Car Accidents

A car accident can take only a second, but the consequences of a crash can last for days, months, or even a lifetime. A drunk driver slams into your car head-on on the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, resulting in a lifetime of chronic back pain. A tired truck driver doesn't see your car when it merges onto I-5, and now you can't pay your bills and support your family. A distracted driver hits you in an intersection in downtown Portland, causing serious broken bones, nerve damage, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

From the moment after a crash, you find yourself scrambling, trying to get money from the insurance companies, struggling to return to work, drowning in medical bills, and facing the physical and emotional pain of your car accident.

Chances are you have never dealt with a personal injury claim or serious accident before. Chances are you don't have the time or legal information you need to take on the insurance company successfully. Chances are you have more questions than answers, and no one seems to be answering them.

If this is the case, you may be trying to figure out, "Do I need a lawyer?" "Can I settle my accident case without a lawyer?" "I can barely afford my mortgage on top of these medical bills, and now I have to pay a lawyer?" "What are my options?" "Who should I hire?" "Who is the best attorney in Portland?" "Can I afford a lawyer?" "What should I look for in a lawyer?"

The First Step: Knowing the 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Their Car Accident Case
First of all, the worst thing you can do if you have been in a car accident is to give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurancy company. Doing this can only hurt your case. So please, DO NOT talk to the insurance company until you have consulted an attorney. Most injury lawyers in Portland offer a free consultation. Even if you don't come to us, we recommend that you talk to at least two attorneys before doing anything else. We have a few tips on what to look for and questions to ask when you're looking for an attorney.

If you've recently been involved in a car accident in the Portland area, there is some information that you'll need immediately that can help you win your personal injury accident case. In many cases, people lose the compensation they deserve because they simply made a mistake in what they said or what they did after the accident. The minutes, hours, and days following your car accident are THE MOST IMPORTANT in a personal injury case. You have probably never been involved in a serious car accident before, and your insurance company knows that. Your confusion about the insurance claim processing system, their tricks, and their loopholes can make them money and leave you without the financial support you require.

To help Oregon accident victims, we've written a book, 7 Common Mistakes That Will Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. Skip the technical legal talk, skip the sales pitch, skip the scare tactics, and simply read a short, direct, and informative guide about how to avoid seven possible pitfalls of your car accident personal injury claim. More importantly, receive Oregon-specific information that more general guides about car accident serious injuries do not include.

Your focus should be on your family, your career, and recovering your health - not on a frustrating struggle with your insurance company simply to receive what you deserve after a car accident. Increase your chances of winning your case and getting a fair settlement for your injuries by arming yourself with the information that every good car accident attorney already knows. If you hire a lawyer or talk to the insurance adjuster before reading this free book, you'll be doing the insurance company a real favor, and hurting your car accident case as well.

Blog for Car Accidents

Library for Car Accidents:

What are your options if you have been in an accident with a large, commercial truck? A qualified attorney can help.
Description: Injuries in crashes with commercial trucks are more severe, and can be deadly to the car driver or passengers.
Debunking Myths
How long do I have to file a personal injury case?
Description: Time limit laws for personal injury claims can be muddled and extensive: the Oregon State Bar, for instance, uses approximately 250 pages just to summarize Oregon time limit laws.
What Is The Best Way To Protect Your Family In A Car Crash?
Description: What can you do if someone else crashes into your car and causes you or your family $150,000 worth of injuries, but the person who hit you only has $25,000 worth of insurance?
What to do if you have been the victim of a hit and run in Oregon - Uninsured Motorist Protection
Description: If you have been injured by a hit-and-run driver, the best Oregon personal injury attorneys will know how to use your uninsured motorist coverage to compensate you for your injuries.
Should I give a recorded statement?
Description: Definitive answer to the question: "should I give a recorded statement to the insurance company?"
How Much is My Case Worth?

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Frequent Questions for Car Accidents:

Videos about Car Accidents:

Web Resources for Car Accidents:

FlashAlert.net
Description: When serious car accidents happen, Oregon State Police are among the first to know. We stay up to date with Oregon car, truck, pedestrian, and bike accidents online through its FlashAlert.net.
Deadly Car Crashes At Lowest Rate Since 1961
Description: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that traffic fatalities are down 9.7% in 2008 as compared to 2007. Motorcycle fatalities continued their 11-year rise, though, reaching almost 6,000 and accounting for 14% of all highway fatalities.
"Car Crash, "Accident," or "Collision?" The words you use matter
Description: Wikipedia gives some good info and definitions about car accidents.

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Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.