Portland injury attorney

Portland Car Accident Lawyer

A collision can upend your life in seconds. Medical bills pile up, you may be unable to work, and insurance companies move quickly to protect their own bottom line — not yours. The attorneys at DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law have helped injured Oregonians navigate this process for years, recovering millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients across the region. If a negligent driver hurt you or someone you love, call us today for a free consultation.

Car Accident Resources

Why Choose DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law?

SE Portland personal injury law office

  • Millions of dollars recovered in settlements and verdicts for Oregon accident victims — built case by case, not volume by volume.
  • When you call, you reach your attorney. Not a intake coordinator, not a paralegal relay. Direct access from consultation through resolution.
  • No upfront costs, ever. Fees are contingency-based — if there is no recovery, there is no bill.

How Our Attorneys Can Help

Under Oregon law, a driver whose negligence causes injury to another person can be held financially liable for the resulting damages. Our team handles every aspect of your claim — from the initial investigation through negotiations and, when necessary, trial. If a pedestrian was also involved in the crash, visit our pedestrian accident lawyer page for more information.

Recovering Compensation After a Crash

Oregon personal injury claim compensation

Injured victims are entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Whether you are filing an insurance claim or pursuing a civil lawsuit, DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law will advocate for the full value of your losses, which may include:

  • Medical expenses, both current and future
  • Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
  • Rehabilitation and ongoing care costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Other out-of-pocket losses related to your injuries

Calculating Pain and Suffering Damages

Economic losses like medical bills and missed paychecks are relatively straightforward to document. Non-economic damages — pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life — are harder to quantify but just as real. Insurers typically use one of two methods to arrive at a figure.

The Multiplier Method

This approach multiplies your total economic damages by a number between 1 and 5, with the multiplier reflecting injury severity. For example, if your documented losses total $40,000 and the insurer assigns a multiplier of 3, your non-economic award would be $120,000.

The Per-Diem Method

This method assigns a daily dollar value to your suffering and multiplies it by the number of days you were unable to work or function normally. A $200 per-diem rate over 30 days, for instance, yields a $6,000 pain and suffering award.

Is There a Cap on Non-Economic Damages in Oregon?

For personal injury claims arising from vehicle crashes, Oregon imposes no cap on non-economic damages. You are entitled to pursue the full value of your losses.

Proving Negligence in an Oregon Injury Claim

Oregon is a fault-based state, meaning you must establish the other driver’s negligence to recover compensation. During the insurance process, an adjuster will investigate and weigh the evidence. In a lawsuit, four legal elements must be proven:

  • Duty: All drivers have a legal obligation to operate their vehicles safely and follow Oregon traffic laws.
  • Breach of duty: The at-fault driver violated that obligation — through speeding, running a red light, distracted driving, or similar conduct. Evidence may include surveillance footage, police reports, and witness statements.
  • Causation: The driver’s negligent act directly caused the collision and your injuries.
  • Damages: You suffered documented losses — medical bills, lost income, property damage — as a result of the wreck.

Oregon’s Filing Deadline for Injury Claims

Oregon law gives injured victims two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to compensation entirely. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your claim.

Steps to Take After a Collision

Steps to take after an auto accident in Oregon

  • Call 911 immediately and request both police and emergency medical services. Collect the responding officer’s name and badge number. The police report will be an important piece of evidence in your claim.
  • Seek medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries — including internal trauma and soft tissue damage — may not present symptoms for hours or days.
  • Document the scene if you are able. Photograph your injuries, vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and any relevant traffic signs or signals.
  • Exchange information with the other driver, including contact details, license number, and insurance information. Keep the conversation brief and avoid making statements about fault or your injuries.
  • Collect witness information. Names and contact details from any bystanders can significantly support your claim.

Once you have received medical care, contact DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law. The earlier our team can begin preserving evidence, the stronger your case will be.

Common Causes of Oregon Auto Accidents

Most crashes are preventable. Human error accounts for the vast majority of collisions, and these are the most common contributing factors:

Distracted Driving

Taking your eyes off the road for just five seconds at highway speed covers the length of a football field. Smartphones are the most common distraction, but eating, adjusting the radio, and other in-vehicle distractions are frequent causes of serious wrecks.

Impaired Driving

Drunk and drugged driving remains a serious problem in Oregon despite public awareness efforts. When an impaired driver causes a crash, they are liable for the resulting harm. Our drunk driving accident lawyers have experience building strong cases against impaired drivers and their insurers.

Defective Vehicle Parts

Not all collisions stem from driver error. Defective products — faulty airbags, failed brakes, defective tires — can cause or contribute to a wreck. When a manufacturing defect is involved, our product liability attorneys can identify all responsible parties.

Dangerous Road Conditions

Government entities have a legal duty to maintain safe roads. When poor maintenance or unaddressed hazards contribute to a crash, a claim against the responsible municipality may be possible. These cases involve strict procedural deadlines, making early legal guidance critical.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

Excessive speed reduces reaction time and increases the severity of any impact. Aggressive lane changes, tailgating, and running lights put everyone on the road at risk.

Common Injuries in Oregon Vehicle Crashes

Common injuries in Oregon vehicle accidents

Crash injuries range from minor to catastrophic. Among the most common we see in Oregon injury cases:

If you suffered a head injury, our brain injury lawyers can evaluate your case and help pursue full compensation. When a crash results in the loss of a loved one, our wrongful death attorneys are here to help your family through the process.

Types of Auto Collisions We Handle

The type of crash often determines the nature and severity of injuries. These are the most common collision types handled by DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law:

Rear-End Collisions

Among the most frequent crashes on Oregon roads, rear-end impacts often cause whiplash, spinal injuries, and back pain. Fault typically falls on the following driver, though not always — a driver who stops abruptly without cause may also bear some responsibility.

Side-Impact (T-Bone) Collisions

T-bone accidents commonly occur at intersections and can cause severe injuries, particularly to occupants on the side of impact. These crashes are especially dangerous for motorcyclists. Our motorcycle accident attorneys handle these cases regularly.

Rollover Accidents

Rollovers are among the deadliest crash types, often resulting in ejection, traumatic brain injury, burns, and fractures. Contributing factors typically include excessive speed, impairment, fatigue, or sudden evasive maneuvers. If a bus was involved, contact our bus accident attorneys.

Sideswipe Accidents

These occur when two vehicles traveling in the same direction make contact — often during an unsafe lane change. Both vehicles can lose control and involve other motorists or pedestrians nearby.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on crashes are among the most catastrophic, frequently involving wrong-way drivers, impairment, or excessive speed. Fatalities and life-altering injuries are common outcomes.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Not every crash involves two vehicles. Striking a fixed object, road debris, or being forced off the road by another driver can all give rise to a valid injury claim, depending on the circumstances.

Oregon Auto Insurance Requirements

Oregon follows a fault-based system — the at-fault driver’s insurer is responsible for covering the other party’s losses. State law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of:

  • $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death
  • $20,000 per accident for property damage

Oregon also mandates $15,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) per person, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. After a wreck, you can pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurer, your own policy, or a civil lawsuit. Our team can help identify the best path forward for your situation.

When the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance

Uninsured motorist claim Oregon

When the responsible driver carries no insurance, your options narrow but do not disappear. Oregon’s mandatory uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can pay for medical expenses and lost wages. If UM limits fall short, a civil lawsuit against the uninsured driver may be an option — though collectability depends on their financial situation. An attorney can help evaluate realistic paths to recovery.

Filing an Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claim

UM/UIM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance, insufficient coverage, or flees the scene. Oregon requires all drivers to carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in UM coverage. This coverage addresses medical care and lost income, though vehicle damage may require separate coverage.

Should You Talk to the Insurance Company?

An adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurer may contact you quickly after a wreck — often framing a recorded statement as routine or helpful. It is not. Adjusters are trained to gather information that limits payouts, and giving a statement before fully understanding your injuries can seriously undermine your claim.

DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law handles all insurance communications on your behalf, evaluates every settlement offer, and pushes back when insurers undervalue your losses. If speaking with an adjuster becomes necessary, we will prepare you and make sure your rights are protected throughout.

Determining Liability in Your Case

Determining fault in an Oregon auto accident claim

Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you share some fault for the wreck, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. If your share exceeds 50%, recovery is barred. Our attorneys conduct a thorough investigation to establish liability accurately — whether that falls on one driver, multiple parties, an employer, or another responsible entity.

What Our Clients Say

  • “The people here are just really friendly and I looked forward to the conversations and coming in. It was very much resolved to my satisfaction because it wasn’t a one-time offer from this law firm.”
  • “My case results were satisfactory because of what we were dealing with. It is hard to prove incidents with no witnesses. I felt very lucky to have an attorney who stood by me.”
  • “All the staff was very professional. They went the extra mile and always kept me 100% informed. I was able to feel involved throughout the entire process.”

Real Case Results

  • $150,000 — auto accident
  • $100,000 — head-on collision
  • $100,000 — drunk driving accident

Talk to an Top-Rated Portland Personal Injury Attorney Today

Oregon’s two-year filing deadline means the clock is already running. The sooner our team can begin preserving evidence and building your claim, the better positioned you will be. DuBois Law Group – PDX Injury Law handles injury cases throughout Portland and across Oregon on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee. Contact us online or call (503) 222-4411 to schedule your free consultation.

Areas We Serve

Arlington Heights, Forest Park, Goose Hollow, Hillside, Linnton, Northwest District, Old Town, Pearl District, Downtown, Sylvan-Highlands, Arnold Creek, Ashcreek, Bridlemile, Collins View, Crestwood, Far Southwest, Hayhurst, Hillsdale, Homestead, Marshall Park, Multnomah, South Burlingame, South Portland, Southwest Hills, West Portland Park, Arbor Lodge, Bridgeton, Cathedral Park, East Columbia, Piedmont, Portsmouth, St. Johns, University Park, Alameda, Concordia, Eliot, Lloyd District, Cully, Hollywood, Rose City Park, Hazelwood, Parkrose Heights, Pleasant Valley, Woodland Park, Brooklyn, Eastmoreland, Kerns, Laurelhurst, Montavilla, North Tabor, Richmond, Sunnyside, Woodstock

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