Jeff Merrick, JD, LLM
Attorney at Law

Merrick Law Firm

Fighting for your legal right to monetary compensation.

1-800-970-5327
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My family member suffered a serious injury. What should we do?


A severe injury or sudden death can be devastating to the entire family.  The grief can be nearly unbearable.  However, loved ones must show a brave face and carry on, seeking necessary assistance.

Obviously, the first step is to get the best medical care possible.  But that is not why you are visiting this website. You are here because you want to protect your legal rights and pursue your legal remedies. 

Here’s what to do and not do:

  • Do preserve the physical evidence.  Take pictures of the injured person, the injury scene and anything that might help explain what happened.  Put the clothes he or she was wearing in a plastic bag and preserve any other pieces of evidence the same way.
  • Do preserve testimonial evidence.  Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses, and give them to your lawyer.
  • Do keep track of how the injury affects the injured person and your entire family.  Take notes in anticipation of the day, perhaps two years from now, when you are in court. Otherwise, you will not remember precisely the ups and downs of the recovery process.
  • Do hire a lawyer fast.
    • The person responsible for the injury probably has reported the injury to the insurance company.  The insurance company probably has hired a lawyer, investigator, or “adjuster” to gather facts it can use against you.  You need protection when that they call you. 
    • There are time limits on when injured people must file claims.  If a claim is not filed on time, it is lost forever. Some limits are as short as 180 days.  For more information on time limits, read:

  • Do be careful what you tell the adjuster or others.  “Anything you say can and will be used against you,” applies to civil lawsuits as well as criminal prosecutions.  Adjusters may note in their records what they want to use and omit documentation of information that helps your case and hurts their case.
  • Don’t talk to insurance adjusters without first consulting your lawyer, if you have one. 
Don’t believe that so-called “Independent Medical Examinations” are truly independent.  When insurance companies hire doctors to examine patients, many of the insurance company doctors write reports for the purpose of cutting off benefits. Many are not neutral, they know their job is to provide a basis to deny or cut off the benefits to which you are legally entitled.

 
 
 
© 2007 by Jeff Merrick, P.C. This website is not legal advice. Merely contacting us does not establish an attorney-client relationship.  We do not solicit clients other than those with Oregon cases.  We serve all Oregon cities including:  Portland, Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale, Hood River, The Dalles, Tigard, Tualatin, Eugene, Salem, Keizer, Woodburn, Wilsonville, Beaverton, Sherwood, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, McMinnville, Dallas, Newberg, Bend, Redmond, Corvallis, Springfield, Lake Oswego, West, Linn, Oregon City, Gladstone, Milwaukie, Canby, Albany, Lebanon, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Roseburg, Medford, Grants Pass, Sutherlin, Coos Bay, Central Point, Lincoln City, Newport, St. Helens, Scappoose, Astoria, Baker City, Pendleton, Hermiston, John Day, Canyon City, Burns, Ontario.  We serve all Oregon counties, including: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Klamath, Columbia, Clatsop, Yamhill, Lincoln, Coos, Columbia, Linn, Lane, Polk, Benton, Marion, Malheur, Harney, Baker and Umatilla.