Portland Personal Injury Lawyers

Let's face it - accidents happen. One minute you're walking down Broadway, grabbing a coffee at Stumptown, and the next thing you know, you're nursing an injury that wasn't your fault. It's a tough spot to be in, and if you're reading this, chances are you or someone you care about is going through exactly that.

Here in Portland, we're lucky to have access to some top-notch legal help when these situations arise. This page is all about helping you understand what personal injury law means in our city, what your rights are, and how to get the support you need. We'll walk you through everything from finding the right lawyer to understanding how the legal process works. Think of it as your roadmap to getting back on your feet after an accident.

When we talk about personal injury law, we're talking about those times when someone gets hurt because of someone else's negligence or another person's carelessness. It could be anything from a fender bender on I-5 to a nasty fall at Washington Park. In Portland, just like the rest of Oregon, these laws are here to make sure that if you get hurt because someone else messed up, you don't end up footing the bill.

If you've ever been hurt because of someone else's carelessness or deliberate actions, you might have a personal injury case. These cases come in many forms, and it's important to understand the different types if you're considering legal action or work in the legal field. Let's break down the most common kinds of personal injury cases, what makes them unique, and what to keep in mind for each one.

Car crashes and other vehicle accidents are probably the most common type of personal injury cases. This category includes:

1. Car accidents
2. Truck accidents
3. Motorcycle accidents
4. Pedestrian accidents
5. Bicycle accidents

If you're hurt in one of these accidents, you might be able to get money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and damage to your vehicle. When figuring out who's at fault, lawyers and insurance companies look at things like whether a driver was being careless, if the road was in bad shape, or if something went wrong with one of the vehicles.

Another big category is slip and fall accidents, which fall under premises liability. These can happen just about anywhere:

• In stores
• At restaurants
• In someone's home
• In public places like parks or sidewalks

Property owners are supposed to keep their premises safe for visitors. If you slip on a wet floor, trip on uneven ground, or fall because of poor lighting, the property owner might be responsible. To win these cases, you usually need to show that the owner knew about the danger or should have known about it.

While workers' comp covers most job-related injuries, sometimes you can file a personal injury lawsuit for work accidents. This might happen if:

• You're hurt by faulty equipment
• An outside contractor causes your injury
• Your employer didn't take proper safety precautions

These cases can get tricky because they often involve both workers' comp and personal injury laws.

Medical malpractice happens when a healthcare provider messes up and hurts a patient. Some common examples are:

• Getting the wrong diagnosis or a late diagnosis
• Mistakes during surgery
• Giving the wrong medicine or the wrong dose
• Injuries during childbirth
• Wrongful death

These cases usually need expert witnesses to explain what the doctor should have done differently.

Sometimes products are dangerous or defective and end up hurting people. In these cases, you might be able to sue:

• The company that designed the product
• The manufacturer
• The store that sold it

The issue could be a problem with the design, a mistake in how it was made, or not enough warnings about how to use it safely.

If someone's pet hurts you, the owner might be responsible. Dog bites are the most common, but attacks by other animals count too. The rules for these cases depend on where you live and whether the animal has been aggressive before.

Most personal injury cases happen because someone was careless, but sometimes people get hurt on purpose. This includes things like:

• Assault and battery
• False imprisonment
• Intentionally causing emotional distress

These cases might involve both criminal charges and civil lawsuits.

While not a separate legal category, catastrophic injury cases involve really serious, life-changing injuries like:

• Brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Severe burns
• Lost limbs

These cases often involve more money because of long-term care needs and major life changes.

As you can see, personal injury law covers a lot of ground. Each type of case has its own quirks and challenges. Whether you think you might have a case or you work in law, it's good to know about these different categories. Laws change over time, so it's important to stay up-to-date on personal injury cases if you're involved in this area of law.

When we talk about personal injuries at Moseley Collins Law, we're covering a lot of ground. These aren't just your everyday scrapes and bruises. These injuries can be life-changing events that affect you physically, emotionally, and financially. Let's break down some of the most common types we see here in Portland:

Whiplash is like the ninja of car accident injuries - it can creep up on you when you least expect it. You might walk away from a fender bender feeling fine, only to wake up the next day with a stiff neck and a splitting headache. Whiplash happens when your head snaps back and forth suddenly, like when you're rear-ended. It can range from mild discomfort to chronic pain that lasts for months or even years.

Broken bones are pretty straightforward, right? Well, not always. Sure, sometimes it's obvious - like when your arm is at a weird angle after a fall. But other times, small fractures can go unnoticed at first. We've seen cases where people thought they just had a bad bruise, only to find out later they had a hairline fracture. Broken bones can happen in all sorts of accidents, from car crashes to slip-and-falls.

TBIs are some of the most serious injuries we deal with. They can happen in any accident where there's a blow to the head or a violent shaking of the brain. The tricky thing about TBIs is that symptoms aren't always obvious right away. You might have a concussion and not even know it. In more severe cases, TBIs can lead to long-term cognitive problems, personality changes, and even physical disabilities.

Injuries to the spinal cord are often devastating. They can result in partial or complete paralysis, affecting everything from your ability to walk to your control over bodily functions. These injuries usually happen in serious accidents like bad, car or motorcycle accidents, crashes or falls from heights. The impact on a person's life - and their family's life - can be enormous.

When we talk about soft tissue injuries, we're talking about damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These can range from minor sprains to major tears. The thing about soft tissue injuries is that they're not always visible on X-rays or scans, which can make them tricky to diagnose and treat. But don't let that fool you - they can cause serious pain and limit your ability to work or enjoy life.

When most people think of burns, they think of fire. But we've seen burn cases from all sorts of situations - chemical spills, electrical accidents, even extremely hot liquids. Burns are classified by severity, from first-degree (minor) to fourth-degree (life-threatening). Severe burns can require long-term medical treatment, and may leave permanent scars.

Cuts might seem minor compared to some other injuries, but they can be serious business. Deep lacerations can damage nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. They can lead to significant blood loss and, if not treated properly, dangerous infections. Plus, severe injuries and cuts often leave scars, which can be a lasting reminder of the accident.

Internal injuries are some of the scariest because you can't see them from the outside. These can include things like internal bleeding, punctured lungs, or damage to organs. They often result from high-impact accidents like car crashes or falls from heights. The tricky part is that symptoms might not show up right away, which is why it's so important to get checked out after any really serious injury or accident.

Not all injuries are physical. Many accident victims suffer from psychological trauma like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. These injuries can be just as debilitating as physical ones, affecting your ability to work, maintain relationships, or even just enjoy life. The good news is that they're increasingly recognized by insurance company and the courts as valid claims.

These injuries don't happen in a single accident, but build up over time. Carpal tunnel syndrome from typing all day, back problems from heavy lifting, even hearing loss from working in noisy environments - these all fall under repetitive strain injuries. They're especially common in workplace injury cases.

At Moseley Collins Law, we've seen all these types of catastrophic injuries and more. We know that each personal injury claim is unique, just like each person is unique. That's why we take the time to understand not just the medical details of your injury, but how it's affecting your life. Whether you're dealing with a broken bone, a brain injury, or the psychological aftermath of an accident, we're here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Remember, an injury doesn't have to be catastrophic to be life-changing. If you're hurting, give us a call. We're ready to listen and fight for you.

You might be thinking, "Do I really need a lawyer for a personal injury case as this?" It's a fair question. Here's why having a Portland personal injury lawyer in your corner can make a big difference:

1. They know their stuff: Personal injury law can get pretty complicated, and insurance companies aren't exactly known for their generosity. A good lawyer knows how to navigate all the legal twists and turns.
2. They'll fight for what you deserve: Lawyers who've been around the block know how to figure out what your case is really worth. They'll consider everything from your medical bills to the paycheck you missed while recovering.
3. They're good at talking things out: Most of these cases get settled before they ever see a courtroom. Having a skilled negotiator on your side can mean the difference between a lowball offer and a fair settlement.
4. They've got your back in court: If push comes to shove and your case does go to trial, you'll want someone who knows their way around a courtroom.
5. They let you focus on getting better: Dealing with legal stuff is probably the last thing you want to do when you're trying to recover. Let a lawyer handle the paperwork while you focus on healing.

At Moseley Collins Law, we're always happy to chat about your case for free. Even if we can't take on your case, we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.

Let's talk about how we at Moseley Collins Law roll up our sleeves and get to the bottom of personal injury cases. We're like detectives, piecing together what happened to make sure we've got your back. Here's how we do it:

When you walk through our door, we're all ears. We want to hear your story - what happened, how you're feeling, and how this whole mess has turned your life upside down. It's not just about the legal stuff; we want to understand what you're going through.

Once we're on the case, we start gathering clues. We're talking about police reports, pictures of where the accident happened, and any video that might have caught the action. If someone saw what went down, we want to chat with them too.

Sometimes, we'll head out to where the accident happened ourselves. We might take some more photos or measurements. It's all about getting the full picture.

People who saw the accident can be a big help. We track them down and have a conversation about what they remember. Sometimes, these chats can uncover details that make a real difference in your case.

Your medical records tell the story of your injuries. We go through them to find anything important. From the first time you saw a doctor after the accident to your latest check-up, we want to understand how this has affected your health.

We're good at what we do, but sometimes we need to call in some backup. We might bring in:

• Doctors who can explain your injuries in a way that makes sense to everyone
• Job experts who can talk about how your injuries might affect your work
• People who can figure out what kind of care you might need down the road
• Number crunchers who can calculate how much money you've lost because of this

We take a good, hard look at all the insurance policies involved. Not just the other guy's health insurance, but yours too. Sometimes there's extra coverage you might not know about.

Once we've gathered all this info, we start building your case. We take all these pieces and create a clear story of what happened and why you deserve to be compensated.

Even after we've built your case, we don't stop looking for new information. If the other side comes up with something new, we're ready to dive back in and do more digging.

At Moseley Collins Law, we believe that doing our homework is the key to winning cases. By turning over every rock and peeking into every corner, we build the strongest case we can for you. It's all about giving you the best shot at getting what you deserve.

Choosing a lawyer is a big deal. Here's what to keep in mind:

Look for someone who's handled cases like yours before. At Moseley Collins Law firm, we've been at this for over 40 years, dealing with all sorts of personal injury cases across different states.

While past victories don't guarantee future wins, it's good to know if a lawyer has a history of successful cases. We've won millions for our clients at Moseley Collins Law, though we can't get into specifics due to privacy reasons.

Take a look at online reviews. We're proud to say we've got hundreds of 5-star reviews on Google. It means a lot to us that our clients are happy with our work.

You want a lawyer who explains things in a way you can understand. When you first meet, pay attention to how they communicate. Do they make sense to you? Do you feel comfortable with them?

Building a strong case often requires a lot of investigation and expert opinions. Make sure your lawyer has the tools to do the job right. At Moseley Collins Law, we bring in multiple medical experts to review records. We want to make sure we catch every detail that could help your case.

Knowing what's coming can help you feel more in control. Here's a general idea of how things usually go:

1. Get medical help: Your health comes first. Always.
2. Talk to a lawyer: The sooner, the better. We can start gathering evidence right away.
3. Investigation time: Your lawyer will dig into what happened and figure out who might be responsible.
4. File the claim: We'll submit all the necessary paperwork to the right people.
5. Negotiation: This is where we try to reach a fair settlement with the insurance companies.
6. Go to court (if needed): If we can't agree on a fair settlement, we might need to take your case to court.
7. Wrap things up: One way or another, your case will be resolved, either through a settlement or a court decision.

Remember, every case is different. Yours might not follow this exact path, but it gives you a general idea of what to expect.

In Portland, you might be entitled to money for:

• Medical bills (both what you've already paid and future expenses)
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Property damage
• Loss of enjoyment of life

How much you might get depends on things like how bad your injuries are, how they've affected your life, and how careless the other person was in serious accident.

If you've been in an accident in Portland, here are some local places that might be able to help:

• Portland Police Bureau

• OHSU Hospital
• Adventist Health Portland

Let's dive into some eye-opening stats about personal injuries. These aren't just numbers – they're real people facing real challenges.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2019, there were 36,096 fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S.
• In Oregon, there were 489 traffic fatalities in 2019.
• Distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2020.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry in 2019. BLS
• In Oregon, there were 37,300 workplace injuries and illnesses in 2019.

• Falls account for over 8 million hospital emergency room visits annually, the leading cause at 21.3%.
• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury.

• Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 250,000 deaths per year.

• In 2020, an estimated 198,000 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments.

These statistics on injury victims are more than just numbers. They represent real people who've been hurt, families that have been affected, and lives that have been changed. If you or someone you know has been injured, remember: you're not just a statistic. You deserve help, and that's what we're here for at Moseley Collins Law.

At Moseley Collins Law, we're proud to help people all over the Portland metro area. That includes:

• Downtown Portland
• Pearl District
• Northwest Portland
• Southwest Portland
• Southeast Portland
• Northeast Portland
• North Portland
• Beaverton
• Gresham
• Hillsboro
• Tigard
• Lake Oswego
• Oregon City
• West Linn
• Milwaukie
• Tualatin
• Wilsonville
• Troutdale
• Happy Valley
• Fairview

No matter where you are in Portland, we're here to help if you need us.

While we can't always avoid all auto accidents, there are some things we can do to lower our risk:

1. Stay alert: Whether you're driving, walking, or biking, keep your eyes on what's going on around you.
2. Follow the rules of the road: Stick to speed limits, use your turn signals, and never drive under the influence.
3. Keep your property safe: If you own property, make sure it's well-maintained to prevent slip and fall accidents.
4. Use safety gear: Buckle up when driving, wear a helmet when cycling, and use the right safety equipment at work.
5. Regular check-ups: Don't skip those doctor's appointments. They can catch potential health issues early.
6. Know your rights: Understanding your rights as an employee, patient, or consumer can help you spot and report unsafe conditions.

At Moseley Collins Law firm, we're here to help accident victims in Portland get back on their feet. With over 40 years of experience under our belts, we've seen it all and know how to handle even the trickiest cases.

We offer free consultations where we'll take a look at your case and give you some guidance on what to do next. If we take on your case, we'll roll up our sleeves and get to work investigating what happened, gathering evidence, and building a strong case for you.

Our team includes some top-notch negotiators who can often secure fair settlements without having to go to court. But if we do need to take your case to trial, we've got experienced lawyers ready to fight for you in the courtroom.

Here's something important to remember: we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don't pay us unless we win your case. This lets you focus on getting better without worrying about lawyer bills and attorney fees piling up.

Getting hurt in an accident is tough, but you don't have to go through it alone. If you've been injured in Portland because someone else wasn't being careful, don't hesitate to reach out for help. A good Portland personal injury lawyer can be your advocate, fighting for your rights and helping you get the financial compensation you need to move forward.

At Moseley Collins Law, we're here to help you through this rough patch. With our experience, resources, and dedication to our clients, we'll work our hardest to make sure you get the best possible outcome for your case.

Remember, in personal injury cases, time is of the essence. Give us a call today at 800-426-5546 for a first free consultation and chat about your case. Let's take that first step towards getting you back on track.