Oregon Car Accident Lawyers
A serious car crash can change everything. At Barton Trial Attorneys, our Oregon car accident lawyers are here to help you along the road to recovery.
A motor vehicle accident can alter the course of your life in seconds. After the crash, you may be facing a complicated insurance claim, a mountain of medical bills, and a future marred by catastrophic injury. At Barton Trial Attorneys, we believe that an Oregon car accident is never just a claim to be processed. We believe your story deserves to be told and told well.
We are nationally-recognized personal injury attorneys and car accident lawyers who do things differently. We are not a mass-media advertising law firm funneling clients through an assembly line. We are a boutique firm that devotes two trial attorneys and a full staff to a very limited and select number of personal injury cases at a time.
When you work with a Barton car accident attorney, you are not a file. You are family.
Car Accident in Oregon? Act Fast to Secure Full Compensation
After a car crash, the insurance company goes to work quickly, and rarely in your favor. Adjusters may pressure you to give a statement, accept a lowball offer, or settle before you know the extent of your injuries. Meanwhile, you are trying to get the medical treatment you need and hold your life together.
That is where experienced auto accident lawyers make the difference. We handle the negotiations, the paperwork, and the pressure so you can heal. As personal injury attorneys, we know how insurers value an injury claim, and we know how to pursue the maximum compensation you are actually owed.
Most Oregon car accident cases must be filed within two (2) years of the accident, though some exceptions apply. To begin your claim, call Barton Trial Attorneys for a free consultation.
The Barton Difference
We Argue Stories, Not Just Facts.
We are not just good trial lawyers. We are master storytellers who tell the true, compelling stories of everyday people who have been injured. We use the complex language of law, but also plain English, to tell stories that juries understand, stories that get better results. Our cases change not only our clients’ circumstances, but also make the world safer for others.
Legal Representation Built for Catastrophic Car Accident Injuries
When a collision causes a traumatic injury, the stakes are enormous. You may be facing a lifetime of medical treatment, lost income, rehabilitation, and profound pain and suffering. These are the cases Barton Trial Attorneys was built for, and our results speak for themselves.
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows that full recovery is not only about medical bills, but also about psychological distress, the lost future, and the ways an injury reshapes a family. We front the significant costs these cases require, assemble the right experts, and pursue every source of recovery so that your legal representation matches the size of what you have lost.
What To Do After a Car Accident in Oregon
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt; move to safety if you can.
- Report the crash. Call the police, and file a DMV Traffic Accident Report within 72 hours if there was injury, a vehicle was towed, or damage topped $2,500 (ORS 811.720).
- Exchange information with other drivers. This includes names, contact info, insurance, and license plates.
- Document everything: photos of vehicles, the scene, and injuries, plus names of any witnesses.
- Get medical treatment promptly, even if you feel fine; some serious injuries surface later.
- Notify your own insurer, but don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company yet.
- Don’t admit fault or accept a quick settlement offer before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
- Keep records of all paperwork, including bills, wages lost, and out-of-pocket costs.
- Speak with a car accident attorney at Barton Trial Attorneys before signing anything. Our initial consultation is free.
For more information about what to do after a car accident, please see our Client FAQ page.
Every Oregon car accident claim follows a path, and knowing that path helps you protect yourself. In the days after a crash, three things happen at once: you seek medical treatment, the at-fault driver’s insurer opens a file, and the countdown begins for how long you have to file a case. What you do in this early window can shape the entire outcome.
Oregon is a fault-based, “at-fault” state, which means the driver who caused the crash, and their insurer, is financially responsible for the harm. Oregon also requires your own policy to carry Personal Injury Protection, so some of your early medical bills and lost wages are paid regardless of who was at fault. A skilled attorney coordinates these coverages so that no source of recovery is left on the table.
We encourage you to learn more about our Core Values and read our Testimonials. When you’re ready to contact us, we’ll be here.
Oregon Car Accident Laws and Statutes You Should Know
Two-year deadline to file
In most Oregon car accident cases, you have two (2) years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Some situations change the timeline; the “discovery rule” can delay the start date when an injury is not immediately apparent, injured minors receive additional time under ORS 12.160, and claims against a public body (such as a city or TriMet) require written notice within 180 days under the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
Because these rules are unforgiving, it is wise to speak with an Oregon car accident lawyer well before any deadline approaches.
Modified comparative fault
Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover damages even if you were partly to blame, as long as you were not more at fault than the other party. If you are found 50 percent or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault; if you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. This is largely why insurers work so hard to shift blame onto injured people.
Required insurance coverage
Oregon drivers must carry minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, plus $20,000 for property damage, commonly written as 25/50/20. Drivers must also carry uninsured motorist coverage at 25/50 limits, which protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
Personal Injury Protection
Every Oregon auto policy includes at least $15,000 in PIP per person. PIP pays reasonable medical expenses regardless of fault and, when a disability lasts at least 14 days, replaces 70 percent of lost wages up to $3,000 per month for as long as 52 weeks.
Reporting the crash
You must file an Oregon Traffic Accident and Insurance Report with the DMV within 72 hours if anyone was injured or killed, if any vehicle was towed, or if damage to any vehicle or to property exceeded $2,500. Failing to file can lead to suspension of your driving privileges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Oregon?
Generally two (2) years from the date of the crash under ORS 12.110. Claims against a government entity require written notice within 180 days. Because exceptions and deadlines vary, it is safest to consult an attorney as soon as possible.
What is my case worth?
While no lawyer can promise a dollar value at the outset of your case, all claims depend on the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, the available insurance, and how the harm has changed your life.
A full recovery generally accounts for past and future medical bills, lost income and earning capacity, property damage, and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life). Oregon law may also allow punitive damages in cases of egregious negligence.
Do I have to report my car accident in Oregon?
Yes. Under ORS 811.720 you must file a report with the Oregon DMV within 72 hours if there was any injury or death, if any vehicle was towed, or if damage to any vehicle or property topped $2,500. This is required even if the police also came to the scene.
Can I recover compensation if the accident was partly my fault?
You may still recover. Oregon’s modified comparative negligence rule (ORS 31.600) lets you collect damages as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault, though your award is reduced by your share of the blame.
Will my own insurance pay my medical bills?
Yes, at first. Oregon’s mandatory PIP coverage pays reasonable medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, up to your policy’s limits.
What if the other driver had no insurance or too little?
Your own uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage may apply. Oregon requires UM coverage, and we regularly pursue these policies to make sure a negligent driver’s lack of insurance does not become your loss.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee, which means there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we recover for you. Our initial consultation is always free and we never ask for a retainer to work together.
Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?
Always talk to an attorney before accepting an insurance settlement. Early offers are typically made before the full extent of your injuries and future costs are known, and once you sign a release you cannot reopen the claim. Have a lawyer review any offer first.
Do I need a lawyer for a car accident claim?
In many cases, yes. If you are facing major injuries, disputed fault, or serious losses, experienced representation typically results in a meaningfully larger net recovery, even after legal fees are considered.