Serving Clients Injured in Motorcycle Accidents in Portland and Surrounding Communities
Especially in summertime, motorcyclists enjoy riding in and around Portland, Oregon.
Whether running errands, taking in the beauty of Mount Hood, The Gorge, or the Oregon Coast, Oregon motorcyclists have a front row seat to Pacific Northwest beauty, and the region’s numerous hiking and camping destinations.
As most motorcyclists already know, this awe-inspiring enjoyment can be very dangerous for cyclists. Accidents present a considerable risk to motorcyclists, especially when involving passenger vehicles or even larger vehicles such as commercial trucks.
Motorcyclists are, by nature, exposed and enjoy far less protection than other motorists.
As a result, riders are at risk of catastrophic injuries should a crash occur. If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle collision, you may be facing a lengthy and challenging physical recovery and staggering medical expenses.
However, if another driver caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Rizk Law can help you recover it.
Contact Rizk Law today to speak with a Portland motorcycle accident lawyer.
Visit Our Portland Office
Come visit us at our office in Portland, Oregon. We are conveniently located near you at:
434 South Iowa Street
Portland, OR 97239
You will learn more about your legal options in a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Recent Personal Injury Settlements & Verdicts
$1,250,000 Settlement for a Pedestrian Incident (“Stroll” Case)
A commercial driver hit a pedestrian while the person was walking on an Oregon roadway.
There were no witnesses, and the case went through litigation. The pedestrian suffered a brain injury and multiple fractures. Additional details remain confidential.
$350,000 Settlement for a Commercial Delivery Driver Collision
A passenger in a car was injured when a commercial delivery driver ran a stop sign, causing a rollover crash.
The delivery driver was cited for reckless driving. Before the accident, the injured passenger was the primary caregiver for her husband. The passenger suffered injuries to the head, neck (including a central disc protrusion), back, hips, and shoulders.
Surgery was required to repair SLAP tears in the left shoulder.
$460,000 Settlement for a Collision Involving Drunk Driver in Borrowed Vehicle
In Portland, an uninsured vehicle owner loaned their car to a driver who was intoxicated.
That driver failed to yield and caused a collision involving the client’s vehicle, which was stationary at the time. The client also had a pre-existing, unrelated concussion. The case was litigated.
The client suffered a concussion, closed head injury, chronic migraines, a C3–C4 bulging disc, PTSD, and severe cervical stenosis.
See What our Clients are Saying
Jacqueline was terrific. Made it so easy! Took care of all the intricate details, great communication, and I got a higher settlement than I was expecting. Do yourself a favor and let her handle your case for you!
– KB M.
Benefits of Hiring a Portland Attorney for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
The aftermath of a motorcycle wreck is a confusing and sometimes very stressful time.
You are likely dealing with physical pain, frequent medical appointments, and anxiety about your finances. Considering everything else you are going through, taking legal action against the driver who caused your accident may sound like an overwhelming amount of work.
Thankfully, you do not have to go through this process alone. Our experienced motorcycle accident law firm can help.
Richard Rizk, founder of Rizk Law, has insider knowledge and experience into how insurers handle motor vehicle accident and personal injury claims.
As a former injury claims defense attorney for national insurers — including for Oregon’s largest workers’ compensation insurance company — Richard knows the tactics they use. Such insight allows him to stay a step ahead of insurers and compel them to pay accident victims the compensation they deserve.
Rizk Law brings years of experience to our work on behalf of injured Oregon motorcyclists. We will handle every aspect of the legal process for you so you can focus on your health.
You do not have to worry about filling out paperwork, meeting deadlines, or communicating with insurance companies. We will take care of all of this for you and keep you informed every step of the way.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
The actions you take after a crash can affect the outcome of your motorcycle accident claim. For this reason, you want to do everything possible to safeguard your rights and avoid doing anything that might jeopardize your ability to recover compensation.
Some key things to do after a motorcycle accident include:
- Calling the police from the accident scene to establish an official record of the collision
- Seeking medical treatment right away, follow all instructions, attend all appointments, and keep all records related to your medical care
- Reporting the accident to your insurance company, taking care to avoid saying anything they might interpret as an admission of fault
- Contact a Portland motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss your options
Seeking legal assistance as soon as possible following a motorcycle accident puts you in the best position to move forward, knowing someone is looking out for your rights.
How We Investigate Portland Motorcycle Accident Cases
Rizk Law takes the process of preparing your claim very seriously. That is why we prioritize the gathering and evaluation of evidence related to your motorcycle accident.
Some of the evidence we will pursue includes:
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
- Photographs of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, the surroundings, your injuries, etc.
- Eyewitness testimony from anyone who saw the accident and any events leading up to it
- Surveillance and dashcam footage, if available
- Additional data and records in cases involving commercial trucks
- Medical records
Additionally, we may consult with accident, medical, and occupational experts to better understand the facts of the accident, the nature and severity of your injuries, and how they may affect your life in the future.
Compensation You Could Recover in a Portland Motorcycle Accident Claim
Many factors go into determining motorcycle accident compensation.
The primary factors are the extent of your injuries, the amount of medical treatment they require, and the impact of the accident on your ability to work.
Your attorney may pursue compensation on your behalf for a variety of expenses and losses, including:
- Medical expenses, including anticipated future expenses
- Lost income, including loss of future earning potential
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life
- Physical and psychological pain and suffering
Your attorney will calculate compensation by tallying your medical expenses and any incidental expenses arising from the accident. They will also factor in any intangible losses to arrive at a figure that represents fair compensation for your losses.
Parties Who Could Be Held Liable for a Motorcycle Wreck in Portland
In most motorcycle accident cases, a motor vehicle driver will be liable for any resulting injuries.
But other parties may also be involved, including:
- Additional drivers, if the accident involved multiple vehicles
- In cases involving commercial vehicles, potentially a combination of the vehicle’s driver, owner, mechanic, cargo loader, and other parties
- The manufacturer of the motorcycle, its parts, or another vehicle
- Parties responsible for maintaining the roads
Your attorney’s goal in collecting and evaluating all the evidence from your accident is to identify all liable parties in your motorcycle accident case.
This makes it easier to pursue compensation from everyone who was responsible, even if their role in causing the accident was not immediately apparent.
Could You Recover Compensation if You Are Partly to Blame for a Motorcycle Accident?
Oregon has a modified comparative negligence standard that applies in motor vehicle accident cases.
If you were partly responsible for the motorcycle crash, you may still be able to recover compensation as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible.
In this situation, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Common Types and Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Portland
There are many different types of motorcycle accidents. Some of the most common include:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe collisions
- Left turn collisions
- Dooring accidents
- Blind spot accidents
These and other types of motorcycle accidents often result from other drivers’ negligence.
Accidents can result when drivers fail to watch out for motorcyclists while turning, merging, and switching lanes, or when parked motorists do not look before opening their doors into traffic.
Motorcycle accidents have many potential causes, most of which also come down to negligence on the part of other drivers.
Cars, big-rig truck drivers, and delivery truck drivers who are speeding, distracted, driving while impaired, engaging in aggressive behaviors, tailgating, and failing to follow traffic laws are most likely to hit and injure motorcyclists.
Road and weather conditions can also contribute to motorcycle accidents.
Typical Injuries Resulting from a Motorcycle Collision
Due to their exposure and vulnerability, motorcyclists often suffer catastrophic injuries when drivers hit them.
A collision can easily cause a motorcyclist to be ejected from their bike, potentially sending them into the path of another moving vehicle or into a stationary object. Motorcyclists can also be run over by the vehicles that hit them.
Some of the typical injuries motorcyclists suffer in accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries, including whiplash, concussion, and traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries, including dental injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Abrasions, including road rash
- Burns
- Limb loss
- Internal injuries, including internal bleeding and organ damage
- Fatal injuries
These and other injuries can require extensive medical treatment, including emergency transportation, life-saving measures, surgery, medications, physical therapy, rehab, and more.
The cost associated with this treatment can be considerable.
If you are unable to work, even temporarily, as a result of an accident, you can find yourself experiencing significant financial anxiety.
A motorcycle accident attorney from Rizk Law can help you seek compensation for all medical expenses resulting from the accident.
