EUGENE PEDESTRIAN
INJURY ATTORNEY

We Represent Pedestrian Injury 
Victims in Eugene & Throughout Oregon

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Many people may not think of Eugene as the most walkable city in all of Oregon, but there are parts of the city that cater to pedestrians. The downtown area, in particular, is a great place to check out the many restaurants and shops offered on foot. Even in these areas of the city, pedestrians can become involved in accidents and sustain serious injuries. That’s where our pedestrian accident lawyers come in.

Johnston Law Firm has been serving clients in Eugene and throughout Oregon for decades. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident caused by another person’s negligence, we are here to help. Our Portland-based personal injury attorneys can ensure you receive the full and fair settlement you justly deserve. Call us today at 503-546-3167 or contact us online for a free consultation.

What Our Eugene Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Can Do for You

A serious pedestrian accident can leave you facing significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Our Eugene pedestrian accident lawyers are prepared to manage every aspect of your claim, giving you the time and support needed to focus on healing. When you choose us, here’s what we’ll do for you:

• Conduct a thorough accident investigation: We collect police reports, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, and other evidence to determine how the accident occurred and identify everyone who may be liable.
• Handle communications with insurance companies: Our attorneys deal directly with insurance adjusters, protecting you from tactics designed to reduce your claim’s value or shift blame for the accident.
• Calculate the full value of your losses: We assess current and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, rehabilitation costs, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
• Build a strong case for liability: By gathering evidence and consulting experts when necessary, we work to prove negligence and establish the connection between the at-fault party’s actions and your injuries.
• Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement: Our legal team pursues maximum compensation through strategic negotiations, ensuring any settlement offer accurately reflects the extent of your damages.
• Take your case to trial if necessary: When insurance companies refuse to offer fair compensation, we are prepared to present a compelling case in court and advocate for your best interests.

At Johnston Law Firm, we understand the challenges pedestrian accident victims face and are committed to providing dedicated legal representation throughout the claims process. Our goal is to secure the compensation you need while helping you move forward with confidence.

Common Types of Accidents
That Result in Pedestrian Injuries

Pedestrians can become hurt in many ways as they make their way through the city. Some of the most common types of accidents pedestrians are involved in are as follows:

• Accidents in crosswalks: Oregon has a unique law that states that all intersections are considered crosswalks, regardless of whether they ares outlined by marks on the road. All motorists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians any time they are in a crosswalk. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes speed up to “catch” a light, or they simply disregard the rights of pedestrians while they are in a crosswalk. This type of car accident can cause serious pedestrian injuries.
• Turning accidents: Motorists may look straight ahead to ensure they can make a turn, particularly when they are making a left turn. Unfortunately, they do not always look to the point where they are turning to ensure pedestrians are not crossing the street.
• Parking lot accidents: Parking lots are places full of pedestrians. People walk to and from stores, malls, office buildings, and other places, and they have to make their way through a parking lot as they do. At the same time, drivers are coming and going, pulling into and out of parking spots. One small negligent action, such as failing to check blind spots, can easily result in a parking lot accident involving a pedestrian. These accidents may even cause a wrongful death.
• Sideswipe accidents: When sidewalks are not available, pedestrians are forced to walk along the shoulder of the road. Although not ideal, pedestrians should try to walk as far from traffic as possible, and they should walk facing traffic. Even when pedestrians know how to walk alongside traffic and try to keep themselves as safe as possible, it is not always possible. A driver may simply not see the pedestrian walking along the side of the road, or they may swerve to avoid an object in the road. Any small act can place a pedestrian at the side of the road in danger, and a sideswipe accident can easily occur.
• Reckless driver: Two of the main causes of pedestrian accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are the reckless actions of drivers, particularly speeding and driving under the influence. Reckless driving behavior is often considered. This means accident victims sometimes have a better chance of claiming punitive damages.

Don’t miss out on these common personal injury mistakes.

Get the legal counsel you need to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim.

Damages Available for
Pedestrian Injuries

No one can determine the value of your pedestrian accident claim without first fully reviewing the facts of your case. The damages, or financial compensation, available in injury claims, are meant to restore you as wholly as possible to the same condition you were in before the accident occurred. Some of the most common damages an insurance company sees in accident claims include:

• Cost of medical bills: Medical expenses typically make up the bulk of damages in injury claims. It is not only the cost of treatment you can claim but also any testing or scanning, such as MRIs or CAT scans, the cost of medication, hospital stays, surgery, and even the cost of your transportation to and from doctor’s appointments. It is also important to include not only your past and current medical expenses, but also any you will incur in the future.
• Lost wages: A pedestrian accident will likely result in injuries so severe, you cannot return to work right away. You may be away from work for weeks, months, or even years. You can include compensation for this missed time from work within your claim, but you can also include any lost benefits, bonuses, sick pay, vacation pay, and any other benefits you lost due to your time away from work. If your injuries are so severe that you cannot perform the same type of work again in the future, you can claim the difference in income that you are currently able to earn and the income that you earned before the accident.
• Pain and suffering: The injuries you will suffer during a pedestrian accident will cause you a great deal of pain and suffering. Although this loss does not have an actual dollar value in the same way as medical expenses or lost income, it is still a loss you suffered and you should still receive compensation for it.
• Costs associated with a long-term disability: A long-term disability or disfigurement may cause you a lifetime of embarrassment, expensive costs for long-term care, and more. It is important to consider these losses and to include them in your claim so you receive a fair settlement.
• Any other expense: Your pedestrian accident claim likely has unique factors and losses, and you deserve compensation for them, too. A Eugene pedestrian injury attorney will consider all the facts of your case so anything you lost due to the accident is recovered.

The Statute of Limitations on Pedestrian Injury Claims in Eugene, Oregon

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Eugene, it is important to understand that Oregon law places a time limit on your right to file a personal injury lawsuit. In most cases, injured pedestrians have two years from the date of the accident to bring a claim against the at-fault party. Failing to file within this deadline can result in the court dismissing your case, regardless of how severe your injuries may be or how clear the other party’s negligence appears.

Although two years may seem like plenty of time, building a strong pedestrian accident claim often requires extensive investigation and evidence collection. Certain circumstances can also affect the filing deadline, particularly when a government entity is involved or when the injured victim is a minor. For these reasons, it is wise to speak with an experienced Eugene pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident to protect your rights and ensure all legal deadlines are met.