The ABC's Of Oregon Maritime Law

Oregon maritime law can be confusing but there are some things that can help you decipher this highly specialized area of the law. The ABC's of Oregon maritime law will help you get started by giving you a basic understanding of the law and how it works.

A is for Act, The Jones Act that is. The Jones Act was first passed by Congress in 1920. The Jones Act is a rather straight forward set of rules that help form Oregon maritime law. The Jones Act is not long but there are many Court opinions in place to interpret the provision and these can be very confusing.

B is for Beware. Beware of thinking that any attorney can handle Oregon maritime law cases. The interpretations of the Jones Act along with the statutes, and case laws are hundreds of years old. You will not want to have a tax attorney handling your Oregon maritime law case. Look for an attorney who has training and experience in this area of the law if you want the best representation.

C is for Contributions. The Jones Act is in place to be a formal and legal way to recognize the contributions of offshore workers. These people often work in dangerous situations and they strive to make sure that maritime commerce flows smoothly. They help assure that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and in other places keeps going and these workers also provide services so ships and other vessels can make port as safely as possible.

If you have a case that falls into the area of Oregon maritime law you should seek the professional services of an Oregon maritime attorney.

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Sunday, March 25, 2007

Things To Know Before You Hire An Oregon Personal Injury Lawyer

The first thing you might do when you need an Oregon personal injury lawyer is to look for listings in the yellow pages of your phone book. This may not be the best way to choose an Oregon personal injury lawyer because you will probably find so many names and numbers that you won't know where to begin.

Here are some things you should know before you hire an Oregon personal injury lawyer:

Don't wait too long before meeting with an Oregon personal injury lawyer. It is best not to wait over two weeks before contacting an attorney after you have been injured.

It's not a good idea to hire an Oregon personal injury attorney who does specialize in your type of injury. Would you want a mechanic who is trained to work specifically on Jeep Cherokees working on your BMW?

Meet your Oregon personal injury lawyer face-to-face before you hire her. This attorney will be the person you are working closely with and someone you will need to trust. You want to feel comfortable with your attorney and if you are not, keep looking.

Be honest and open with your Oregon personal injury lawyer. You will gain absolutely nothing by being less than truthful and your attorney will not be able to represent you properly.

There are attorneys who try to take cases that involve minor personal injuries. These cases do not require as much work, time or effort on the part of the attorney and therefore quick profits can be made because of high turnover. You will want an Oregon personal injury attorney who is willing to spend time on your case.

Consider these points before you hire an Oregon personal injury lawyer.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Accidents Do Happen

Accidents happen and injuries are sustained. This is an unfortunate fact of life. If you have been injured and the injury was not your fault you may be able to seek the help of an attorney who is experienced in the area of Oregon personal injury law.

Accidents occur at work, in traffic, and at home. Oregon personal injury laws are in place to protect those who suffer injuries. Injuries can be very traumatic, in the physical sense as well as emotionally.

There are times when Oregon personal injury laws help those who are injured and then need to recuperate. This may mean physical therapy, surgery, and time off work. If this has happened to you, talk to a lawyer who specializes in a particular area of Oregon personal injury law.

You may find yourself in financial trouble after an accident or injury. The medical bills alone can be daunting and after a few months without a regular paycheck you may find yourself in dire straits.

The best course of action after an injury or accident is to make an appointment with an attorney who practices Oregon personal injury law. Talk to friends or coworkers and see if they know anyone who practices personal injury law.

Personal injuries can be frustrating on many levels. Your quality of life may change and you may not be able to go back to the job you had. You may find that you are not able to take part in activities that you have always enjoyed and your mobility may be limited. Oregon personal injury laws are designed to help you in these situations.

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

The ABC's Of Choosing Oregon Personal Injury Lawyers

The A in choosing Oregon personal injury lawyers is - Ask: When choosing Oregon personal injury lawyers you should always ask many questions. You will need to make sure you are hiring the best attorney for your case. Ask questions about the attorney's qualifications and experience. Find out how your case will be handled and get an idea what the settlement and fees may be.

The B in choosing Oregon personal injury lawyers is - Best: Is this the best Oregon personal injury lawyer for you? After meeting with the attorney do you feel that he or she is interested in your case and will be able to spend the time needed to resolve your legal issues? Do you think this is the best Oregon personal injury lawyer for you personally? Did you feel that he or she can provide the best representation in your case and will be available when you have questions and concerns?

The C in choosing Oregon personal injury lawyers is- Candid: It is important that the Oregon personal injury lawyers you choose be candid with you. Did they seem to be upfront with you and able to answer your questions honestly? Did you feel they were candid about the settlement you may receive and the time-line involved? It is important that you have an honest and candid relationship with your attorney. When you are able to trust your attorney you will feel more at ease and be able to let them take care of the case so that you will not need to worry about how things are being handled.

The ABC's of choosing Oregon personal injury lawyers can help you find the right attorneys for you.

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Monday, March 12, 2007

Reasons To Proceed With An Oregon Personal Injury Lawsuit

There are many reasons to proceed with an Oregon personal injury lawsuit. Here are just a few:

You have been injured and your life will never be the same. After an injury there are things that often are lost. Your income can be lost or greatly reduced. Your health is often affected and you may never be healthy again.

You may want to go forward with an Oregon personal injury lawsuit if you contact an attorney who thinks you have a good case. Oregon personal injury attorneys are experts who deal with these kinds of lawsuits on a daily basis and they will be able to assist you with every part of your case.

Consider proceeding with an Oregon personal injury lawsuit when you realize that you will have medical bills and other financial problems that need to be taken care of. It can often be very overwhelming to see all of these bills rolling in.

An Oregon personal injury lawsuit may be a good idea of you find that things have changed in your life and that you were not responsible for these changes. You are not able to do the things you once could do and pain is part of your everyday existence.

Proceed with an Oregon personal injury lawsuit if someone you know or love has been injured. Many times a relative may not know what to do in a situation such as this and you can be the person who does.

An Oregon personal injury lawsuit may not be something you look forward to and it may be something you are worried about pursuing but in many cases it is exactly the action you need to take for yourself or for a loved one.

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Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Who Needs An Oregon Maritime Lawyer?

Offshore workers and seamen may require the services of an Oregon maritime lawyer. There are others, such as dredge workers, captains, relief captains, tanker men, cooks, drillers, roughnecks, roustabouts and pilots who may have reason to hire an Oregon maritime lawyer.

The workers listed above are those who work hard under difficult and often dangerous situations. Not only are they sometimes not given the credit but when an accident or injury occurs, insurance companies and multi-billion dollar companies try to avoid compensating these workers. They often will not even claim responsibility for the damages inflicted on the workers or for the injuries suffered.

This is where Oregon maritime lawyers come to the rescue. An experienced Oregon maritime lawyer will know what steps to take to help you. This is an area of the law that is not easy to understand and you will need someone who can lead you through the complicated procedures. You will want someone who can decipher all the case law and statutes that are parts of Oregon maritime law.

People who work on the sea are exposed to dangers everyday. They work on offshore oil rigs that pose many risks and they perform difficult dredge work. There are also those workers who dive to deep depths in the sea from ships, boats and rigs. These people work long hours in often lousy weather and they are away from family and friends for extended periods of time. When people are willing to make these sacrifices they should be compensated if an accident or injury takes place.

If you or someone you know has been injured at sea or while working in an off shore situation you should contact an Oregon maritime lawyer. He or she may be able to help you receive compensation for your injuries.

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Sunday, March 04, 2007

Hiring An Oregon Maritime Lawyer

There are many different kinds of lawyers. If you are in the entertainment field you will have an entertainment attorney. Business owners may have legal counsel who specialize in that type of law. The point is, when you hire an attorney you want someone who is an expert in that area of the law. This is certainly the case if you are in need of an Oregon maritime lawyer.

Because this area of the law is very complicated, an Oregon maritime lawyer is your only choice if you have an Oregon maritime legal situation. Many lawyers so not handle these types of cases because they do not have the experience and training necessary.

Here are a few questions to ask an Oregon maritime lawyer at your first appointment:

1. Are you board-certified in any area of the law?

2. How many Oregon maritime cases have you handled?

3. How many cases have you won that focused on the Jones Act or maritime law?

4. How long have you been practicing law and do you have any experience in other areas of the law?

5. Have you written and published any articles that deal with maritime law or the Jones Act?

6. Do you or your firm have the resources it will take to handle the maritime employer and the insurance company that is representing the employer?

7. Will I be informed of any progress on the case and can I call you if I have questions?

8. What are the fees involved in handling my case?

9. Will your goal be to handle my case to obtain the maximum fair settlement?

These questions will give you a place to start when you first meet with an Oregon maritime lawyer.

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The personal injury lawyers at Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC are a small, three-lawyer, firm with the ability to hire the experts and investigators that a case needs. We only accept cases with merit that we believe we can win. Click our areas of practice to read a more detailed description of the types of cases we accept and some sample verdicts and settlements.

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THE FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE OF ANOTHER, YOU NEED COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL TO ASSIST YOU IN GETTING JUST COMPENSATION FOR YOUR CLAIM.

CALL PAULSON COLETTI TRIAL ATTORNEYS TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
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Telephone (503) 226-6361
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* The firm has received the highest rating "AV" by Martindale-Hubbel. The "AV" rating indicates very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the State Bar.

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