In 2016 I wrote a free book to explain, in plain language, Oregon’s bicycle laws. The book includes a quick reference guide to the laws, the actual language of the laws, frequently asked questions about how insurance works, and articles on what to do if you are involved in a collision or have your bike stolen.
CHARLEY GEE
Oregon bicycle attorney and advocate
I built my reputation representing injured bicycle riders. For me, making the roads safer for bicyclists through education, advocacy, and litigation, is my life's work. It is the reason I went to law school and it is the reason I wake up every day and practice law as a personal injury attorney and a bicycle attorney. I love riding my bicycle and I ride just about every day rain or shine. I live a life within Oregon's bicycle culture. I enjoy making bicycle riding fun and safe through my prior work as the president of Umbrella and volunteer work with the state's advocacy organizations. And I really love educating bicyclists (and non-bicyclists) about Oregon's laws, so if you have a question about what the law says or doesn't say please email me at cgee@humanpoweredlaw.com or call me at (503)278-5389.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN OREGON BICYCLE LAWYER
TO REPRESENT ME IN MY PERSONAL INJURY CASE?
Bicyclists are still a rare breed in the United States. Only a minority of the population rides a bicycle even once during the year. People who ride bikes for transportation every day, like I do, are in the single digits as a percentage of the population.
As a result, most personal injury attorneys follow the same trend. The difference between a true bike lawyer and a personal injury lawyer who sometimes represents bicyclists is their knowledge base. For a lot of personal injury lawyer, if you go their office and bemoan the loss of your precious 1977 Nishiki International they stare at you with a blank expression because to them, it was just an old bike, probably not worth much. Certainly not worth as much as most cars, which is true, but it is a great loss to the person who rode that bike every day, who depended on it to get from point A to point B.
What those attorneys don't understand are things like determining speed based on gear ratios or what a skid stop is and how it happens. They don't understand why we look confused when a motorist estimates a bicyclist's speed at 35 miles per hour and they were riding an old upright. They don't understand what it is like to ride a bicycle in an urban center, mixed with cars, trucks, buses, and pedestrians, in the rain and why we all choose to do that to ourselves in the mornings over and over again. They don't understand how fast things can go from A-OK on a bike to a catastrophe in a split second because a car driver failed to check if their turn was clear.
Bicyclists have a unique perspective on the world and they need an attorney who shares that perspective. One who understands what it is like to not be able to ride a bike for a month and to be left without the free, healthy, urban-friendly transportation we depend on. Others will say "ride the bus."
I ride my bicycle every day. I ride my bicycle in the sun, in the rain, in the snow, or in the fog. I live a bicycle way of life and I am proud to have built my reputation representing and educating others who share my passion and enjoy the same kind of lifestyle I do.
CONTACT US
(503) 278-5389
If you've been injured or have a question about your legal rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist, contact Charley Gee today:
Portland Office Address:
735 SW 1st Ave., Ste. 201
Portland, OR 97204
Lincoln City Office Address:
3545 NW Highway 101
Lincoln City, OR 97367
Mailing Address:
101 SW Madison St., PO Box 1567
Portland, OR 97207