Compensation Available After a Pedestrian Accident in Portland

When a pedestrian accident in Portland happens, the victim can suffer serious injuries, losses from expensive medical care to weeks of lost wages, or even death. It can be difficult to recover from these physical, emotional, and financial burdens. 

In Oregon, injured pedestrians are entitled to financial compensation. If you were injured in, for example, a car accident, you could recover a settlement by filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. 

There are two categories of damages available in these claims: economic and non-economic. In some cases, you may qualify for a third category of compensation known as punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages make up the bulk of a pedestrian accident settlement. This category of compensation refers to any financial losses that you suffered as a result of the collision. 

These may include:

• Medical Expenses: You can recover compensation for the past and future medical care that you required as a result of the pedestrian accident. These expenses include surgeries, medications, and doctor’s visits. You can also secure damages to pay for specialized care, like physical therapy. 
• Lost Wages and Benefits: If you need to miss work because of your accident, you could recover the full value of your lost wages and benefits. In the event that you are unable to return to work after the accident, you can recover a settlement for the loss of future earnings.
• Property Damage: Pedestrian accidents can cause serious damage to electronic devices, clothes, jewelry, and other personal possessions. If you suffer any property damage in the accident, you can secure a settlement to pay for the cost of any repairs and replacements.  

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages involve the intangible pain and suffering that you suffered as a result of the accident. These damages can be physical in nature, such as chronic pain and permanent disability. They can also be emotional, such as emotional distress, mental anguish, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Recovering Economic Losses After a Pedestrian Accident

In some cases, you may qualify for punitive damages, which are intended to punish a defendant for dangerous and egregious behavior. In Oregon, punitive damages are awarded if you can prove with clear and convincing evidence that the at-fault party:

• Acted with malice or showed a reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm; and
• Has acted with a conscious indifference to the health, safety, and welfare of others.

What Is a Pedestrian Accident Settlement Worth?

The value of a settlement in a pedestrian accident claim depends on the individual losses that you experienced. There are some factors that could influence the value of your case, such as:

• Whether you are able to return to work
• Whether you have developed a permanent disability
• The severity of your injuries
• The length of time that you spend away from work
• The extent of your property damage

It can be challenging to determine the full value of your claim without speaking with a Portland pedestrian injury attorney. A lawyer can carefully evaluate your case, identify all potential avenues to compensation, and accurately calculate your maximum settlement.

As soon as possible after your pedestrian accident, contact an attorney to discuss your case and take your first steps toward recovering the award that you deserve.

Contact Our Portland Personal Injury Attorneys in Portland, OR – Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers

If you were injured in an accident in Portland, Oregon, please contact our Portland personal injury lawyers at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.

We proudly serve all throughout Multnomah County in Oregon. Visit our office at:

Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers
101 SW Main St. #1905
Portland, OR, 97204
(503) 773-3333
Hours: Open 24/7