Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Beaverton, OR?
Motorcycles are smaller, lighter, and more vulnerable than cars and trucks. When these vehicles collide with larger vehicles, the results are often catastrophic. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you will need a team of dedicated and compassionate attorneys to help you through the legal process. At Pacific Cascade Legal, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Beaverton are committed to ensuring the at-fault party is held accountable for their actions and that you make the best possible recovery from injury. Call (503) 217-2600 or contact us online today to learn how we can help you.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
A motorcycle accident refers to a collision or incident involving a motorcycle and one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles. These accidents can result in varying degrees of damage to the motorcycle, injuries to the riders, passengers, pedestrians, or drivers of other vehicles, and even fatalities.
The following are the common causes of motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles:
- Distracted Driving: One of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents is distracted driving. This includes activities such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or engaging with in-car entertainment systems while driving. A driver's failure to pay full attention to the road increases the risk of not noticing motorcycles, leading to accidents.
- Failure to Yield Right of Way: Many motorcycle accidents occur when drivers fail to yield the right of way to motorcycles at intersections, during lane changes, or when making turns. Motorcycles are often less visible than larger vehicles, making them more susceptible to this kind of collision.
- Unsafe Lane Changes: When drivers change lanes without properly checking their blind spots or failing to use turn signals, they can easily collide with a motorcycle that is traveling in the adjacent lane.
- Speeding: Speeding reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the severity of accidents. If a driver is speeding and fails to notice a motorcycle, it can lead to serious collisions.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs have reduced motor skills, diminished cognitive abilities, and impaired judgment. This greatly increases the likelihood of accidents, including those involving motorcycles.
- Tailgating: Following a motorcycle too closely is dangerous because motorcycles can come to a sudden stop faster than cars. If a car is tailgating a motorcycle and the rider suddenly brakes, it can lead to a rear-end collision.
- Sudden Stops: If a car suddenly stops in front of a motorcycle due to an obstacle, traffic congestion, or other reasons, the motorcycle may not have enough time to react and avoid a collision.
- Opening Car Doors: Accidents can occur if a driver or passenger in a parked car opens their door without checking for oncoming motorcycles. This can result in a motorcycle colliding with the door or swerving into traffic to avoid it.
- Left-Turn Accidents: When a car makes a left turn at an intersection or driveway, it might not see an oncoming motorcycle or may misjudge its speed, leading to a collision.
- Driver Inattention: Some drivers simply fail to notice motorcycles due to inattention, cognitive biases, or not looking out for smaller vehicles. This lack of awareness can lead to accidents.
- Blind Spot Incidents: Motorcycles can easily end up in the blind spots of larger vehicles. When a driver changes lanes without properly checking their blind spots, they might collide with a motorcycle.
The Dangers of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are often considered catastrophic due to a combination of factors that make them particularly dangerous and likely to result in severe injuries or fatalities.
Some of the key reasons why motorcycle accidents can be so devastating include:
- Lack of protection: Unlike passengers in cars, motorcyclists are not surrounded by a protective metal frame, seatbelts, or airbags. In the event of a collision, motorcyclists are directly exposed to the impact, which significantly increases the risk of severe injuries.
- Size and weight disparity: Motorcycles are much smaller and lighter than other vehicles on the road, such as cars and trucks. This size difference makes motorcycles less visible to other drivers, and it also means that in a collision with a larger vehicle, the motorcyclist is at a significant disadvantage.
- Balance and stability: Motorcycles rely on two wheels for balance, which makes them inherently less stable than vehicles with four or more wheels. This can lead to accidents caused by loss of control, especially in adverse weather conditions or when encountering obstacles on the road.
- Limited maneuverability: While motorcycles are generally more agile and maneuverable than larger vehicles, this agility can also make them more susceptible to accidents. Quick maneuvers, sudden stops, or sharp turns can be difficult to execute safely, especially at high speeds.
- Road hazards: Motorcycles are more vulnerable to road hazards such as potholes, debris, oil spills, and uneven road surfaces. These hazards that might be manageable for a car can pose a serious threat to a motorcyclist's stability and control.
- Visibility challenges: Motorcycles are smaller and can be harder for other drivers to see, especially in blind spots. This can lead to situations where other drivers don't notice a motorcycle nearby, increasing the risk of collisions.
- Lack of seat restraints: Cars have seatbelts to restrain occupants during a collision, helping to reduce the risk of ejection. Motorcyclists don't have this protection, which increases the chances of being thrown from the bike upon impact.
- Higher impact forces: The combination of speed, lack of protection, and the relative lightweight nature of motorcycles means that the impact forces experienced in a crash can be much higher compared to other types of vehicles.
- Helmet use: While helmets provide crucial protection for motorcyclists, not all riders wear them consistently or at all. Helmet use greatly reduces the risk of head injuries in the event of an accident.
How Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Beaverton Can Help
After a motorcycle accident, you will need to take immediate action to protect your rights. In Oregon, you have only two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for damages. If you miss this deadline, you will lose your right to file a claim for compensation. You will also have to pay your own legal fees, which can be very expensive. This is why it is so important to have an experienced and dedicated team of motorcycle accident lawyers in Beaverton on your side. At Pacific Cascade Legal, we know how to navigate the legal system and can fight to get you the compensation you deserve. To schedule an initial consultation, call (503) 217-2600 or contact us online today.