If you have been injured in an automobile accident and if you were not at fault, contact me right away at 503 620-3171 or at slgabin@pacifier.com.

If the accident has left you unable to work, while you heal you may be able to receive valuable Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits through your own insurer. If you were injured while a pedestrian or cyclist, you may be able to receive PIP benefits from the at fault driver's insurer.

To avoid insurance company pressure to resolve your claim before you are healed, it is important to get legal advice as soon as you know you are hurt. Most claims require many months, and sometimes a year or more, before it is possible to know how much an injured person has lost. To develop your case fully, often it necessary me to confer with your doctor, and occasionally with other professionals.

Critical Time Limits

The time limit to file a lawsuit is ticking away. Some cases require special notices to the at-fault party and the time limit for sending these notices is also ticking away. Do not ruin a good case by missing a deadline.

Typically, a lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date you have learned you have been hurt. Occasionally a time limit to file a lawsuit may be longer.

Some cases involve very short time limits to file a notice of claim or a lawsuit, as short as 60 days or 180 days. Therefore, it is critical that you call a lawyer to find out what time limits apply to your case.

Fees

Attorney fees in personal injury claims are contingent. That means I receive a fee ONLY if you receive a recovery. That means you do not owe a fee UNLESS you receive a recovery.

Typically, fees are 33 1/3 percent of your recovery if your claim is resolved more than two weeks before trial, and 40 percent of your recovery if your claim is resolved within two weeks of trial or at trial.

Costs

In nearly all cases, I will incur out-of-pocket costs. These are not attorney fees, but are fees for such things as medical record duplicating charges, attorney/doctor conferences, treating doctor medical reports, safety expert fees, expert witness fees, court filing fees, mediation fees, and arbitration and trial fees.

I incur these expenses only when necessary to prepare properly. I am bound to follow Oregon State Bar ethical rules that require the client to assume responsibility for these costs if the client is able to pay. Therefore, I will bill for these costs but will not expect reimbursement unless you can afford to reimburse me.

Free Consultation

Contact me at 503 620-3171 or at slgabin@pacifier.com for a free in-person consultation.