Portland Car Accident Lawyer
Oregon Motor Vehicle Collision Attorney
If an auto accident has caused harm to you or a loved one, then you may be entitled to financial compensation for injury and pain. If you’re a car accident victim, you’re not alone. Millions of car accident injury cases and tens of thousands of car accident deaths occur every year in the United States. An average of 115 people die each day in U.S. auto accidents. Oregon has its share of those serious collision injury and wrongful death cases. 2009 Oregon Department of Transportation (“ODOT”) motor vehicle traffic crash data showed around 19,000 non-fatal injury road and highway crashes. Collisions not resulting in wrongful death rose 5.1% over the prior year.
Collision Injuries and Their Serious Consequences
Regardless of the size of the auto accident, a collision impact can have devastating effects on lives and health. Neck sprain or strain and back sprain or strain injury are the most common consequences. Concussion, headache, shoulder injury, and knee injury are also often treated. Fractures account for about 5% of all diagnosed collision injuries. Treatment may include painful physical therapy, osteopathic or chiropractic manipulation, injections, and other unpleasant but necessary procedures. During that time, the patient may be unable to work, losing wages and income. Injuries may be permanent.
Most Common Oregon Errors Causing Car Accidents
Most “car accidents” are not really accidents. They are crashes caused by human error. ODOT’s data tracked driver errors causing collisions. Negligent drivers who commit the following types of road errors or otherwise fail to drive with reasonable care can cause serious personal injury or wrongful death to other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians:
- Failure to avoid stopped or parked vehicle ahead
- Failure to yield right-of-way
- Failure to maintain lane
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Ran off road
- Improper change of traffic lanes
- Inattention
- Following too close
- Disregarded traffic signal
- Left turn in front of on-coming traffic
Standing Up Against the Insurance Company
An experienced Portland car accident injury law firm will handle every part of your collision case so that you can focus on healing and recovery. They will deal with insurance companies and their representatives who are trained to try to resolve your claim as cheaply as possible. The insurance company may want you to believe that handling your auto accident claim does not require a car accident lawyer. But Insurance Research Council study shows that, on average, automobile accident injury claimants who hired an attorney received a settlement that was three and a half times better than they would have if they had tried to negotiate on their own.
An excellent car accident lawyer works to recover fair compensation by preparing for trial from the first meeting with the client. The attorney will investigate the case thoroughly, monitor medical conditions closely until they are stabilized, then evaluate the extent and permanency of injuries, the effect that injuries have had on life, and the amount and duration of medical treatment. The law firm can then recommend a reasonable settlement amount knowing that they are ready to take the case before the jury if fair compensation is not paid.