Troutdale Personal Injury Lawyer

How Do I Prove Negligence?⌄

To establish negligence, you need to prove:
1. The defendant owed you a duty of care. Usually, the duty arises because of close physical proximity. A motorist, for example, must drive carefully so as not to injure anyone else on the road or in the crosswalk.
2. The defendant’s conduct breached that duty. This means the defendant’s conduct fell below the duty of care.
3. You suffered damages. Damages are losses which a court can compensate. Most bodily injuries result in damages, such as medical expenses or pain and suffering.
4. Your damages are caused by the defendant’s breach of their duty. This is the causation element. Your injury must result from the defendant’s conduct.
We use different types of evidence with each case. For example, we might rely heavily on surveillance video if you slipped and fell in a store. In a car accident case, we might rely on physical evidence and witness testimony. One advantage of working with a seasoned lawyer is that we know what evidence is useful for your case.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?⌄

Deadlines are found in the relevant statutes of limitations. Generally, most personal injury cases give you two years to file suit. The clock begins on the date of the accident. The same is true for medical malpractice cases. You get two years from the date of the medical error or when you reasonably discovered your injury.
Wrongful death cases have a different deadline: three years from the date of the accident which led to the death. We strongly encourage anyone who thinks they have a case to call our firm right away.

Can You Settle My Claim?⌄

Yes. Very few cases end up going to trial. In most situations, a settlement works for everyone involved. We can secure some compensation without worrying about how unpredictable juries can be. Many people also find trials very stressful, so we can avoid one by negotiating a fair settlement.

How Much Can I Receive in Compensation?⌄

Every accident victim’s case is unique. We take a close look at all your losses from the accident. Some of the most common expenses are medical and rehabilitation bills. Someone with a serious injury might need tens of thousands of dollars of care. Other victims lose income because they can’t work. They should receive compensation for this and any property damage, like damage to their car.
You should also receive a fair amount for your pain and suffering and emotional injuries. These are harder to put a price tag on.

Are Your Services Affordable?⌄

Yes. Some lawyers charge clients by the hour for all work that they do. That type of arrangement can make hiring a lawyer expensive. We do things differently. At Johnston Law Firm, we use a contingency fee agreement, also called a “no win, no fee” agreement. If we win your case, we take only a slice of your settlement or judgment. If we lose, we don’t get paid anything.