Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Understanding Liens on Oregon Personal Injury Settlements: Medical Providers, PIP, and Health Insurance
Settling a personal injury claim can feel like the finish line, until you realize that the settlement number and the amount you actually walk away with are not the same thing. Medical providers, PIP insurers, and health insurance companies can all argue they have a claim against your recovery. Why does this happen, and… Read More »
When a Portland Pedestrian Is Partially at Fault: How Oregon Law Handles Shared Blame
Getting hit by a car as a pedestrian is frightening enough without an insurance company suggesting the accident was partly your own fault. Maybe you were crossing mid block, or maybe you glanced at your phone a second too long. Does that mean you have no case at all? Not necessarily, and understanding how… Read More »
What to Do in the First 72 Hours After a Car Accident in Portland, Oregon
The moments right after a car accident rarely feel clear headed. Adrenaline is running high, you may be in pain, and suddenly you are expected to make decisions that could shape your case for months to come. Do you know what Oregon law requires of you in those first crucial hours, and what steps… Read More »
How Oregon’s Comparative Fault Rules Affect Your Car Accident Settlement
Nobody gets into a car accident thinking about legal doctrines, but if you were even partly involved in causing the crash, one particular Oregon rule could end up determining how much money actually lands in your pocket. Have you ever wondered what happens when both drivers share some blame for what happened? Oregon Follows… Read More »
Hit and Run Accidents in Portland: How to File an Oregon UM Claim When the Driver Fled
You are stopped at a light, or driving through your own Portland neighborhood, when another vehicle strikes you and speeds off before you can even get a license plate number. Now what? Does the driver’s disappearance mean you are simply left to cover your own damages? Why a Fleeing Driver Does Not End Your… Read More »
Oregon Phantom Vehicle Accidents: How to File a Claim When There Was No Contact
Another driver cuts you off, forcing you to swerve and crash into a guardrail. Or a car drifts into your lane, sending you off the road to avoid a collision. In both cases, the other vehicle never actually touched you, and it is long gone before you can even process what happened. Does Oregon… Read More »
Portland Intersection Accidents: Who Is Liable When a Signal Is Disputed?
Two drivers, one intersection, and two completely different stories about what color the light was. Sound familiar? Intersection crashes are some of the most common accidents in Portland, and they are also some of the most frequently disputed, precisely because the entire case can hinge on a few seconds nobody agrees on. What Oregon… Read More »
What Happens to Your Car Accident Claim If the Other Driver Was Uninsured in Oregon?
The crash was clearly not your fault, but the driver who hit you has no insurance at all. Does that mean your claim just evaporates along with any hope of compensation? So long as you yourself had an active Oregon auto insurance policy, the answer is no. This is because Oregon lawmakers anticipated exactly… Read More »
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Grades and Their Impact on Your Oregon Personal Injury Claim
An ER doctor mentions a “mild” traumatic brain injury after a crash, and it’s tempting to walk out relieved. But a “mild” diagnosis can be misleading. In the world of brain injuries, that word carries a very specific medical meaning, and it doesn’t always reflect how much the injury will actually disrupt a life… Read More »
Spinal Cord Injuries After a Portland Car Accident: Long-Term Costs and Compensation
A spinal cord injury doesn’t resolve the way a broken arm does. There’s no cast that comes off in six weeks, no clear finish line where recovery is complete. For many Portland car accident victims, a spinal cord injury marks the beginning of a lifetime of medical care, adaptive equipment, and expenses most people… Read More »