I represent individuals who have been injured in an accident through no fault of their own. These events often involve car crashes or unsafe premises.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

Typically, these cases consist of

• auto accidents between multiple vehicles, vehicles and bicycles, and vehicles and pedestrians
• unsafe premise accidents such as slip and fall
• third-party claims, such as workplace injuries that are caused by the mistake of someone other than the injured person's employer or co-worker
• professional negligence, such as mistakes made by doctors or hospitals.

Insurance Company Pressure

Injured people are often pressured by the at-fault person's insurance carrier to settle early and before they have had an opportunity to talk with a lawyer. You have the unconditional right to seek advice from a lawyer who is bound by ethical rules to serve only you.

Your Goals

I understand that your immediate goals are to get well, get back to work, get your medical bills and lost wages paid, and to get all insurance carriers concerned to cooperate with your getting well.

I understand that your longer term goal is to get a recovery for your other losses, such as pain, reduced ability to function in your usual activities, and loss of earning capacity.

I will discuss your situation and go over all options available and will help you assess the strategy most likely to meet your goals. If I think you have a good case and if you choose to hire me, I would start preparing your case for both settlement negotiations and trial. I WILL NOT STOP WORKING FOR YOU UNTIL AFTER I HAVE WE HAVE GONE AS FAR AS WE CAN.

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. Some time limits can be as short as 60 days or 180 days. Do not lose a valuable recovery by missing a deadline.

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 me 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, court filing fees, court trial fees, mediation and arbitration fees, and expert witness 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.

Get a Free Consultation

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