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Blog
The What to Do After a Car Accident Checklist
According to ODOT, there were over 57,000 motor vehicle crashes reported in the state of Oregon in 2017. Because of the frequency of these auto collisions, knowing what to do after a car accident is imperative for anyone who drives. Paul Galm, an experienced car accident attorney in Portland, offers this what to do after a car accident checklist to help you protect yourself in the event of a crash, even it’s a minor one. What to Do After a Car Accident Checklist Item #1: Call 911 If someone is injured in the car accident, your top priority should be…
5 Rights Bicyclists Have When Riding in Oregon
In the state of Oregon, bicyclist rights are comprehensive. They are designed to protect cyclists, motorists and pedestrians alike on the road. However, if you or a loved one suffers personal injury from a bike accident, you may feel lost navigating through the law. You can protect yourself by learning about the five most important bicycle rights below. Oregon Bicycle Helmet Laws According to Oregon bicycle helmet laws, individuals over the age of 16 are not required to wear a helmet while riding in the state Oregon. In the event of an accident, not wearing a helmet cannot be used…
Sharing the Road: How to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
Any accident that involves a motorcycle can be incredibly dangerous, so it’s important that motorcyclists and other drivers take ample precautions to help keep each other safe. Here are some motorcycle safety tips from motorcycle accident attorney Paul Galm to help all types of drivers safely share the road. How to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents: Tips for Motorcyclists Ride Defensively The best way to practice motorcycle safety is by riding defensively. Because motorcycles lack the external protection of other types of motor vehicles, it’s important for motorcyclists to be hyper-vigilant of their surroundings. Never assume that a driver sees you. In fact, many…
How to be a Responsible Party Host And Avoid Liability
Hosting a holiday party is a great way to show your appreciation for your friends, family, co-workers, and employees. Whether you’re throwing a holiday party, a New Year’s Eve party, or a summer cookout, it’s important to be familiar with Oregon’s social host liability law in order to help keep your guests safe and avoid any future litigation. Here’s what you need to know about how to be a responsible party host. What is Social Host Law? Social host laws are laws that hold party hosts liable for alcohol-related injuries, accidents, and deaths. Which States Have Social Host Laws? There are currently…
What to Do in Case of a Car Accident?
Thousands of car accidents occur every year in Oregon, leaving our friends and neighbors scared, injured, and confused about their next steps. In fact, according to ODOT, there were over 57,500 crashes in 2017, with over 400 fatalities reported. Whether the accident you were involved in was the result of distracted driving, negligence, or inclement weather, hiring a top car accident attorney can provide peace of mind and much needed expert advice. What to Do After a Car Accident? Some vehicle accidents, like fender benders or rear-end collisions, may not seem serious enough to prompt you to call the police or ask for…
How to Prevent Distracted Driving
It’s no secret that driving distracted is dangerous. In fact, according to the CDC, approximately 9 people are killed and over 1,000 people are injured in accidents involving distracted drivers every single day. The good news is that you have the power to be part of the solution. What is Distracted Driving? Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention away from the act of driving. Because of Oregon’s 2018 cell phone law, many people understand the dangers and consequences of using your cell phone while driving. But using a cell phone is only one of the many ways people drive…
New Oregon Bike Law Mimics the “Idaho Stop” Law
Great news for bicyclists in Oregon: the “Stop as Yield” law goes into effect in Oregon on January 1, 2020. Here’s what you need to know about this new Oregon bike law. What is the New Oregon “Stop as Yield” Law? After a sixteen-year fight, Oregon has adapted their own version of the “Idaho Stop” Law. Otherwise known as “Stop as Yield,” this law allows bicyclists to treat approaching stop signs as yield signs. In other words, if there is approaching cross-traffic with the right of way, a bicyclist must treat the stop sign as a stop sign and come…
Trick or Treat: How to Celebrate Halloween in Oregon Safely
A safe Halloween is a happy Halloween. Here’s what you need to know about celebrating Halloween in Oregon, including safety tips, safety facts, and fun Halloween events. Halloween Safety Facts According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than any other day of the year. Young drivers between the ages of 15-25 accounted for almost a third of all fatal car accidents involving child pedestrians on Halloween. Halloween Safety Tips for Parents Make sure children are wearing bright colors or reflective tape on their Halloween…
Personal Injury Terms You Should Know
When you’re dealing with laws, there’s always jargon involved. While it can be confusing for people who haven’t gone to law school, the precision of language is imperative to properly enacting laws. Better understanding these common personal injury terms can help you, whether you’re currently involved in a personal injury case or just wanting to better understand the terminology and applications. Catastrophic Injury A severe injury that has serious, long-term effects on the victim, leaving them unable to perform daily functions, often including the ability to work. Head, neck, spine, and brain injuries are the most common type of catastrophic…
What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Lane Splitting in Oregon
In 2018 alone, over 75 motorcyclists died in motorcycle accidents in the state of Oregon. In fact, motorcyclists accounted for more than one-quarter of the 34 traffic fatalities within the city of Portland in 2018. Motorcycles can be incredibly dangerous, and safety should be the number one concern when creating new motorcycle laws. Here’s what you need to know about motorcycle lane splitting in Oregon. What is Lane Splitting? Also known as lane filtering, lane sharing, and white lining, lane splitting is when a motorcyclist rides between rows of slowed or stopped traffic going in the same direction as the…