Silverton PERSONAL
INJURY Attorney

Representing injured Victims 
In Silverton and Throughout All Of Oregon

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An unexpected accident can leave you dealing with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, lost income, and emotional distress. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may be unable to return to work or enjoy the activities you once did. When someone else’s negligence causes these losses, Oregon law allows you to pursue financial compensation through a personal injury claim.

At Johnston Law Firm, we understand how difficult life can become after a serious injury. Although our office is located in Portland, we represent injured clients in Silverton, throughout Marion County, and across Oregon. Led by attorney Marc A. Johnston, our legal team helps accident victims hold negligent parties accountable and pursue compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s carelessness, our Silverton personal injury lawyers are ready to help. Call us at (503) 546-3167 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn about your legal options.

How We Can Help With Your Silverton Personal Injury Claim

Pursuing compensation after an accident can be challenging, particularly when insurance companies dispute liability or attempt to minimize your injuries. At Johnston Law Firm, we handle the legal complexities of your case so you can concentrate on your recovery. From investigating the accident to negotiating a settlement or preparing for trial, we work to protect your rights throughout the process.

Our personal injury attorneys can help you by:

• Investigating your accident: Gathering evidence, reviewing accident reports, and identifying the parties responsible for your injuries.
• Establishing liability: Examining how negligence contributed to your accident and building a case supported by evidence.
• Documenting your losses: Evaluating medical expenses, lost income, future treatment needs, and other damages.
• Preparing your claim: Completing necessary paperwork, organizing supporting documentation, and meeting applicable filing deadlines.
• Handling insurance companies: Managing communications with insurers and protecting you against unfair settlement practices.
• Negotiating compensation: Pursuing a settlement that fairly reflects your injuries and their long-term consequences.
• Representing you during mediation: Presenting your position and working toward a fair resolution without unnecessary litigation.

We Are Prepared to Take Your Personal Injury Case to Court

While many personal injury claims are resolved through settlement negotiations, some require litigation to obtain fair compensation. If the responsible party or their insurer refuses to make a reasonable offer, we can pursue your claim in court.

Our legal team can handle the litigation process, including:

• Drafting and filing the lawsuit and arranging service on the defendant.
• Representing you at court hearings and addressing motions filed by opposing counsel.
• Obtaining additional evidence through discovery, including documents and witness testimony.
• Preparing you for depositions and questioning witnesses involved in the case.
• Working with medical professionals and other experts to support your claim.
• Presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and advocating for you at trial.

We Handle Silverton Personal Injury Claims on a Contingency Fee Basis

At Johnston Law Firm, we believe that financial concerns should not prevent injured individuals from seeking legal representation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney fees upfront, and our fees depend on recovering compensation for you.

We also offer free initial consultations, giving you an opportunity to discuss your accident, ask questions, and understand your legal options without any obligation.

Areas of Personal Injury
Law Our Lawyers Handle

Many types of accidents may sound minor but truthfully, any accident can result in some of the most serious injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidents and unintentional injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Even when victims survive these accidents, the injuries sustained result in over 30 million visits to hospital emergency rooms across the country. Even though these injuries are not inflicted intentionally, the negligent or careless parties who caused them should still be held accountable.

Personal injury law relies on the legal concept of negligence, which is an action or inaction another reasonable person would not have done under similar circumstances. Negligence causes many different types of accidents and they are all covered under personal injury law. The main areas of personal injury law include:

• Motor vehicle accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, boat accidents, etc.
• Slip and fall accidents, typically caused by uneven or slippery floors and sidewalks,
• Premises liability cases, such as swimming pool accidents,
• Accidents caused by defective products,
• Medical malpractice, and 
• Wrongful death, when victims do not survive the accident.

The Personal 
Injury Process

Under the tort law found in Chapter 31 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, you can seek financial compensation, legally known as damages. By filing a personal injury claim, you can pursue full damages from the negligent or reckless party. There are many steps involved in this process and they include:

• Filing your claim: It is always advised that you work with a Silverton personal injury lawyer who can file the appropriate paperwork with the right court on your behalf. This initial paperwork will identify the person or entity who caused your injuries, and the amount of compensation you are asking for.
• Mediation: This is a process that involves negotiating and compromising with the negligent party so you can reach a settlement and resolve your case. A mediator will be present to help foster compromise, and your attorney can also attend mediation sessions with you.
• Settlement: Your attorney will negotiate with the at-fault party, or the insurance company covering them, throughout the entire process.
• Determining accurate damages: Your lawyer will accurately value your claim at the beginning of the process. Damages can include economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages, including pain and suffering.
• Judgment: Very few personal injury cases go to trial. When they do though, a judge or jury will determine if you deserve compensation, as well as the amount you are entitled to.

Dealing with
the Insurance Company

If you have been hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, you will likely have to deal with an insurance company to recover compensation. For example, if a drunk driver hit your vehicle, you will have to file a claim with the insurance company for compensation. If you were hurt on someone else’s property, you will have to deal with the insurance company who provides coverage for the premises. Regardless of how you were hurt or which insurance company you are dealing with, you should always have a Silverton personal injury lawyer by your side.

Insurance is a big business and insurers do not prioritize the safety and well-being of accident victims. Instead, they are more concerned with retaining their profits, which means paying injured individuals as little as possible for their injuries. Insurers have many tricks and strategies they use to deny hurt victims the compensation they need. They may ask you for a recorded statement, or they may ask you to sign a medical release so they can look for a pre-existing condition. They will also always offer an initial settlement amount that is not nearly enough to fully cover the cost of your injuries.

A lawyer will know the tactics insurance companies use, and will not let them get away with it. An attorney will also have the necessary experience negotiating with insurers and will hold them accountable for paying the full settlement you deserve.

The Time Limit
on Personal Injury Claims

After being injured by the careless actions of someone else, you do have the right to file a claim for the compensation you need. However, you only have a limited amount of time to do so. Oregon, as all other states, sets a statute of limitations, or time limit, on personal injury claims. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. If you have lost a loved one due to an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, you have three years from the date of the accident that caused the death to file your claim.

Failing to file your claim on time will likely result in losing your rights to claim any damages at all. To avoid this, it is critical to speak to a Silverton personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an injury.