Personal Injury

Many people think of slip and fall accidents as minor. But each year, these accidents cause far more harm than most expect. In Oregon and across the country, falls are a serious safety issue, with national statistics showing they kill tens of thousands of people every year and lead to over $50 billion in medical…

As a Portland resident, you’re used to life just minutes from the Washington state line. It’s common for Portland residents to cross over the Columbia River into Washington on a regular basis, whether for work, entertainment, shopping, or dining. But while life in Portland and Washington may feel similar, they do not have the same…

You’ve been hit by a car, suffered a slip and fall, or been involved in another type of accident in Oregon. In the back of your mind, you’re rerunning the incident, wondering if you played any role in what happened—and if so, if that prevents you from recovering any compensation. Oregon’s modified comparative negligence laws…

When a distracted driver clips your bike on Burnside, the truth hides in medical scans, witness memories, street‑camera footage, and the story your aching body tells each night. Insurance companies try to spin those facts to favor their ledger. The strength of your evidence decides whether the offer is a band‑aid settlement or the full…

Your phone dings while you wait for the doctor, and sympathy floods your feed: heart emojis, inside jokes, maybe a photo from last summer. It feels comforting, but every post you tap could give an insurance company ammunition. After an injury claim starts, social media stops being casual chatter. Insurers hire investigators who scroll, screenshot,…

When people talk about personal injury, the focus almost always lands on the physical effects, like broken bones, herniated discs, and concussions. You get X-rays, MRIs, and maybe even surgery. There’s a tangible wound. It’s visible. It can be measured and tracked. However, there’s an element of an injury that often gets overlooked and goes…

Accidents such as car crashes can completely upend your life. Instead of focusing on work and other commitments, your entire existence may need to shift to healing and recovering. The costs related to medical treatment are often extensive. However, they are not the only financial strain placed on those who suffer personal injuries. The harm…

Drivers have a critical duty of care toward pedestrians to ensure their safety on the road. This duty is governed by traffic laws and general principles of negligence. Understanding this responsibility is essential for both drivers and pedestrians to prevent accidents and ensure a safe road environment. Here are some specific situations that illustrate a…

Accident victims are often entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost income, and property damage, but the most important compensation is for the human losses. Human losses, commonly referred to as pain and suffering, non-economic damages, or general damages, are usually not as visible and are not naturally valued with money like economic damages. However,…

After an accident, you are likely facing a lot of challenges. You may be behind on your bills and missing work, making it impossible to support yourself and your family. You may also be dealing with a whirlwind of phone calls from insurance companies, repair companies, mechanics, and maybe even law enforcement. You may also…

If you recently filed a personal injury claim, you may be wondering whether it is better to settle or take your case to trial. The answer to this question depends on what type of outcome you want as well as the amount of time you are willing to invest in your case. Every individual’s case…

One of the most important elements of a personal injury case is determining liability. If you were recently injured and are considering filing a personal injury case, your attorney will most likely bring up the topic of liability early on in the process, making it crucial to understand what this important term means. In simple…

The timeline for a personal injury case isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. It’s a bit like baking – it depends on the ingredients, or in this case, the factors involved. From the complexity of the case and negotiations, to stubborn insurance companies, to the whims of court schedules, the duration can swing from a…

As we enter the cold weather season here in Washington, it’s a good idea to talk about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Using these appliances properly can literally be a matter of life or death. Ensure this season that you’re using your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors properly, especially in the case of an accidental…

Individuals who take on the role of being caretakers are wonderful, caring people. When a caretaker agrees to take care of their family member or loved one who has paralysis, they are signing up for challenging and difficult days ahead. However, most caretakers believe that it is worth it to ensure that their family member…

For environmental reasons, traffic reasons, and just because they’re healthy, Washington recently became the eighth US state to offer incentives for e-bike purchases. Just as electric vehicles have become more desirable for their benefits to combat climate change, electronic bicycles are seen as a way to reduce emissions by encouraging the public to use these…

As summer approaches, many parents are looking for a place to send their children during the summer. Summer camps provide children with a memorable and enriching experience, but accidents can occur, resulting in injuries. When these occur, it is important to understand who is responsible for these injuries. Sometimes, the fault lies with multiple parties,…

Structured settlements are often used in personal injury cases. They’re an alternative to a lump sum payment to ensure that the victim has funds for his/her medical care for as long as that care is needed – and for many other reasons. Generally, structured settlements are required for minors. For adults, they’re an option to…

Made notorious often through media like TV shows and movies, elevators and escalators have become synonymous with falling to one’s death or being ground up by merciless, moving, metal stairs. While these depictions hold some amount of truth, the occurrence of a fatal elevator or escalator accident is very rare in the United States. It…

You can’t avoid the television commercials and radio jingles offering you a quick payday. They’re the ones telling people who have recently won a legal or insurance settlement that they don’t have to wait for the paperwork to go through – they can get their hands on that money immediately (cue fireworks and people singing…

There are two key parts to every personal injury case. The first part is the liability phase. This phase includes showing how the accident happened, who is responsible, and why the defendants are responsible. The second phase involves showing your damages. A large part of the damage claim involves verifying what injuries you have, what…

In Washington State, dogs, with limited exceptions, are strictly liable for any injuries or deaths they cause. Dog bites can cause infections, puncture wounds, rashes, scarring, and facial disfigurement. Young children are especially likely to be bitten because they don’t appreciate how dangerous a dog can be.  Postal workers and anyone who is surprised by…

At Philbrook Law, our personal injury lawyers work aggressively to settle your car accident, premises liability, or any other type of accident claim. Many times, we are able to settle your case – often, for the insurance policy limits. There are times, though, when the insurance companies don’t make a fair offer. When insurance companies…

Electric scooters are an attractive option for many Vancouver and Battle Ground residents. They are an affordable, fun way to travel. They are environmentally friendly. There are constant new innovations in the latest models. While scooters are attractive because they are cheap and have a low-carbon output, they have generated complaints worldwide, especially in metropolitan…

Anyone who is injured in an accident will need medical care from hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers. According to HIPAA, medical care providers need to take steps to protect the healthcare information for each patient (obtained during these medical visits for accident victims) from being disclosed or shared – without the consent of the…

A personal injury lawsuit is a legal dispute when one person suffers harm from an accident or injury, which someone else may be legally responsible for causing. This term is used in law practice for any damage done to the body, mind, or emotions of a person that requires a personal injury lawyer to step…

A statute of limitations states how much time you, or the state, has to file charges or take legal action. For example, in the state of Washington, a criminal case like murder, has no statute of limitations so legal action can occur decades after it happens. When it comes to a civil case like personal injury, however,…

  A common question we get at Philbrook Law is “what happens when my PIP runs out?”. There’s not necessarily an easy cut-and-dry answer to this question, but there are some common scenarios. Who pays my medical bills after I’m injured in an accident? What is personal injury protection (PIP)? What does it pay for?…