Portland Car Accident Attorney
Vehicle accidents can lead to significant physical and financial setbacks for individuals in the Portland area. At Washington Injury Law, we are standing by to help if you need a Portland car accident attorney to help you through this. If your crash was caused by the negligent actions of another driver, our team will investigate the incident and handle all negotiations with insurance carriers to help you recover compensation for your losses.
Why Choose Us?
If you or a loved one have been injured due to the negligence of another driver, you need a team with decades of experience by your side.
- We have a track record of success in recovering significant settlements and jury verdicts for car accident victims throughout Oregon.
- Our team uses up-to-date, cutting-edge technology to help us prepare for these cases and present your side of the facts to insurance carriers and to the jury.
- We believe in putting the client first every time, which is why we always provide clients with updates every step of the way.
Common Causes of Portland Car Accidents
Information presented by the Oregon Department of Transportation indicates that there were more than 5,400 total vehicle accidents across the city of Portland during the most recent reporting year on file. Out of these incidents, there were 3,838 total injuries reported and 54 fatalities.
Vehicle accidents in the Portland area occur due to a wide range of causes, often driver negligence. It is not uncommon for our team to assist clients who have been injured due to the careless actions of other drivers, particularly:
- Distracted driving
- Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Those who drive too fast for conditions
- Road rage incidents
- Drivers failing to yield or failing to stop at stoplights or stop signs
- Lane change failures
- Rear-end incidents/following too closely
This is certainly not a complete list of driver negligence causes of accidents, and we also understand that vehicle accidents are regularly caused by other entities. For example, incidents caused by faulty roadways or debris in the roadway are often caused by the negligent actions of government entities. Additionally, if a crash was caused by a vehicle defect, the auto manufacturer or company may be held responsible.
Common Types of Injuries from Car Accidents
Portland car accident victims often sustain a wide range of injuries as a result of these incidents. Our Portland personal injury attorneys have experience helping clients who have sustained:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Head or facial injuries
- Major lacerations and puncture wounds
- Amputations and crush injuries
- Severe sprains or strains
- Bone fractures or dislocations
- Spinal cord trauma with paralysis
- Significant blood loss
We also understand that these incidents can lead to various types of unseen injuries, including physical and emotional pain and suffering a victim would not have to endure had the incident not occurred. Our goal is to recover compensation for all injuries our clients sustained, including the visible traumatic injuries and these unseen injuries.
What Damages Can I Recover?
Our Portland car accident lawyers work diligently to ensure clients recover both economic and non-economic damages for their losses.
Economic damages revolve around the more calculable expenses crash victims are likely to endure. For example, we can use receipts and bills to properly calculate a crash victim’s:
- Emergency medical bills
- Ongoing doctor or hospital visits
- Lost wages and loss of future earnings
- Property damage expenses
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Medical devices or medications
Non-economic damages revolve around a Portland car accident victim’s less-seen losses. Even though there likely will not be receipts or bills for these types of losses, we want to make sure that individuals recover compensation for their physical pain and suffering damages, emotional and psychological distress, and their loss of enjoyment of life.
Oregon Statute of Limitations For Car Accidents
Individuals who sustain injuries caused by the negligent actions of other drivers must file their claims as promptly as possible. The Oregon personal injury statute of limitations applies in these situations, and the law says that these claims must be filed within two years from the date the injury occurs. Failing to file a lawsuit against the alleged negligent driver within these two years will likely mean the case is dismissed and a victim unable to recover compensation.
There are going to be insurance carrier deadlines as well, and these time frames are much shorter than the overall personal injury statute of limitations. Please notify insurance carriers about the incident as soon as possible in order to avoid claim delays or denials.
Is Oregon an At-Fault State?
Oregon is a fault-based state when it comes to vehicle accidents. This means that the individual or entity alleged to have caused the vehicle accident will be the one responsible for paying compensation to injury and property damage victims. In most situations, this means that the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier will pay for the losses sustained by other parties. However, it may be necessary to file a civil personal injury lawsuit against the alleged negligent party in order to recover full compensation.
There are some states that handle vehicle accident claims on a no-fault basis, which means individuals turn to their own insurance carrier to recover compensation. Oregon is not a no-fault state.
If you have any questions about liability and figuring out how to prove the other party caused your crash, we encourage you to reach out to a skilled Portland car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact Our Portland Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a car accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver in the Portland area, our car accident attorneys are ready to help. We have extensive experience handling complex vehicle accident claims and we know what it takes to stand up to aggressive insurance carriers and at-fault parties. When you are ready to secure the compensation you need to get through this, reach out to a Portland car accident attorney today. You can contact us for a free consultation of your claim by filling out our contact form or calling us at (206) 960-4522.