Vernonia car
ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Auto Accident Lawyer Representing
Injury Victims in Vernonia, OR

For those of us who have been involved in a car accident, it is a stressful and scary experience. In these circumstances, it can be a difficult task to focus your attention on anything but the health of you and your loved ones. We at the Johnston Law Firm can help you through this process. We can guide you to your next step and give you advice about what to do right after your accident. We want what is best for you and we can help you get back what you lost. Call us today at 503-546-3167.

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What do I do after
getting in a car accident in Vernonia?

The focus for any victim after a car accident is to ensure your safety, whether that means getting home safely or seeking medical attention, or both. There are a few crucial steps to take to properly prepare you and your loved ones for this upcoming process.

• Find a safe place to pull off the road, with or without your vehicle
• Ensure the police are called and that everyone is safe
• Take photos of the other driver (s) drivers license, license plate and insurance card.
• Take photos of all vehicle damage and street signs (speed signs, street names, etc.)
• Call your insurance company and report the accident (do not give a recorded statement before speaking with an attorney’s office)
• File an auto accident report through the DMV
• Call the Johnston Law Firm

Common Injuries
from Car Accidents

With car accidents, nothing is expected, and nothing is guaranteed. Some minor accidents result in major injury and other major accidents result in little to nor injury.

There is no telling how these accidents will affect the involved individuals, physically or emotionally. In many circumstances, the emotional toll can never go away, while sometimes a victim can heal from their injuries. Regarding the clients we have represented, we have seen the injuries listed below, many times:

• Whiplash
• Lower back pain
• Neck stiffness and soreness
• Lower back stiffness
• Lacerations
• Head trauma
• Lower body trauma
• Herniated discs in back
• Bulging discs in back

Damages Eligible 
for Compensation

In car accident cases, victims can be eligible to pursue two types of compensation to recover from their losses. Both types are designed to do just that, compensate for 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.

Oregon is a 
Comparative Fault State

There are different laws regarding liability and fault. In the state of Oregon, we have what is called, comparative fault laws. If you are found to be no more than 51% at fault, you can pursue compensation. Some states require only one party be found at fault, which obviously makes cases a little more succinct and less complex. In Oregon, determining liability is the first hurdle a case needs to clear before getting started.

Determining Liability in 
Car Accidents in Vernonia

When a car accident occurs, there are various moving parts that will dictate how the case progresses, either in your favor or against it. One of the main aspects of the case will be determining liability. All involved insurance companies will investigate the accident. We at the Johnston Law Firm will as well. We will all consider the following factors:

• Driving records of all involved drivers
• Physical evidence
• Property damage
• Type of accident (rear end, side impact collisions, collisions involving pedestrians)
• Witness information
• Police reports

Call your experienced and 
dedicated Vernonia car accident lawyer

We at the Johnston Law Firm are here to help in any way we can. If you give us a call, we will listen to what happened to you or your loved ones and give you a free case consultation. If we feel we could best be suited to represent you, we will schedule an in-person meeting to discuss the case further. If we feel another attorney might help you better, we will let them know you will be calling and give you their information. We are here to help, give us a call today at 503-546-3167 or send us a message online.

Frequently
Asked Questions