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A bicyclist in Oregon should know that the law treats the bicycle as another vehicle on the road. This means that a bicycle rider has the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of automobiles. Some responsibilities of bicyclists are: After dark the person must have a front bright light and a rear reflector. Bicyclist must ride with the flow of traffic in a bike lane if there is one. If the bicyclist is 16 years old or younger, they must...
Read MoreGenerally you have two (2) years from the date of the accident or injury to settle your injury claim or file a lawsuit. If more than two years go by without settling or filing, you lose the right to proceed with your case. If your accident or injury case is against a state, county, city, or any other governmental body, you have to give written notice of your claim to the government body within 180 days of the accident date,...
Read MoreIf you are injured in an accident due to the fault or negligence of someone else, you are entitled to reasonable compensation for all damages that result from the accident. Major elements of your accident or injury claim: Medical bills Lost wages Pain and Suffering Your pain may restrict your ability to, either partly or completely, do things as simple as dress, climb stairs or even take a bath. Your pain may even affect your ability to work, drive or...
Read MoreAssessment of your injuries The most important factor in any accident or injury case is the medical providers chart notes about injuries, treatment and any resulting disability. The value of any personal injury claim depends on the medical providers’ comments and assessment of injuries. Do your injuries interfere with daily activities? At each office visit, the doctor will make a note of your complaints, findings and recommended treatment. The chart notes should include symptoms, treatment, how injuries interfere with work...
Read MoreDriving Uninsured What, if anything, can happen if you are injured in an accident that is not your fault and you do not have car insurance? First, you could receive a citation for driving without insurance. The law in Oregon is essentially that a person commits the offense of driving uninsured if the person operates a motor vehicle in this state on any highway or premises open to the public in this state without being insured under a motor vehicle...
Read MorePersonal Injury Protection, or PIP, is included by law in all Oregon private automobile insurance policies. Personal Injury Protection provides payment for medical bills, lost wages and certain household expenses. By law, PIP must cover at least $15,000.00 for all reasonable and necessary medical bills as they relate to the accident occurring within one year from the date of the accident. Your PIP policy may provide higher limits and longer time periods. This can include doctor bills, dental bills, chiropractor...
Read MoreIn addition to your medical bills and wage loss, if employed, your pain and suffering resulting from an accident is a major element of your claim. The pain and suffering value is essentially determined by injuries, type of treatment, with whom you treat, length and consistency of treatment and any pre-existing conditions. In other words, what is documented in your chart notes. You should return to each of your doctors/medical providers as often as necessary, and you should always tell...
Read MoreAfter an accident, numerous factors are to be considered before concluding that the involved vehicle is already a total loss. Repair costs, probable salvage value, vehicle value and deductibles must be first calculated. Insurance companies will likely total a car if the repair cost exceeds approximately 70% of its value. However, you generally do not have a right to demand that the car be totaled if it can actually be repaired, or even if you believe that it cannot be...
Read MoreFair Market Value If your car is totaled, you are entitled to receive the fair market value of the car. The Kelly Blue Book value may not be the actual market value. The insurance company sometimes offers Blue Book value which could be less than fair market value. How to estimate Fair Market Value To get a better estimate of fair market value, check car ads in newspapers, on the internet such as autotrader.com, and visit used car lots to...
Read MoreIf I’m in a Car accident How Do I Get a Rental Car? Insurance after an accident While your car is being repaired you should be able to get a rental car at the expense of the insurance company that insured the at fault driver. The insurance company will normally authorize a rental for a certain period of time, and any extension must be authorized by the adjuster. If you need to get an extension, get the approval from the...
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