Injured in a Car Accident?
Need an Auto Accident Attorney in Bend, Oregon?
Dwyer, Williams, Potter LLP is an experienced, tough, and mature Oregon personal injury law firm that has settled, mediated, arbitrated & tried over 650 personal injury auto accident cases over the last three years. We handle all car accident cases, big and small, with the same dedication and tenacity that other firms reserve for only big car accident cases. It is with such an approach that we are able to get each of our clients top dollar for their car crash personal injury.
Client Testimonials
One of the leading causes of injury and death in the state of Oregon is auto accidents. Not surprisingly, insurance companies are highly experienced in keeping settlement values low in a majority of car accident cases. Most individuals who suffer personal injuries due to car crashes have very limited experience when it comes to negotiating with insurance companies, which makes the obtainment of fair compensation very difficult, especially without the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Our personal injury lawyers are experts in negotiating with insurance companies, and are dedicated to getting you top monetary compensation.
Value of Your Auto Accident Settlement
In addition to medical bills and wage loss, your pain and suffering are major elements of your car accident claim. Physical and mental injuries may have an impact on your ability to carry on with normal life. Pain may restrict your ability to do simple, everyday tasks. The result of an auto accident injury may also affect your ability to perform at work, drive a car, or participate in sports and hobbies, family life, and other personal activities. As well, you may lose income and job opportunities after finding you have suffered a permanent personal injury from your car accident. You may also find yourself burdened with future medical expenses for ongoing treatment. The bottom line is that you are entitled to compensation for all of these losses, and our personal injury attorneys are determined to match the value of your auto accident case with the value of your loss.
What is Negligence/Fault?
One of the difficulties in settling auto accident cases for a reasonable value involves knowing whether or not the driver who caused the auto accident was legally at fault. Our auto accident injury lawyers are experts in determining who is legally at fault.
In order to recover for injuries caused in car accidents, the law of negligence is usually applied. A person is considered “negligent” if he or she chooses to do, or not do, something a reasonably prudent person would not do under the same circumstances. Common acts considered to be negligent include:
• Not paying proper attention to traffic ahead
• Cell phone driving
• Texting and driving
• Distracted driving
• Driving at a speed faster than what is reasonable in the given circumstances
• Failing to keep proper control of one’s vehicle
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Failing to use headlights and/or turn signals
• Failing to obey traffic control devices, ie: stop signs or stop lights
Sometimes, the actions of a reckless driver go beyond the point of being negligent. If a driver acts recklessly or intentionally, such as driving while intoxicated, a court holds the power to award punitive damages to the victims involved. “Punitive damages” is a monetary award given to the victim and is intended to punish reckless drivers. Punitive damages are in addition to the compensation normally awarded in a common negligence case. When handled by an experienced attorney, the potential for punitive damages has the ability to increase the settlement value in auto accident cases.
Given that every case is unique, another difficulty which arises in settling auto accident cases involves the proper evaluation in the actual value of a case. Factors benefiting a case include clear liability, clear injuries, a lack of prior injuries or preexisting conditions, and reasonable medical treatment. Factors which complicate a car accident case include unclear liability or injuries, prior insurance or workers compensation claims, degenerative or congenital medical conditions, prior injuries, surgery and permanent pain as a result of the car accident. Only an experienced and specialized personal injury attorney can properly navigate such issues in order to obtain fair settlement or jury verdict for a client.
If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance concerning a car accident, call Dwyer, Williams, Potter Attorneys, LLP toll free at (800) 285-8678, or submit an online questionnaire for a case review. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis. That means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery. Oregon has various time limitations for settling or filing an auto accident claim. Most statute of limitations run two years from the date of the auto accident. This means that if you have neither settled your auto accident claim or filed a lawsuit within two years, from the date of the car accident, then any rights of a monetary recovery you have will be lost forever.