How to Stay Safe While Riding Your Bicycle

Bicycles are a lot of fun to ride. In addtiion to a sense of freedom, you can also get some needed physical fitness and burn off some unwanted pounds. Some say that riding a bike allows you to get directly in touch with the natural part of life and move at a pace that is closer to what humans need to be calm and in control.

When you are riding a bicycle in the streets however you need to be aware and constantly look out for dangers because it is also a potentially hazardous past time. After all, you are on the road with motor vehicles and pedestrians. Sometimes the roads have specific bike lanes and other times it is paved and lit well, but most times this is not the case. And cars, trucks and motorcycles are usually looking to occupy the same space and are a dangerous to the bike rider.

Because of the dangers, the bicyclist must be extremely alert and if the bike rider is injured by a motor vehicle, needs to hire a reputable attorney for representation in a personal injury case. The bicyclists must hire a local attorney. So if the accident occurs in Portland Oregon, the bicyclist must hire a bicycle accident attorney in Portland, OR. But to avoid accident the bike rider needs to take extra precautions. Here are a few of the most important things a bicyclist needs to look out for on the road.

Distracted Drivers

Distracted drivers are becoming the largest cause of motor vehicle accidents. Distracted driving includes texting, phone calls, watching videos, and any other activities that cause a driver to not pay attention to what’s going on in the road. If a driver’s attention is taken away from driving for even a few seconds, the driver can become disoriented and cause an accident. Bicycle Riders must be tuned to any drivers that are not looking at the road and I was driving erratically because of it.

Impaired Drivers

Driving while impaired includes drivers who are drunk, under the influence of illegal drugs, and under the influence of prescription drugs that should not be taken while driving. These drivers I have poor hand eye coordination, slow reflexes, and I generally unaware of their surroundings. Funny when riding a bicycle around and impaired driver, it can be a very dangerous situation. If a bike rider sees a drivers swerving in and out of lanes or speeding up and slowing down for no reason, this may be an indication that the person is impaired. The bicycle Rider should immediately move to the side of the road and the way from that automobile.

Bad Weather

When it is rained or snowed, or is doing so currently, it is a very dangerous time for bicycle rider. The limited visibility, reduced traction, and increased stopping distances mean that both the bicycle Rider and any automobile will have a difficult time operating on the road. Bicyclists should take into account inclement weather and consider not riding on the roads until the weather improves. If the bicyclist must go out in bad weather, the road conditions must be taken into account. The bicycle should ride slower and keep greater distances between Motor Vehicles.

No matter how careful a bicyclist is on the road, there is always the chance that they will be an accident with a motor vehicle. If this happens, the bicyclist should hire a reputable attorney for representation and to gain compensation for any injuries and other negative effects from the accident.

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The Most Important Advice for Winning a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury is often misunderstood because it covers such a wide area of legal claims. What is and is not personal injury can be confusing, but it is defined as a wide range of circumstances where one party’s negligence or deliberate action causes harm and injuries to the mind, body or emotions of another party. Personal injury is one of the most common types of legal cases filed, and women file as many personal injury claims as men.

A personal injury case is a civil case meaning the objective in a personal injury case is for financial compensation from the defendant. Since there is no criminal element in the case, the defendant cannot receive jail time if he or she loses the case. Also, since it is a civil case, the burden of proof for personal injury is much lower than in a criminal case. To win, the plaintiff lower must prove fault based on a preponderance of the evidence, rather than reasonable doubt which is required in a criminal case.

The important components necessary for a plaintiff to win a civil case is for the plaintiff must show that:

  • the injuries were caused by the defendant’s behavior,
  • that the defendant’s behavior was reckless, willful, or negligent, and
  • that the injuries caused by the defendant have a financial impact to the plaintiff that can be quantified.

Personal injury lawsuits are so common partly because personal injury can happen in nearly any circumstance. They are most often however filed for defective products, traffic accidents, medical malpractice, assault, and slip or trip and falls on private and public property. The injuries sustained from personal injury may be physical, mental or emotional and can be short term or lifelong. The damages sought in a personal injury case will seek to cover medical bills, loss of work, pain and suffering, impaired or diminished quality of life and other things that have occurred due to the injuries caused by the defendant.

When a plaintiff brings a personal injury claim, there are important things to do that will greatly improve the odds of winning the case, Here is a short list:

Hire a Good Local Personal Injury Lawyer

You must hire an attorney in the jurisdiction where the personal injury occurred. For instance, if you were injured in a car accident in Miami, you must hire an attorney licensed in Florida, and it is best to hire a good personal injury lawyer in Miami because they know the court system in that city and can do the best job for you. Your lawyer will instruct you on all of the necessary things that you both need to do to win your case.

Make Sure You are Prepared

Your personal injury case will include hundreds of big and small details. You will be required to recall every event and circumstance related to your injuries while the defendant will try and prove that the fault was yours. You must be completely prepared with all of the facts. This means that you must take good notes regarding the car accident; get a police report, take down and contact any witnesses, and take all of the details and personal information from the defendant and anyone else involved in the car accident, and any witnesses to it as well. You need to notate all of your doctor and rehab visits and those with your attorney as well. Also keep a record of the work you lose because of your injuries and the loss of quality things in your life including intimacy.

One additional major aspect is the mental anguish you can sustain. Car accident victims often develop phobias, anxiety, and other mental issues when they are in a bad car accident. You can receive compensation for these issues as well so you should note them. Being well prepared for your personal injury case with great notes will help your lawyer make your best case and get you the most compensation.

Hire a good local lawyer and take good notes and it will greatly improve your chances of winning your personal injury lawsuit.

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