Car Accidents
Car accidents can happen anytime, even to the most cautious drivers. While you might be a keen driver that adheres to every traffic rule, other factors beyond your control can result in an accident.
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Car Accident Attorneys Near You in Portland
Portland Legal Group has vast experience representing people injured in all types of car accidents. Whether it is a hit-and-run or rear-end accident, we have lawyers specializing in representing your case. We also handle accidents involving pedestrians and help them get compensated for damages. If you or your loved one were injured in a Portland accident, you might be eligible for compensation. Our law firm will represent your case and help prove the other party’s negligence.
What Are the Main Causes of Car Accidents?
Even though it is so easy to learn to drive, many factors could cause car accidents, despite your driving experience. Portland experiences a significant number of accidents annually, and knowing some of the common causes will help you prevent them. Here are the main causes of car accidents in Portland, Oregon:.
- Distracted Driving: When a driver is distracted, he is likely to cause an accident. Despite the popular norm that a person can multitask, your brain cannot efficiently focus on several tasks simultaneously. Therefore, when a driver is talking on the phone, texting, reading, or even grooming, they are likely to cause a car accident.
- Speeding: Driving over the speed limit is a recipe for disaster. Whether a driver is running late to work or rushing at an emergency, high speeds will result in an accident.
- Reckless Driving: Blatantly disregarding the safety of other road users, switching lanes abruptly without warning, and intentionally failing to abide by traffic rules will result in car accidents.
- Bad Weather Conditions: When the conditions are unbearable, the chances of car accidents are high. For instance, poor visibility due to heavy snow can increase the risk of car accidents.
- Vehicle Malfunction: Cases of accidents caused by vehicle malfunction are common in Portland. For example, brake failure can result in a car hitting pedestrians or other motorists.
What To Do and Not To Do After a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident in Portland, there are things you should and should not do. A car accident is unexpected and happens within seconds. The trauma and mental disorientation that follow a car accident can make it difficult for you to decide what steps to take. If you have been involved in a car accident, our Portland car accident attorneys recommend that you:
Do’s
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible
- Call the police to the scene
- Get the contact information of potential witnesses at the scene of the accident
- If possible, take pictures of the damage caused in its raw form
Don’ts
- Admit causing the accident to anyone, especially the witnesses and police
- Leave without filing a police report and sharing your part of the story
- Speak to the other party’s insurance company
What Are the Common Injuries in a Car Accident?
The effects of a car accident vary from mild to severe injuries that can result in permanent disability or even death. Here are the most common injuries sustained in car accidents in Portland, Oregon.
- Bruising: These are seldom serious injuries that can be treated with simple to no medication. Bruises heal in less than a week or two. You can sustain bruises from the effects of the seat belt as it tries to protect from worse injuries.
- Disfiguration and Scars: Burns and facial injuries can cause disfiguring scars that alter your appearance. Some of these scars might require plastic and reconstructive surgery and may never disappear. If you have sustained such injuries in a car accident, our attorneys will help you get compensated.
- Broken Bones: Fractures and breaks in the bones are a result of heavy collisions. Such injuries can be hard to detect unless examined by a doctor.
- Facial Injuries: This type of injury can be very challenging to deal with. This is because major sensory organs like the brain are in that area. You will need emergency medical attention for such injuries.
- Neck Injuries: The neck is a strategic part of your body and is vulnerable in case of an accident. Jarring the body can injure your neck’s tendons, muscles, cartilage, and other vital soft tissues.
Most Common Types of Vehicle Accidents in Portland
Even though every car collision is unique, crashes follow different patterns in how they occur. Knowing these parts will help you prevent collisions in the future. In Portland, there are common types of car accidents reported to insurance companies, police, and personal injury firms. They include:
- Side impact accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Rear end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- High speed accidents
- T-bone accidents
If you have been involved in any type of accident, get in touch with the personal injury lawyers at Portland Legal Group immediately. Our experienced car accident attorneys will help you seek compensation for all the damages you have suffered.
Proving Fault after a Car Crash
After suffering significant damages in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, it might be challenging for you to proceed with post-traumatic stress injury recovery and prove fault in the car accident case. If you are wondering what to do in such cases, a professional car accident attorney will be of great help. Hire a skilled car accident lawyer at Portland Legal Group to handle the legal matters on your behalf. This way, you can focus on your recovery and let our professionals fight the legal battle.
For you to prove fault in a car accident in Oregon, you must produce sufficient evidence that the at-fault party acted in a manner that was negligent on the road, leading to the accident that caused your injuries. Our dedicated attorneys will help you prove fault and ensure you get compensated for damages.
After suffering significant damages in an accident caused by another person’s negligence, it might be challenging for you to proceed with post-traumatic stress injury recovery and prove fault in the car accident case. If you are wondering what to do in such cases, a professional car accident attorney will be of great help. Hire a skilled car accident lawyer at Portland Legal Group to handle the legal matters on your behalf. This way, you can focus on your recovery and let our professionals fight the legal battle.
For you to prove fault in a car accident in Oregon, you must produce sufficient evidence that the at-fault party acted in a manner that was negligent on the road, leading to the accident that caused your injuries. Our dedicated attorneys will help you prove fault and ensure you get compensated for damages.
How Can You File a Claim in a Portland Car Accident?
If you have sustained injuries in a car accident in Portland, one of the first things you should do is call your insurance company to file a claim. Calling the company as soon as possible is crucial because you will still have specific details about the car accident. Besides, your insurance company will give you valuable advice on how you can collect valuable evidence at the scene. You can also use the evidence to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
What Damages Are Available after a Vehicle Accident?
If you file a car accident claim in Oregon with the help of our experienced Portal car accident attorneys, you can get financial compensation known as damages. The Oregon personal injury law defines damages as the financial compensation awarded to the victim due to the carelessness or negligence of another party. There are economic and non-economic damages in a car accident.
The economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Loss of wages
- Property damage and repair
The non-economic damages include:
- Loss of companionship
- Psychological distress
- Physical pain and suffering
Protecting Your Rights & Getting Maximum Compensation for You
It is not a secret that the effects of a car accident can be long-lasting and devastating. Gathering all the crucial evidence and building a car accident case takes a lot of effort and time. With your fragile condition, you shouldn’t handle all these responsibilities by yourself. Instead, consult with an experienced car accident attorney in Portland to discuss your rights and chat about the way forward in your case.
Contact us today and a dedicated attorney at our law firm will use their exceptional negotiating skills to recover maximum compensation for your case. The sooner you call our law firm, the sooner you can schedule a FREE consultation with the most experienced car accident attorneys Portland has to offer.
FAQs
Is Oregon a No-fault State?
Oregon is a “fault” car accident state. This means that the at-fault party is also responsible for any resulting damages.
What Do I Do if an Insurance Adjuster Calls Me?
You are not obligated to answer the call of an insurance adjuster who is not a representative of your own insurance company. Let your lawyer deal with them instead.
Do I Have To Accept an Insurance Company’s First Offer for My Car Accident?
You don’t have to accept the insurance company’s first offer for your car accident damages. However, it is vital to know that if you reject an offer, it can be permanently taken off the table.
Will Insurance Companies Pay for My Injuries from the Car Accident?
An insurance company will cover all the damages you suffered in a car accident. All the other resulting expenses are also covered.
Do I Need To Call the Police after an Accident?
It is a good idea to call the police after a car accident. They can help with emergency medical assistance and allow you to file a police report.
How Do I Know If I Have a Case after a Car Accident?
If you want to know if you have a car accident case, you should call Portland Legal Group for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will help you evaluate the facts of the case.
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim?
Oregon has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim or personal injury claim. This is the time limit you have to file the claim.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Car Accident?
It is highly recommended that you hire an attorney for your car accident case. An attorney has the legal expertise and experience to help you recover the most compensation for damages.
What Happens If I Reject a Settlement Offer?
It is well within your rights to reject a settlement offer. However, once you reject it, you cannot go back and accept it after other options fail.