• Proven Results

• Hire an attorney who is a cyclist.

• Free initial legal consultation.

• No attorney fees without a monetary recovery.

Protect your rights.
You have been injured in a bicycle accident and you are worried about who is going to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The last thing you want is to be taken advantage of by an insurance company. If you don’t protect your rights, you may not be able to make a claim. Insurance companies have attorneys and adjusters whose goal is to pay you as little as they can. You need an experienced Oregon bicycle accident attorney with PROVEN RESULTS to fight for you.

Hire an attorney who is also a cyclist.
I am a former road and cyclocross racer and current bicycle commuter. I started riding seriously in the mid 1990’s when I sold my car and used my bicycle to commute from Wilsonville to Portland daily. When I moved into Portland in the late 1990’s I began racing bicycles to get in the miles. I raced for the Presto Velo team, which is now the Bicycleattorney.com team and I am their main cash sponsor. I have raced stage races, crits, time trials, and cyclocross. I have put in over 30,000 miles on my bike and know what it is like to have to deal with careless drivers. I try very hard to help injured cyclists, as oftentimes motorists try and blame the cyclists just because they are on a bike.

I will work hard to protect your rights and maximize your insurance settlement. You need an experienced and aggressive Oregon trial lawyer who will fight for you. Having an experienced Oregon bike accident attorney can make the difference between getting what you deserve and getting nothing.

I work hard to make sure you are fully compensated for your bicycle damage. Unlike many lawyers, I know how expensive bicycles can be. I know what it is like to spend thousands of dollars on a bicycle only to have it damaged by someone else. I work closely with local bicycle shops to try and get you full replacement value for your damaged bicycle and bicycle gear.

An experienced trial attorney can make the difference.
I am an experienced aggressive trial lawyer who has tried over 100 cases. I am not afraid to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to maximize your bicycle accident insurance recovery. I offer one-on-one service, and I wil not hand your case off to an inexperienced lawyer or a paralegal.

Reduce the stress of making a claim.
Bike accidents can turn your life upside down. Once I take your case, you can stop worrying about dealing with the insurance companies and focus on recovering from your bicycle accident injuries. I take care of all of the paperwork, phone calls, and negotiations, so you can get on with your life.

I handle bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means:

YOU DON’T OWE ME A LEGAL FEE
UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU.

Support Pro Racer Evan Elken

For every Bicycle Accident Case I represent, I make a donation to Evan Elken's racing fund. Please visit Evan's race highlight page, and Evan's racing blog, (located under the "Cycling Links" section) to see results from his latest races, his Racing Blog, and race photos. Evan was voted by Velonews Amateur of the Year in 2004. Evan's Spring, 2005 Racing Results and new photos are now posted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How soon after my bicycle accident should I call you?

A: Call me immediately. Do not talk to the other person’s insurance companies until after you have consulted a lawyer. I make a point of returning all calls and e-mails promptly. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident you need to know right away what insurance coverage is in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.

Q: How do I pay your legal fees?

A: I handle bike accidents and all other personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means YOU DO NOT OWE ME A LEGAL FEE UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU. I do not ask for any attorney fees upfront. If there is no recovery there is no fee.

Q: Lawsuits can be expensive, will it cost me any money up front for filing fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and any other costs?

A: Filing a lawsuit, paying court costs and expert witness fees can be very expensive. Every year I spend thousand of dollars in litigation costs. I know that most people cannot afford these costs up front, so Iforward these costs up front in every case I take. Spending a few thousand dollars on a good expert witness can make the difference between getting thousands of dollars and getting nothing for your personal injury claim. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that they are willing to forward the money to adequately pursue your personal injury case. Otherwise, you may be forced into taking a minimal settlement if you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars to pursue your personal injury claim.

Q: Will I have to pay the any up front expenses?

A: No. I advance all costs associated with your case. I never ask you for a penny until we recover from the at fault party.


Q: What do you charge for recovering my medical expenses?

A: I do not charge my clients a fee recovering their past medical expenses. Many lawyers charge a percentage of the total recovery, including your medical expenses. I base my fee on what is recovered in addition to your medical expenses. If your lawyer charges you for recovering your medical expenses it can significantly reduce how much goes in your pocket. For example, if you had $50,000 in medical expenses and a $100,000 settlement, your lawyer would get $33,000, $50,000 would go to repay your medical expenses, and you would be left with around $17,000. In a case like that, I would base my fee off of the $50,000, putting $33,000 in your pocket instead of approximately $17,000. The only time I charge a fee for recovering your past medical expenses is when someone other than the client, usually my client's insurance company or healthcare provider, pays me to recover the medical
expenses.

Q: Are there any hidden fees?

A: No. I do not charge you fees for consultations, opening your file, copies, long distance, etc. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure you find out what they will be charging you, as these hidden fees can add up.

Q: Will I get to talk to a lawyer if I call?

A: Yes. Everyone who calls for a free consultation gets to talk to a lawyer. I do not have my staff screen cases. Usually you will get to talk to a lawyer right away or later the same day.

Q: Should I call you even if I want to handle my claim myself?

A: Yes. In a few minutes over the phone I can usually give you an estimate of what your claim is worth so you don't get ripped off by the insurance company. If they give you an offer and you later hire me, I will not charge you a fee unless I can increase the amount that goes into your pocket.

Q: Can I recover even if the motorist never hit me?

A: Yes. Many people are under the misconception that there has to be physical contact between a cyclist and a motor vehicle for the motorist to be liable. This is not true. There are many situations where cyclists are injured when they take evasive action to avoid being hit, and crash as a result. The motorist can still be held liable if their negligence required the cyclist to take the evasive action.

Q: Can I recover if the other driver had no insurance?

A: Yes. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can recover money for your medical bills and pain and suffering even if the other driver had no insurance.

Q: Does my auto insurance cover accidents when I am on my bike?

A: Many auto policies will cover you if you are injured in a bicycle accident or while on foot.

Q: How do I know if I have a good bicycle accident claim?

A: You need to contact me and we can discuss your case. My consultation on a personal injury case is always free.

Q: Should I accept the offer that the car insurance company has given me?

A: Often times I can get insurance companies to substantially increase the amount of their settlement offer. If you have already received an offer for your injuries, contact me and I will let you know if I think it is a fair offer. I will not charge you for this consultation. If I do not beat their original offer to you, I will not charge you a fee.

Q: How long does it take to settle most bicycle accident and personal injury cases?

A: It depends on the nature of your personal injury claim. I have settled smaller claims for the full amount my client wanted within 10 days and I have settled policy limits cases in as little as a few months. Larger personal injury cases typically take longer to settle. Oregon law has a provision that can require insurance companies to pay my attorney fees for bicycle accident cases under $5,500, so oftentimes cases under $5,500 can be resolved quickly, as the insurance companies don’t want to get a big attorney fee bill from me.

Q: Will pursuing my case take up a lot of my time?

A: No. Oftentimes I only meet with clients for the initial interview and then we can just talk over the phone. If we do have to go to court, it will take more time. I realize your time is important, so I don’t waste it.

Q: Will I have to go to trial?

A: The vast majority of bicycle collision and personal injury cases don’t go to trial. However, I treat each case as if it is going to be a trial, as you have to be willing to go to trial to maximize your settlement.

Q: Why is it so important to hire an Oregon attorney who goes to trial?

A: Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but you want to maximize your settlement. If you hire an Oregon personal injury attorney who has little trial experience, oftentimes they will be afraid to go to trial. Insurance companies know who these lawyers are, and they oftentimes offer them less than the case is worth. I have 10 years of courtroom experience and I have tried well over 100 cases. A good example of why you sometimes have to go to trial are the recent results I have had. I recently tried three separate cases where the offers totaled approximately $51,500. The juries awarded a total of over $850,000. If my clients had hired a lawyer who does not try cases, they would have lost a combined total of around $800,000. Verdicts like these do not come easy and it took me years of trying cases and over 100 jury trials before I had the skills to get big verdicts for my clients. I know a number of Oregon personal injury attorneys who do not try cases. I believe that these attorneys do a great disservice to their clients and cost their clients millions of dollars by settling cases that should go to trial. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that they are actively trying cases and have had a number of six figure verdicts.

Q: Do I need an Oregon lawyer?

A: In order to settle your bike accident case you will have to deal with insurance companies. Their goal is to pay you as little as you will take. It is tough for someone who is not familiar with bicycle accident cases to know what a fair settlement amount is. An experienced Oregon bicycle accident attorney can help you to determine that amount and reach a fair settlement.

Q: I don’t want to bankrupt somebody. What happens to the person I sue?

A: Although the lawsuit will have the other driver’s name on it, we are actually going after the insurance company’s money. In virtually every case, the person we sue does not have to pay a penny, as their insurance company pays the settlement or verdict amount, as well as all of the legal fees. In the three cases where I have received verdicts bigger than the policy limits, the insurance companies still paid, as it was there fault for not settling for the policy limits.

Q: What types of Oregon accident cases do you handle?

A: I handle all types of Oregon personal injury, wrongful death and products liability cases, including: crashes and collisions involving bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, and mopeds.

Q: What parts of Oregon do you handle cases in?

A: Although I am located in Portland, Oregon, I will handle take cases throughout the state of Oregon including the following counties and cities:

Counties:
Multnomah County, Washington County, Clackamas County, Marion County, Polk County, Columbia County, Hood River County, Yamhill County, Clatsop County, Wasco County, Linn County, Benton County, Lane County, Clatsop County, Tillamook County, Sherman County, Jefferson County, Linn County, Benton County.

Cities:
Portland, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, McMinnville, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sherwood, Molalla, Aloha, Albany, Corvallis, Cascade Locks, Astoria, Wilsonville,Woodburn, The Dalles, Fairview, Oregon City, Silverton, Sandy, Rainier, Monmouth, Newberg, Keizer, Gladstone, Forest Grove, Estacada, Canby, Philomath, Newberg, Parkdale, Seaside.

Oregon Legal Links

Oregon State Bar Attorney Referral Tool and Bar Member Research
The Oregon State Bar has attorney referral resources for you. Use these free Oregon State Bar legal resources to help you find and retain a reputable Oregon attorney ensuring that the attorney has never been disciplined by the Oregon State Bar.

Research an Oregon attorney Bar disciplinary history:
An attorney may have been previously disciplined or supspended for ripping off a client or other ethical issues you should know about before you retain an Oregon attorney. The Oregon State Bar has a Bar Member research tool.
Use this Oregon State Bar member research tool and email as well as a toll free phone services to help you retain a qualified and ethical Oregon attorney.

1. To research an attorney you are considering hiring all you need is the attorney's name.
2. Using the free online Member Research Tool, once you've located the attorney by name, then make sure to click: "Show Disciplinary History" which will show the particular attorney's history with the Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Actions.

If you have questions, contact the Oregon State Bar disciplineonweb@osbar.org
503.431.6394, toll-free in Oregon 800.452.8260 x 394.

Oregon DUI and Criminal Attorney

If you have been charged with an Oregon DUI or other Oregon criminal charge, I recommend you contact David Lesh through his web site. Mr. Lesh is an experienced Oregon lawyer.

Consider Fred Crawford if you need a Southern California Injury Lawyer.

Cycling Links

I support the local bicycle team ofwww.prestovelo.com.



I am also a sponsor of the Therapeutic Associates Cycling Team, Bend, Oregon:

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I support Oregon Bicycle Racing Assocation (OBRA) www.obra.org.

Chiropractic & Massage Links

I highly reccomend Dr. Bassinger and Dr. May at Clearwater Chiropractic. Dr. Bassinger is a personal friend and an excellent doctor.

Note: Clearwater Chiropractic is located at the following web site address:
• http://www.meta-ehealth.com/site/office/index.jsp

Oregon Massage Therapy: I recommend Brent King LMT & LMP