Clackamas Car Accident Attorney

Helping You Receive the Compensation You Deserve

Have you or someone close to you been injured in a car accident in Oregon? Even minor fender benders can cause injuries that can put you out of work, or even in the hospital. If you were not to blame for your accident you are entitled to compensation that will pay for your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and more.

Our Clackamas car accident attorney at Jacobs Wilson Callahan can help you deal with insurance claims, negotiate a settlement, and even represent you in trial if needed. We will do what it takes to get you the settlement you need to recover to the best of your ability.

Why Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

In hiring an attorney you are hiring a team of experts who can help you file your claim and will walk with you through each step of the process. By enlisting the expertise of a skilled car accident attorney, you will have a team to help you by investigating the accident and compiling important and helpful documents which can reduce the chance that important deadlines may be missed.

Working with an attorney has many benefits and can, at it’s core, allow you to focus on recovery while we focus on getting you the compensation you deserve.

Determining Liability After a Car Accident

When it comes to car accident liability Oregon is a “fault state.” This means that the party responsible for the accident is the one who pays damages. Most car accidents, however, have more than one party at fault for an accident in some way or another.

What is the Comparative Fault Rule?

In these cases, like many fault states Oregon follows a “comparative fault” rule. This means that even a party who is partially responsible for an accident is eligible to file a car accident claim as long as the other party is more at fault for the accident then they are.

In these types of claims, both the percentage of responsibility the defendant is found to bear and the compensation awarded to them is decided. Once both are determined the percentage of responsibility for an accident be deducted from their overall compensation amount.

For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for the accident that caused your injuries your total compensation awarded to you by the court will also be reduced by 10%. Car accident law in Oregon can be confusing and complex. Our firm is here to guide you through the process while fighting for the compensation you deserve. Learn more about how we can help you by contacting our firm as soon as possible.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can vary from minor fender benders to multi-car pile-ups, so the injuries that can result range dramatically from minor to severe.

Car accident injuries often include the following:

• Brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
• Internal bleeding
• Knee injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash
• Wrongful death

The experience of getting into an accident can be extremely traumatic and lead to mental anguish as well. The stress of having to repair your car while nursing your injury and fighting off insurance agents can be a lot to bear. At Jacobs Wilson Callahan, we will endeavor to help you recover financial damages that not only cover medical bills and lost wages, but pain and suffering as well.

Things to Do After a Car Accident

As soon as you are involved in a car accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will start building a case against you. Fortunately, as long as you aren’t seriously hurt, there are steps you can take from the get-go to make sure you have a strong personal injury claim.

Immediately following any car accident, you should:

• Contact emergency services: If anyone needs immediate medical attention, call an ambulance right away. Ensuring everyone’s safety is the most important thing you can do after a car wreck.
• Take pictures of the crash scene: Photographic evidence of how the crash occurred can help with your personal injury claim. Take as many pictures as you can, especially of property damage, injuries, tire skid marks, and weather conditions.
• Get the other motorists’ contact information: Before anyone leaves the crash scene, ask the other motorists involved for their contact and insurance information. Write down their full names, contact numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance policy numbers, as well as any other information that might be useful or relevant.
• Talk to witnesses: You should also ask any witnesses for their contact information. If who caused the accident comes into question, witness testimony can help ensure that you don’t get wrongly blamed for an accident you didn’t cause.
• File a claim with your insurance agency: Contact your insurance company and tell them what happened. However, never speak to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. They will use anything you say against you to try and prove that you, and not their client, should be held liable.
• Visit a doctor: Even if you feel relatively unhurt, it still pays to go in for a check-up just in case. Your doctor may be able to diagnose a latent injury, such as minor to severe brain trauma, before it gets worse. Going to the doctor also provides documentation that you were treated for accident-related injuries, which can help your personal injury claim.