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Portland Car Accident Attorney

As debilitating and life-changing as car accidents can be, hope is available. When you reach out to a compassionate personal injury attorney, you can learn your legal options. Your Portland car accident lawyer can connect you to quality doctors to tend to your car accident injuries, handle insurance settlement negotiations on your behalf, and protect your rights every step of the way.

Please do not wait to contact Tillmann Law if you have been in a car accident in Portland, Oregon. We take a variety of car accident case types and are passionate about protecting the rights of crash survivors. Our Portland car accident lawyers may be able to help you achieve fair and full financial compensation for your accident-related damages. Call (503) 272-8986 to set up a free initial consultation at our office, your home, or a hospital in Portland.

Why Choose Tillmann Law?

  • We do what needs to be done to help clients with their car accident cases. We always go the extra mile to help our clients achieve the maximum recovery possible for their damages.
  • We understand how auto insurance corporations handle claims. Our staff includes former insurance claims professionals with unique insights into how the other side operates.
  • We have used our resources, abilities, and aggressive legal tactics to secure millions of dollars in compensation for our clients over the last several years. We have experience in a wide range of auto accident types.
  • Our Portland car accident attorneys at Tillmann Law, wish to represent injured clients without contributing to their financial concerns. Our team can take all car crash cases in Portland on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees unless we win.

Car Accident Resources & FAQs

Do You Need a Portland Car Accident Attorney?

Dealing with a car accident in Portland might not be easy depending on your case. If you have serious injuries, for example, insurance companies might refuse to offer a reasonably priced settlement. It might take hiring an attorney to force an insurance provider to take your claim and demands seriously. A lawyer will know precisely how to deal with insurance companies during the claims process in Oregon. While you concentrate on recuperating from your crash-related injuries, your Portland accident lawyer can take care of insurance claim negotiations on your behalf. Hiring a lawyer will also give you the ability to take your case to trial in Multnomah County, if necessary.

Portland car Accident Attorney

Oregon Insurance Laws

When it comes to car accidents, states typically fall into one of two categories: fault or no-fault. In no-fault states, drivers are responsible for their own damages following an accident. They pay for their losses using personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and can pursue a claim against the at-fault driver if their injuries meet certain severity thresholds.

Like most states, Oregon follows a fault-based system for car accidents. Drivers who are responsible for collisions must pay for their victims’ damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages. To uphold this financial responsibility, Oregon requires all drivers to carry the following amounts of liability insurance.

  • $25,000 liability coverage for bodily injury or death of one person per accident
  • $50,000 liability coverage for total bodily injury or death liability per accident
  • $20,000 liability coverage for property damage per accident
  • $15,000 in PIP coverage per person
  • Uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 total per accident

Drivers can choose to purchase higher amounts of compensation if they wish. If you are injured by a negligent driver, you can recover a settlement for your losses by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against him or her. If the driver does not have insurance, you could pursue a claim under your own uninsured motorist policy.

Different paths to compensation are ideal under different circumstances. To identify your optimal path to recovery, speak to a Portland car accident lawyer at Tillmann Law as soon as possible. 

What to Do After a Car Accident in Portland

It is normal to feel confused or overwhelmed after a serious car accident. It is important, however, to try to recall a few essential steps to take if you have been in a crash. Print this list and keep it in your glovebox, if necessary, or take a screenshot to keep in your phone for future reference. Take 10 main steps after a crash in Portland to improve your odds of making a full financial recovery.

  1. Stay calm. Take deep breaths to help relieve the adrenaline coursing through your veins. Resist the urge to yell at the other driver, even if the other driver is yelling at you.
  2. Check for injuries. Check yourself for pain, swelling, tingling, or bruising. Check others for injuries as well if it is safe to exit your vehicle.
  3. Call 911. If it appears the auto accident caused personal injuries, deaths, or at least $2,500 in property damages, call 911 while still at the scene.
  4. Stay and exchange information. Stay where you are until the police arrive. While you wait, get the other driver’s name, phone number, and insurance information.
  5. Take photographs. Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, and the crash scene in its entirety, if possible.
  6. Do not admit fault. Do not tell the other driver or the police that you caused the accident, even if you think you did. Wait for an investigation to determine fault.
  7. Go to the hospital. Visit a hospital for medical treatment in Portland immediately for a physical evaluation and any necessary medical tests. Even if you feel fine, seek medical attention from a doctor to make sure.
  8. Call your insurance company. Report your car accident to your own insurer as soon as possible. You might need to file a demand letter with the other driver’s insurer instead if you do not have no-fault insurance.
  9. Create a crash file. Obtain copies of your police report, medical records, photographs and other relevant information to create a folder documenting your car accident.
  10. Contact a car accident lawyer. A lawyer can help you with all the steps involved with the insurance companies and/or injury trial process in Portland.

Call (503) 272-8986 as soon as you can for tailored, trustworthy advice as to what to do after a serious car accident in Portland. The lawyers at Tillmann Law will listen to your story and list your legal options for you. We may offer to take you on as a client and help you negotiate for fair financial compensation after a serious crash in Portland, OR. Initial consultations with our car accident lawyers are free.

serious injuries from portland car accidents

Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can result in very painful injuries. In many cases, these injuries result in lasting complications and require long-term, sometimes lifelong medical care. Accident victims often need to spend weeks or even months recovering from this damage. 

Some of the most common car accident injuries include the following.

  • Traumatic brain damage: A driver can sustain severe brain injuries when his or her head collides with a hard surface or object, or when an object penetrates the skull. Many traumatic brain injury victims experience difficulties with learning, memory, concentration, movement, speech, and other critical tasks. 
  • Internal bleeding: During a car accident, a driver or passenger can sustain serious crushing injuries that to severe organ damage and internal bleeding. Without prompt medical attention, these injuries can be fatal. 
  • Cuts, scrapes, and road rash: When a driver is involved in a collision, he or she can come into contact with flying glass, heavy objects, and other debris that cause cuts, lacerations, and bruising. In severe cases, a person can be thrown from the vehicle, leading to a painful abrasion known as road rash.
  • Broken bones: During an accident, a driver can experience extreme force, causing his or her bones to break. While any bone may break during a car accident, facial and dental fractures are especially common. Broken arms, legs, ribs, wrists, and ankles may also occur.
  • Spinal cord injuries: The spinal cord helps the brain and the rest of the body communicate. During a car accident, the spinal cord can become severed and compressed, leading to lasting complications. Any damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete loss of feeling and function below the injury site.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident on Portland roads, it is important to seek emergency treatment, even if you do not feel injured. You may have underlying injuries that you are not aware of yet, or the shock of the accident may be numbing the pain. To avoid potentially life-threatening complications, seek medical attention as soon as possible. 

Compensation Available for Accident Victims in Portland

The number one reason clients contact our law firm for legal representation is to discuss recent car accidents is to ask whether they qualify for financial compensation. While we know as well as our clients that money will not reverse serious losses, injuries, or deaths, we also recognize the importance of financial recovery for a family that is trying to move forward. A fair compensatory award could get you out of debt, help you pay off medical bills, afford future health care needs, and allow you to repair your vehicle. The average car accident settlement in Portland can cover multiple economic and noneconomic damages.

  • Medical costs. All medical expenses related to your collision, including surgeries, hospital stays, procedures, medications, and rehabilitation.
  • Disability accommodations. The money you need to pay for related expenses if you suffered a spine injury, brain injury, amputation, or another long-term disability.
  • Lost wages. If your auto accident took you out of work, the defendant may owe you compensation for lost income – past and future.
  • Pain and suffering. Intangible damages you suffered from the wreck, including physical pain, emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mental anguish.
  • Vehicle damages. The money it will take to restore your damaged vehicle to its pre-crash state or replace a totaled vehicle.
  • Loss of consortium. The loss of a victim’s company, guidance, support, love, and household services after a serious disability or wrongful death.
  • Out-of-pocket costs. Any money you spent because of the accident, including fees for rental cars, attorneys, going to court, and traveling.

The value of your injury claim depends on the unique facts of your car accident. If you suffered catastrophic, life-changing injuries, for example, an insurance company or jury will be more likely to award a higher amount than if you only have minor injuries. Other factors that could affect your financial recovery include your age, income, extent of disabilities, and impact the crash had on your life. The skill of the car accident lawyer you hire in Portland could also affect your case’s outcome.

car accident lawyer in portland

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle

One of the first questions you should ask your lawyer is, “Have you handled cases similar to mine?” While each case is unique, your lawyer should at least have handled cases within your practice area. The lawyer you hire to represent you during insurance settlement negotiations or a personal injury lawsuit should have experience and case results in the same type of auto accident that caused your injuries in Portland. At Tillmann Law, have years of auto accident case experience in Oregon. Our Portland personal injury attorneys accept many different types of crash claims.

Our attorneys are confident in their ability to handle any type of auto accident case sent their way. We pursue the negligent driver and their insurance coverage for you our yor loved one’s financial damages using our years of experience, commitment to client satisfaction, and passion for justice to help you deal with any obstacles that may come between you and fair financial recovery. Our lawyers know how to navigate even the most complex car accident cases in Portland. Find out if we can represent you by speaking with us about your case during a free initial consultation.

Oregon Car Accident Laws

One of the many benefits of hiring a car accident attorney is having a professional to guide you through the laws that may pertain to your case. Each state has unique laws in terms of liability, comparative fault, and filing deadlines. These laws can be confusing without someone helping you interpret them. As an accident victim, a lawyer from Tillmann Law is happy to walk you through the laws you need to know to seek justice.

  • Tort-based insurance procedures. Every driver in Oregon has to carry the required amounts of vehicle insurance. After an accident, a victim will seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s car insurance company, unless the victim purchased no-fault insurance. The correct insurer to hear your claim will depend on the circumstances and your insurance policy.
  • Comparative negligence rules. Oregon law follows a modified comparative negligence law, giving victims the right to recover partial damages, such as physical or property damage, even if they contributed to the accident in question. As long as your share of fault is less than the defendant’s, you could still qualify for financial recovery.
  • Statute of limitations. The strict time limit on your right to file a car accident claim is two years from the date of the collision in Oregon. Contact an experienced Portland lawyer quickly to avoid missing this important deadline, and set yourself up to receive the maximum compensation available. Otherwise, the courts in Portland might not let you recover any damages.

Protect yourself as a citizen of Oregon by getting acquainted with the state’s most relevant laws, rules, and statutes. Our lawyers can explain car accident laws in more detail for you, as well as give you insights into how they might apply to your unique case. Whether your case involves a drunk driver, distracted driver, or dangerous road conditions, seeking our legal expertise can help you explore your options for recovery. Our law group can also prepare you for potential issues, such as the defendant arguing your comparative fault to try to reduce your award. We can build a strong legal strategy to maximize your odds of receiving compensation.

Car Accident Facts and Statistics in Portland, OR

You are not alone in your experience as the victim of a serious car accident. Unfortunately, these disasters are common in Oregon and throughout the US. That’s why it’s important to be familiar with Oregon traffic laws and how they relate to your case. Recent crash data for the City of Portland states that the Bureau of Transportation receives between 10,000 and 12,000 car accident reports each year. Throughout Oregon, there were 57,726 reportable auto accidents in 2017 alone. These accidents caused over 28,000 injuries and 400 deaths. Car accident statistics in Oregon allow officials to identify the most common causes of collisions.

  • Driver error. The top-listed driver errors that contribute to car crashes in Oregon are failure to avoid a stopped or parked vehicle ahead, failure to yield the right-of-way, running a vehicle off of the road, speeding, failing to maintain a lane, following too closely, inattention, unsafe left turns, and ignored traffic signals.
  • Vehicle defects. Some auto accidents in Portland trace back to problems with the vehicle itself, not the driver. A poorly or improperly maintained motor vehicle could contain mechanical issues that lead to breakdowns and related accidents. Vehicles may also contain manufacturing defects that compromise their roadworthiness.
  • Road and weather conditions. Even a safe and prudent driver might not be able to avoid a car accident when the surrounding road or weather conditions are dangerous. Although it can be difficult to recover compensation for acts of God, a roadway defect may point to the liability of the presiding government agency. The City of Portland, for example, might be liable for a car accident related to a pothole on a public street.

At Tillmann Law, while we keep up with local and state car accident statistics to better serve our clients, we recognize that each personal injury case is unique. Our legal team believes every client is just as important as every other client. At our law firm, you are not just a statistic. You are a person who could benefit from legal assistance during the car accident claims process. Our attorneys can guide you through the civil justice system in pursuit of fair recompense for your damages.

Contact a Portland Car Accident Attorney Today

The Portland car accident lawyers at Tillmann Law are caring, compassionate, and sympathetic. Clients have trusted our law group with serious injury claims throughout Oregon for years. We will treat you like our only client if we choose to represent you, working closely together on each step of the legal process. From connecting you to the right doctors to fighting for fair case results, we can help you get your life back on track after a serious auto accident in Portland. Learn more about your case today. Request a free consultation now at (503) 272-8986 or by contacting us online.

Client Review:

“I came to Aaron 2 years ago frustrated, in pain, and really confused. All I knew is I was hurt, nobody was listening, and I didn’t know what was gonna happen. It is a scary space when you’re in that position. The being in pain and having no idea what the future holds. I feel like the moment I met with him I was being heard and felt like what happened to me mattered. He was very honest with me from the beginning about the process, what we had to work with, and even the risks. I felt informed and communicated with. And we just won a huge victory. For me, that means options are open, my family has security. I honestly don’t know what would have happened without Aaron and his team. I’m just grateful for them standing up and helping me be heard. Thank You for your work and dedication. I highly recommend Tillmann Law.”

-LENA


Our Portland Law Office is located at 101 SW Main St #1905, Portland, OR 97204. Click here for driving directions.