Silverton PERSONAL
INJURY Attorney

Representing injured Victims 
In Silverton and Throughout All Of Oregon

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An accident can happen in an instant and the injuries sustained can range from minor to catastrophic. Your injuries will result in more than just physical pain and emotional distress. You will incur many medical expenses as you try to recover, you may not be able to return to work to earn the wages you need to pay these costs, and you also likely will not be able to enjoy the activities and hobbies you once did.

All of these losses are typically caused by the negligent actions of another person who caused the accident. Through a personal injury claim, you can recover financial compensation for all of your losses. If you or someone you love has been hurt due to someone else’s carelessness, our Silverton personal injury lawyer has the knowledge and expertise to help you recover the full compensation you deserve.

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, which may include drivers, occupants of the vehicle, and pedestrians,
• 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.

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.

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.