Happy Valley Car Accident Attorney

Auto Accident Lawyer Representing Injury Victims in Happy Valley, OR

Accidents can happen to any of us, and it tends to surprise us. Unexpected events are difficult to deal with, even if they have a positive impact. A car accident tends not to be a positive experience for most of us, but that does not mean the process has to be scary and unknown afterwards. If you or a loved one has been injured or has passed away from those injuries stemming from an auto accident, call your local car accident attorney, Marc Johnston. The Johnston Law Firm team of experienced and dedicated paralegals and attorney Marc Johnston will fight for you like you are part of their family. Call us today at 503-546-3167.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Happy Valley

There can be so much variance in how accidents happen but like other types of occurrences, there tends to be common types. Below are some of the most common causes of car accidents in Oregon:

Distracted driving: texting, drinking
Following too closely behind
Reckless driving tactics: illegal lane changes, speeding
Not avoiding vehicle in front
Driving too fast for the current conditions

What to Do After a Car Accident in Happy Valley

Unexpected events are difficult to prepare for and sometimes even more difficult to handle when they do happen. When a car accident happens, so many questions and thoughts can come into your head, anything from the safety of yourself and everyone in the car, to how did this happen? No matter how the accident occurs or how it unfolds, the Johnston Law Firm will be there to help answer any questions about what to do next, as well as possible representation in seeking compensation for you and your family.

The first thing to do immediately after an accident is to ensure the safety of yourself and your passengers, seek any medical attention if needed. Call the police and wait for their arrival. If you are not already off the road away from traffic, move yourself and vehicle if able to the side of the road.

Obtain photos of your vehicle, the other vehicle (s), road signs, and any missing vehicle parts
Obtain photos of the other driver (s) license and insurance coverage
Gather any information from possible witnesses of the accident: name, number, what they saw
Return safely home and call your insurance company to report the accident (DO NOT give any recorded statements to either insurance company)
Fill out an accident report through the DMV within 72 hours of the accident
Call your car accident lawyer

The sooner you can do these things, the better the process will turn out to be. The sooner you call the Johnston Law Firm, the sooner we can assess what your next step should be and the sooner you can move on from this unfortunate incident.

Helpful Tips When Dealing with a Motor Vehicle Accident in Happy Valley

Not all of us have been in an accident so if or when this happens, many of us are unprepared of what to do. There is some knowledge that we may not have if this time comes, and it can get very confusing very fast. Below are some helpful tips from us, who know how this process goes and who know how scary it can be:

Do not say anything to the other driver (s) about the details of the accident: how it happened, whose fault it is, etc. This information could come back later to hurt your chances for compensation.
Be thorough with your pictures and recordings of the scene
Report the accident to your insurance company and the DMV as soon as you are able
DO NOT give any recorded statements to either insurance companies without first calling your car accident attorney
You will receive phone calls from both insurance companies, possibly every day, but once you officially report the accident to them, you have no obligation to answer these calls. You can either ignore the calls or answer and tell them, “My attorney will be handling this, thank you and goodbye”.
Do not communicate with the other party (s) about the accident afterwards, the at-fault driver may try and contact you, but you have no obligation to reply.

Types of Damages that are Eligible in Happy Valley Car Accidents

In the state of Oregon, car accident victims are eligible to receive two types of compensation after an auto accident, both of which are designed to compensate the victim for their losses:

Economic Damages: compensate an injured victim 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 victim 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.

The specific amount you will be eligible for will depend on various factors but trust us at the Johnston Law Firm that we will fight tooth and nail to get you back what you lost. Contact us to find out more about how we can help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I have a case?

You may not know if you have a case until you speak with an attorney. Your first two calls after an accident should be to: 1) Your insurance company 2) Your car accident attorney. Even if you end up not hiring an attorney, you should call for that free consultation because we will give you our best advice for your situation. If you call us at the Johnston Law Firm, we will listen to your circumstances and guide you in your next step, whether that be with us in the form of an in-person meeting, or with helpful advice and the information of another attorney more suited for your case. We will care for you no matter what.

How much can I get for my accident?

This question will not be answered until your attorney and their team examines all the facts of the case. All you can be sure of is that if we at the Johnston Law Firm can represent you, we will ensure that you will get what you deserve. We will dedicate our knowledge and hard work to winning you back what you lost.

Will my insurance cover medical bills?

This depends on your insurance but if you have what is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP), this can cover an amount of these costs. If you file an auto insurance claim, and the insurance companies find that the accident was not your fault, most likely the at-fault driver’s insurance will cover the vehicle damages and your insurance will cover the medical part. But sometimes with serious injuries, your insurance may not be enough to cover what you need to get better. This is where we at the Johnston Law Firm come in. We will ensure you are fairly protected and compensated.

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

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Happy Valley Accident Attorney