Salem Oregon Personal Injury Legal Blog

Focus on healing, not your finances

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in wrongful death and catastrophic injuries on Friday, August 16, 2019.

A catastrophic injury impacts your life the moment it occurs. Whether it's a broken back, a head injury or other traumatic injury, you'll know it right away. You may have to be rushed into emergency surgery or realize that you can't feel parts of your body when you awaken after a crash.

As a patient with a new disability, it can be hard to adjust. Brain injuries might cause problems with your memory or difficulty walking or taking care of yourself. Spinal injuries could cause severe, chronic pain or mean that you no longer have the ability to walk or use your limbs. Everything can change in a moment, and you're facing the long road of adjusting to these changes.

You can fight for your child's interests after a crash

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in motor vehicle accidents on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.

Motor vehicle accidents can happen to anyone, but they're most tragic when they involve children. From pedestrian accidents that involve kids to traffic collisions that involve entire families, it's difficult to think about these situations.

For parents of kids who are hurt in crashes, it's smart to focus on getting them the best health care. A child's health comes first, and good medical care can make a difference in their quality of life later on.

What are 3 things to do after a truck crash?

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in truck accidents on Saturday, July 20, 2019.

Truck accidents are fairly common in Oregon, especially on highways such as Hwy 140 or Interstate 84. Both are busy areas that quickly congest when an accident has taken place, potentially leading to even more collisions.

What's most important is for people to know what to do if they're involved in an accident with a truck. On highways, it's vital that you're able to move your vehicle to the side of the road when possible. If you can, you'll lower the risk of a secondary impact. If you can't, then everyone involved in the accident is at risk of being hit by other drivers who may not slow down in time for the crash scene.

Are spinal-cord stimulators a dangerous medical device?

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC on Thursday, July 18, 2019.

Patients trust that when their doctors recommend a particular medical device, it is safe for them to use. Unfortunately, that isn't always the case. Many people end up suffering serious injuries or even death due to faulty medical devices.

If you've heard of a spinal-cord stimulator, you may wonder if it is safe to use. While many people report that it is safe and effective, many other patients have suffered shocks, burns and even nerve damage. Over 500 people have died from using these devices. If you or a loved one here in Oregon suffers an injury due to a spinal-cord stimulator, here is what you need to know.

Take legal action if you're hit by a driver while on a motorcycle

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in motorcycle accidents on Wednesday, July 3, 2019.

Motorcycle accidents happen often across the country, and most are caused by a single mistake: pulling out in front of a motorcyclist. In many cases, drivers miscalculate how fast the motorcyclists are going or may not see them at all. This leads to the driver pulling out into the motorcyclist's path and causing an accident.

As you probably know, a motorcyclist who is hit in this manner is likely to be thrown from their motorcycle, to hit the vehicle head-on or to be run over after laying down the motorcycle to try to slow down rapidly. In worst-case scenarios, the impact is fatal. In others, the rider or riders are badly hurt and need emergency care right away.

How can I get the most out of an accident claim?

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in truck accidents on Friday, June 21, 2019.

It is possible to have a truck accident anywhere in the United States. The reality is that large trucks are around you every day. Whether you are driving your personal vehicle or are headed out on a bike ride, you are opening yourself up to a potential accident with a large truck.

Most people will not have an accident with a large truck in their lifetime. However, if you are an unfortunate victim of a truck accident, then you deserve to know what you can do to help yourself get the most out of your claim.

Understand the purpose of product liability law

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in products liability on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

When a product doesn't work as it should and ends up causing injuries, that's when product liability lawsuits come into play. Product liability law includes the laws that make the rules for who you can hold liable if you're injured by a defective or dangerous product.

For example, if you set up a fire alarm correctly, but it never goes off in a fire, that defect could lead to your injury. If that happens, you need to know who to hold responsible. Is it the battery's manufacturer? Is it the fire alarm's manufacturer? Product liability law determines who you can pursue for damages.

Signs that you might be more severely injured than you thought

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC on Saturday, May 25, 2019.

You likely have the day of the accident etched deeply in your mind, that is, if you remember it at all. As an accident victims, you may be encountering many challenges during recovery. Depending on your condition, you might still be off work or in need of daily living assistance. Sadly, many collisions may have been preventable were it not for negligent or reckless drivers.

If you were unconscious or in serious condition after the accident that caused your injuries, rescue workers may have whisked you away to the nearest hospital or flown you to a trauma unit. Then again, you may be among those whose symptoms were not immediately apparent -- those who went home from the hospital only to wind up back again later, seeking further medical examination for possible traumatic brain injury.

Immigrant faces 12.5 years in prison for motorcycle deaths

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in motorcycle accidents on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Motorcyclists are put at risk the moment they decide to head out on the roads. They have no frame around them to protect them from the impact of another vehicle, and they have no way to reduce injuries with air bags or other safety tools.

While motorcyclists can wear motorcycle gear and provide themselves with some protection, the reality is that many crashes are so serious that there's nothing a helmet or bodysuit is going to do to help them.

Oregon sees spike in at-fault truck crashes

On behalf of Harris, Wyatt & Amala, LLC posted in truck accidents on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Living in Oregon, you know that it's common to see large trucks on the roads. However, the interesting thing is that the number of large truck crashes has actually reached the highest point in over 10 years in Oregon, showing that these drivers truly are not getting safer.

When the economy is good, truck drivers are seen more frequently on the roads. Of course, that's not surprising: If business is good, more goods need to be transported. The chief executive officer (CEO) of the Oregon Trucking Association stated that 2018 was a record-breaking year for the trucking industry, seeing more trucking than ever before.

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