Lake Oswego Car
Accident Attorney

Car Accident Attorney Serving Clients in Lake Oswego and Throughout Oregon

Driving around Lake Oswego often becomes part of your everyday routine, whether you’re traveling along State Street, navigating Boones Ferry Road, commuting on Country Club Road, or using OR-43 to reach Portland and nearby communities. A car accident can interrupt that routine in seconds and leave you dealing with unexpected medical care, missed work, vehicle damage, and insurance issues. When a crash causes serious injuries, its physical, emotional, and financial effects may continue long after the accident scene has been cleared.

If you have been injured in an auto accident in Lake Oswego, Marc A. Johnston and Johnston Law Firm can help. From our Portland office, our car accident lawyers serve clients in Lake Oswego and throughout Oregon. Reach out to us 24/7 at 503-546-3167 or contact us online for a free consultation.

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How Our Attorneys Can Help With Your Lake Oswego Car Accident Claim

A car accident claim can quickly become complicated when serious injuries, disputed liability, or insurance coverage issues are involved. At Johnston Law Firm, we handle the legal work while helping you understand your options and make informed decisions throughout your case.

Our Lake Oswego car accident attorneys can help by:

• Investigating the crash and gathering evidence to establish how it occurred.
• Identifying negligent drivers and any other parties who may share responsibility.
• Obtaining police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and other evidence.
• Handling communications with insurance companies and responding to attempts to minimize your claim.
• Documenting medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other accident-related losses.
• Working with medical, accident reconstruction, and other qualified experts when appropriate.
• Negotiating for a fair settlement that reflects the full extent of your damages.
• Preparing your case for trial when insurers refuse to offer appropriate compensation.

From our Portland office, we provide Lake Oswego clients with focused, trial-ready representation aimed at protecting their rights and pursuing the compensation available under Oregon law.

Common Car Accident Injuries We Help Lake Oswego Clients Recover Compensation For

Car accidents can cause injuries ranging from temporary pain and limited mobility to permanent disabilities requiring extensive medical treatment. At Johnston Law Firm, we represent people injured in Lake Oswego crashes and work to document how their injuries affect their health, employment, finances, and everyday lives. Depending on the circumstances and severity of the collision, injuries we may help clients seek compensation for include:

• Neck and back stiffness
• Whiplash
• Herniated and bulging discs
• Knee and joint trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions and head trauma
• Lacerations and deep cuts
• Broken and fractured bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Chest and rib injuries
• Facial and dental injuries
• Nerve damage
• Burns and scarring
• Soft tissue injuries
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Paralysis and other catastrophic injuries

Common Causes of Car Accidents We See in Lake Oswego

A car accident can happen from various reasons in Lake Oswego, Oregon. From distracted driving to accidents involving drunk driving to accidents in intersections, these can be dangerous and devastating. Business Insider lists the most common causes as:

• Distracted driving
• Reckless driving
• Driving too fast for the current conditions
• Impaired driving (drunk, drugs)
• Ignoring stop lights

Determining Liability in Lake Oswego Car Accidents

As we know, car accidents can be due to various factors, but when considering filing a claim, determining liability in the accident is vital. The liability factor will play a huge role in how your case unfolds in the future. Sometimes it is simple to determine the negligent party, such as a rear-ending accident, where it is obvious who was at fault. In other circumstances, it can be difficult determining negligence.

In order to determine the fault of a Lake Oswego car accident, the police, insurance adjusters, and any other interested parties evaluate the following:

• Any comments made by either party after the accident
• Any citations or violations leading up to the accident
• Evidence such as: witness reports, surveillance, physical evidence, police reports
• Whether the accident was a rear-ending or from a left turn

Oregon Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents

In Lake Oswego, Oregon, a car accident may trigger various time-sensitive items in your life. One important factor to consider if you are involved in a car accident in Lake Oswego is in fact, timing. Under Oregon law, you have two years from the date of the injuries (which will also be the date of the accident) to file a personal injury civil lawsuit. 

Now, if you think two years seems like a long time and that you have time to figure everything out, be wary that if you wait too long, possible evidence for your case could be diminished or disappear. If you do not file your claim within this time frame, Oregon will deem your case to be “time-barred”, which will not allow you to recover any damages from your case. The sooner you can contact a Lake Oswego motor vehicle accident attorney, the sooner we can take the steps necessary to secure the compensation you need.

Lake Oswego Car Accident Damages

When a car accident results in personal injuries for those involved, the first step is to file a claim with your insurance company for an accident. If your insurance has Personal Injury Protection (PIP), sometimes this can help you recover from your car accident. If your insurance and PIP cannot make you whole again, it may be time to call a Lake Oswego car accident attorney to help you file a personal injury civil lawsuit. 

So, what kind of damages can you be eligible to receive in a Lake Oswego car accident claim?

Generally, car accident plaintiffs can be eligible to receive two types of compensatory damages, both of which are designed to compensate the victim 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Oswego Car Accident Claims