SALEM CAR
ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Start your free case review
We Represent Injured
Car Crash Victims in Salem &
Throughout Oregon.
About Johnston Law Firm
Car accidents often occur along busy Salem roads such as Commercial Street SE, Lancaster Drive NE, and Mission Street SE, as well as near major intersections like Commercial Street SE and Kuebler Boulevard SE. Whether your crash happened near the Oregon State Capitol, along the Salem Parkway, or elsewhere in Marion County, you may have the right to seek compensation when another driver’s negligence caused your injuries.
At Johnston Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial challenges that often follow a serious collision. Although our firm is based in Portland, Marc A. Johnston and our legal team proudly represent injured individuals in Salem, throughout Marion County, and across Oregon. We can investigate your accident, handle communications with insurance companies, and pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and other damages while you focus on recovering.
Were you or someone you love injured in a collision caused by another driver? Speak with a Salem car accident lawyer at Johnston Law Firm. Call us at (503) 546-3167 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
With Your Salem Car Accident Case
Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming, particularly when insurance companies dispute responsibility or offer less compensation than you need. You may also face questions about medical treatment, vehicle repairs, missed work, and how your injuries will affect your future. At Johnston Law Firm, we can take on these legal and insurance-related challenges, giving you more time to concentrate on your health and recovery.
When you work with our legal team, we can:
- Investigate your collision to determine what happened and identify evidence of driver negligence.
- Identify all potentially responsible parties, including negligent motorists, employers, or other liable entities.
- Gather evidence, such as police reports, traffic camera recordings, witness statements, photographs, and other supporting evidence.
- Review medical records and document how your injuries affect your everyday life.
- Calculate medical expenses, lost income, future treatment costs, and other accident-related financial losses.
- Handle insurance communications and challenge attempts to unfairly shift blame or minimize compensation.
- Manage legal paperwork and filing deadlines to protect your right to pursue compensation.
- Negotiate for a fair settlement and prepare your case for trial when necessary.
We know that every car accident brings different challenges, and we take the time to understand how your injuries have affected you and your family. Our team will explain your options, answer your questions, and keep you informed about important developments in your case. From our Portland office, we help car accident victims in Salem and throughout Oregon pursue accountability and the financial recovery they need to move forward.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
We Serve in Salem, Oregon
Any time a motorist acts carelessly while on the road, they put themselves and others at risk of becoming involved in a serious crash. There are some acts of negligence that are more common than others, though. The most common causes of car accidents in Salem are:
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to follow traffic signs, signals, and laws
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving under the influence
- Drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
Regardless of what caused your crash, all car accidents should be taken very seriously. It is crucial that you speak with our car accident lawyers which can provide sound legal counsel and give your claim the attention it deserves.
Common Car Accident Injuries
We Often See in Salem
Just as there are many different causes of car accidents in Salem, Oregon, the injuries sustained during a crash also vary widely. The most common injuries following an accident include:
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries such as concussions and contusions
- Neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Back injuries, including damage to the spinal cord that causes paralysis
- Damage to internal organs
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
- Burns
After being hurt in a motor vehicle accident, it is of vital importance that you seek medical treatment for any injuries. Getting the medical attention you need right away will ensure your injuries do not become any worse and that your pain and suffering is minimized.
What to Do After
a Car Accident in Salem, Oregon
- Take photos of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, and your injuries. (These may be needed for the personal injury claims later)
- Locate witnesses and ask them for their contact information so if they are needed in a trial case, we can contact them.
- Exchange information, such as your name, address, insurance information, and driver’s license number with all motorists involved in the crash.
- Do not discuss your accident and when speaking to police, only give very basic information.
- Contact Salem car accident lawyers who can advise on your legal options for claiming compensation.
Just as there are some things you should do, there are also important things you should not do. You should never apologize for the accident, even if it is just to say you are sorry it happened at all. You should also never speak to an insurance company but instead, direct them to your attorney who can communicate with them on your behalf. If things are extremely severe, and death has occurred due to the accident, contact us and we can talk about how we can develop a wrongful death case against the at-fault party.
Compensation We Can Help You Recover for Your Salem Car Accident
A serious car accident can affect nearly every aspect of your life, from your physical health and financial stability to your ability to work and spend time with loved ones. At Johnston Law Firm, we work to identify the full extent of your losses and pursue compensation that reflects both your immediate needs and the long-term consequences of your injuries.
Depending on the circumstances of your Salem car accident, you may be entitled to recover two primary categories of damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for measurable financial losses resulting from the accident. These may include:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medications, physical therapy, and rehabilitation costs.
- Future medical care: Anticipated expenses for ongoing treatment, specialist appointments, assistive devices, and long-term care.
- Lost wages: Income you missed because your injuries prevented you from working during recovery.
- Reduced earning capacity: Future income losses when permanent injuries limit your ability to work.
- Property damage: Reasonable costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle and other personal belongings.
- Out-of-pocket expenses: Necessary transportation, household assistance, and other accident-related costs.
Non-Economic Damages
Not every consequence of a car accident comes with a receipt. Non-economic damages address the physical, emotional, and personal hardships caused by your injuries, including:
- Physical pain and suffering: Ongoing discomfort, chronic pain, and other physical consequences of your injuries.
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, fear, and other psychological effects associated with the collision.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Reduced ability to participate in hobbies, recreational activities, and everyday experiences.
- Loss of companionship: Harm to qualifying personal relationships, including loss of care, comfort, or companionship.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement: Lasting physical limitations, scarring, and changes to your appearance or independence.
The amount of compensation available depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, the evidence supporting your losses, and whether you share responsibility for the accident. We can review your medical records, assess your current and future needs, and work to establish the full value of your claim. Our goal is to help you pursue fair compensation rather than accept an insurance settlement that fails to account for the lasting effects of your injuries.
Accepting a Settlement
After a Car Accident
In the days and weeks following a serious accident, the insurance company representing the negligent driver will likely contact you. They will act very friendly and as though they want to help you obtain the full compensation you deserve for medical expenses and vehicle repairs. Unfortunately, insurance is a big business, and these companies are more concerned about retaining their profits than they are about your safety and well-being.
Our car accident attorneys can advise on whether a settlement offer is fair and if it will fully cover the cost of your injuries. We know all their tactics, and we will fight to secure the compensation you deserve. If the insurer still refuses to offer a fair settlement, a lawyer at our firm can also file a lawsuit against the insurer to obtain the maximum financial compensation that you are entitled to.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Salem Car Accident Claims
The scene of an accident is often chaotic, but it is important to remain as calm as possible and take certain steps to protect your health and your legal rights. If emergency medical personnel advise you to go for emergency care, you should listen to them and seek the necessary medical treatment. If you can remain on the scene, you should do the following:
- Wait for law enforcement and give them your side of the story;
- Collect the names and contact information of witnesses and anyone involved in the collision;
- Take photos of the scene and make notes of any unusual weather or road conditions;
- Seek a medical evaluation to ensure any injuries are timely diagnosed.
Any party that acted negligently and contributed to causing the accident may be held responsible for your medical expenses and other losses. Some examples of negligent parties in collisions include the following:
- Distracted drivers;
- Drunk drivers;
- Aggressive drivers;
- Drivers who violated traffic laws;
- Government entities that failed to maintain, inspect, or repair the roads;
- Auto manufacturers that sold defective brakes, tires, airbags, or other pertinent auto parts.
It is highly important to identify the correct negligent party so that you can seek compensation from them. The action you take to seek recovery can vary based on whether the liable party is a person, a company, or the local government.
When you make a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company, you will likely receive a settlement offer. Many people believe their only option is to accept the offer, however, accepting a settlement that does not fully cover all of your losses can result in financial disaster. Once you accept a settlement, you will have to sign a release that waives your right to file a subsequent lawsuit. Therefore, if the settlement is too low, you will have no other way of obtaining compensation and will be responsible for paying your own medical bills and incurring your other losses with no legal relief. Unfortunately, many insurance companies begin with a low offer, so you should always review settlement offers with an experienced attorney before accepting. A lawyer can then negotiate with the insurance company to try to obtain the maximum settlement.
In many collisions, more than one driver makes an error that contributes to the accident. Fortunately, Oregon law allows victims to recover even if they were partially at fault, though they will not be able to recover for the full amount of their losses. Instead, the court will determine what percentage of fault is attributable to you and will decrease your compensation by that percentage.
For example, imagine that one driver suddenly slams on their brakes for no reason in the middle of the highway. The car behind the braking vehicle would have had time to stop, except that the driver was sending a text message at the time and was not looking at the road. By the time they look up, it is too late to stop and a collision occurs. This is a common example of a situation in which a driver may be partially at fault but may still be able to recover for some of their losses.
Like the majority of legal cases, there is time limit–called the statute of limitations–set out in Oregon law. Specifically, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for personal injury against the negligent party. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to recover.
Wrongful death is one that is caused by the negligent or reckless acts of another, or due to someone failing to take the appropriate precautions that could have prevented the death from occurring.
Contact Us for a FREE Consultation
Practice Areas
Testimonials
Sally Martinez
– Michelle E.
Mr. Johnston and his firm were incredibly thorough in getting us a fair settlement from our insurance company with little to no pressure. We really appreciated having someone who truly cared about us every step of the way. I would highly recommend the Johnston Law Firm to anyone in need of personal injury representation.
Contact Johnston Law Firm to Speak with an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
The time after a crash is confusing, but our attorneys can help you make sense of it all. At Johnston Law Firm, our seasoned attorneys have the necessary experience to successfully go up against the big insurance companies. We will put that expertise to work for you.
Although our firm is based in Portland, we serve clients in Salem, Marion County, and throughout Oregon. We handle car accident cases on contingency, meaning that you don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
Call us today at (503) 546-3167 or contact us online for a free consultation.
Contact Us for a FREE Consultation
If you have been seriously injured at no fault of your own, please contact us using the form.
FOR IMMEDIATE LEGAL ASSISTANCE
CALL 503-546-3167 NOW
WE ARE AVAILABLE 24/7