Motorcycle Accidents
Pedestrian and Motorcyclist Accident in Gresham
August 8, 2011 | Author Don Jacobs, Trial Attorney
Usually pedestrians and motorcyclists are two of the three most vulnerable people on the streets (bicyclists being the third). Unfortunately, they both became victims in a horrible accident late last month.
At 10:30 p.m. on July 23, police responded to the crash in Gresham in the area of Southwest 5th Drive and 182nd Avenue where a 20-year-old motorcyclist hit a 30-year-old pedestrian. They found both men, but they were 200 feet apart.
According to the Gresham Police Department's Vehicular Crimes Team, the motorcyclist was driving his 2003 Honda motorcycle northbound on Southeast 182nd Avenue at a high rate of speed when he collided with the pedestrian who was attempting to cross the street. The results were catastrophic.
“The violent collision severed the lower portion of [the pedestrian's] left leg and caused the two parties to land approximately 200 feet from each other,” said Officer John Rasmussen of the Gresham police department.
Both men were transported by ambulance to Oregon Health & Science University. The motorcycle driver had broken bones and head and neck injuries and was reported to be in fair condition. The pedestrian is in serious condition.
The Gresham police are investigating whether or not other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Bikers Can Have Fun and Be Safe Too
January 24, 2011 | Author Don Jacobs, Trial Attorney
Motorcyclists are, by and large, a breed of their own. Often free-spirited, they love the exhilaration and freedom one gets from being on the open road with the wind in your hair and nothing but asphalt ahead of you.
Unfortunately, with that exhilaration and excitement comes an inherent danger. We all know the risks we take when we get behind the wheel, but that gets magnified when you are on a motorcycle. It’s a trade-off that everyone makes of their own volition and it shouldn’t be taken lightly… and here’s why:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,154 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2007. Forty-seven of those motorcyclists were killed in Oregon.
While it’s almost always going to be safe to ride a motorcycle, the inevitability of accidents still remains. For instance, just a few short months ago a Beaverton, Oregon police officer riding his motorcycle went down on I-5 near Salem when, while merging on wet pavement, his bike spun out of control. Luckily, he escaped with only minor injuries.
In the aforementioned motorcycle accident, nobody appeared to have been guilty of any wrong-doing, other than maybe Mother Nature. If you are a biker, first you need to protect yourself with all the normal safety measures. But if you end up being injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to consider speaking with a personal injury attorney to fully understand your legal rights.
Posted in Motorcycle Accidents
