Questions people ask us before they call.

Motor vehicle accidents

Although car accidents are common, they can often lead to severe wounds. Even minor fender-benders may lead to nagging injuries such as whiplash, which can take months and even years to fully heal. If you have been seriously harmed in a car, truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian accident, we are here to help you negotiate with insurance companies for the maximum possible compensation. If insurance companies are not cooperative, we can file a claim against the at-fault party for the damages you deserve.

Medical negligence and malpractice

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals must uphold a standard of care to their patients to ensure their health and well-being. A failure to do so can result in significant injury and grounds for filing a medical malpractice claim or a medical negligence claim. Whether it’s a surgical error, anesthesia error, or negligence during childbirth leading to a birth injury, we can help fully investigate the circumstances surrounding your claim and pursue any responsible parties for the full damages.

Trucking accidents

When large commercial trucks strike smaller passenger vehicles, they can cause significant, devastating injury to occupants. Our Portland personal injury lawyers take on trucking corporations, insurers, and negligent drivers to ensure our clients are heard, supported, and fully compensated. We don’t shy away from powerful opponents because every person hurt on Oregon’s roads deserves justice and peace of mind.

Construction accidents

If you are hurt at your place of work, workers’ compensation insurance should cover the cost of your wounds. However, it is important to note that all insurance claims have a maximum limit imposed by state law. Often, this maximum is not enough to fairly compensate you – especially in cases of serious injury. We can help you explore your options for compensation after a workplace accident and determine the best course of action for your needs.

Maybe not, and we will tell you honestly. Our philosophy is to keep a small caseload so we can give each case the time and attention it needs, which means we only take cases we believe have merit. Our firm turns down far more cases than we take — that is what protects the clients we do accept.

Sometimes merit is clear almost immediately. In other cases we need time, effort and investigation to find out. If we believe your case does not have merit, we will tell you as soon as we know, so you can go elsewhere without losing time.

We are selective on purpose. We look at the seriousness of the injury, whether the negligence can be proven, and whether we can add real value to your recovery. If a case is not right for us, we will tell you that directly and point you somewhere useful.

Yes — because you do not pay us unless we win. Our fees are computed as a percentage of your total recovery, called a contingency fee, agreed in writing before we start. If we evaluate your case and decide it has merit, we can give you a potential recovery range based on what we believe is appropriate to compensate your losses.

Bar regulations require the client to pay the expenses of the litigation, and we are permitted to advance all necessary litigation expenses. Please understand that those expenses are then recouped from your portion of a successful outcome. Nothing comes out of your pocket along the way.

Due to the multiple circumstances and factors in a personal injury case, the exact cost of an attorney can be incredibly difficult to determine. For example, a personal injury lawyer who takes a case to trial will be significantly more costly than one who manages to obtain a settlement.

At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, we understand that legal representation is often a costly expense for those who have just suffered an accident. After all, even minor accidents can result in considerable financial hardship for many families. This is why we offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis.

Your initial consultation is free, and there are no upfront costs if we decide to represent you. Additionally, all legal expenses throughout the case are advanced, and you only pay them if we secure a favorable settlement or verdict on your behalf. If we win, we take our fees as a percentage of your recovery – never out of your pocket.

This strategy allows any injured victims to secure exceptional legal representation without having to worry about whether they can afford it. Additionally, it empowers us to provide the best possible representation, in order to secure the maximum possible compensation for your needs.

No. Many of our clients are referred to us by other lawyers, and if there is a referral fee to be paid, the referring lawyer is paid out of our attorney fees. You will not be required to pay additional attorney fees, and your recovery is not reduced because of how you found us.

Oregon imposes a strict time limit to file a personal injury claim – otherwise known as the statute of limitations. If you are unable to file a lawsuit within this time limit, your claim will likely be rejected. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Oregon is 2 years from the date of the injury or accident. Minors can sometimes have up to 5 years to bring a claim depending on the circumstances and the defendant. It is always safest to use the 2-year deadline and to consult a lawyer as soon as possible. However, some types of cases may also have what is known as a “discovery rule”, a time limit that starts from the date the injury was first discovered. This is commonly applicable in medical malpractice cases, where injuries or illnesses may not surface until much later. It is best to consult a lawyer first, however, to determine which types of cases may be eligible under the discovery rule.

Like most other states, Oregon is a fault-based state. Generally, in fault states, the party primarily responsible for an accident is financially accountable for the resulting damages. However, fault and negligence laws determine whether an injured person can recover compensation and how damages are allocated when multiple parties share responsibility. These laws vary from state to state.

Oregon follows a comparative negligence system. Under Oregon law, an injured person may recover compensation as long as they are not found to be more at fault than the other responsible party or parties combined. Any compensation awarded will be reduced by the injured person’s percentage of fault. For example, if someone is found to be 20% responsible for an accident, their recovery would be reduced by 20%.

Not every bad outcome is malpractice. A claim requires proof that a provider fell below the accepted standard of care and that the failure caused your injury. That is a records-and-experts question, and it is the work we do before filing anything.

You are not required to give a recorded statement or sign a medical authorization for the other party’s insurer. Those requests are routine and rarely in your interest. Talk to us before you respond — the consultation is free.

Although it is difficult to determine exactly how much you may be able to recover in your case, there are general damages you may secure. These are typically separated into two categories: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages

Economic damages are those that can be easily quantified due to bills, receipts, and other easily retrievable records. This includes:

Medical bills, such as ambulance care and emergency room costs

Continuing medical bills, such as cost of hospital stay, rehabilitation, and medication

Lost wages due to time missed from work

Lost earning capacity, any lost theoretical income due to your resultant injuries

Any property damaged in the accident

Funeral expenses

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are those that do not necessarily have a monetary value attached to them. This includes:

Pain and suffering

Loss of enjoyment

Loss of consortium

In cases of egregious negligence or accidents where the party shows no remorse, punitive damages may also be awarded to the injured party. As the name suggests, this is done as a form of punishment, in the hopes that it prevents the other party from ever committing such acts again.

The answer depends on the case. Most cases in Oregon are completed within 15 months of being filed in court, unless there is an appeal or substantial other delay — Multnomah County has one of the fastest dockets in the country. Medical malpractice cases tend to take longer because of a longer trial docket.

Not necessarily. Most injury and wrongful death claims are settled outside of court. However, every case is different, and we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. As trial lawyers, we always go the extra mile to prepare cases with merit that juries can understand and believe in.

At Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC, our lawyers provide invaluable help and support during difficult times. Our services are intended to minimize the stress and frustration throughout proceedings, helping you by:

Finding the proper medical care necessary for you to make a full recovery

Fully investigating the case and gathering evidence to substantiate your claim

Determining the full value of your claim to obtain the maximum possible compensation

Negotiating with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf

Filing any necessary paperwork

Evaluating your options for settlement, and taking your case to trial if it is necessary to secure the compensation you deserve

We understand the transformative nature of a serious accident, and we want to help you in any way that we can.

Yes. Clients reach us the way that is easiest for them — text, phone or email. A new inquiry comes in through our intake team; once we are representing you, you have direct contact with the attorney handling your case.