In the old days, I mean the 1980s and 90s claims examiners were human beings with human brains, judgment a sometimes heart. While heart is good for image, heart can cut into profits. Insurers have found the solution. First, use cute mascots and cool commercials to trick consumers into believing the insurer “cares”. Then, behind…
Its only early June and Oregon roadway fatalities are up about 6% from this time last year. Many serious motor vehicle collisions occurred the last week May 2016. First, on Sunday May 28 a 45 year old woman from Gaston, Oregon needed to be extracted from a vehicle when the driver of her car rear…
“…the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped.” -Hubert Humphrey Lincoln, Thomas Payne, Pope John Paul II and Jimmy…
Yes, I’m a lawyer, but in a former life I was a YMCA boating instructor, camp counselor and life guard. In that context safety was front and center. Sadly, I have seen safety take a back to recreation as children become young adults… until tragedy strikes. Memorial Day weekend will be here in a few…
Lately, a commute from Hillsboro to downtown Portland takes about the same time as Salem to Portland. It’s not your imagination. Portland highways are packed like never before. Portland is growing and an improving economy coupled with lower gas prices translates to crowded highways. Each year Portland sees about 10,000-12,000 motor vehicle collisions and 6…
In December 2014 the Oregon Supreme Court found the “liability release” printed on the back side of a lift ticket unenforceable. Bagley v. Mt. Hood Bachelor 356 Or 543 (December, 2014). Keep in mind, prior to Bagley ski resorts were already immune from injury claims caused by the “inherent risk of skiing” that are “reasonably…
“Ridesharing” services like Uber and Lyft are not about sharing. Make no mistake about it, Uber and Lyft are money making enterprises also commonly known as “businesses”. If you were injured in an auto accident as a passenger in a ridesharing vehicle or hit by a ride sharing car, you may be wondering what insurance applies,…
Oregon lawmakers recently passed Senate Bill 411 which provides Oregon motorists additional medical benefits and additional underinsured medical benefits. But, there is a catch. These additional coverages only apply to auto insurance policies issued or renewed in 2016 or later. If your policy was issued before then, contact your insurer or agent to request auto…
This is the fifth post in my blog series: Personal Injury Claim Value: Key Variables. This fourth post addresses injury value key variable #5: Juror Bias. Every human has his or her preferences—some a held at the conscious level, some buried unconsciously. Jurors are affected by current events, personal experience and experiences of family members…
This is the fourth post in my blog series: Personal Injury Claim Value: Key Variables. This fourth post addresses injury value key variable #4: Where you are (the location of the court hearing your case 4. Where you are Where the injury incident occurred or where the defendant resides, are both proper venues for trial. Plaintiff as the filer of…