Car Accident Attorneys – FAQ’s
Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions
Our personal injury attorneys have gathered the answers to some common questions from their clients who are filing a car accident claim in Portland. If you have any further questions or want a free case evaluation, please give Dawson Law Group a call at 503-919-1315 for a free and confidential phone consultation!
Personal Injury FAQs
What are the first steps I should take after getting into a car accident?
After getting into a car accident, check yourself for serious injuries. Call emergency services if needed. If you are alright, check on the other parties involved to make sure they are also safe. If anyone has sustained an injury or $1500 or more in property damage, you will have to file a DMV accident report and a police report. Visit our Car Accident Resources page to find a link to the DMV accident form.
Should I talk to the police at the scene of the accident?
When the police show up to take your accident report, take a second before talking to them to go over things again in your head. Make sure that you include all relevant details and that you report your property damage and injuries.
Do I still need to see a doctor if I just feel shaken up?
Even though you may not feel seriously injured, if you were hurt in a car accident, it is usually better to see a doctor sooner rather than later. First and foremost, symptoms of serious injury may not show up immediately, and there are cases where serious medical conditions that develop which could have been prevented by a routine check-in with a doctor. Secondly, in addition to providing peace of mind, going to the doctor after a car accident provides you with a record of your injuries, which may help with your injury case. Learn more about what information you should be collecting if you plan to file a car accident claim at our Evidence Collection and Discovery page.
Can I still recover damages if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt or the accident was partially my fault?
In Oregon, even if you are partially at fault, if someone’s negligence contributed to your personal injury, you may still be entitled to partial compensation. (The compensation amount you receive will be decreased in proportion to which you were at fault for the car accident.)
How much is my Portland, OR personal injury claim worth?
It’s difficult, if not impossible to predict with certainty how much your Portland personal injury claim will be worth. The value of a Portland car accident claim is based on your injuries and how they will affect you moving forward. There are five areas that usually affect a personal injury claim amount in Portland, OR:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
How soon do I need to file a lawsuit?
The statute of limitations in Portland, Oregon for car accident personal injury cases is often two years from the date of the car accident. If you are filing a wrongful death suit, because you lost a loved one to injuries due to a car accident, you have three years from the date of the underlying injury to file your claim. However, and this is critically important, there are factors that can shorten these deadlines to as little as six months! If you have questions about whether or not your case is still eligible, please call the Portland car accident lawyers at Dawson Law Group.
How long will my personal injury lawsuit take?
Every case is unique; many cases settle in a few months without ever filing a lawsuit, while in other cases it may take years to secure a court judgment. The Portland personal injury attorneys at Dawson Law Group will do everything in their power to get you the best award they can in a timely manner.
How much does a cost to talk to a personal injury lawyer?
Dawson Law Group accepts its personal injury cases on a contingent basis, meaning that our payment is taken out of your award. That means that until we get you the settlement or judgment you deserve, you won’t have to pay a single dollar in lawyer fees. (For more information, visit our Contingent Fees Overview page.)If you were recently in a car accident and you are thinking of retaining a personal injury attorney in Portland, we urge you to give us a call at 503-919-1315 for a free phone consultation where we can get to know you and answer your questions. Remember, we won’t charge you any attorney fees if you don’t win your claim, so it’s in our best interest as well as yours to secure the most favorable outcome for you in a timely manner.
