Located in Washington County, Hillsboro has been described as one of the best places to live in Oregon. It hosts several high-tech companies, its public schools have been consistently ranked above average, and its coffee shops and parks attract families and professionals alike. Although the city is generally regarded as a safe place to live, there are times when you may need legal assistance from a Hillsboro car accident lawyer.
In 2019, 13 people were killed and 1,287 others were injured in car accidents in and around Hillsboro. All it can take is a single moment of driver recklessness or inattention to leave someone with a lifetime of pain and disability.
If this happens to you or your family, let your next call be to a car accident attorney at Harris Velázquez Gibbens, PC. Before you speak to an insurance company or any attorneys representing the negligent driver, talk to a trusted, qualified, and experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you protect your right to maximum compensation. Your legal consultation is free, and if we take your case, you pay no attorney fees unless you settle.
When Should You Hire a Hillsboro Car Accident Lawyer?
If you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury in a motor vehicle collision, we strongly recommend that you reach out to a competent attorney before trying to deal with an insurance company. No matter how concerned they sound over the phone, their primary concern is protecting their bottom line, not offering full and fair compensation for your injuries, and they may use anything you say to reduce your settlement as much as possible.
In Oregon, there is a time limit for filing compensation claims and giving notice to an insurer. When an injured person attempts to “go it alone,” they can miss critical deadlines and give the insurer access to information to which it is not legally entitled. At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, we know the law thanks to years of combined experience, and we carefully protect our client’s rights and medical privacy.
Why Hire Us?
When the negligent actions of another party have left you injured, there are a lot of Hillsboro personal injury lawyers you can hire. But Harris Velázquez Gibbens, PC offers a service that many other attorneys can’t: A TEAM dedicated to compassionate representation. Our team of personal injury attorneys, lawyers, and paralegals meets every week to discuss new cases and important developments in our current cases. During our meeting, we discuss what insurance companies are offering in cases similar to yours, how different insurance adjustors negotiate them, and what judges and juries are doing in similar situations. In short, you aren’t only hiring a competent car accident attorney. You’re hiring a winning team. We go the limit for our clients: although we prefer to resolve matters through negotiation, we won’t hesitate to take claims to trial if necessary.
We Investigate Driver Negligence
Victims of driver negligence can face huge medical bills while losing their ability to work and enjoy a pain-free life. At Harris Velázquez Gibbens, our team of personal injury lawyers has been litigating a wide range of car, truck, bus, motorcycle, taxi, boat, bicycle, and other vehicular accident cases for many years. Our attorneys have the legal experience to help ensure that our clients’ verdicts and settlements reflect the full value of their loss and injury.
We Act Promptly
The car accident attorneys at our law firm promptly and thoroughly investigate every case to determine fault, assess liability, and evaluate injuries and other compensatory damages. We also work with injured individuals and their families to help them secure proper compensation for their losses and injuries. Whether you were a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or cyclist at the time of an auto collision, we will thoroughly and diligently assess all aspects of your case to determine how to best advocate for your interests.
We Can Address Complex and Catastrophic Accident Injuries
Automobile accidents can result in:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Burns
- Disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Wrongful death
Every year, our auto accident attorneys dedicate many hours to learning and updating their legal knowledge so that clients receive appropriate medical and rehabilitation care and all damages and injuries are fully compensated. No matter what type of injury you’ve suffered, we can devise a legal strategy that helps you hold the other driver and their insurer accountable.
Although compensation is based primarily on the extent and duration of the victim’s injuries, all factors surrounding the accident are considered when evaluating your personal injury claim. Together, we decide the value of your claim, not the insurance company! We have negotiated successful outcomes for the most complicated car accident cases and will keep your best interests in mind throughout the entire process.
Compensation for Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents are typically accompanied by two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are the financial losses you’ve incurred while non-economic damages address more subjective losses like pain and suffering and emotional distress.
A few examples of economic damages are:
- Accident-related medical expenses
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning ability
- Cost of rehabilitation
- Wrongful death
- Property damage (vehicle repair)
Non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering (physical pain)
- Emotional distress (emotional pain)
- Loss of consortium
Legal representation from a skilled and competent car accident lawyer can result in a settlement or award that compensates you for these losses.
What to Do If You’re in a Car Accident
Auto accidents can be both disorienting and distressing. One minute you’re headed to your destination, and the next, you’re in the ditch or pressed against a road divider, stunned and likely in pain. Although it can be hard to know what to do in this situation, your next steps are critical, both for your health and the status of your future car injury claim. Below is an overview of what to do next.
- Check for Injuries: Immediately check if anyone has been injured. Call 911 if there are any injuries, no matter how minor they may seem. Safety comes first, and some auto injuries take a while to manifest symptoms. If you don’t need an ambulance, so sure to see your doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible for a thorough evaluation.
- Move to Safety: If your vehicle is operable and you don’t appear to be seriously hurt, try to move to the side of the road to avoid blocking traffic. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers.
- Call the Police: It’s important to call the police, especially if there are injuries or extensive property damage. damage. In Oregon, you must report any accident that results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $2,500. The police will document the scene and create a report, which you can later use as evidence in your auto injury claim. You will also need to file an Oregon Traffic Accident and Insurance Report within 72 hours of the crash; this document indicates the extent of any property damage, whether any vehicle had to be towed, and whether anyone was injured or killed.
- Exchange Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver(s). This includes names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance policy numbers. It’s also helpful to get contact information from witnesses.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the accident scene, including damage to all vehicles involved, any visible injuries, and relevant road conditions or signs. The images can serve as important evidence later on.
- Contact a Hillsboro Auto Accident Lawyer: Once a medical examination confirms the extent of your injuries, contact a personal injury lawyer. Do not make a statement to any insurance claims adjusters until you’ve had the chance to secure legal representation.
What if You Were Partly at Fault for the Accident?
Many clients express concern because they believe they were in some way responsible for their motor vehicle accident. Oregon is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that if you share fault for a personal injury, you could lose a portion of your settlement or award, but you aren’t barred from pursuing financial compensation unless your assigned liability is 51% or more.
For example, if your case is valued at $50,000 but you are found to be 10% at fault for the accident, your final award will be reduced by 10% for a total recovery of $45,000. Your personal injury attorney at our law office will fight to prevent the insurance company from assigning you an unfair degree of blame in your case. You can trust that we will use our legal experience to get the best results for you.
What Happens if a Defective Part Caused My Auto Accident Injuries?
When a car accident happens and it turns out that neither driver is at fault, things can get complicated. Sometimes, the real cause of the accident is a defective vehicle or part. This is known as third-party liability. Here’s a closer look at how this can happen and what it means:
- Brake Failure: In cases where brake failure causes a crash, you need to determine why the brakes failed. Was it because they weren’t maintained properly, or was there a flaw in how they were made? If the brakes were defective due to a mistake in manufacturing, the company that made them could be held responsible for the accident.
- Airbag Issues: If an airbag fails, resulting in injury, the focus turns to the manufacturer. Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure their products are safe. This includes careful design, proper manufacturing, and clear warnings about any risks. If a defect in the airbag leads to an injury, the manufacturer may be liable.
In cases involving defective vehicle parts, legal action not only seeks compensation for the injured party but also serves to highlight the defect, potentially preventing future injuries. Manufacturers might be prompted to issue recalls or improve their safety standards, thereby contributing to overall consumer safety.
What If You’re Injured in a Hit and Run?
If you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Oregon, there are a few potential sources for compensation:
- Your Insurance: Oregon law requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage as part of their auto insurance policy. If the hit-and-run driver cannot be identified, your UM coverage can pay for your bodily injury expenses. This coverage essentially steps in to cover what the at-fault driver’s insurance would have if they had stayed at the scene.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Oregon also requires drivers to carry PIP coverage, which can pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. PIP coverage kicks in immediately, helping you manage expenses while the investigation is ongoing or while you’re pursuing other compensation.
- Crime Victims’ Compensation Program: If the insurance coverage is not sufficient to cover all your costs or if you face certain types of expenses, you may qualify for assistance from Oregon’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Program. This program can help cover costs like medical expenses and counseling services for victims of violent crimes, including hit-and-run accidents, up to a certain limit.
It’s important to report the hit-and-run to the police as soon as possible and notify your insurance company to start the claims process. An auto accident attorney can help you file your claim, deal with insurance companies, and explore all potential sources of compensation to ensure you receive the full amount you’re entitled to.
Common Types of Oregon Car Accidents
A Hillsboro car accident can occur in a variety of ways. Typically, they occur as a result of poor weather conditions, distracted driving, reckless driving, drunk driving, or traffic law violations such as speeding or running a red light. Below is an overview of accident types that can occur when mistakes are made.
- Rear-End Collisions: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-end collisions account for 29 percent of all accidents on U.S. roads, making it the most common type. In most cases, these accidents result from cars following one another too closely.
- Head-On Collisions: These collisions are extremely dangerous and often deadly. They usually occur at high speeds, which makes it difficult for airbags, seat belts, and other safety features of the car to absorb the impact in a way that will protect passengers from severe injuries.
- T-Bone Accidents: T-bone collisions occur when vehicles cross at an intersection. They are usually caused by drivers running red lights or stop signs or making left turns without yielding to oncoming traffic.
- Merging Accidents: These types of accidents are usually caused by merging drivers who fail to check their blind spots.
Our Hillsboro, OR Car Accident Lawyers
Our Car Accident Victim Attorneys in Hillsboro, Oregon Will Fight for You
The insurance companies have attorneys working for them; you as an injured victim need legal counsel to protect and advocate for YOUR rights. Taking legal action now can result in the compensation you need to recover. For a free initial consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer, call Harris Velázquez Gibbens today at 503-610-4398 or contact us online. We have a strong track record presenting personal injury clients and will give your case the same dedicated attention.
