As a young attorney in the 1980s, I actually represented Oregon insurance companies and defended against claims. Since 1992, I’ve been battling insurance companies on behalf of Oregonians who just want to get the benefits to which they are entitled. Examples of cases I’ve handled include the following cases, among many others:

• Representing people hurt in car accidents against the insurance companies of the drivers who caused the collisions.
• Obtaining an order against a medical insurance company to pay for autologous bone marrow transplant for a Canby, Oregon woman with Multiple Myeloma.
• Representing people against their own motor vehicle insurance companies for:
• Uninsured motorist coverage
• Underinsured motorist coverage
• Personal Injury Protection.
• Representing a Hillsboro, Oregon homeowner against his own homeowner’s insurance company to pay for the consequences of toxic mold.

Dealing with insurance companies is not easy. They prey on the ignorance of people. Insurance adjusters hope people will need money and just accept whatever the insurance company says and offers.

Oregonians often call me to ask if they should accept an insurance adjuster’s offer. They ask, “What is my claim worth?” When they do, I walk them through the factors that are important in determining the value of a claim. I’ve listed my top 10 factors here. You should also look at my “Injury Dos and Don’ts”

Oregon insurance law contains many provisions that can be used to your advantage. The key is finding a lawyer who knows the nooks and crannies of the law.

For example, there are ways to win attorney fees against your own insurance company if you do certain things. If you don’t, then the client pays her own attorney out of whatever she gets from the insurance company. In a recent case, we snared a company by that legal provision so that instead of my client paying my fees out of her $500,000 recovery, the insurance company paid my fees. This saved my client well over $100,000.

My goal is always to maximize the net proceeds to my client, so if we can get someone else to pay fees and if we can keep costs down, then my clients receive more money.

Call me for a free consultation: 503-665-4234.