How are damages determined? This is perhaps is the most complicated issue in Oregon wrongful death laws because so many factors have to be taken into consideration, including: Medical bills and burial expenses. The loss of wages the person would have earned had they lived. This is usually determined by an expert economist who will […]
Wrongful death is when a negligent, reckless, or intentional act by a person or company causes the death of another. Murder would certainly qualify, but so would a car crash, even if the bad driver who caused the death did not mean to hurt anyone, but was merely careless. Common Circumstances of Wrongful Death Include: […]
After the death of a loved one, many people say that they can’t find anyone who will talk about the death directly. Maybe it’s because people are scared, or maybe they think they are protecting your feelings, but whatever the reason, it can be difficult to find someone who will speak clearly and directly about […]
Every insurance policy has limits. This is the maximum amount that the insurance company will have to pay. Automobile insurance limits are typically quoted as two numbers with a slash between them. For example, as of this writing, ORS 806.070 requires that an automobile policy issued in Oregon must have liability limits of at least […]
Every driver in Oregon is required to have liability insurance. Liability insurance is meant to protect you if you are legally responsible for an automobile accident. It is also a possible source of compensation in a wrongful death case resulting from a car crash because the deceased person’s family can bring a claim against the […]
“Venue” means where a lawsuit is filed. The options are Federal Court or State Court, and then within the State Court system, a particular county must be chosen. This is a complicated decision that depends upon the specific details of your case, but here’s an overview of why “where” is very important. In general, State […]
The law applicable to wrongful death is more technical. There is just more to understand. But for another thing, it is very difficult to settle a wrongful death case yourself, unless you are willing to accept far less than full value. Most insurance companies would be happy to settle with you before a lawyer gets […]
Punitive damages may be recovered in some wrongful death cases. Punitive damages are widely misunderstood, largely due to the McDonalds coffee case. Many people are under the false impression that punitive damages are a road to riches. Punitive damages are difficult to prove. You are not allowed to even ask for them until after you […]
