Oregon Injury Law Blog
Tag: Insurance

  Oregon Wrongful Death Claims: Your Guide to Legal Rights and Compensation

Coping with the loss of a loved one after an accident can be a long, traumatic process. In addition to the emotional loss of the person, there are often ballooning, unexpected costs that appear after the initial event. Medical bills, emergency responder costs, and the costs of funerals add heartache at the most inopportune time. Speaking with an Oregon wrongful death lawyer at Pacific Injury Law Firm can help you understand what your rights to recovery are, and what the timelines to recover may entail.

  Why Hiring an Attorney for Small-Claim Damages in Oregon is Crucial

Oregon has created a law (ORS 20.080) which is intended to level the playing field for injured parties with smaller claims and to promote these injured parties’ ability to get legal counsel. Generally, the law accomplishes this by awarding lawyer fees to a party who successfully uses a lawyer to represent them in recovering their damages (medical costs, property losses, and other expenses including as lost wages). These fees for your lawyer are awarded if you make a demand for payment under $10,000.00, and the defendant (or their insurance company) declines the offer or offers less than you demand. If you subsequently are awarded more, you are also entitled to attorney fees under the law.

Q: I was injured after being in an Oregon bicycle accident, and my bicycle was damaged. Who will pay to repair my bicycle?

  Rising Pedestrian Accidents in Oregon: Causes, Consequences, and Legal Help

Increasingly, 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.

  Busting the Bias: Motorcycle Accident Victims Deserve Fair Compensation

Juries, insurance adjusters, judges, and even lawyers 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.

  Essential Steps for Managing Your Injury Claim in Oregon

After 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.

  Maximize Your Insurance Benefits After Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents

Q: Will my insurance pay my bills if I am hit by a car and injured while riding my bicycle or walking?

A: It depends on what kind of insurance you carry. If you have your own car insurance, an Oregon bicycle accident injury lawyer can help you use your automobile's PIP ("personal injury protection") insurance to immediately provide coverage even if you injured while riding a bicycle or walking.

  "Essential Guide to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Oregon Auto Insurance"

Your 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.

  Oregon Personal Injury Case Timelines: Factors That Impact Your Claim

The length of time it will take to conclude and resolve your Oregon Personal Injury case is dependent on several factors, only some of which are within your control.

  Arbitration vs. Mediation: Choosing the Right Path for Dispute Resolution

Alternative 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.