If someone else’s negligence caused your car accident, a car accident lawyer can provide fair representation on your behalf. For Oregon car accident cases, contact 1-800-Injured to get connected with a lawyer in your area.
It’s hard enough to recover from the injuries you sustain after a car crash. When you have to fight for fair compensation, you’re competing with the insurance company and its legal team. That’s not a fair fight, and they will try everything they can to lower the amount they offer for your settlement. You shouldn’t be forced into debt because of someone else’s negligence.
Choose Portland personal injury attorneys who will be on your side after your car accident. With the help of an attorney, you’ll have someone on your side to fight for the compensation you deserve. 1-800-Injured is a Lawyer & Medical Directory that can connect you with a nearby lawyer for help with your case.
Causes of Auto Accidents
A unique set of factors combine to cause car accidents, but most of them are due to the negligence of another driver. Among the top causes, distracted driving often leads to wrongful death. In 2020, 3,142 lives were lost due to distracted drivers on the road.
Drunk drivers or those under the influence of other substances are still a danger to everyone. There are also drivers who are simply reckless, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, and upending innocent people’s lives with their selfish behaviors.
Distracted Driving
A distracted driver is one who is not paying attention while behind the wheel. Often, texting, rummaging through the car for something, or eating are cited as reasons that can take a driver’s eyes off the road.
Drinking and Driving
A drunk driver is a true menace on the roads. More often than not, drunk driving is the cause of a serious car accident. Alcohol and other substances impair judgment, making it difficult for these drivers to react in time or obey traffic laws.
Reckless Behavior
Speeding, tailgating, and weaving in and out of traffic are just a few examples of dangerous driving on the road. These can all have deadly consequences. If you were in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone who was driving recklessly, you should contact 1-800-Injured to find Portland car accident lawyers to represent your case.
Not Following Traffic Laws
Traffic laws are established for the purpose of keeping everyone safe. When a driver neglects to follow these laws, it can lead to an auto accident. If someone ran a traffic light or stop sign, failed to yield when you had the right of way, or changed lanes into your vehicle, a car accident lawyer can help you fight for compensation.
No matter the cause behind car accidents, it takes an experienced car accident attorney to help you get compensation for your personal injuries. The insurance industry is notorious for denying claims or offering less than what is needed to cover the damages.
Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
If you’re lucky, you will only have mild injuries following your car accident, such as a few small cuts and bruises. For many car accident victims though, severe injuries to the brain and spine often occur. These serious injuries can change your life forever.
You could have a traumatic brain injury, a spine injury, broken bones, fractures, burns, or internal bleeding. There are accident victims who lose their limbs or become paralyzed.
The most frightening thing about injuries such as a TBI or spinal cord damage is that you may not even realize you’re injured until it’s too late. Many of these symptoms aren’t obvious in the adrenaline rush that follows a car accident. This is why you should always seek medical treatment immediately after a car crash. At 1-800-Injured, you will be connected with a Portland car accident attorney who can help you file your personal injury lawsuit.
Personal injury lawyers often see the after-effects that negligent drivers leave behind. An injured person may need ongoing medical care for the rest of their life. If this happens to you, you may never be able to do what you love again. You could be left disfigured or disabled, and you may have lasting emotional trauma.
Many personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation, and most work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you don’t pay unless you win. Contact 1-800-Injured today to be connected to a network of personal injury lawyers in Portland.
What Compensation Is Available for Accident Victims?
With the help of a Portland car accident lawyer, you will have a greater chance of obtaining a fair settlement from the insurance company. Most people who have been through a car crash don’t realize what damages they can recover.
This often means that their insurance provider or the other driver’s insurance company provides a settlement that is inadequate for covering the mounting costs incurred from the accident. Financial recovery is important for getting your life back on track after having to pay for expensive medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other damages.
Portland car accident lawyers can work to get you economic and non-economic damages. These may include the following:
Medical Expenses
Your medical bills that are related to your accident are something that Portland car accident attorneys should be able to help you obtain. These would include the costs of surgeries, hospital stays, medications, and rehabilitation. You can also pursue compensation to cover any future medical bills you may have due to your accident.
Lost Wages
In your personal injury case, if you were unable to work because of this accident, you can seek payment for your lost income, both past and future.
Property Damage
Whether your vehicle can be repaired or needs to be completely replaced, your personal injury case can also seek damages for your property damage.
Pain and Suffering
Considered a non-economic form of damages, you may seek to claim pain and suffering for the physical agony and emotional distress the accident has caused.
Loss of Consortium
A victim of a car accident may be unable to provide love, support, and guidance after a serious disability. Loss of consortium may also be sought after a wrongful death.
The compensation you may obtain will always vary depending on the unique factors in your accident. If what you endured was catastrophic and life-altering, you may receive a higher amount compared to someone who has only endured minor injuries.
A Portland car accident attorney can be an asset to you and the outcome of your case. Most people aren’t capable of standing up to the insurance companies, nor do they know Oregon laws like car accident lawyers in the state. With a personal injury lawyer to help after your accident, you have a better chance of getting the maximum compensation.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help Recover Damages
Personal injury lawyers can be beneficial to your auto accident case since they understand the legal process. As such, your Oregon car accident lawyer can use applicable laws in your case.
Since Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence law, this gives victims in accidents the right to partially recover damages including property or physical damage even if they were partly to blame in the crash. You may think you have no recourse here, but an experienced attorney can help you get the financial compensation you deserve.
Additionally, there is a strict time limit when it comes to filing an auto accident claim. The statute of limitations in Oregon is two years from the date of your car accident. There may be exceptions that could either extend or shorten this time, and a lawyer can help you understand how your situation could change the deadline.
You need to protect yourself from the insurance company that will try to blame you for the accident or use other laws in the state against you. Whether your accident was caused by a distracted driver, dangerous road conditions, a reckless driver, or a drunk driver, call 1-800-Injured today to get connected with an attorney to represent you. You shouldn’t have to pay for the damage done by someone’s negligent actions.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Oregon?
Most people are confused and disoriented after they get into an auto accident. Knowing what to do can help you in the days, weeks, and months following this unpleasant incident and help you move forward. In cases of car accidents, these tips can be of great assistance in proving a claim.
Keep Calm
The accident will kick your adrenaline into overdrive. You may be hurt and not feel a thing. This is the time to take a deep breath and assess the situation. If you are able to do so, you should move your vehicle to the side of the road. If not, help will be on the way.
Assess Injuries
Can you see any visible injuries on yourself or any passengers? Even if not, you should still plan to seek medical attention to be sure you don’t have any brain injuries or internal bleeding.
Call the Police
In Oregon, you will need to call 911 to report any accident that has at least $2,500 in property damages, or for fatalities or injuries. They will help you file a police report and will have emergency services assist anyone who has been hurt.
Exchange Information
You will need to get the contact and insurance information of the other driver. Don’t worry if they aren’t forthcoming with their insurance policy info. They are required to give this to the police, and you will have it on the report.
Gather Evidence
Every bit of documentation you can get will help your claim. You’ll want to capture photos and videos of the damage done to your vehicle and the entire crash scene if you can. You’ll also want to take photos of your injuries.
Never Admit Fault
Even if you think you may be partially or fully responsible for an accident, never tell the other driver or the police that you are to blame. An investigation will be conducted that will paint the bigger picture of what happened. If you admit fault, it could be held against you.
Get Medical Treatment
Do not worry about medical costs. You must be treated promptly if you were injured. You should have a full physical evaluation, even if you feel fine. Internal injuries may not present symptoms for hours or days, and by then, it could be too late.
Report to Your Insurance Company
As part of having insurance coverage and personal injury protection, you will need to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Your lawyer can speak to the insurance companies and their legal teams on your behalf.
Keep a File of Documents
In the most successful car accident cases, all the paperwork is organized. Make sure you put everything into a file — from your medical records to your photos, and anything else of relevance.
Get an Oregon Car Accident Lawyer
Above all, contact an attorney to help you navigate the legal proceedings. With 1-800-Injured, you’ll be connected to diligent attorneys who will work hard to get you the right outcome.
Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation
No matter how your accident occurred, working with an Oregon accident attorney will help alleviate your stress. Contact 1-800-Injured to get connected with nearby attorneys to discuss your case.