Even a minor car accident is an unsettling experience, but when an accident causes serious injuries to you or a close family member, the trauma impacts all aspects of life. In the worst cases, the effects of a car accident in Portland or elsewhere are life-altering, leaving an injury victim or their family members facing an uncertain future. Although nothing can erase the injuries and emotional distress, an experienced Portland car accident attorney from Sears Injury Law can help achieve financial accountability.
Contact Sears Injury Law to speak to a Portland personal injury attorney about your legal rights for recovery. Call us today at (503) 446-5127.
Why Choose Sears Injury Law as Your Car Accident Lawyers In Portland?
The days and weeks after a car accident are overwhelming, and a time when an injury victim should focus on their physical recovery. At Sears Injury Law, we take an assertive approach to your financial recovery so you can concentrate on healing. With Sears Injury Law, you can expect the following advantages for your case:
- A free consultation and contingency-based payment, so you pay us nothing until after we recover your compensation
- A powerful legal team with a well-earned reputation to put a strong voice behind your claim
- A compassionate Portland accident attorney dedicated to tailoring a legal strategy based on the specifics of your case for a favorable outcome that aligns with your goals for recovery
- Over 100 years of combined experience, knowledge, and a deep commitment to legal advocacy behind your case
Sears Injury Law believes in open communication, so you are always informed and involved in the progress of your car accident case. With over $250 million recovered for injured clients in the last five years alone, you’ll find fierce legal advocates at Sears Injury Law.
Common Causes of Portland Car Accidents
Portland residents lead busy, productive lives, leading to city streets bustling with traffic. Unfortunately, frustrated drivers, frequent construction, and congested roadways lead to a high incidence of traffic accidents. Common causes of car accidents in Portland include the following:
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper merging
- Unsafe passing
- Impaired driving
Driver negligence is the most common cause of car accidents in Portland and elsewhere. However, other entities sometimes cause or contribute to car accidents—for instance, a negligent road maintenance agency or the manufacturer of a defective auto part. Your Portland car accident lawyer from Sears Injury Law will vigorously pursue all avenues for compensation in your case.
What Types of Car Accidents are Common In Portland?
When a driver makes a careless mistake or takes reckless actions behind the wheel, they can cause injury not only to themselves but to others. Under Oregon’s fault-based insurance law, the at-fault driver is liable for the accident victim’s damages. The following types of car accidents are commonly seen in Portland car accident claims:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents (angle or broadside collisions)
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipes
- Vehicle rollovers
- Roadway departure accidents
- Collisions with obstacles
- Car vs. commercial truck accidents
- Multi-car pileups
Although Oregon’s accident laws allow an injury victim to file a claim against the other driver’s insurance, they must provide ample evidence of the at-fault party’s liability to make a successful case and recover full compensation.
Common Injuries In Portland Car Accident Claims
The crash force of an accident alone places tremendous strain on the body’s support system and organs. A 130-pound motorist becomes a 5,200-pound force propelled forward in a collision at only 40 miles per hour before the seatbelt snaps them back against the seat. At the same time, the metal, plastic, and glass structures of the car collapse inward at collision points, causing blunt force trauma. Common car accident injuries include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures of the limbs, hips, pelvis, ribs, or vertebrae
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Soft-tissue injuries (sprains, strains, torn ligaments, and tendon injuries) to the shoulders, knees, wrists, or arms
- Internal organ injuries
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Traumatic amputations
- External head, facial, and dental injuries
Injuries can cause mounting medical bills and, at the same time, prevent a prompt return to work. A disabling injury can make it difficult or impossible to return to work at all. The physical and financial consequences of car accident injuries are the “damages” in a compensation claim.
What Damages Can I Recover In a Portland Car Accident Case?
If someone else caused your car accident, you don’t have to be left responsible for the financial costs while you’re also dealing with the physical and emotional effects of the injury. A successful car accident claim can recover damages, such as the following:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs for further treatment
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Lost earnings
- Future income loss/diminished earning ability
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for catastrophic injuries in some cases, such as loss of limb, loss of an organ, disfigurement, the loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life
If a loved one died in a car accident in Portland or the surrounding region, a compassionate Portland wrongful death lawyer from Sears Injury Law can help the closest surviving family member recover compensation and a sense of justice for their loss.
How Does Oregon’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law Affect My Car Accident Claim?
Like many states, Oregon has fault-based car accident laws that allow an injury victim to file a lawsuit or claim against the responsible party’s insurance. Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence system, allowing even an accident victim who contributed to the accident to recover a portion of their damages as long as they are no more than 50% at fault.
The insurance company subtracts an injury victim’s percentage of fault from the amount they recover. Although this benefits those who contributed to the cause or severity of the accident, it also provides an incentive for an insurance company to protect its profits at your expense. Without proactive legal representation from an experienced Portland car accident lawyer, the insurance company could assign you an undue percentage of fault or shift liability for the accident to you. By assigning you 25% of contributory fault, the insurance company could reduce a $100,000 claim to $75,000.
Contact Our Portland Car Accident Attorneys Today
It’s imperative to move quickly after a car accident to ensure that your case meets necessary deadlines, time limits, and filing procedures. Contact Sears Injury Law to speak to a Portland car accident attorney about your case so we can take prompt action on your behalf and begin the process of your financial recovery.