Were you or someone you love seriously injured during a Gresham, Oregon car? The injury is bad enough. Now insurers may be doubting the extent of your injuries, lowballing you, ignoring you, or just giving you the runaround.
You are hurt and understandably not in any mood to answer endless questions from claims examiners who do not have your best interests at heart. Insurance auto claims examiners are highly trained professionals. You most likely do not have that expertise. Don’t play chess with a chess master if checkers is the game you have played. Our team at Rizk Law can provide the support and guidance you need during this challenging time.
Our Gresham car accident attorneys live and breathe Oregon insurance law. It’s what we do. Rizk Law has recovered millions for our clients. We have expertise and put in the work so you do not have to. Let Rizk Law experience work for you.
Richard Rizk, founder of Rizk Law, offers auto accident victims a significant edge with his firsthand experience in insurance defense. His time as a defense attorney for large insurance carriers — including Oregon’s biggest insurer for workers’ compensation— brings him a deep understanding of how they operate. In his past work life, while working as a national claims manager in greater Chicago, Richard authorized payments for injury claims of all sizes for all types of people. Richard knows what motivates insurers to pay injury claims or, conversely, delay and defend claims. Let Rizk Law’s car accident claim expertise even the playing field, so you have the best opportunity for complete, maximum compensation.
Do not let the stress of a car accident weigh on you. Contact Rizk Law today for a free case review and let us take care of your legal needs while you focus on your recovery.
Benefits of Hiring a Gresham, Oregon, Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim
If you have suffered injuries in a car wreck, you deserve to focus on your physical and emotional recovery. However, you also deserve fair compensation and justice from those responsible for the crash. When you hire Rizk Law, you benefit from having a dedicated legal advocate in your corner who takes the stress of the claims process off your shoulders. Our attorneys can handle all the details of your case, including:
- Investigating the accident to recover evidence we can use to build a compelling argument in support of your claim
- Identifying at-fault parties and evaluating avenues for financial recovery, such as pursuing insurance claims or filing lawsuits
- Documenting your injuries and losses so we can pursue full compensation for your ongoing and future needs
- Dealing with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers on your behalf
- Aggressively negotiating with insurance companies to maximize your settlement
- Taking your claim to court, if necessary, to fight for the results you deserve
- Never charging any attorney fees unless we secure compensation for your case
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you suffered a car accident injury, you may be overwhelmed with immediate concerns about what to do. But you can take initial, essential steps to protect your legal options to pursue financial recovery from the driver or other party at fault for the car wreck. Here are the things you should do after an auto accident:
- Report the accident to law enforcement and request a copy of the police crash report.
- Notify your car insurance provider about the accident and confirm the coverage available in your policy.
- Follow your doctor’s recovery plan. Do not defer treatment or rehabilitation.
- Obtain copies of any medical records of your injury treatments.
- Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts for expenses you incur during your recovery.
- Gather your pay stubs or income statements if you need to take time off work or cannot earn as much income due to your injuries.
Finally, contact a Gresham car accident lawyer from Rizk Law as soon as possible to discuss your legal options for recovering compensation for your injuries and losses.
How We Investigate Gresham, Oregon, Car Accident Cases
Our team of lawyers has years of experience handling car accident claims. We know that successfully recovering compensation for our clients requires persuasive arguments and substantial evidence to prove the other driver’s or party’s fault for the auto wreck.
When you hire us to represent you in your car accident claim, you can expect our team to investigate the accident thoroughly to recover all available evidence, including:
- Police accident reports
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Surveillance and traffic camera footage
- Dashcam footage
- Eyewitness statements
- Driver cell phone records
- Vehicle event data recorder logs
- Car repair and maintenance records
- Post-accident vehicle inspection reports
Our firm frequently works with top accident reconstruction experts to review evidence and identify the party or parties at fault for an auto collision. These professionals use scientific principles to analyze evidence, explain the sequence of events that led to the crash, and develop professional opinions on the cause(s) of the accident.
Compensation You Could Recover in a Gresham, Oregon, Car Accident Claim
After a car wreck, you could have the opportunity to obtain financial recovery for financial and personal losses that result from your injuries. Your car accident compensation could include money for your:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
- Costs of long-term care for prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Lost wages from missed work or reduced earnings in a light-duty or part-time role
- Lost future earning potential and employment benefits after becoming permanently disabled from your job or other work
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life caused by disabilities or permanent scarring or disfigurement that interfere with daily activities
A car accident attorney in Gresham from Rizk Law can assess the compensation you could recover based on your specific case.
Parties Who Could Be Held Liable for a Car Wreck in Gresham, Oregon
In most cases, the driver or drivers responsible for causing an auto accident will typically bear liability for the injuries and losses of accident victims. However, other parties could also share liability for a car accident in certain circumstances. For example, if an accident occurs while the at-fault driver is working, the driver’s employer could also be responsible under the doctrine of vicarious liability.
The owner of the at-fault driver’s car could also bear liability for a crash if the owner negligently entrusted their vehicle to the driver. Negligent entrustment occurs when an owner lends their car to someone that they know or should know poses a substantial risk of causing an accident.
A bar, restaurant, or social host could also bear liability after a drunk driving accident under Oregon’s dram shop law. Under the law, a bar, restaurant, or social host is responsible for injuries caused by a drunk driver if they served alcohol to the driver even though they were visibly intoxicated or underage.
Could You Recover Compensation if You Are Partly to Blame for a Car Accident?
If you believe you might share some responsibility for an auto wreck, you might wonder whether you still have the right to recover compensation for injuries you suffered in the crash. Fortunately, Oregon follows the modified comparative negligence rule for injury claims. It states that you can pursue compensation from other liable parties as long as you are no more than 50 percent responsible yourself.
However, this rule can also reduce any financial recovery you deserve for your injuries and losses based on the percentage of fault you bear for the accident. Because the comparative negligence rule could affect your financial recovery, you need experienced legal representation from Rizk Law to protect your rights to full and fair compensation.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Oregon?
In Oregon, the statute of limitations on injury claims gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a car accident lawsuit against the other driver or any other party responsible for the crash. If you attempt to sue after this strict two-year timeframe, the court will likely dismiss your case.
The best way to protect your rights is by contacting a car accident attorney in Gresham as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident. Doing so will ensure you get your car accident claim filed on time. Otherwise, you risk losing the opportunity to recover any compensation for your injuries and losses.
Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents in Gresham, Oregon
At Rizk Law, our Gresham car accident attorneys can help you recover from an auto collision, including:
- Delivery truck accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipe collisions
- Side-impact accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Multi-vehicle pile-up collisions
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Accidents involving Uber, Lyft, or other rideshare services
Many car accidents in Gresham occur due to negligent or reckless behavior by motorists. Some of the most common causes of crashes include:
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Turning or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors
- Unsafe or illegal turns, lane changes, or passes
- Driving the wrong way down the road
- Reckless driving, such as excessive speeding or swerving in and out of traffic
Typical Injuries Resulting from an Auto Collision
Depending on the severity of an auto wreck, car accident victims can suffer various kinds of physical trauma. Examples of injuries that commonly result from vehicle accidents include the following:
- Severe lacerations and abrasions
- Burns from post-crash car fires
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles
- Herniated spinal discs
- Internal organ injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Facial and dental injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic amputations or limb loss
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Gresham, Oregon, Today
If you suffered injuries in an auto accident in Gresham, you deserve experienced legal counsel to help you recover compensation for the harm you have experienced. Contact Rizk Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Learn how our car accident law firm can help you pursue financial recovery for your medical bills, lost income, and more.