Legal Q&A

Motorcycle Licensing and Endorsement Unless you have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license, you cannot legally ride a motorcycle on public roads in Oregon. Oregon does not offer a stand-alone motorcycle license. Instead, the motorcycle endorsement is attached to your existing Class C license. There are two ways to obtain the motorcycle endorsement. Path […]

Why Must I Carry Motorcycle Insurance in Oregon? In accordance with Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 806.010, Oregon requires that all drivers maintain insurance on their vehicles prior to operating such vehicles on public highways. All motorcycles, mopeds, and autocycles fall under this statute.  One important note: Oregon considers a motorcycle to be a vehicle with […]

My name is Dave Eltringham. I am a personal injury attorney in Portland, Oregon. I wrote this article after seven years of seeing how fast a bike accident can turn into a complicated legal situation when riders don’t know the rules prior to the collision. Oregon E-Bike Laws at a Glance A quick guide to […]

In large biking cities such as Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco, studies indicate that between seven and twenty percent of all bicycle crashes were caused by a dooring. Because parallel parking dominates many of our urban boulevards, this creates a consistent hazard for riders. To illustrate how quickly things can unfold, consider a typical daily […]

Many injury victims are caught off guard by the fact that Bicycle-Pedestrian Collisions fall into a difficult-to-understand gray area regarding both the laws and insurance coverage. Cyclists are typically not required to carry liability insurance in the same manner that automobile operators are; therefore, if you are a pedestrian who has been injured by a […]

How Liability Works Under Oregon Law Understanding Oregon’s Modified Comparative Fault Rule In Oregon, we follow an “at-fault” system, which means the party liable for the collision is required to pay for all damages resulting therefrom. However, most collisions are not entirely black-and-white. Therefore, the State of Oregon utilizes a doctrine known as modified comparative […]

Collision Accidents: Causes and Examples The most common serious accidents on ski slopes involve collisions. Two skiers crash into each other. A snowboarder catches an edge and careens into someone below them. A beginner loses control of the terrain that’s beyond their ability and plows into another person waiting at the side of the run. […]

Introduction to the Skiing Activities Act Oregon’s Skiing Activities Act is codified under ORS 30.970 through 30.990. It was enacted to address the inherent risks of downhill skiing and snowboarding while still holding both participants and ski areas accountable when someone acts negligently or fails to maintain safe conditions. The law does a few things […]

1. Assess Your Injuries and Get Help Before you do anything else, stop and take stock. Don’t try to get up and shake it off if you’re hurt. Spinal injuries, concussions, and fractures can all worsen with movement. If you’re with someone, tell them you’re injured. If you’re alone and need help, stay put and […]

Overview of Oregon’s Major Ski Resorts Oregon’s ski industry centers on a handful of well-known destinations, each with its own terrain, clientele, and safety record. Here’s a closer look at where most incidents occur: Mount Hood Meadows operates on the eastern face of Mount Hood and sees heavy traffic throughout the season. With 85 trails […]