Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Bend

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Bend, Oregon?

  For non-emergencies, call the Bend Police Department at 541-693-6911.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Bend, Oregon?

  To get a copy of a police report, fill out a Public Report Copy Request form online at https://www.bendoregon.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/48855/637934898661800000 Email the completed request form to BPDRecords@bendoregon.gov. Report copies cost $20 for the first 10 pages and $0.15 for every page thereafter. For more information, contact the Bend Police Department at 541-322-2960.

• Should you sign off the release of your medical records to the insurance company in Bend, OR?

  Before signing anything from the insurance for or from the insurance company, you should have your personal injury lawyer in Bend review the document. Some insurance companies work to minimize your claim’s value and will try to find details in your medical records to help with this goal. They may use your preexisting conditions to argue that your body pain is due to these conditions and not the accident.

• What is the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Bend, OR?

  Generally, you must file a personal injury claim within two years from the date the injury was sustained. If you are making a claim against a Bend government entity, you need to give the entity a notice of the claim within 180 days and file the claim within two years. For cases involving wrongful death, the claim must be filed within three years.

• Can you still file a personal injury claim in Bend if you were partly at fault?

  Yes. According to Oregon Revised Statutes Section 31.600, being partly at fault does not disqualify you from claiming personal injury compensation in Bend. The state uses a modified comparative negligence system which compensates the claimant as long as they are 50% or less at fault. Furthermore, the statute specifies that the compensation award shall be minimized according to the claimant’s fault percentage. If you were 10% at fault, the compensation you receive will also be reduced by 10%.

• How do you know if your situation qualifies for a personal injury claim in Bend, OR?

  A personal injury case must prove four points: that the other party has a duty of care to you, that they breached that duty, that the breach directly caused the injuries incident, and that you sustained damages during the incident. A consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Bend should help you determine if a claim is worth pursuing.

• Who can you sue for a slip-and-fall injury in Bend, OR?

  It depends on who is responsible for maintaining the Bend property where you were injured. Generally, it is the property owner who is obligated to keep the premises safe. But, if the property is on lease and the contract specified the lessee to be responsible for maintenance, then you can claim damages against the lessee. There are also situations when a maintenance company is liable for slips and falls as the company was hired to keep the property in safe conditions.