Car accidents are common around the year in Oregon. If you were involved in an accident that resulted in serious injuries, death, or led to property damage of $2,500 or more, you have to file the Oregon Traffic Accident and Insurance Report. This should be done within 72 hours from the time of accident. Of course, you need to seek medical help, call the police, and help everyone in need, to the best possible extent. One of the other tasks is to hire a Portland injury lawyer. Ask the questions listed below to find the right one.
- How long have you been dealing with personal injury lawsuits and claims?
This is the basic question that an attorney should answer. The scope of personal injury laws is huge. Medical practice lawsuits are very different than that of car accident claims. You need an attorney, who has experience with cases similar to yours. Expertise is a key factor for hiring an attorney. If needed, you can ask the lawyer about their best cases and top settlements.
- What do you think of my case?
After the initial meeting and discussion, you can ask your lawyer what they think of the case. For instance, if the case is such that the expected compensation is low, your lawyer may advise on taking the best settlement offered by the insurance company. However, when a case has merit and the insurance company doesn’t budge, the lawyer may aggressively approach things at trial. Nevertheless, it is best to have realistic expectations.
- Will you work on a contingency basis?
Depending on the facts of your case, your injury lawyer may agree to work on a contingency basis. This simply means that they get paid if they win a settlement for you. However, not all attorneys work in the same way, and the eventual decision depends on the expected compensation and complications of the case. Also, there could be other expenses for the lawsuit, which must be discussed with your lawyer.
If you had part role in the accident, you may have to lose a part of your awarded compensation, because of Oregon’s “modified comparative negligence”. Make sure that your attorney knows exactly what happened. You may still get something in compensation for your damages and losses, as long as you share of blame is less than the other party. Talk to an injury lawyer today to know your options better.
