You’ve been in a car or truck accident. Your vehicle is damaged, and maybe you are injured. Occupants might be injured. Other drivers may have injuries. Chances are, after a car accident you aren’t thinking about filing paperwork. Still, Oregon law has reporting requirements after a car crash or truck crash that can impact your ability to recover for your injuries and property damage later.
Read MoreYour liability coverage may include Personal Injury Protection ("PIP") or Medical Payments ("Med Pay") benefits. PIP provides a source of payment for YOUR medical bills and some of YOUR wage loss following an auto accident. Further, PIP is no-fault, meaning that it will begin paying on your injuries immediately, rather than waiting for liability to be determined. Similarly, Med Pay provides some coverage for YOUR medical bills. These are called "no-fault" coverages because they pay even if the accident is your fault.
Read MoreAlternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") is becoming an increasingly important option in many jurisdictions. ADR refers to efforts to find methods that are outside the court system to resolve civil disputes. These methods may be advantageous to the courts and to the parties involved since they may resolve a dispute in a faster, more cost-effective manner and reduce or eliminate the need for participation by the court system.
Read MoreDuring the time of treatment, insurance may or may not be paying the bills, but medical providers still need to get paid. To protect their interests, these medical providers may request a “Letter of Protection” from the personal injury lawyer to ensure that their bills get paid at the time of settlement.
Read MoreIncreasingly, Oregon sees an increased number of pedestrian injuries or even deaths from being struck by motor vehicles. Every 88 minutes, a pedestrian dies in a car-related accident. Every year, roughly 6,000 pedestrians lose their lives or are injured in accidents where they are hit by motor vehicles. The most common location for these accidents is at intersections or crosswalks when motorists don't yield the right-of-way or stop for traffic devices like stoplights or stop signs.
Read MoreValuing any personal injury case requires consideration of many factors, and Personal Injury cases are no exception. The first determination in valuing an Oregon is determining fault. Who is at fault for the accident? Sometimes the answer is not entirely clear. Even though you may share fault (comparative negligence), you still may be entitled to compensation.
Read MoreIn Oregon, every policy carried by a driver is required to carry Uninsured Motorist (or "UM") coverageBy law, the minimum amount of coverage under an Oregon UM policy is $25,000. With uninsured motorist coverage, a person can recover economic damages and noneconomic damages just like they would receive from the negligent driver, all the way up to the limits of an uninsured motorist policy.
Read MoreJuries, insurance adjusters, judges, and even attorneys representing motorcycle accident victims sometimes maintain the subtle bias that motorcyclists "deserve" injuries because they forego the safety of a four-wheeled, enclosed vehicle. At Pacific Injury Law Firm, we recognize such biases and refuse to minimize the claims of the motorcycle accident victim. If a motorcycle accident victim is not able to obtain complete and fair compensation, we will take the case to trial.
Read MoreQ: I was injured after being in an Oregon bicycle accident, and my bicycle was damaged. Who will pay to repair my bicycle?
Read MoreAfter an accident, your injury lawyer should have you do many things to maximize your financial recovery from your injury. From documenting your accident and creating an injury diary, to working with your doctor and documenting your lost wages, there are many pieces to your economic recovery. You should consult with an lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to coordinate.
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