Oregon Car Accident Lawyer

First, do not give a statement of any kind to the other driver’s insurance company. This may irrevocably hurt your case and it cannot help you.

Second, if you are experiencing any symptoms that suggest an injury of any type, go see a doctor as soon as possible so that your injuries can be treated and documented. You have PIP benefits from your motor vehicle insurance. Don't delay your treatment as it may harm your claim.

Third, do not worry about jeopardizing the other driver’s family or well-being. Except in incredibly rare situations, it is always the insurance companies who pay to compensate you. They have deep pockets, and they can afford it. Never feel bad or guilty about requesting fair compensation.

Lastly, do not settle your claim until you have, at the very least, consulted with an experienced personal injury attorney. A consult with a personal injury attorney at Johnson Law is free, so why not take advantage of it?

Time is of the essence when you have been involved in an auto accident. This is because an investigation into the facts of the accident must be quickly initiated in order to prove liability. The other driver’s insurance company often contests liability in an attempt to pay less than they should. It is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who handles auto accident cases because there are a number of steps that must be taken immediately to preserve your claim for bodily injury.

There is no upfront cost to retain a personal injury attorney.

We operate on a contingency fee basis similar to most personal injury lawyers. However, you will be pleased to learn that we charge our fee only AFTER your medical bills have been paid. This is an important distinction.

We do not get paid unless we win. Almost all personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, but that does not mean they charge the same fee. If we settle prior to trial or arbitration we take 33.33% of the recovery as our attorney fee. This is after your medical bills have been paid. Many personal injury attorneys take their 33.33% fee before the medical bills have been paid. This can result in the client receiving little or no compensation. If we go to arbitration or trial, our contingency fee is 40% of the recovery, again after the medical bills are paid. In our experience, this results in our clients being fairly compensated with higher financial recovery.

Not before consulting with an attorney.

Insurance companies have an interest in getting you to settle your claim as quickly and as cheaply as is possible. By settling your claim, you are releasing the insurance company from any future liability stemming from the incident. It takes time for medical professionals to identify all of your injuries. If you settle your claim too quickly and then realize later on that you are suffering from a more serious injury, it is difficult, if not impossible, to hold the insurance company accountable and receive the proper amount of compensation. Also, in our experience, insurance companies generally do not offer fair settlements to people who are not representing by an attorney.

In Oregon, victims of auto accidents are entitled to benefits through their own auto insurance policies for up to two years after the date of the accident. However, steps must be taken in order to ensure that the benefits (such as compensation for wage loss) start flowing in a timely manner. Most importantly, victims of auto accidents frequently are in need of medical treatment, and the Oregon Car Accident Lawyers at Johnson Law can be of great assistance in working to get your medical bills paid. Your auto insurance company must pay for reasonable and necessary medical treatment for two years after the auto accident up to the limit of your PIP policy. The minimum PIP policy limit is $15,000 in Oregon. You may also be entitled to PIP benefits for replacement service, which means that your insurance company may have to pay someone to do a task that you were able to do prior to the auto accident but now cannot do for a period of time after the auto accident.

The experienced personal injury attorneys at Johnson Law treat every case as if it is going to trial. This is because if the necessary steps are taken to prepare a case for trial, the case’s settlement value usually increases. If the defendant insurance company refuses to provide reasonable compensation to settle the case, then the Oregon Car Accident Lawyers at Johnson Law are poised to effectively litigate on your behalf. The auto accident lawyers at Johnson Law are not afraid to put in the hard work and effort that is necessary to successfully litigate a case and get the compensation you deserve.