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…
Hurt In A Car Accident? We've Got Your Back
Car accidents can leave you reeling, both physically and emotionally. They also can leave you with huge financial burdens that make it hard to get the help you need. That’s where our Oregon car accident attorneys come in. Located in Salem, Oregon, our lawyers serve the entire state; no matter where your accident occurred, we can help. With the support of the aggressive advocates at Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC, you can put the trauma of your car accident behind you for good.
Car Accident Attorneys
Bounce Back from a Car Accident in Oregon
When you get into a car accident in Oregon, you can be left with some major physical and psychological trauma.
Issues such as TBI, spinal cord and back injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, burns, and disfigurement are all too common. Beyond physical injuries, the horrible experience can also leave you with PTSD, anxiety and emotional trauma that requires professional medical help to overcome.
Getting the support and healing you need comes with some major price tags. In Oregon, it’s not uncommon to incur expenses that add up to tens of thousand or even more than $100,000.
You shouldn’t have to pay for that alone. Our experienced car accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Tirelessly Advocating for You
With the award-winning legal team at Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC, you’re not alone. Our car accident attorneys walk you through the entire process, start to finish. Here’s how:
Step One
File Your Claim
Our expert car accident attorneys start by helping you navigate the claims process. We’ll manage the critical legal paperwork and handle all communication on your behalf. We take over all of this so that you can focus on getting better and getting your life back.
Step Two
Receive an Offer and Make Counteroffers
Once you have recovered, we’ll gather up the rest of the documents that make up the evidence in your case, put together a demand letter which lays out the legal theories and arguments, and fight for you. Insurance companies then make an initial offer and this is where the seasoned experts at Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC really do their best work. We negotiate with the insurer and don’t back down or give up; if we can’t negotiate a fair agreement with the insurance company, we’ll file your case in court. There, we’ll serve as an advocate for you against the insurance companies to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Step Three
Get Your Payout
Finally, once we’ve come to an agreement on your settlement amount, we’ll prepare your case for final resolution. We’ll negotiate and pay any liens, confirm your medical bills have been paid and that nothing remains outstanding, and then get a check for your settlement funds. We only take a fee if we win your case. That way, we guarantee that you’re getting exactly what you deserve.
Don’t risk losing out on the compensation you deserve. Get in touch with our law firm and work with someone who knows not just what to do, but can perform at a high level for you to maximize all sources for you; we’re proud to have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in Oregon for victims just like you.
FAQs About Car Accident Claims
Car accident claims can be confusing. To help clear things up, we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in oregon?
Tricky question. Oregon law requires you to file an accident report within 72 hours after the accident occurs. For the injury claim itself, you typically have two (2) years from the accident date to either settle your case or file a lawsuit. Some cases do have shorter timelines and crucial evidence can disappear quickly. That means that there’s no time to lose when it comes to contacting a car accident attorney and getting the assistance you need.
Insurance companies begin right away to build a case against you. They know that if they can get to you early, they’ll get a recorded statement from you, get you to sign authorizations and even accept a small amount quickly to resolve your case. They are experts at what they do. For this reason, you need your own expert. The lawyers at Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC, have decades of experience and have handled tens of thousands of cases. Contacting us early in the process will ensure your case is best positioned for you.
What should I do immediately after an accident?
As soon as an accident occurs, you need to stop at the scene of the accident. Then, call 911 and report the accident, even if there are no injured persons at the scene of the crash. In Oregon, police and emergency personnel don’t always respond. In that case, you’ll need to do some work on your own to protect yourself and your rights.
In every accident, it is critical to take photos. Most of us carry cell phones these days. Take photos of the cars, i.e. yours and the others involved. Take photos of the scene for any debris or skidmarks. Exchange information with the other drivers. This includes driver’s license, insurance and personal contact information. Take a photo of these things so you can get accurate information. Then contact Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC, and allow us to take over for you and make sure you’re protected.
What types of losses am I entitled to recover from a car accident?
You can recover both economic and non-economic losses from a car accident. These include:
- Medical costs: coverage for ambulance rides, medical stays, medications, injury treatment, and future medical treatment to name a few;
- Property damages: damage to your vehicle as well as tow truck expenses, storage fees and rental car costs while you wait for your vehicle to be repaired. If your car is repaired, you may also qualify for diminished value (DV), i.e. the difference between your car’s value after an accident versus its worth before.
- Wage losses & income impairment: coverage for time during which you were unable to work due to your injuries, future loss of earnings, the value for losses in benefits or other compensation you earned as part of your job.
- Pain and suffering: compensation pain, suffering, disruption of your life, inconvenience, permanent disability, death of a loved one, disfigurement, and PTSD caused by the accident are just some examples.
An expert car accident attorney can help you determine which of these losses are owed to you.
What if the driver who caused the accident was uninsured or underinsured?
In the event that an at-fault driver had no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover your losses or pay you compensation, your own insurance will provide the compensation that the other driver should have provided. This is called uninsurance (UM) and underinsurance (UIM) benefits in your Oregon insurance policy. It is mandatory coverage and really is the best way to protect yourself from serious financial harm.
We strongly advocate that clients carry higher insurance limits so as to protect themselves from situations where the at-fault driver has no, or very little, insurance. Most insurance companies charge relatively little to increase your insurance limits of coverage for this.
After getting my settlement, can I go back for more money later if my injuries get worse?
The short answer is no. For this reason, it is critical that you know all the facts and all possible outcomes for your case. Having a skilled and experienced car accident lawyer can help ensure that you get all the compensation you deserve because, once the case settles or goes to a hearing, that’s it. There is no way to re-open your case for more, even if the circumstances change
Does it make sense to hire a car accident lawyer?
Absolutely. We tell people all the time, even in smaller cases, that it is to your serious advantage that you have a highly skilled and experienced car accident lawyer on your side. And the sooner the better for you to help make sure you don’t make mistakes early in your case and to be your advocate from start to finish.
In addition, having a car accident lawyer working for you increases the chance that you’ll get a significantly higher settlement from your accident. Moreover, we won’t charge a fee unless we win your case.
Client Reviews
I was involved in an accident, and was having difficulties dealing with my insurance company.One of my neighbors recommended me to Brian Lathen, after a very prompt meeting I retained his services.Durring a long and tiring process, the staff at Swanson Lathen and Prestwich made me feel so much more comfortable, and helped greatly in getting through it.Along with now having a trusted lawyer/allie to call if anything unexpectedly happens in the future. I feel like I had made a friend.Thank you.
Swanson Lathen Prestwich is a Godsend!I was in a terrible car crash, literally caused by another person who admitted fault to the police, to their own insurance, to my insurance and I STILL had to fight for fair compensation. Realizing I needed to get a lawyer involved, an acquaintance recommended Travis Prestwich.After meeting Mr. Prestwich, I was immediately at ease. He was very knowledgeable, kind, welcoming and realistic. I appreciated that he actually listened to me and provided information that helped me get into the right mind frame. Travis was very patient and kind and responded to questions rather quickly. I appreciated his realistic approach and learned quickly that other lawyers, judges and community members, highly respect him; which was a huge sign that he was the right person for my situation!His staff, Carrie Meeker and Jennifer Hiser were equally phenomenal during the process! They were also very kind, empathetic, knowledgeable and responded to inquires in a timely manner and were just wonderful to work with. As odd as this sounds, I really enjoyed talking with them and knew that once my case with over with that I would miss all three of them.When the time came, and I had to go through a settlement hearing, Travis was by my side the whole way through. The unknown always frightens me but he found a way to keep me at ease with his calm demeanor. This review doesn’t even do this trio justice! They are wonderful people and did a phenomenal job on my case.I pray I never have to go through this process again however if I do, Travis will be the very first person I call. I HIGHLY recommend Swanson Lathen Prestwich and Travis Prestwich, Carrie Meeker and Jennifer Hiser!! I wish there were more people out there like them! I give them an A+++
Mr. Prestwich and his entire staff were nothing but kind, supportive and professional through the entire process of helping me with my car accident settlement. The outcome was exactly what I had hoped for and it was all because of the hard work that was done by this office.
Myself and my family have worked with Keith Swanson since the late 80's.Unfortunately when an accident occurs you need to make good decisions.You can't go wrong with Keith.He's an amazing man. Honest, straight forward and well respected in the industry.Not to mention one of the best accident attorneys in the profession.Thank you Keith, and Chris.
Great Services! Helpful reception. Brian Lathen was great and helped a lot.
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We offer free consultations to all prospective clients and if we take your case on, there is no fee unless we win. Let us know how we can help you!