After a crash, everything hits all at once. Medical appointments, missed paychecks, a car that needs fixing, a claim you’re not sure how to handle. Not to mention all the calls from the insurance companies who are recording your every word and trying to lowball your settlement offer.
Let SLP Injury take care of it. We’ve spent the last 60 years recovering millions for Oregon accident victims, and we work on one condition: if we don’t win, you don’t pay. Hire us and we’ll handle all the heavy lifting, from building your case to negotiating your settlement.
Call us now or fill out the contact form for a free case review.
Why Portland Clients Choose SLP Injury
Portland has one of the highest crash networks in Oregon, with roads like Powell Boulevard, Highway 26, and I-205 contributing to a high percentage of fatalities across the state. These are where complicated crashes happen every day, usually involving multiple vehicles, disputed fault, and underinsured drivers. The claims that come out of these accidents are rarely straightforward, and the insurance companies know it.
SLP Injury has been handling exactly these kinds of cases here for six decades. We know how local insurers negotiate, we know the courts, and we know what it takes to push back when an adjuster tries to lowball a serious claim. Our attorneys are nationally recognized, peer-rated among the top in their field, and have secured multi-million dollar outcomes for people who were told their case wasn’t worth much.
We work exclusively for injury victims. No corporations, no insurance companies. Every case we take is on behalf of someone who got hurt, and we bring that same focus to every negotiation and every courtroom. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Cases We’ve Won
$
11,000,000Auto Accident and Defective Product Case
$
1,500,000Auto Accident Case
$
538,000Auto Accident Case
From First Call to Final Settlement, We’ve Got It.
From the moment you reach out, we take the weight off your shoulders so you can focus on recovering.
Step One
We Clear Your Plate
The moment you hire us, we get the insurance companies off your back. We manage all documentation, handle every call from adjusters, and make sure nothing you say gets used against you. Your only job is to focus on getting better. Ours is to win your case.
Step Two
We Build & Fight For Your Case
Once we have the full picture of your injuries and damages, we put together a demand and go to work. We negotiate hard, and we don’t accept offers that fall short of what your case is actually worth. If the insurance company won’t budge, we’re prepared to take it further.
Step Three
We Close It Out and Get You Paid
When we reach a settlement, we’ll take you past the finish line. That means resolving any outstanding liens, confirming your medical bills are cleared, and getting your funds in your pocket. No surprises, no loose ends. And if we don’t win, you don’t owe us a thing.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Portland
What you do in the hours after a crash can significantly affect your claim. Here’s what matters most.
- Check for injuries. Your safety comes before anything else. Check yourself and any passengers before worrying about the vehicles.
- Call 911. A police report creates an official record. Even if the crash seems minor at first, don’t skip this step.
- Document everything. Photos of both vehicles, your injuries, the road conditions, license plates, insurance cards. If there are witnesses, grab their contact information before they leave.
- See a doctor soon. Concussions and soft tissue injuries don’t always surface immediately. A gap in medical care gives insurers a reason to question your claim.
- Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance adjuster alone. Their job is to minimize the payout. Let us handle that conversation so we can make sure you don’t get taken advantage of.
- File your DMV report. Oregon law requires you to report the crash to the DMV within 72 hours if there were injuries, a fatality, more than $2,500 in damages, or any vehicle was towed. Missing this deadline can get your license suspended.
- Call us. The earlier we get involved, the stronger your case.
Portland Car Accident Resources
Getting into a crash throws everything into chaos at once. Here are the contacts and resources you’ll actually need.
Emergency and Non-Emergency Contacts
- 911 for life-threatening injuries
- 503-823-3333 for non-emergency dispatch, available 24/7, to report collisions without immediate injuries
- 3-1-1 for general questions or help with police reports, available 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Trauma Centers
- Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
- OHSU Trauma Center
Both have surgeons on staff around the clock for serious injuries.
Filing a Crash Report with Oregon DMV
You can file online through Oregon’s collision reporting system or submit a paper form in person. If the police filed their own report, you still need to file yours separately.
What You Need to Know About Car Accidents in Portland
DMV Collision Reporting Requirements
Oregon requires you to file a Traffic Collision and Insurance Report with the DMV within 72 hours if the crash involved injury, death, more than $2,500 in vehicle or property damage, or any vehicle being towed. You can file online or by paper form. Miss the deadline and your license can be suspended, regardless of whether the police filed their own report.
Oregon’s Comparative Negligence Rule
Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover compensation as long as you were less than 51% at fault. Your settlement is reduced by your percentage of blame, so if you were 20% responsible on a $10,000 claim, you’d recover $8,000. Insurers routinely try to inflate your share of fault to pay out less, but our attorneys won’t let that happen.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage
All Oregon drivers are required to carry PIP insurance, which covers your medical bills regardless of who caused the crash. It pays up to $15,000 in medical expenses, replaces 70% of your income up to $3,000 a month, and covers help around the house when injuries keep you from managing daily tasks. For serious injuries, $15,000 goes fast. A personal injury claim can help you recover what PIP doesn’t cover.
Statute of Limitations
You have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Oregon. That window closes faster than most people expect, especially when months of treatment make it hard to see the full picture right away. If a city or state employee caused your crash, you may have as little as 180 days to file a tort claim notice. Miss that and you lose your right to compensation entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays my medical bills after a car accident in Portland?
In Oregon, your own insurance pays first. The state requires all drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection, which is a no-fault coverage that kicks in regardless of who caused the crash. Once PIP is exhausted, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance takes over. If that driver was uninsured or didn’t have enough coverage, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist policy can fill the gap.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Yes. Oregon’s modified comparative negligence rule allows you to recover damages as long as you were less than 51% responsible for the crash. Your settlement is reduced proportionally by your share of fault. If your damages totaled $10,000 and you were found 20% at fault, you’d be entitled to $8,000. Insurance companies often work to push that percentage higher to reduce what they owe, which is exactly where having an attorney makes a real difference.
What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
You still have options. Oregon requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which steps in when the at-fault driver has no policy. If they have insurance but not enough to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist coverage can make up the difference. Your PIP coverage can also help with immediate medical costs while the larger claim gets sorted out. We can walk you through exactly which coverage applies to your situation.
What damages can I pursue after a Portland car accident?
If someone else caused the crash, you can pursue the full scope of your losses, including medical expenses (both current and future), lost income, and reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work, pain and suffering, emotional distress, property damage, and practical costs like rental cars and transportation to appointments. For families dealing with a fatal crash, wrongful death damages may also be available. A free case review will give you a clearer picture of what your specific claim could include.
What is the process for filing a car accident claim in Portland?
When you’ve been involved in a car accident in Portland, you have to file a report with the Oregon DMV within 72 hours. From there, the claims process involves gathering evidence, documenting your injuries and losses, and negotiating with the insurance company. If you’ve been hurt, getting an attorney involved early gives you the strongest possible position before the other side starts building their case.
Why does it matter that SLP has handled Portland cases specifically?
We know Portland the way only a longtime local firm can. We know the roads and intersections where serious crashes keep happening, the insurers that try to lowball claims, and the patterns that show up in cases across the city. Our local insight makes a powerful difference in the courtroom, and we have a well-known reputation in this city for doing whatever it takes to win for our clients – amongst insurance companies and legal staff alike. Our local Oregon roots shape how we prepare, how we negotiate, and how we build your case.
Don’t Fall for a Lowball Offer
You’ve got enough to deal with. Figuring out how to fight an insurance company on top of recovering from a crash shouldn’t be part of it. Our team reviews your case for free, with no strings attached. Tell us what happened, and we’ll tell you exactly where you stand.
Fill out the form below to get started. No fee unless we win.
Let Us Help You
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!