Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Burn Injuries from Portland Auto Accidents: Why These Cases Require Specialized Legal Help
Fire changes everything about a car accident case. A collision that might have otherwise meant a broken bone and a few weeks of recovery can instead mean months of surgeries, permanent scarring, and a claim that looks nothing like a typical fender bender lawsuit. Why Vehicles Catch Fire at All Ruptured fuel lines, sparking… Read More »
Dog Bite Laws in Oregon: Strict Liability and What Portland Victims Can Recover
“The dog bit me, so the owner just pays, right?” That is usually the first assumption after a dog attack in Oregon. The real answer splits into two very different rules depending on what kind of compensation is actually being sought. Two Damages Categories, Two Different Standards Oregon Revised Statutes Section 31.360 creates strict… Read More »
What to Do If a Car Doors You While Cycling in Portland
If a car door opens into your path while you’re cycling in Portland, your first priority is your own safety and medical care, followed by documenting the scene, exchanging information with the driver, and reporting the crash to police. Getting doored happens fast, often with little to no warning, and the moments right after… Read More »
How Traffic Camera and Dashcam Footage Can Make or Break a Portland Car Accident Claim
Traffic camera and dashcam footage can make or break a Portland car accident claim because Oregon’s fault rules directly determine how much compensation you can recover, and clear video evidence often settles disputes that would otherwise come down to one driver’s word against another’s. If you were injured in a crash and there’s footage… Read More »
Who Can You Sue After a Portland Semi-Truck Accident? A Guide to Multiple Defendants
If you assumed the truck driver is the only party who could be held responsible after your crash, you’re not alone, but you’re also likely missing a big part of the picture. Semi-truck accidents in Portland often involve more than one potentially liable party, from the driver to the trucking company to whoever loaded… Read More »
Side-Impact Crashes on Portland Roads: Understanding T-Bone Accident Liability
Getting T-boned at an intersection tends to leave you with two things: a badly damaged vehicle and a lot of confusion about who’s actually at fault. Side-impact crashes generally come down to one core question: which driver failed to yield, ran a signal, or otherwise created the collision. Once that’s established, Oregon’s fault rules… Read More »
Social Host Liability in Oregon: When a Party Host Can Be Held Responsible for a Drunk Driving Crash
Can you actually sue the person who threw the party, not just the drunk driver who caused your crash? In Oregon, the answer is sometimes yes, though the burden of proof is genuinely high. Oregon law allows social hosts to be held liable for a drunk driving crash under specific circumstances, and understanding what… Read More »
What Insurance Covers a Portland Uber or Lyft Accident? A Step-by-Step Guide
Which insurance policy actually covers a Portland Uber or Lyft accident depends almost entirely on what the driver’s app was doing at the exact moment of the crash, not simply on the fact that a rideshare vehicle was involved. Oregon law requires transportation network companies to carry specific insurance for their drivers, but that… Read More »
Who Is Responsible When a Rideshare Driver Hits a Pedestrian in Portland?
If an Uber or Lyft driver strikes you while you are crossing a Portland street, who actually pays for your injuries? The driver, their personal insurer, or the rideshare company itself? The answer depends heavily on what the driver was doing on the rideshare app at the exact moment of the crash. At Rosenbaum… Read More »
Helmet Laws, Comparative Fault, and Motorcycle Accident Settlements in Oregon
If you were riding without a helmet when a driver hit you, does that wreck your entire claim? Not necessarily, but it can shrink what you ultimately recover. At Rosenbaum Law Group, PC, we handle motorcycle accident cases throughout Portland, and this question comes up. The answer depends on how Oregon’s comparative fault rules… Read More »