What Can You Receive In A Pedestrian Accident Claim?

If you are one of the hundreds of people hurt in pedestrian accidents in Oregon annually, you probably want to know what you can get for your medical bills, pain, and lost earnings. Getting hit by a car can lead to very serious injuries and you need money to recover.

Some things to remember about pedestrian accidents when talking to your Portland crosswalk accident lawyer:

First, determining what the typical settlement is in one of these cases is difficult. It also is not especially helpful because everyone’s case and injuries are different. Also, while your attorney can access general information about similar past cases, much of the information is confidential.

Second, liability for a pedestrian accident is not always as clear as we might think. You could even be partially responsible, which will affect the compensation you receive.

What Affects Your Pedestrian Claim Compensation?

It is difficult to know what your case is worth generally. It comes down to several important factors.

First, how severe are your injuries? The insurance adjuster will probably look at your injuries in terms of soft or hard. If you have ‘soft’ injuries, this means soft tissue injuries such as whiplash. This is a real injury but it is more difficult to prove. On the other hand, a hard injury is a broken bone, slipped disc, or internal injury. These injuries are easy to see and prove.

People with soft injuries tend to get less compensation, while hard injuries get more.

Second, how much time did you miss at work? Your past lost income will be part of your pedestrian accident settlement. Your Portland crosswalk accident lawyer also should fight for you to receive future lost income if you will continue to miss work during your recovery.

Third, what is the nature and extent of your treatments by your doctor? Not all medical services are looked at the same by the adjuster. The medical treatment you get from the doctor will affect how much the insurance company values it. If you get treatments from a chiropractor, for example, this is not valued as much as treatments from a physician.

Fourth, how do your pedestrian accident injuries affect your life? Pain and suffering and disruptions of life are more difficult to quantify but can be a major part of your settlement. You can make a more convincing argument to the insurance company if you keep an injury diary, describing the pain and discomfort you have from your injuries. Talk about how the injuries prevent you from doing things you enjoy.

Fifth, was there a clear fault for the accident? Some pedestrian accidents have clear liability but not all of them. For example, if you were in a crosswalk and had the right of way and a car struck you, liability is clear. The insurance company will probably give you an easier time and offer a higher settlement.

However, if you were crossing the road in the crosswalk and did not have the right of way, you could be partially to blame. If you are less than 50% responsible for the accident in Oregon, you can still receive compensation. However, your settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault.

Last, how will your pedestrian accident injuries affect your life and ability to earn a living? If you have serious injuries that reduce your ability to make money at work, you could be entitled to future lost wages.

These are the variables that will affect the size of your pedestrian accident settlement. Find out more about what your case is worth by speaking to the best Portland crosswalk accident lawyer in your area.

Don’t Believe These Truck Accident Myths

Having a large truck slam into you in Portland is terrifying and you may not know what to do after the crash. You can learn some things online about truck accidents but don’t fall for any of the myths below. If you have questions about a potential claim, speak to a Portland truck accident lawyer today.

The Truck Driver Is Always At Fault

The truck driver may be at fault for many truck accidents, even the majority. But there are often other parties who also could share fault. Some of the most common parties who also could be to blame for a truck accident are the carrier, the cargo owner, the truck or parts manufacturer, the truck owner, the mechanic, and other vehicle drivers.

One of the reasons you should retain a Portland truck accident lawyer after an accident is to understand who may be at fault. There could be other people or entities at fault that are not apparent at first. For example, the trucking company may have had inadequate hiring practices and the driver they hired has a poor driving record. In that case, the trucking company could be liable for your injuries. Or, the trucking company could have pushed drivers too hard to get their loads to their destinations on time, making the trucker tired and causing an accident.

You Don’t Need An Attorney In A Motor Vehicle Accident

There are some auto accidents where an attorney may not be needed. For instance, if another driver rear ends you at low speed and you only have a dented bumper and no injuries, filing a claim with your insurance company is probably all you need.

However, if you are in a serious accident with a tractor-trailer, you almost certainly have major property damage and injuries. You should always have a Portland truck accident lawyer handle your case. The trucking company and its insurance provider will have plenty of powerful lawyers defending their interests. You should have a Portland truck accident lawyer going up against them to fight for your rights. Your attorney will have a better chance of getting you fair compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.

Every Truck Accident Case Goes To Trial

In reality, most truck accident cases are settled. The trucking and insurance company knows that going to trial is risky. The jury tends to be sympathetic to injured parties, especially if the defendant is a truck driver or trucking company. The trucking company could lose a lot more money by going to trial than settling.

So, your case may settle, but you should have a Portland truck accident lawyer negotiating on your behalf. The trucking company and their insurance provider will try to pay you much less than what you deserve. You should have an experienced lawyer representing you who knows what your case and injuries are worth.

There Is An ‘Average’ Truck Crash Settlement

The truth is that every truck crash injury case is different and unique. What one case was worth in Portland a year ago with injuries similar to yours may not reflect your case value.

There are many things that can influence what your truck crash claim is worth, such as the severity of your injuries, how long you are out of work, and your pain and suffering. If you talk to a lawyer guaranteeing you a certain amount, go find another attorney. There is no way to be sure how a case will work out. A legitimate attorney may be able to give you a rough settlement range, though. Talk to a Portland truck accident lawyer today for more information!

Should You File A Spine Injury Lawsuit?

Did you injure your spine in a recent car accident? You could have a ruptured disc, broken vertebrae, or even worse, a spinal cord injury. If another party caused the accident, it is strongly recommended to hire a spine injury law firm and file a spine injury lawsuit. Why?

You should hire a spine injury law firm because you could have a severe injury that compromises your ability to work and live a normal life for years or permanently. If you attempt to handle a back injury claim alone, you could end up with much less money than you need.

Imagine if you have a spinal cord injury that impacts your ability to walk and go to the bathroom without assistance. You could need medical care for life. It’s imperative to have a spine injury law firm work with you to get you the most money.

Your attorney could get you hundreds of thousands for your current and future medical care, lost earnings, pain and suffering, rehabilitation, job retraining, and more. You cannot do that on your own; you probably won’t even fully understand the true value of your case. Only with an attorney’s help in a lawsuit can you get fair compensation for a serious spine injury.

Also, with a spinal injury lawsuit, your attorney will be able to prove that the other person caused the accident. Only if you prove fault will the other party’s insurance company pay you for your losses. This can be attempted in settlement negotiations, but you could have to file a lawsuit if a fair settlement agreement isn’t reached.

Talk to a spine injury law firm today to learn if you have a strong case. If you don’t, the attorney will tell you and you will not be out any money.

How can you get the Most Money for your Personal Injury Claim?

Imagine if someone hits your car on the interstate in Portland and you slam into the concrete barrier and have severe facial injuries. You wonder if you will be able to prove the other driver caused the accident so you can get compensation. Yes, if the other driver clearly caused the accident, there is a high probability that you can get compensation. But how can you get the most money? Follow the tips we outline below, then speak to an accident attorney in Portland to have your case reviewed.

The best way to get more money for your claim is to get medical attention right away. Many people don’t want to go to the doctor after an accident, but this is always a mistake. You may not feel pain from your injuries for up to a day. But if you wait to see the doctor, your injuries may have gotten much worse. This could compromise your health as well as your personal injury claim. The insurance company will note that you did not go to the doctor right away and may claim that you were not seriously injured. Seeing a doctor right away shows that you were hurt and the injuries were related to the accident.

Second, you can get more money for your accident claim by following what your doctor says. Whatever the doctor tells you to do, you should do it. This means you need to go to all of your doctor’s appointments and any specialist appointments. If you have to miss one, reschedule it and attend as soon as possible. If you don’t follow what your doctor says, the insurance company may want to reduce what they pay you.

Third, be straight with your accident attorney Portland about your case. If you think you were partially at fault, you shouldn’t lie to your lawyer. Tell them everything about the case, both good and bad. Your attorney can only build the best case by fully understanding everything about it.

How can you get the Most Money for your Personal Injury Claim?

Were You Hurt In A Portland Pedestrian Accident?

Being hurt in a pedestrian accident is usually extremely painful and devastating. Being struck by a vehicle on the road or in a crosswalk can lead to grave injuries. If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, there are several things to be aware of.

First, you should get medical attention immediately. Any time you are hit by a vehicle as a pedestrian or hit the ground, you should be checked for injuries. There is a high likelihood of injury, but it might not appear at first. It can take a day for the pain to set in after the adrenaline rush from the accident fades. Any delay in medical treatment can cause worse problems. You also may have difficulty proving to the insurance company that your injuries are related to the accident.

Second, you should always have your case reviewed by a Portland pedestrian accident lawyer. Even if you are unsure if you have a case, there is no reason not to at least call a Portland pedestrian accident lawyer. They will tell you if they think you have a case. The attorney will not take the case if there is no chance of winning.

Third, you should take note of any pain and discomfort from your pedestrian accident injuries, which will probably be substantial. Writing down or taking a video journal of your pain and suffering can be useful for getting more pain and suffering compensation in your claim. Be sure to share this testimony with your Portland pedestrian accident lawyer so they can use it to your benefit.

Last, your attorney will not get paid unless you do, so you don’t have to worry about incurring legal fees that you cannot afford. And, you will not need to pay anything in advance; any legal fees will come from your settlement or award.

What You Must Know About Wrongful Death Lawsuits

The last thing anyone wants to do is file a wrongful death lawsuit. But if your loved one dies because of someone’s negligence, you should understand everything about wrongful death lawyers. If you did lose someone recently and another party caused the accident, talk to a wrongful death lawyer in Portland right away.

First, it is very important to file the lawsuit within the statute of limitations. If you do not do so, you cannot file suit. In Oregon, you must file a wrongful death claim within three years of the death. Contact your wrongful death lawyer Portland quickly to ensure that they have enough time to build a strong case.

Second, when you hire your attorney, the first thing they will focus on is pre-litigation. This process entails checking if your loved one had an estate, which could involve checking at the county courthouse. Second, your attorney will investigate the accident to find out why the person died. It is important to understand the cause of death and whether it can be proven that another person caused it.

Third, your attorney will look for evidence that can be used to connect the defendant to the accident. If a preponderance of the evidence shows that the defendant was involved in the death, you could receive compensation in the claim.

Fourth, understand that most wrongful death claims end in a settlement. Your wrongful death lawyer in Portland will focus on negotiating the best settlement for you by proving that the defendant caused the death. However, if the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement, your attorney will be ready to take it to trial.

Now that you understand important aspects of wrongful death claims, have your case looked over by a wrongful death lawyer in Portland as soon as you can.

What Should You Remember About Portland Car Accident Cases?

There are many car accidents in Portland, Oregon, every day, and if one happens to you, talk to an auto accident attorney in Portland, Oregon, who will help you in many ways.

The first thing to know about Oregon car accident cases is that the laws are different in every state for determining fault. There is a fault-based system for car accidents. This means that you can sue the other person if they are at fault in the accident. The state also uses a comparative negligence rule so your claim will be affected by how much you are responsible for the accident. This means if you are 30% at fault for the accident, your potential compensation is reduced by that amount. Your auto accident attorney in Portland, Oregon understands these laws and will base their legal strategy with them in mind

The next thing to know is it isn’t smart to just let the insurance companies for the parties work it out, especially when you have serious injuries. Your auto accident attorney Portland, Oregon will negotiate on your behalf and fight for more money for you.

The last thing to remember about these accidents is you should always have a car accident attorney working for you and not just any attorney. Auto accident laws and cases are a specific area of the law and you should have an attorney who only works in this area.

You also need to have an experienced auto accident attorney Portland, Oregon who will get your case filed promptly. There is only a two-year statute of limitations and you need to get your case filed in plenty of time to get the best outcome. So, talk to an experienced attorney today!

What Should You Remember About Portland Car Accident Cases?

There are many car accidents in Portland, Oregon, every day, and if one happens to you, talk to an auto accident attorney in Portland, Oregon, who will help you in many ways.

The next thing to know is it isn’t smart to just let the insurance companies for the parties work it out, especially when you have serious injuries. Your auto accident attorney Portland Oregon will negotiate on your behalf and fight for more money for you.

You also need to have an experienced auto accident attorney in Portland, Oregon who will get your case filed promptly. There is only a two-year statute of limitations and you need to get your case filed in plenty of time to get the best outcome. So, talk to an experienced attorney today!

Why Should You Hire A Portland Accident Lawyer?

Being in a car accident is one of the most stressful and scary experiences most of us have. You could have thousands of dollars in injuries and other losses. If the accident was caused by another party, a Portland accident lawyer can usually get you the money you need to recover. Learn more about why you should hire a Portland accident lawyer, then call one in your area today.

First, a Portland accident lawyer can help you get more compensation in your personal injury claim or personal injury lawsuit. After a car accident, you may have severe injuries, ranging from whiplash to broken bones, to head trauma or internal injuries. Recovering from these injuries is expensive; you could easily run up tens of thousands in medical bills, and you may not be able to work, either. To ensure the best recovery, you should have a Portland accident lawyer fighting for you.

Second, a Portland accident lawyer is experienced in gathering convincing evidence for personal injury cases. In this state, the at-fault party must compensate the other for their losses. So, getting the best evidence to prove fault is essential. Your lawyer will bring in experts who can figure out how to prove how the accident happened and hold that person accountable. Conclusive proof is needed to make sure you get paid.

Third, your Portland accident lawyer could help you negotiate lower payments to your doctors. Healthcare providers will typically set up a lien on your settlement so they get paid before you do. Your attorney probably has relationships with some of these healthcare providers and could negotiate lower payments for you. This could lead to more money in your pocket when the case settles.

All of these things are important aspects of how a Portland accident attorney can assist you. Make sure you call one today.