You may be wondering “why is it so important to call a lawyer after an accident?” The answer is simple: in our opinion, you will receive more money in compensation and will have to do less work yourself with a good personal injury attorney on your side. We’ve worked on over a thousand personal injury cases around Oregon and Southern Washington over the past several years. If you have suffered a personal injury, call us to get informed of your rights and the assistance of an experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer.
What is Considered Personal Injury?
A personal injury case arises when you seek legal advice regarding an accident or another incident in which the fault or carelessness of someone else causes you physical harm. Whether the case arises due to negligence or strict liability, you can seek liability and damages.
Immediately following the accident or incident, it is important that you begin to collect evidence to support your case and claim. It is also important that you document all injuries that incurred due to the accident. For a personal injury claim to be successful, you will want to have as much substantial and credible evidence as possible to present.
Credible evidence can include any police reports, your medical records, photos taken at the scene of the accident or incident, and anything else you feel is relevant to your case. It is best to seek counsel from your lawyer to determine which evidence is sufficient and if there are any additional steps you should take.
The average accident victim–whether it’s a result of a car accident, a slip and fall, or a dog bite–usually has no idea how to proceed. Nor should they. Accidents are, thankfully, an out-of-the-ordinary event. That’s why when they happen, it’s important to bring in the help of an expert immediately. The attorneys at Peterson Law Offices will let you know about those who will try to undermine your case, this entity usually being the insurance companies involved. Beware of their attempts to minimize your injuries by simply “paying you off” quickly.
Keep in mind, however, that many injuries to muscles, tendons, nerves, and the like don’t become obvious for days or even weeks. If you’ve settled with an insurance company early on, you have absolutely no recourse to recover monies for lost wages, future medical bills, and the like.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
There are several different types of personal injury cases. Personal injury law is also known as tort law and helps the plaintiff receive compensation for their injuries and the harm that was inflicted upon them.
Car Accidents
Car accidents are one of the most common personal injury cases in the United States. If you are involved in a car accident and can prove that the other driver was acting carelessly or recklessly, and failed to follow road rules and laws, then they can become financially responsible for any injuries you have stemming from the car accident.
As with any car accident, you will still want to contact your insurance and the responsible party’s insurance, and you will want to document the damage and injuries and obtain a copy of the police report.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice claims are when a healthcare professional fails to provide you, the patient, with competent care and you become injured by their mistake. It is important to remember, however, that this type of case is one of the more complex personal injury cases and it will require a sufficient amount of evidence and time to prove your claims.
Slip and Falls
Another very common personal injury case involves a slip and fall. Most of these slip and falls can put the fault on the property owner which gives them legal responsibility for the incident.
Property owners are to ensure that there are no hazards and the environment is safe, if a slip and fall occur due to the property owner’s negligence, then they are liable.
Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Cases
Depending on your state, the statute of limitations for a personal injury case can vary. Typically, you will have a three-year statute of limitations for your personal injury case and that three years begins to count down from the day the accident or incident took place. This is true in Washington state, but not Oregon, where you only have two years. However, there is also what is known as the “Discovery of Harm” rule. This rule states that the time period will not begin until you realize that you actually did suffer injuries from the accident. TThis rule is rare regarding personal injury claims because there is not much that can be discovered so long after the accident regarding how and why the injury occurred.
Reasons to Hire a Lawyer for a Personal Injury Case
If you feel that you have a personal injury case, it is best to seek legal advice from an experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer for several reasons:
- A lawyer that specializes in personal injury cases has an immense amount of experience in assessing this type of claim. They will be able to inform you of the potential expenses are and will let you know if you can and should pursue legal action
- Personal injury cases may be complicated, so it is important that you understand the legal terms, procedures, and even medical terms concerning your particular case. An experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer will help you decipher all of these elements and can assist you in preparing the proper paperwork that is needed to resolve your claim. They will also be able to provide you with all necessary documents, in addition to helping you fill these documents out correctly
- A personal injury case may have you emotional and at times even irrational. It is important to seek help from an experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer that can help you through the process and make good decisions. They will be able to remain objective about your personal injury case and will advise you according to what will be in your best interests
- An experienced Oregon personal injury lawyer also has experience with insurance companies and are able to work with these insurance companies to help you settle on an adequate Most personal injury cases are usually settled out of court and instead they may be able to establish a settlement with the insurance company involved that will benefit you
Were You injured in in Oregon or Washington?
Contact Todd Peterson
To get all the money you deserve for your accident, begin by filling out this short form. Please specify whether your accident happened in Oregon or Washington State, and give some brief details in the comments.
After sending the form, you’ll be taken to a second page where if you wish, you can share all the details of your accident in one convenient place.
Once I see your information, I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can. If you can’t wait, or you want to speak to someone immediately, phone 503-280-0888 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
