Protecting Truck Accident Victims in Beaverton, OR 

Can I Talk to an Oregon Attorney for Free, Even if I Plan on Handling My Own Case?

Yes. The Law Office of Clayton H Morrison's very best clients are the ones who have tried to settle their own cases. These clients are truly grateful when they end up with two to three times the amount of money that they were offered in their cases without an attorney representing them. In a few moments over the phone, we can give you an estimate of what your claim is worth.

When you settle your case, you will settle for everything that you have gone through to date and for everything that you are going to suffer in the future. The biggest mistake you can make is settling your case before you are certain about how your injury is going to affect you in the future. One of the most important things that we do for our clients is to figure out what problems they are going to have in the future as a result of their accident.

Besides running the risk of settling your case before you are certain about your future, you also run the risk of settling a claim for less than its fair value. In most cases, the party who caused your injury is represented by an insurance company and its experienced adjuster. Their goal is to pay the least amount of money possible, and they have developed effective strategies to achieve this goal. It is to your advantage to have an attorney handling your claim who is knowledgeable and who can protect your rights. Without an attorney, you run the risk of making serious and costly mistakes.

The insurance company for the other driver only needs basic information to begin your claim, such as your name, address, and phone number. If you give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster, you are probably outgunned. You are just a regular person trying to give an honest statement, but you can rest assured that whoever is taking the statement is a complete pro in taking statements. Whoever is taking your statement will have two goals: 1) to find out what your story is, and 2) to see if he/she can twist your words around to make you look bad. Our first suggestion is that you call us for some free advice before deciding whether or not to give a statement.

Recorded statements given to the other driver's insurance company are generally used to lessen the amount of money that you receive. For example, most doctors agree that it is common for someone to begin experiencing pain two to three days after an accident. Imagine if the insurance company contacts you within 24 hours of the accident, which they usually do. They ask if you are in pain, and you tell them that you are not in pain.

In Oregon, you are not required to give a medical authorization to the insurance company of the driver who caused your accident. You have a duty to give a medical authorization to your own insurance company before they will pay your Personal Injury Protection benefits.

Never sign a medical authorization for the insurance company of the person who hurt you. Most medical authorizations allow the insurance company to talk to your doctors without you being present, and they will ask your doctor questions in a way that will damage your case. They will also access copies of all of your medical records going all the way back to your birth. The insurance company can and will use your complete medical history to find excuses to give you less money in your accident claim. There may be a lot of personal and confidential information in your medical records that has nothing to do with your current injury. Why should the insurance company have the right to this information?

Oregon traffic accident cases must be filed with the court within two years of the accident date. There are, however, several essential exceptions, and you should call our office to get free legal advice on your case, even if more than two years have passed since your accident.

If you were by a drunk driver, particular time limits apply. You may have a case against the bar or social host who served the intoxicated driver alcohol. This is only possible in certain circumstances, but to maintain even the possibility of such a suit, a "Dram Shop Notice" must be sent to the bar or social host within 180 days of the accident. Note: 180 days is not six months! If you mail the notice one day late, your case will not be accepted.

If you were hurt by a city employee, a State employee who was on the job, a Tri-Met bus, or any other state, county, or city worker, you would have to file a Tort Claim Notice within 180 days. Again, 180 days is not six months! The notice must be sent to the right person and must say the right things. Details are in ORS 30.275, which is also available online.