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PERSONAL INJURY BLOG

Articles From Our Legal Experts

Our blog is a free resource for you. Here, you can find answers to your frequently asked questions, uncover the critical steps of the legal process, and learn more about specific types of accidents and injuries impacting Oregonians. Scroll through our entire library of articles below.

What is the No Pay No Play Law in Oregon?
A woman on the phone with a car accident attorney after a car wreck in Oregon | What is the No Pay No Play Law in Oregon?
What is the No Pay No Play Law in Oregon?

What is the No Pay No Play Law in Oregon?

Understanding Oregon's No Pay No Play Law We all know that driving without insurance isn't the best choice, but that doesn't…
September 12, 2024
The Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland and How to Stay Safe
Time lapse image of an intersection | The Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland and How to Stay Safe
The Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland and How to Stay Safe

The Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland and How to Stay Safe

Are the streets in Portland, Oregon safe? The answer depends on where you drive, bike, or walk. Traffic accidents in Portland,…
September 4, 2024
Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Hit-and-Run Accident near Salem, Oregon
Hillsboro car accident intro
Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Hit-and-Run Accident near Salem, Oregon

Steps to Take After Being Involved in a Hit-and-Run Accident near Salem, Oregon

No matter how a car accident happens, it can be a stressful experience for all parties involved. After an accident, drivers…
May 16, 2024
What is my car accident case worth?
Attorney & client shaking hands. What is my case worth.
What is my car accident case worth?

What is my car accident case worth?

One of the most common questions among car accident victims is, “What is my case worth?” Even though this is a…
September 26, 2023
What to look for in a personal injury attorney
Injury attorney meeting with client and spouse
What to look for in a personal injury attorney

What to look for in a personal injury attorney

After you’ve been the victim of an accident or injury that wasn’t your fault, the best thing you can do is…
August 2, 2023
Is it worth hiring a car accident attorney
Car accident victim meeting with injury attorney, shaking hands.
Is it worth hiring a car accident attorney

Is it worth hiring a car accident attorney

Car accidents can alter lives and leave victims with severe injuries and significant financial burdens. If you've experienced this traumatic event,…
July 28, 2023
What are Common Misconceptions About Hiring a Car Accident Attorney?
Person on phone sitting down in front of two cars in an accident
What are Common Misconceptions About Hiring a Car Accident Attorney?

What are Common Misconceptions About Hiring a Car Accident Attorney?

Don't fall for these five misconceptions about car accident attorneys. Working with a good lawyer is the best way to get…
April 14, 2023
How Does My Attorney Experience Impact My Car Accident Case?
Group of individuals holding & shaking hands in blue shirts
How Does My Attorney Experience Impact My Car Accident Case?

How Does My Attorney Experience Impact My Car Accident Case?

Choosing the right Oregon car accident attorney can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your case. Working with an…
March 24, 2023
What to Consider When Choosing a Car Accident Attorney
photo of car keys with gavel and weight scale
What to Consider When Choosing a Car Accident Attorney

What to Consider When Choosing a Car Accident Attorney

No one wants to think about the possibility of being in an accident, but unfortunately, they do happen. When a costly…
February 7, 2023
Motorcycle Injuries & Safety Tips
Salem motorcycle accident attorneys
Motorcycle Injuries & Safety Tips

Motorcycle Injuries & Safety Tips

Motorcycle accidents are far too common, and, unfortunately, they often lead to severe injuries. Those injuries can result in life-altering medical…
October 5, 2022
Oregon Auto-Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian crossing the street, in danger of being hit by car.
Oregon Auto-Pedestrian Accidents

Oregon Auto-Pedestrian Accidents

Car accidents involving pedestrians can have devastating results, and they are on the rise in Oregon. Pedestrian accidents can also be…
September 6, 2022
Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases
3D illustration of a golden stamp where it is written the text expert witness. Legal expertise.
Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases

Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases

Expert witnesses can win or lose your personal injury case. Whether helping to verify a claim for the injured party or…
August 15, 2022
Oregon Car Seat Laws and Child Restraint Guide
Mother putting baby girl in baby car seat
Oregon Car Seat Laws and Child Restraint Guide

Oregon Car Seat Laws and Child Restraint Guide

Keep your kids safer by following Oregon child seat laws and using the proper safety restraints for your vehicle. Oregon Car…
August 4, 2022
What To Do After An Injury
Swanson Lathen Prestwich personal injury law firm
What To Do After An Injury

What To Do After An Injury

You Do Not Have To Walk Through The Aftermath Alone What happens in the moments, days and weeks after an accident…
July 28, 2022
Oregon’s Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys Weigh In On Roadway Dangers
Driver driving a car on asphalt road in summer day at park. Woman at steering wheel with smartphone in her hand.
Oregon’s Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys Weigh In On Roadway Dangers

Oregon’s Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys Weigh In On Roadway Dangers

The Dangers of Distracted Driving in Oregon Distracted driving is a dangerous but all too common habit of many drivers. As…
July 21, 2022
Oregon Teenage Driving Laws: What to Know Before Your Teen Starts Driving
Oregon teen drives for the first time
Oregon Teenage Driving Laws: What to Know Before Your Teen Starts Driving

Oregon Teenage Driving Laws: What to Know Before Your Teen Starts Driving

Have a Teenage Driver? Here's What You Need to Know Before They Get Behind the Wheel If you’ve got a teenager…
July 20, 2022
Oregon Personal Injury Lawyers – No Win, No Fee!
Financial planning with No Win No Fee personal injury attorney
Oregon Personal Injury Lawyers – No Win, No Fee!

Oregon Personal Injury Lawyers – No Win, No Fee!

The Advantage of Hiring a No Win, No Fee Attorney If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you should…
July 20, 2022
Contingency Fees: Here’s How They Work
No Win No Fee personal injury lawyers lawyers
Contingency Fees: Here’s How They Work

Contingency Fees: Here’s How They Work

If you think hiring a lawyer after a car accident is too expensive, think again. Contingency fees allow attorneys to help…
June 21, 2022
What Qualifies as Pain and Suffering?
Woman experiencing pain and suffering sits on bed and rubs her neck - What qualifies pain suffering
What Qualifies as Pain and Suffering?

What Qualifies as Pain and Suffering?

What qualifies as “pain and suffering?” You may have heard the phrase “pain and suffering,” but what does it really mean?…
May 17, 2022
Understanding Elder Abuse: When to Contact Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys
Senior woman with black eye is victim of nursing home abuse
Understanding Elder Abuse: When to Contact Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

Understanding Elder Abuse: When to Contact Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys

A Guide to Understanding Elder Abuse in Oregon Placing a loved one in an assisted living home is often a difficult…
April 28, 2022
Oregon Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys
Slip and fall injury report in personal injury case
Oregon Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

Oregon Slip and Fall Accident Attorneys

Did you slip and fall because of someone else's negligence? Everything You Need to Know Now, From An Experienced Slip and…
April 27, 2022
Head Trauma, Concussion, and Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuits
Head Trauma, Concussion, and Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuits

Head Trauma, Concussion, and Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuits

Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion Lawsuits: A Detailed Guide When you or a loved one have experienced a serious injury to…
April 12, 2022
How Long Does A Personal Injury Settlement Take?
Close-up of legal document and hourglass on table, how long will a lawsuit take
How Long Does A Personal Injury Settlement Take?

How Long Does A Personal Injury Settlement Take?

What You Should Know About How Long a Lawsuit Lasts If you have been injured and are contemplating or are currently…
February 28, 2022
Oregon Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
Statute of limitations (SOL) on a court desk.
Oregon Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

Oregon Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

What is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in Oregon? Each state, Oregon included, requires lawsuits to be filed within…
February 24, 2022
Do personal injury claims usually settle before a lawsuit is filed?
image of a hammer in a courtroom for personal injury trial
Do personal injury claims usually settle before a lawsuit is filed?

Do personal injury claims usually settle before a lawsuit is filed?

Do personal injury claims usually settle before a lawsuit is filed? Yes! Most people settle their personal injury cases before trial.…
February 7, 2022
Bedsores: The Painful Effect of Nursing Home Neglect
Bedsores: The Painful Effect of Nursing Home Neglect

Bedsores: The Painful Effect of Nursing Home Neglect

What You Need to Know About Bedsores and Nursing Home Neglect If you have an elderly loved one in a nursing…
December 6, 2021
Safety Tips For The Avid Cyclist
Safety Tips For The Avid Cyclist

Safety Tips For The Avid Cyclist

Rain or shine, you love to get out on your bike. You trust yourself, your skills and your equipment. All you…
February 3, 2021
When Walking Through A Store’s Parking Lot Is The Most Dangerous Part Of Your Trip
When Walking Through A Store’s Parking Lot Is The Most Dangerous Part Of Your Trip

When Walking Through A Store’s Parking Lot Is The Most Dangerous Part Of Your Trip

It’s a quick drive to the store, and you make it once a week. You’re careful and safe the entire way.…
January 2, 2021
Is It Time For Your Parent To Stop Driving?
Is It Time For Your Parent To Stop Driving?

Is It Time For Your Parent To Stop Driving?

Your parents helped you gain confidence as you were learning to drive. It was a long time ago, but you still…
December 23, 2020
How Long Should Children Be In Rear-Facing Seats?
How Long Should Children Be In Rear-Facing Seats?

How Long Should Children Be In Rear-Facing Seats?

Rear-facing child seats in cars often feel less convenient to parents. Maybe it’s harder to put the child in. Maybe you…
December 9, 2020
7 Tips For Driving Through Heavy Rain
7 Tips For Driving Through Heavy Rain

7 Tips For Driving Through Heavy Rain

When you live in Oregon, you are accustomed to dealing with more than a few rainy days, in multiple seasons: fall,…
November 30, 2020
Does Bruising On Elderly Nursing Home Patients Indicate Abuse?
Does Bruising On Elderly Nursing Home Patients Indicate Abuse?

Does Bruising On Elderly Nursing Home Patients Indicate Abuse?

If you have an elderly parent, grandparent or other loved one in a nursing home, you would likely be shocked and…
November 9, 2020
What Is An Independent Medical Examination?
What Is An Independent Medical Examination?

What Is An Independent Medical Examination?

When you’re the victim of a car wreck, you have every right to seek compensation for any damages you’ve suffered. There…
October 26, 2020
Who was Alexxyss Therwhanger, and why was she so important?
Who was Alexxyss Therwhanger, and why was she so important?

Who was Alexxyss Therwhanger, and why was she so important?

In Oregon, discussions about distracted driving often focus on a young woman named Alexxyss Therwhanger. Since the state has some of…
October 2, 2020
Yes, your grade-school child should be in a booster seat
Yes, your grade-school child should be in a booster seat

Yes, your grade-school child should be in a booster seat

As soon as children start going to school and spending more time with their peers than their parents, they often tend…
September 28, 2020
Bedsores: How they develop, and why they shouldn’t, in nursing homes
Bedsores: How they develop, and why they shouldn’t, in nursing homes

Bedsores: How they develop, and why they shouldn’t, in nursing homes

Bedsores, which are also known as decubitus ulcers, develop for a few different reasons, but none should happen in a nursing…
September 15, 2020
What should you do if you’re in a car accident?
What should you do if you’re in a car accident?

What should you do if you’re in a car accident?

Every time you get behind the wheel of your vehicle you’re at risk of an accident. There are steps you can…
September 1, 2020
Amber turn signal lights cut accidents
Amber turn signal lights cut accidents

Amber turn signal lights cut accidents

A simple part on a car that costs only a few dollars could mean the difference between safety and danger for…
August 12, 2020
Wearing a seat belt can save your life
Wearing a seat belt can save your life

Wearing a seat belt can save your life

Today’s motor vehicles are safer than ever before, but only if you take advantage of the many safety features that are…
July 23, 2020
Self-driving vehicles are not as safe as advertised
Self-driving vehicles are not as safe as advertised

Self-driving vehicles are not as safe as advertised

Self-driving cars have been billed as the cure-all to road accidents in Oregon and the rest of the country. However, the…
July 10, 2020
Pedestrian deaths may have risen 60% from 2009 to 2019
Pedestrian deaths may have risen 60% from 2009 to 2019

Pedestrian deaths may have risen 60% from 2009 to 2019

More and more pedestrians are being killed in Oregon and across the U.S., and a preliminary study of traffic deaths in…
July 10, 2020
Rural roads and the safety threat they pose
Rural roads and the safety threat they pose

Rural roads and the safety threat they pose

Drivers in Oregon should be aware that though rural roads have less traffic, this does not make them safer than more…
June 10, 2020
Defect-related crashes most often due to older vehicles
Defect-related crashes most often due to older vehicles

Defect-related crashes most often due to older vehicles

In Oregon and across the U.S., many car crashes arise because of defective car equipment, such as bad brakes or bald…
June 2, 2020
Are your kids using the right safety restraints in your vehicle?
Are your kids using the right safety restraints in your vehicle?

Are your kids using the right safety restraints in your vehicle?

The more you drive with your kids in your car, the more risk your children have. Currently, motor vehicle collisions are…
April 6, 2020
Protecting Older Adults from Financial Abuse: Recognizing and Preventing Financial Exploitation
Senior citizen victim of elder financial abuse and fraud
Protecting Older Adults from Financial Abuse: Recognizing and Preventing Financial Exploitation

Protecting Older Adults from Financial Abuse: Recognizing and Preventing Financial Exploitation

When people think of elder abuse, they may think of scars, bruises, and bedsores they receive due to negligent nursing home…
February 22, 2020
What you need to know about Oregon’s recent lane-splitting bill
What you need to know about Oregon’s recent lane-splitting bill

What you need to know about Oregon’s recent lane-splitting bill

Oregon lawmakers are considering whether to allow lane-splitting on state highways. The practice would enable motorcyclists to cross between lanes on…
February 17, 2020
Tips for dealing with slow drivers
Tips for dealing with slow drivers

Tips for dealing with slow drivers

Car crashes usually occur from people driving too fast. However, driving below the speed limit could be equally or even more…
February 15, 2020
Study looks at role of opioids in fatal two-car crashes
Study looks at role of opioids in fatal two-car crashes

Study looks at role of opioids in fatal two-car crashes

JAMA Network Open has published the results of a study on fatal two-car crashes and the potential role that opioid use…
December 4, 2019
The various ways in which alcohol disrupts driving capabilities
The various ways in which alcohol disrupts driving capabilities

The various ways in which alcohol disrupts driving capabilities

It is no secret that operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol can be a dangerous decision. As…
November 21, 2019
Reckless Driving in Winter Conditions: Tips to Reduce Accident Risk Driving in the Snow
Reckless Driving in Winter Conditions: Tips to Reduce Accident Risk Driving in the Snow

Reckless Driving in Winter Conditions: Tips to Reduce Accident Risk Driving in the Snow

Winter-weather car accidents in Oregon (and around the country) claim over 1,300 lives and injure more than 116,800 road users every…
November 18, 2019
Traffic accident risks go up in fall when clocks go back an hour
Traffic accident risks go up in fall when clocks go back an hour

Traffic accident risks go up in fall when clocks go back an hour

The end of daylight saving time ushers in a season for increased risks for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists in Oregon. Shifting…
November 8, 2019
Driver arrested after fleeing the scene of Portland accident
Driver arrested after fleeing the scene of Portland accident

Driver arrested after fleeing the scene of Portland accident

Few people in Salem likely ever anticipate being involved in a car accident. On the contrary, most may believe that their…
October 1, 2019
What’s behind the rise in trucking accidents?
What’s behind the rise in trucking accidents?

What’s behind the rise in trucking accidents?

The trucking industry is vital to the nation's economy. Transporting goods and other cargo wouldn't be as easy without truck drivers…
September 27, 2019
Contributing factors in tire blow-outs
Contributing factors in tire blow-outs

Contributing factors in tire blow-outs

On the roads in Oregon, there are plenty of dangers that a driver can face. For example, a tire may blow…
August 30, 2019
What are bedsores?
What are bedsores?

What are bedsores?

If caring for your infirm loved one becomes too difficult, you may feel confident entrusting their care to a nursing home…
August 19, 2019
What kind of car or booster seat does your child need?
What kind of car or booster seat does your child need?

What kind of car or booster seat does your child need?

Parents will go to great lengths to keep their children safe. This is particularly true when parents need to drive their…
August 2, 2019
How to Know if You Are a Victim of Negligent Entrustment
How to Know if You Are a Victim of Negligent Entrustment

How to Know if You Are a Victim of Negligent Entrustment

Motor vehicle accidents are commonly the result of avoidable circumstances. While distracted driving, driving under the influence, and other frequent causes…
June 10, 2019
Safety is a top priority when going for a bike ride
Safety is a top priority when going for a bike ride

Safety is a top priority when going for a bike ride

Is riding a bicycle a passion of yours or have you recently gotten back into the activity as a form of…
June 6, 2019
Father sues football helmet maker for son’s wrongful death
Father sues football helmet maker for son’s wrongful death

Father sues football helmet maker for son’s wrongful death

Most of us take reasonable precautions to protect ourselves from injuries large and small. But some of the most serious injuries…
May 20, 2019