Everything You Need to Know About Oregon’s Fault Laws

Posted on behalf of RizkLaw on Nov 12, 2022 in Auto Accident

After a car accident occurs, you may encounter injuries and property damage that cause significant financial losses. While your insurance may help you cover small portions of the damage, you can also take legal action against the responsible party and recover compensation for your losses. In order to recover compensation, you must prove that the other party was at fault for the accident. 

Oregon follows a fault-based system for bearing financial responsibility after a car crash. So, when a car accident occurs, someone will take responsibility for all or the majority of the accident, meaning an individual may recover the losses the other individual caused. If you have any questions about how fault works for car accidents in Oregon, reach out to Rizk Law today, as we can help you with your case. 

How Might I Recover Compensation After an Oregon Car Accident?

Lost wages, ambulance costs, and hospital bills are a few of the many losses an individual may suffer after a car accident. For families and others struggling to pay for the damages, compensation allows those involved to have a smoother recovery process. There are a few options for Oregon residents to recover compensation for car accident damages, including:

  • Filing a claim with your insurance company
  • Filing a third-party claim directly with the other driver’s insurance company
  • Filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court against the other driver

Oregon also requires every individual driving a car to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance that the individual may use to help with any losses from a car crash. However, filing a claim against a negligent driver is more than just recovering compensation; it also holds the person accountable for their harrowing behavior. 

Understanding Oregon’s Fault Coverage

Every driver must have a certain amount of fault coverage to operate a car in Oregon legally. Fault insurance helps pay for property damage, medical bills, and other costs that occur from a severe accident. Consider Oregon’s required minimum amounts of car insurance:

  • $25,000 in fault coverage for bodily injury or death
  • $50,000 in fault coverage for total bodily injury or death 
  • $20,000 in fault coverage for property damage per accident
  • $15,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage per person
  • $25,000 per person and $50,000 total per accident in uninsured motorist coverage

It’s important to note that fault coverage doesn’t apply to the damages you suffer after an accident. There’s additional coverage you will need to protect yourself in an accident. However, there is also the ability to file a claim and recover compensation from the responsible party.

Speak to Your Lawyer After an Oregon Car Accident

When you suffer significant losses in an Oregon car accident, you may lose the ability to enjoy activities you once loved. These physical and emotional losses should be taken into account when holding the responsible party accountable for their negligence. You have the right to take legal action and recover your losses. 

Unfortunately, the process may be overwhelming and confusing for those without experience and training in the legal car accident claim process. Without a lawyer, you place your compensation and rights at risk. Speak with someone you can rely on and trust for experienced legal counsel in order to get the compensation you may be owed.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Oregon

Our Rizk Law lawyers have years of experience protecting those within our community from negligent individuals. With years of experience handling personal injury claims across Oregon, we’ve built and maintained widespread connections throughout the legal industry. Having positive testimonials and past results gives new clients the ability to feel confident in their legal representation. 

If you wish to file a car accident injury claim in Oregon, schedule a free consultation with one of our team members by filling out our contact form or calling (503) 245-5677.