Bicyclists face no small amount of danger on U.S. roadways. According to Oregon.gov, crashes involving bicyclists rose from 666 in 2007 to 962 in 2011 within the state alone. While no law yet exists in Oregon that specifically governs the safety of bicyclists, the state’s Department of Transportation nonetheless has a Bicyclist Safety Program in place that aims to reduce the number of pedal cyclists injured and killed to 555 by 2015.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Salem, Oregon: Seeking Just Compensation
Interestingly, some accidents involving cyclists occur as a result of intentional harm rather than mere negligence on the part of either the bicyclist or the motorist. This was apparently the case in a recent incident in downtown Portland. Maxine Bernstein of OregonLive.com has this report:
“The bicyclist, Brian Lee Groce, 47, of Southwest Portland, told officers that a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta had cut him off earlier. He rode up to the motorist to complain that she almost hit him, according to police. The driver responded by honking her horn.
The bicycle and car continued traveling east on Jackson Street and stopped at the red light at Broadway. The bicyclist repeated to the Jetta’s driver that she’d almost hit him, according to police.
When the light turned green, both the bicycle and car started across Broadway.
Groce told police that the Jetta swerved left into his path, knocking him off the bike. The car stopped.
Based on Groce’s account of events and statements from witnesses that the crash appeared to be an intentional act, police called out assault detectives to the scene, rather than traffic investigators.”
The victim reportedly suffered minor injuries and the driver subsequently arrested on grounds of second-degree assault; the arraignment took place a few days later. Indeed, personal injury attorneys in Salem, Oregon make the distinction between assault (the threat of harm) and battery (actual harm) when it comes to intentional tort cases. Had the victim suffered more serious injuries that required hospitalization, he would have been well within his rights to file a personal injury claim in order to secure compensation for pain, suffering, medical expenses, and even future loss of earnings.
In any case, it is the goal of a reputable personal injury attorney in Salem, Oregon—such as Lance D. Youd—to secure full and fair compensation for clients. Among other things, such an attorney will conduct an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the case as well as to gather evidence. Clients can also expect professional legal assistance when it comes to filing actual claims and negotiating with insurance companies.
(Source: Motorist accused of intentionally ramming car into bicyclist in downtown Portland, OregonLive.com, April 4, 2014)
