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Is Oregon a No-Fault State?

Posted on June 26, 2020 in

Car accidents can cause serious damage, from thousands of dollars in repair costs to severe injuries that require intense and lengthy medical care. If you are the victim of a car crash, you may wonder what your options are for collecting compensation after a collision.

Your legal options depend on whether the state where the crash occurred follows a fault or no-fault insurance system. Oregon is a “fault” car accident state. It follows a traditional fault-based system, which requires the driver responsible for the crash to pay for the victims’ damages.

No-Fault vs. Fault Car Insurance Systems

Under a no-fault insurance system, the person responsible for a car accident does not have to pay for the damages the victims sustain. Instead, each party files a claim with their own insurance company to receive compensation. No-fault states require drivers to purchase certain amounts of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to uphold this financial responsibility.

Only 12 states operate using a no-fault insurance system, including Florida, New York, Utah, and Hawaii. Each state has variations on the no-fault rules, including differing insurance requirements, options for progressing to a lawsuit, or a choice between fault and no-fault systems. The vast majority of states, including Oregon, follow a traditional fault-based system.

The drivers responsible for causing a car accident must pay for the damages of their victims. To uphold this financial responsibility, Oregon requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of liability insurance.

  • $25,000 in bodily injury or death liability coverage per person per accident
  • $50,000 in total bodily injury or death liability per accident
  • $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident
  • $15,000 in personal injury protection per person
  • $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per person
  • $50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per accident

You can purchase higher amounts of the required coverage if you choose. Failure to drive without the proper insurance can lead to severe penalties, such as fines, loss of driving privileges, and the annual filing of proof of insurance with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

How Does the Fault System Affect Your Claim?

The fault system gives Oregon residents three options for pursuing compensation after a car accident.

  • File a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance
  • File a claim with their own insurance, if possible
  • File a personal injury lawsuit in Oregon civil court

Usually, Oregon residents begin their claims by filing with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and progress to the lawsuit stage if the insurance process is unsuccessful. However, you may want to begin in the lawsuit stage if your attorney advises you to. For best results, speak to a Portland car accident attorney before pursuing a car crash claim.

For example, if you suffer excessive amounts of damages that exceed the insurance company’s policy limits, the company will likely deny your claim. In this situation, it may be best to pursue a lawsuit from the beginning to increase your chances of claiming the maximum possible compensation.

Schedule a Free Consultation at Tillmann Law

Are you suffering from the aftermath of an Oregon car accident? Do not wait to seek help — contact our Portland, Oregon office as soon as possible, we are available to take your call 24/7 at (503) 272-8986. Our car accident attorneys fight aggressively in the courtroom and at the negotiating table to help you secure the compensation you need to recover.

We will handle all paperwork, guide you through discussions with the insurance company, and represent your best interests during trial and mediation. Call us today to schedule your free consultation with a Portland personal injury lawyer or fill out an online contact form to tell us more about your case.

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

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

Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers
101 SW Main St. #1905
Portland, OR, 97204
(503) 272-8986
Open 24/7

Justin Vieth
Justin Vieth
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Shimmeri Selph
Shimmeri Selph
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Don't waste your time.
Alan Rogers
Alan Rogers
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Thanks Aaron, we truly appreciate everything you have done for us.I know that I was a handful early on, but you handled it with a deft touch and ultimately proved yourself to be a great advocate for our family none the less.Thanks so much Bud!You have my eternal respect and gratitude.
Tim Cheredayko
Tim Cheredayko
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Tillmann helped me out a lot! Going over ever detail with the case from both sides and always informing me what is going to happen through out the case. Definitely recommend Tillmann Law!
A B
A B
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Rude. Classist. The receptionist needs some manners. Actually hung up when told was a low income family.
Justin W
Justin W
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I had the pleasure of working with Aaron and his team over the course of the last year. They were very professional and responsive. Dealing with injuries can be dreadful, but Aaron made it as painless as possible. I highly recommend.
Bonnie Thorn
Bonnie Thorn
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Aaron Tillmann and his entire staff were professional, empathetic and very knowledgeable. They assisted our family at a time when we were grieving the loss of our son with compassion and respect.
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Tina Rutledge
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Arisbet Bustos
Arisbet Bustos
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I am very grateful and pleased with the services of Lawyer Aaron and his team work, especially Julia, who was always attentive to my concerns and resolved my doubts with a good attitude and empathy, and best of all, she speaks Spanish. Thank you so much!!!
Ken Pollett
Ken Pollett
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I was involved in a serious auto accident. Not that there is a good time to be in any accident, it just happened to be 2020. Tillman Law and support staff kept me in the loop as the court system was disarray with all the Covid issues. The staff was very professional and courteous. In a nutshell, they took care of me.
Jordan Bedrick
Jordan Bedrick
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My husband was in a bad car accident a few years back, and he was stopped due to traffic. He was behind a fuel truck, and someone rear-ended him, going 60mph. The worst part was our 6 mo old was in our and the truck was totaled beyond repair and my husbands back injured severly he ended up with 2 broken vertebrae. Our child had ptsd any time getting into a vehicle after that. Tillman made this right even though we couldn't do much for our son other comfort him and make car rides more comfortable from there on out Tillman was able to get my husband the money he deserved after the other driver was extremely negligent and either not paying attention or on his phone or something unfortunately this was during covid and when the police came they didnt do a single thing to check for any of that. We can't say enough good things about Aaron Tillman he gave us our hope back and the ability to have back surgery to repair a lot of his back issues due to the car wreck. So if you have been in an accident definitely call Tillman Law they're amazing super professional, kind and empathetic beings who will work for the best possible outcome for your case and fight they won't just roll over and play dead they spent about 2.5 years on my husbands case never giving up. He was always super honest with my husband and always communicated everything. So again, thank you, Aaron Tillman, and thank you to your law firm for working so tirelessly. We appreciate it more than you know.
Cassie Kocker
Cassie Kocker
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Aaron is great. He is professional and personable which makes you feel cared about during the process. He will provide advice and resources so that the process is smooth and renders positive results. I highly recommend!
Michael Darling (Mike Rich)
Michael Darling (Mike Rich)
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Still working with them to this day! Great firm great people. Much recommend
Brittany Sloan
Brittany Sloan
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I can’t recommend Tillman Law enough. We were in a sticky situation from a car accident in December and my partner was out of work for over a month. Aaron told us we may not be able to get those lost wages, but he would definitely try to fight the insurance for them and even then we might not see the money for a long time. It’s only been 3 1/2 months since the accident and we just got our lost funds today. Tillman Law was quick, efficient, and made this entire situation much less painful. I appreciate everything they’ve done for us.
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Jennifer nelson
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Great experience
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Oksana Pavlenko
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Really pleased with my experience at Tillmann Law. Mr. Tillmann and his team were on top of my case, worked hard to answer any questions I had and finished my case in a timely manner. I was really happy with the outcome . Thank you!
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Robert Swanson
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Tucker Earp
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Linette Figueroa
Linette Figueroa
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Mr. Tillman took care of my care seamlessly! He immediately hopped on my case immediately and guided me through the entire process. His team is professional, organized and well-resourced! He even went back to ensure the settlement was beyond fair. If you want someone who will fight tooth and nail on your behalf- Mr. Tillman is your lawyer!
Robert Aley
Robert Aley
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I am so happy to promote Aaron and his team. They did such an amazing job handling my case. Call them if you need service. I called him when I first needed help with my accident and he called me back within five minutes. This team is so great! I am so happy to have worked with them.
Teresa Ochoa
Teresa Ochoa
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Mr. Tillmann and his paralegal Jason were fantastic to work with! They were always available to answer my questions in a timely manner and delivered a very good outcome after I was rear ended. I would recommend their services to anyone.
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Roro Roro
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Amazing team at the Tillman Law, LLC . His work speaks for it self. Thank you for being professional and above all understanding to different people. God bless everyone that works there .
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Mercury Nightstone
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Aaron and his staff, especially Jason, were all extremely courteous, timely, and professional. Highly recommend, truly appreciate your hard work!
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Danielle Martin
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The Tillman Law Firm is amazing! I have been very pleased with everyone that I came in contact with concerning my case. They filed the case against the insurance company and fought hard in litigation to get what rightfully was taken from me. I would highly recommend them, they are the best in the Portland metro area!
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