorcycle is the immense sense of freedom and joy it provides when it is just you and the road. Unfortunately, this is also one of the reasons why motorcycle accidents come with a greater risk of injuries and death.

Even if you are a highly experienced and careful bike rider, you cannot help if you are hit by a distracted, reckless, or drunk car driver in Portland, OR.

With just 8.4 million motorbikes on the road, motorcycle deaths accounted for as many as 13 percent of crash deaths in all kinds of vehicles. While cars and trucks have an increasing number of safety features, motorcycle riders only have helmets and clothing to fall back upon for protection from the road.

During a collision with a bigger vehicle, it is the two-wheeled motorcycle that is more susceptible to losing control. Motorcycle accidents typically result in severe head and neck injuries since the rider or the passenger are often thrown off the vehicle with great force upon impact.

Driver intention or error is the major cause of motorcycle accident in Portland, like with any other vehicle accident. However, the results are more severe and tragic.

Being small-sized vehicles, bikes are harder to see than cars or trucks on the road. As per government figures, in almost 42% of two-vehicle fatal crashes, the other vehicle was making a left turn while the motorcycle was passing or going straight.

Seventy-eight percent of motorcycles involved in a two-vehicle crash were struck in the front.

Drivers often claim they did not or could not see the motorcycle, when in reality they might not have been paying attention to the road. Often drivers are distracted by a navigation screen or a cell phone and fail to pay attention to other vehicles using the road.

Collisions are bound to occur when automobile drivers fail to check their blind spot before changing lanes, or when a driver fails to yield the right of way to motorcyclists. Crashes frequently happen when vehicle drivers enter an intersection, right into the path of an oncoming motorcycle.

In Oregon, laws that apply to car crashes apply to motorcycle collisions as well. For instance, the statute of limitations for an injured rider to file a lawsuit to recover damages is two years from the collision.

The laws that apply to vehicle drivers regarding damages, insurance coverage and rules about fault also apply to motorcycle riders.

Motorcycle accident lawsuits require detailed analysis of the crash to understand how a collision happened and how it led to an injury or death. Attorneys have the experience to hire the right medical experts and crash scene investigators who can reconstruct the collision site to identify the person(s) at fault.

The at-fault driver or their insurance company is responsible for damages in a Portland motorcycle accident. However, you are required to establish the proof of fault. Expert investigators at Dwyer Williams Cherkoss have the knowledge and experience to build a strong case for compensatory damages for you.

If you are less than 50% at fault in a Portland motorcycle accident, under Oregon law, then you have the right to recover the following damages in proportion to the other party’s fault:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Repairs to your motorcycle

Police departments assign their investigation to officers with reconstruction training, since motorcycle riders are often killed or grievously injured. However, these officers have limited time and resources.

It is important that their crash analysis is reviewed by experts with better abilities and time. If need be, experts should be allowed to review and conduct a more thorough assessment.

Retired police officers, engineers, and ACTAR certified Reconstructionist, hired by an experienced law firm such as Dwyer Williams Cherkoss in Portland, OR can successfully recreate the original accident scene and uncover details about speeds and distances.

The same principles that apply to other vehicle crashes, apply to insurance claims and coverage in motorcycle collisions in Portland as well, with the following key differences:

1. Bodily Injury Claim

Motorcycle crash victims often have large medical expenses and are unable to work for a long time because the nature of their accidents almost always result in serious or catastrophic injuries.

It is possible that the responsible party does not have enough insurance coverage to pay for your losses, including medical bills, injuries, and disability.

An accomplished Portland motorcycle accident attorney will ensure that all possible insurance coverage is identified and that the at-fault driver’s personal assets are investigated. Attorneys can also sometimes negotiate with medical providers to reduce large outstanding medical bills for the victim.

PIP coverage is not a part of the insurance policy, unless a motorcyclist expressly requests for it. The problem is that most motorcycle riders are not aware of this clause since it is only written in automobile policies. Bikers learn about not having PIP coverage for the first time when they are seriously injured.

Portland motorcyclists without PIP coverage will have to rely on their health insurance to pay for medical expenses. In addition, motorcyclists do not have the same advantage as pedestrians and bicyclists to acquire benefits from an at-fault carrier’s PIP coverage.

An experienced motorcycle crash attorney in Portland, Oregon is in the best position to recover damages for the motorcycle accident victims who do not have adequate health insurance and PIP coverage.

Lawyers can play a key role in negotiating liens and subrogation interests asserted by health insurance companies wanting to take a share of recovery claimed by the insured motorcyclists.

Oregon’s recent law, SB411, which came into effect January 1^st, 2016, is designed to help seriously injured motorcyclists ‘stack’ their UIM coverage on top of the at-fault driver’s coverage.