Dallas Car Accident Attorney

Auto Accident Lawyer Representing Injury Victims in Dallas, OR

Life can move fast at times while at other times, it feels as though time stops. Car accidents are one of those events that can go by in a blink of an eye, but the process afterwards can feel as though it will never end. We at the Johnston Law Firm are here to ease this process for you in a way that protects you and your loved ones. Call us today at 503-546-3167 to get your free consultation on your car accident claim.

Common Injuries in Car Accidents in Dallas

In any car accident, there can be a multitude of results, both in property damage and personal injury. As unfortunate as car accidents are, they are not uncommon, but some injuries from car accidents are similar. A various selection is listed below:

Whiplash
Lacerations or scratches
Head trauma
Lower body trauma
Herniated discs in back
Neck stiffness or soreness
Lower back stiffness or soreness

How to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Dallas

After an accident, your first steps will be to ensure your safety and report the accident to your insurance company as well as the DMV. Your next call should be to an experienced car accident attorney who will be dedicated in their fight for your rights.

When you call us at the Johnston Law Firm, we will listen to your situation and give you a free initial case review. We will be able to help you find the help you deserve. This help could be in the form of an attorney referral or if we feel we could best represent you, we will schedule an in-person meeting to discuss your case further. If you decide you would like to hire us for your case, we will present you with the necessary documents to begin your case.

Car Accident Claim Deadlines

When a car accident occurs, the most important aspect of the situation is to get you and loved ones to safety. Pull your vehicle off to a safe spot of the road, contact the police, go to urgent care if necessary. There are two important deadlines to keep in mind in these situations. The first is to file an accident report with DMV within 72 hours of the accident. The next, and more importantly if you choose to pursue damages, is two years. You have two years from the date of the accident and injuries (same day) to file a personal injury claim.

If you fail to file within these two years, the state will deem your case “time-barred”, therefore eliminating your right to pursue compensation for your losses. We know how stressful and time-consuming this time can be for you and your loved ones after an accident, but the sooner you contact us at the Johnston Law Firm, the sooner we can help you.

Types of Damages Eligible for Compensation in Dallas Car Accident Cases

In the state of Oregon, there are two types of damages that victims can be eligible to pursue after a car accident. Both economic and non-economic damages are designed to compensate victims for their losses.

Economic Damages: compensate an injured plaintiff for direct financial losses, such as medication costs, hospitalization stays, surgery bills and lost wages. Economic damages are defined by Oregon law as “objectively verifiable monetary losses including but not limited to reasonable charges necessarily incurred for medical, hospital, nursing and rehabilitative services and other health care services, burial and memorial expenses, loss of income and past and future impairment of earning capacity”.

Noneconomic Damages: compensate an injured plaintiff for more subjective losses such as emotional trauma or distress. Oregon law defines these as “subjective, non-monetary losses, including but not limited to pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, humiliation”. These damages are more difficult to quantify, as emotional pain can be traumatic and long-lasting, as well as difficult to recover from.

Common Misconceptions about Car Accident Cases

Such is with a variety of topics in our society, there are pieces of information that are simply false and misconceptions. When going into relatively unknown situations like beginning a civil case from a car accident, it is almost as important to know these as it is to know what to do. Below are some common misconceptions about this process.

“Lawyers are unnecessary.” Lawyers are here to make sure you get what you deserve. We at the Johnston Law Firm are here to take this process off your shoulders and to fight on your behalf to ensure insurance companies pay their fair share. Insurance companies do not like attorneys, because we hold them accountable, therefore costing them more money. They care for their profit; we care for you.

“I have insurance, so I’m good!” Theoretically, this is true. But in the world of insurance companies and collections agents, this process can be much more complicated and deceiving than you think. If you are hit by another vehicle and have insurance, that is good. This is what this process should look like, but sometimes it isn’t as simple as that. Your insurance company should take care of you because they represent you. But many times, these companies do not do what they should, which is to care about you. That is what we are here for. We at the Johnston Law Firm will protect you and ensure your family’s financial security.

“I can’t afford an attorney.” In these situations, we know how difficult and confusing it can be. We know how stressful it makes life for you and your loved ones, and that is why we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we charge nothing up front and not until we settle your case, do we collect. Just the same as you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my insurance cover my medical bills?

Depending on your insurance and the at-fault driver’s insurance, this can be the case. You may also have what is called PIP insurance which stands for Personal Injury Protection. If you were injured as the driver or passenger of a car, and even as a pedestrian or bicyclist, you will most likely have PIP coverage. PIP coverage comes from your own, or from another person’s auto insurance, and provides at least $15,000 of no-fault medical bill coverage so you can seek the treatment your need—even before health insurance kicks in to pay bills.

Does insurance pay for my vehicle damage?

If you were hit by another vehicle, the at-fault driver’s insurance will most likely pay for either your repairs, or offer you a check to buy your “totaled” vehicle.

What does it mean when my vehicle is “totaled”?

This is decided upon by the at-fault driver’s insurance most likely and means that the repairs would cost more than the car is currently worth. If they total your vehicle, they will offer you an amount of money to buy the vehicle from you.

Johnston Law Firm, located in Portland, handles car accident claims throughout Oregon, including Dallas.

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