Oregon Auto Accident Lawyer

In terms of area, Oregon is one of the largest states in the country. It is almost 100,000 square miles of gorgeous landscapes, small towns, and major cities. If you want to travel across this beautiful state, you will end up driving hundreds of miles on highways and roads.

And every year, thousands of people do just that. The roads of Oregon are regularly filled with travelers exploring the state, from the beaches in the west to the mountain towns in the east. Unfortunately, all of those drivers on the road contribute to thousands of accidents annually.

Car accidents are inevitable. But just because accidents are unavoidable, that doesn’t mean they should be taken lightly. If you have been involved in a car accident, you deserve to be compensated for the harm that you suffered. A talented lawyer can help you get the money you deserve.

If you are looking for a good Oregon auto accident lawyer after a car accident, look no further than the law offices of Morgan & Morgan. Our attorneys can help you get the money you need. 

Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Oregon auto accident lawyer.

Oregon Roads

Despite its enormous size, Oregon doesn’t have many major highways. It only has two interstate highways that run near the north and west borders of the state. The rest of the state is covered with mostly country highways and local roads.

Traveling on local roads and small highways can be more dangerous than traveling on major highways, especially if you’re driving somewhere you have never been before. Many local roads have tight lanes, reduced visibility, and dangerous curves.

Furthermore, nearly all of Oregon has mountainous terrain. This means that most roads regularly change elevation while curving through the landscape. Some drivers also get distracted by the lovely vistas.

All of this adds up to a serious risk of accidents while driving across Oregon.

What to Do if You Are Involved in a Car Accident in Oregon

Those first moments after a car accident can be confusing. One moment you’re driving along at a high speed, and the next, your car is stopped, facing the wrong direction or possibly on the side of the road. You may not even realize you were in an accident for a short time.

While these moments are confusing, they’re also some of the most important moments when it comes to ensuring that you get properly compensated for the accident. The decisions you make and the actions you take immediately after an accident are critical. 

Follow these steps to make sure that you get the money you deserve.

Contact Emergency Services

Call 911 as soon as possible after your accident. Significant portions of Oregon are large distances from any emergency services. Even if you call immediately after the accident, you may have to wait as long as an hour until help arrives. Every second counts if you have been injured in an accident.

While waiting for emergency services to arrive, try not to move if there’s any chance you are injured, unless you are not in a safe location. Once medical services are on the scene, let them evaluate you. Typically, the sooner you receive medical attention for a serious injury, the quicker you will recover from it.

Exchange Contact Information With Other Drivers

Exchanging information can be tricky if you are trying to remain stationary while waiting for medical personnel. However, most car accidents attract observers. You can take advantage of these third parties to help you share information with other drivers.

Ask them to collect your documents from your glove compartment or give them identification, like your driver’s license. They can act as your feet and voice until you are certain it’s safe to move.

If your phone still works after the accident, take pictures of every document shared by the other drivers and take pictures of their license plates if possible. Again, you will probably need the assistance of onlookers to take some of these pictures.

Hire an Oregon Auto Accident Lawyer From Morgan & Morgan

The earlier you hire an attorney from our law firm, the better we can help you. For example, after an accident, we will send investigators to the scene to discover evidence that supports your claim. The sooner we can do that, the more likely we will find something useful or speak to a witness who backs up your side of the story.

We can also guide you through the rest of the process. We have experience dealing with accident cases and communicating with insurance companies. This experience will help prevent you from making common mistakes and increase the likelihood that the insurance company will approve your claim.

File an Insurance Claim

Modern technology allows you to file an insurance claim within minutes of getting into an accident. If you have a smartphone, you can file a claim using an app, and even include pictures of the accident scene in your claim. If that isn’t an option, you can call your insurance company and file the claim immediately that way.

For now, file your claim with your automobile insurance company. You might need to file a claim with the insurance company of another driver before everything is said and done, but you can deal with that later. The important thing is to get the claim filed as quickly as possible.

Avoid Sharing Details About the Accident With Anyone

After an accident, most people want to talk about it. This is a bad instinct that could cost you money if something you say is later used against you. Avoid discussing the details of the accident with anyone at the scene, even other drivers. Just collect contact information, and otherwise, remain quiet.

If a police officer requests a statement, tell the officer that you will provide one when your attorney is present. Give them your contact information so they can collect that statement at another time.

Similarly, provide as little information as necessary when filing your insurance claim. Give the insurance company the facts but don’t make any statements. Just like with the police, you can provide this later when your Oregon auto accident lawyer is present.

Negotiating a Settlement

When most of our clients walk in the door for the first time, they don’t understand what their options are for getting money. They usually think that their only options are to accept whatever the insurance company offers or to sue the other driver.

We quickly explain to them that most cases end in a negotiated settlement with this insurance company. This means that we collect evidence of fault and present it to the insurance company to ensure that it approves the claim.

Then we document all the costs incurred by our client. This is something else that most clients don’t realize. You aren’t just limited to getting compensation for your medical bills and repair costs. You can also receive compensation for:

• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages due to injury
• Medical support devices and services

Once we have gathered all of this information, we will negotiate with the insurance company. The insurance company will typically try to get away with paying you as little as possible, while we will demand enough compensation so that you can fully recover from your injuries.

If the insurance company makes a fair settlement offer, we will recommend that you take it. However, if the offer isn’t enough to fund your recovery, we will recommend filing a lawsuit. Typically, we will come to a fair agreement that will get you money quickly, when it can best help you recover.