Personal Injury Law in Eugene, OR
Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Eugene? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Eugene, OR can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.
What Is Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law in Eugene relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.
Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Eugene, OR
Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.
A few of the most common personal injury claims are:
- Car Accidents
- Slip and Fall
- Dog Bites
- Medical Malpractice
- Workplace Accidents
- Burn Injuries
Most Common Injuries in Eugene
According to the most recent Oregon Injury Report from the state, injuries led to over 18,000 hospitalizations. Slip and falls, suicide attempts and motor vehicle accidents represent a majority of the incidents. The Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization reported 1,686 minor crashes and 576 moderate in 2019 alone.
Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Eugene, OR
Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Oregon
A lawsuit commences when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges that the defendant’s negligent actions caused damage to your body or mental state. As the case progresses, you may need to attend depositions, undergo independent medical evaluations, and provide documentation. This discovery process can be lengthy and may culminate in either a settlement or a court appearance. If a trial does take place, both parties have the opportunity to present their case before a judge. The complexity of the lawsuit in Eugene can significantly impact the duration of the trial, potentially spanning months or even years. Involving expert witnesses or other related tasks can add time and increase costs. However, it’s worth noting that most personal injury cases are resolved out of court before reaching this stage. With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and the factors that impact the final amount. The amount that a jury may award a plaintiff in Eugene depends on the direct costs and suffering of the individual. Recent precedents and decisions can factor into this amount, but you can start with your out-of-pocket costs. For example, The Bulletin wrote about a $946,318 lawsuit brought forward by a state trooper injured in a DUI Crash in 2019. This tort seeks $38,000 in treatment costs and $750,000 for noneconomic damages. If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in OR, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all. If your Oregon personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted. Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills, and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses. General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant to compensate you for the pain and anguish. Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. Reuters reported in July 2020 that the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that a previous $500,000 cap was unconstitutional. As a result, there is no limit to the amount a jury can award for a personal injury case in Eugene. The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized. If you live in Eugene, you have up to two years to file a personal injury lawsuit after the incident. We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. Pursue a personal injury claim in Eugene against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Oregon state lines. Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area! Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States. With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.Oregon Personal Injury Settlement
Damage Awards in Oregon
Statute of Limitations in Eugene, OR Personal Injury Law?
Work With an Experienced Eugene, OR Lawyer
About the Author
Auto Accident
Bankruptcy
Business Law
Child Birth Injury
Child Custody
Child Support
Consumer Law
Copyright Law
Criminal Defense
Debt Collector Harassment
Divorce Law
DUI Law
Employment Law
Eviction Law
Foreclosure Defense
Identity Theft
Immigration Law
Insurance Claims
Lemon Law
Medical Malpractice
Nursing Home Abuse
Patent Law
Power of Attorney
Probate Law
Property Disputes
Real Estate Law
Social Security Disability
Tax Law
Traffic Law
Vaccination Injury
Workers Compensation
Workplace Discrimination
Wrongful Termination
Wills and Trusts
