What do I do after a Car Accident in Tualatin?
The first step is to get you and your loved ones to safety. Make sure everyone is ok before anything else. Obtain the following:
- Photos of the other driver’s license, insurance coverage
- Photos of all property damage and street names nearby
There are a few calls to make after an accident. Call the Tualatin police immediately so they can come to help clear the scene safely. Call and report the accident to your insurance company. Do not give them any recorded statements, just tell them you were in an accident. Contact an experienced Tualatin car accident lawyer. Even if you do not think you want to hire an attorney, we highly recommend you call as soon as you can. We can give you a good launching point for what to do next.
What Types of Compensation am I Eligible for in Tualatin Car Accident Cases?
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.
Time Matters in Tualatin Car Accident Cases
If you or a loved one are injured in an auto accident, or pass away due to those injuries, you might be eligible for compensation. In the state of Oregon, you have two years from the date of the car accident (and the injuries) to file a personal injury claim. If you fail to act within this timeframe, you will lose your right for compensation.
Two years might seem like a substantial amount of time but in this situation, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. They should be your 2nd or 3rd phone call after an accident. We at the Johnston Law Firm will be there for you in this unnerving time to offer our best legal advice and if it suits you best, be the ones to fight for you. Give us a call today at 503-546-3167.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation
Contact us today at
503-546-3167
to get a FREE, confidential case evaluation
We’re conveniently located in downtown Portland, and we offer flexible hours by appointment.