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Sunday, April 29, 2007
There are some areas of the country that may not have more than one or two practicing maritime attorneys. This is because maritime law is not a profession that is applicable in some states. Oregon is not one of those states and there are quite a few maritime cases filed each year. Nonetheless, maritime law is not as widely practiced as some areas of the law such as criminal or personal injury law. When you open the phone book or talk to friends it is much more likely you will not have a wide array of listings or personal references. This being said, how do you go about choosing an Oregon maritime lawyer? There are several things to consider and you will actually want to incorporate many of the same criteria you would use in choosing any attorney. To begin with you will want an Oregon maritime lawyer who is experienced. This type of law is difficult and complicated. Any maritime legal case will need someone who is an expert in this area of the law. If you think you have a case, you may be tempted to hire a friend or someone who has represented you or a family member in the past. Unless this attorney practices Oregon maritime law on a regular basis and has a working knowledge of this kind of law, you could be making a big mistake. Set up an appointment to meet with at least two different Oregon maritime lawyers. It is always good to get more than one opinion. All lawyers have their own ways of practicing the law and it is prudent to select the one that you feel will represent you in the best way possible. Take a list of questions to your first meeting. Also bring any documentation you may have collected. The documentation will give the lawyer a chance to get an idea of the case. Talk about the cost involved. Maritime legal cases can be quite costly and you need to know what is involved financially. Besides the fees charged by the attorney, ask about any extra fees that may be part of the case. Make sure you are comfortable with the Oregon maritime lawyer. You will need to develop a working relationship with this person. Choose someone who you will be able to talk with and who seems truly interested in your case. Practicing Oregon maritime law is not easy but you can find an attorney who knows how to handle your case and will do so to the best of his or her ability.
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Friday, April 27, 2007
A friend of mine was hit by a large commercial truck this week. My friend is not a lawyer and is trying to deal with what to do when involved in a trucking accident. The auto accident was in downtown Portland, Oregon and was not my friend's fault. Auto accidents can happen at any time and can be quite scary -- getting hit by a commercial truck can be even scarier. Most commercial truck drivers involved in accidents have to file a report with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The ODOT report can provide a wealth of information including how the accident occurred, the names of witnesses, the weight of the vehicles/load and the results of the drug test of the driver. As attorneys in Portland, Oregon we do trucking accidents all over the State of Oregon and Washington and hire qualified experts to help prove issues when needed (lighting, loading, training, etc.). If you are involved in a trucking accident in Oregon or Washington and have a question about your collision feel free to give us a call.
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Thursday, April 26, 2007
Medical malpractice claims are very serious for everyone involved and should only be brought when there is strong evidence of negligence and serious, permanent injuries or death are involved. A recent study of medical malpractice lawsuits is further evidence of the difficultly of medical malpractice cases. The study shows less than 30% of medical malpractice cases are won by plaintiffs (the number is skewed, as noted in the article, because many of the stronger cases settle) -- a number that is similar to the win/loss rates of medical malpractice claims in Oregon. The study highlights several reasons why our firm is very selective in taking medical malpractice claims -- the cases are very difficult, expensive and juries tend to believe doctors.
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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
For those injured at sea, the Oregon maritime law will pertain to you. These dos and don'ts can help you if you are in the position of looking for legal counsel. Do look for skilled and experienced legal counsel. This will be your best bet if you want to receive compensation. Anyone who thinks they may have a claim under the Oregon maritime laws should find a competent attorney to represent them. Don't wait very long to talk to an attorney. There may be a limitation in the time you have to file a claim. Filing a claim too late may prevent you from any form of compensation. Do ask all kinds of questions. Oregon maritime law is not easy to understand and you will want to know what your rights are, what assistance you will receive and what compensation you may be entitled to. Don't assume that friends, relatives or co-workers have the anNWers you need unless one of them is an experienced maritime lawyer. You need someone who will look out for your interests and maximize your chance at the highest recovery possible. Do realize that there will be legal requirements, claim procedures and unique laws that pertain to your case. When you have been injured in a maritime related situation, there may be many instances where you will need someone who can walk you through the many requirements, procedures and legal jargon. Don't pay too much attention to information you may hear from an employer, through the grapevine, from coworkers, or claims representatives. Always check with your attorney when you hear information that you have questions about. Your attorney will be the person whom you can listen to and get the correct information. Do expect your attorney to take the time to listen to you and keep you informed about your case. Also expect your legal representative to explain and protect your rights. You do have rights under Oregon maritime laws. Don't expect to be awarded a specific amount of money. Each case is different and will be judged on it's merits. You may think you know what your case is worth monetarily because of the knowledge you have of your injuries or the liability or lack thereof on the part of your employer or other responsible party but all of this information can be misleading. Use these dos and dont's when you have been injured at sea or when you have been part of a potential Oregon maritime legal situation.
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Monday, April 23, 2007
A jury in a small Texas town (Linden) returned a verdict of $9 million for Billy Ray Johnson, who was beaten and left for dead, against four white men. Mr. Johnson is a 46-year-old mentally retarded African-American who has been confined to a nursing home since shortly after the September 2003 attack. The brutal attack left Mr. Johnson with permanent brain damage and barely able to walk or speak. The verdict brings justice to a case where the attackers escaped serious criminal punishment. The Southern Poverty Law Center who brought the case on Mr. Johnson's behalf also brought a civil rights case in Oregon. Our firm handles civil rights claims.
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Sunday, April 22, 2007
There are often many different mistakes made in cases that involve Oregon maritime laws. If you want to avoid these mistakes and be in the best position to receive compensation, consider these tips: If you are thinking about representing yourself, think again. Maritime law is one of the most complicated areas of law there is. This means that attempting to represent yourself can be a big mistake. Lawyers who practice Oregon maritime law spend years and years working on these kinds of cases. Representing yourself can mean you may be asked to do things by adjusters that you are not obligated to do. If you do not have a complete understanding of Oregon maritime law you may submit to an independent medical exam from a conservative doctor. You may be asked to give a statement over the phone or in writing using questions that are coached so that you give information that is not completely true. Without proper legal representation you may ask for too little or for too much in the way of compensation. If you have an unreal expectation of what your case is worth you could fall into either of these categories. The amount of money you recover can be changed dramatically when you retain the services of a lawyer who has experience in the workings of Oregon maritime law. You may think your injury is not very serious and decide not to file for a settlement at all. A medical condition that does not appear to be a problem at the time of the accident can become very serious indeed as time goes on. It may take years before the condition becomes apparent. Since your injury can not be undone the only solution you have is to seek compensation at the time of the accident or incident. If you do nothing at all and then have a medical problem in several years, your recourse may be very limited. What happens if you wait too long too file a claim? In some cases you do have to file a claim in a specific amount of time. This period of time varies depending on the circumstances. This is another reason to contact an Oregon maritime lawyer if you have think you might have a case. These tips were developed to help those people who have been injured and may be able to file a lawsuit under Oregon maritime laws.
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Injuries are often painful and life-changing. Oregon personal injury law was designed to make this time of your life less painful and to give the injured a way to collect damages. Oregon personal injury law cases are brought about when someone has suffered physical and/or emotional injuries. These injuries are caused by the negligence or actions of others. This is a wide field and includes many different areas of the law. A few examples of personal injury law cases are car accidents, medical malpractice, product defects and defamation of character. There may come a time when you will need someone to help you decipher the Oregon personal injury criteria. If you, a family member or friend is injured through the fault of someone else, you may want to seek compensation for the damages. The court will look for carelessness or negligence on the part of an individual or a business. By using Oregon personal injury laws, the court will determine who has been negligent. These are often very serious cases and sometimes involve permanent disability situations, grave injuries and even death. Oregon personal injury law is not easy to understand and should be handled by an experienced professional. For those who are involved in a personal injury case, a qualified attorney will be able to represent you and help you recover financial damages. Hiring an Oregon personal injury attorney gives you the best chance to receive a fair settlement and compensation for medical treatments, pain and suffering and loss of wages. Many people who have been injured do not seek the help of an attorney and they are not able to collect a fair settlement. It can be very daunting to deal with an insurance company on your own. Because settlements are based on the strength of your documentation and degree of injury, an experienced professional in the area of Oregon personal injury law is the best person to handle this kind of case. When injured people try to make a case on their own, their chances to recover fair compensation go down dramatically. It is impossible for most people who have not been trained in the area of Oregon personal injury law to know how to handle these cases. Look for professional, skilled legal assistance when you have been injured and you will have the best chance for a fair Oregon personal injury settlement. Help! I've been injured will become; thank goodness, I've been compensated!
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A new report being published today found powerful evidence that the sharp decline in the use of hormones that began in 2002 by menopausal women caused a dramatic drop in breast cancer cases. The researchers estimated that, because of the decreased hormone use, about 16,000 fewer cases of breast cancer are being diagnosed each year. The research shows an amazing reversal of a decades-long increase in breast cancer cases. The report is exciting news. Women still need to perform regular breast exams and get their mammograms to prevent a delay in diagnosing breast cancer. Even though it is the clinic's or doctor's responsibility to inform patients of test results, to be proactive, and prevent a possible delay in diagnosis of cancer, patients should also ask for the results of tests rather than assume no news is good news. Our firm regularly handles cases of delayed diagnosis of cancer -- breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer to name a few.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
We would like to congratulate our partner John Coletti on his completion of the Arizona Ironman on Sunday April 15, 2007. The Ironman is a 2.4 mile NWim, 112 mile bike ride and then a 26.2 mile run. It was John's second Ironman. John is a trial attorney in Portland, Oregon who is listed in Best Lawyers in America and specializes in serious personal injury and product liability cases.
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Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Yes, a veteran may bring a claim against the Veterans Administration for medical malpractice. Our firm has handled numerous cases against the Veterans Administration (VA) for medical malpractice including: suicide of veteran due to VA psychiatric malpractice, death of veteran due to complications from cardiac angiogram, death of a female veteran from a surgical error, wrongful death from delay in diagnosing lung cancer and many others. All three lawyers in our office handle cases against the VA. Chuck Paulson has a special interest in VA cases as a former US Army paratrooper (82d Airborne). We do handle VA malpractice cases but do not handle service connected disability claims.
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Monday, April 16, 2007
Many people have their wisdom teeth removed -- the 3rd molars. If the teeth are not properly removed a patient can leave the dentist or oral surgery office with a permanently numb tongue. The nerve that provides sensation to the tongue, including taste, is called the lingual nerve. If you have had your wisdom teeth removed and part or all of your tongue is still numb the next day, report the problem to the dentist or oral surgeon who removed your wisdom teeth and consider getting a second opinion from a facility that evaluates lingual nerve damage (the oral surgery departments at UW or OHSU may be a place to start). It is important to have this evaluation right away if you are going to consider lingual nerve repair. The oral surgeons who do the repairs prefer to see patients sooner rather than later, believe there is better success on the repair surgeries with patients they see sooner and that there is a window of opportunity to repair the lingual nerve. Some patients who have an injured lingual nerve are told that it is a risk of the procedure and was part of the consent form that the patient signed -- that is irrelevant. The issue is whether the procedure was performed negligently or not.
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Sunday, April 15, 2007
Looking for an Oregon personal injury lawyer? If you have suffered an injury through the fault of someone else you should talk to an attorney who specializes in this area of the law. A personal injury lawyer can help you with your case and possibly obtain a settlement that will help cover your medical bills, loss of income and other expenses. You may know an attorney who has prepared your will or represents your business but when you have been injured you will want an attorney who is skilled in the area of personal injury law. A divorce attorney or one who handles criminal cases will not have the expertise you need. If is usually a good idea to talk to more then one Oregon personal injury lawyer before you make a hiring decision. Most personal injury lawyers do not charge a fee for the first visit. This is a great opportunity to ask the lawyer questions and get a feel for person. You want a lawyer who is a good fit and whom you feel comfortable with. After a few consultations you can decide if you are ready to make a decision or if you want to talk to another attorney or two. At the same time you are evaluating the attorney, he or she is evaluating your case. This gives each of you the chance to make a decision. You should ask each attorney you meet with the same questions. This will give you a way to compare the attorneys. It will give you an idea of which person you may work the best with. Take any information concerning your case with you to the consultation. Before the first consultation you should make copies of everything because you will want the original copies for the attorney you end up hiring. Photos are a good thing to have, too. When you are ready to sign a contract you will want to make sure you understand it. Most Oregon personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis so he or she will not get paid unless your case is won. The attorney will keep a certain percentage of the settlement and you should know what that percentage is before you sign the contract. Also find out if other fees such as expert witness fees, filing fees, etc. will be taken out of your portion of the settlement. Consider all of these things and you will be on your way to finding a good Oregon personal injury lawyer.
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Friday, April 13, 2007
An article in Time magazine discusses a new book by a doctor on why doctors make medical errors. The research found that 80% of medical errors are due to thinking mistakes on the part of the doctors and 20% are due to technical mistakes. The book "How Doctors Think" is a good read for anyone trying to protect against medical mistakes and get the best possible care.
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Wednesday, April 11, 2007
When you have been injured you may need an Oregon personal injury lawyer. When you first meet a personal injury lawyer there are questions you should ask. Asking questions is the only way you will find out the things you need to know before you hire an attorney. It is also a good way to get to know the attorney better and to find out if this is the person you want working on your case. Make a list of questions that you will ask the lawyer. Take this list with you to your first consultation. Making the list and having it with you will make you feel more comfortable. Here are some questions to ask an Oregon personal injury lawyer at your first meeting: Ask your attorney a few personal questions so that you will be able to find out what experience he or she has. You may want to know how long the Oregon personal injury lawyer has been practicing and what his or her area of expertise is. You may also want to ask if the attorney has professional liability insurance and what their success rate has been. Find out about your rights and which ones need to be protected in your specific case. Ask if there is a fee for the first consultation and how any future fees will be handled. Will this attorney work on a contingency basis? You will want to question the attorney about your medical bills and who will pay them. Include questions about physical therapy and drug bills as well. Ask about the possibility of transportation expenses being covered and what you can expect in reimbursement for temporary or permanent household help, loss of income, pain and suffering and property damage.
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Saturday, April 07, 2007
You have several choices when you have been injured through the actions or the negligence of someone else. Oregon personal injury laws provide a way for those who have been injured to file a lawsuit. Sometimes the person who has been injured will be able to collect a settlement. For those who think they may have a case, they will have to decide how to handle an injury. Here are some possibilities: Do nothing. If the injury was really minor you may decide that you do not want to pursue the incident in a legal fashion. One word of warning here: sometimes a minor injury can become more of a serious injury and if you have not properly documented the situation you may find that your chances of a settlement have dwindled considerably. Handle the case yourself. Talk to the insurance company and see if you can work out a compensation plan. Be aware that insurance companies have Oregon personal injury law professionals on staff who are trained to give injured parties the very least amount of compensation possible. Talk to the attorney who handled your divorce or did the work on your will. This is not the best plan unless the attorney is experienced in the area of Oregon personal injury law. Oregon personal injury law is a complex system and one that is best understood by an attorney who has been trained in this kind of law. Schedule a meeting with two or three personal injury lawyers. Take all the information you have with you to this meeting and let the attorney decipher the documentation. You should also have a list of questions you want to ask the attorney. When you meet with the attorney there are some things to consider. You will want to find out if the attorney thinks you have a case. You should talk about the cost of the lawsuit and any extra fees that may be involved. Discuss how your case will be handled and by whom. Will the attorney be doing most of the work or will others in the law firm be handling the majority of the tasks involved? How often will the attorney be talking to you and updating you on the case? What is the policy at the law firm when it comes to being able to talk with the attorney about your case? Are you free to call at anytime if you have questions? When you have been injured you will want the best representation available. You will have many decisions to make and the first one will be; what do I do when I have been injured and need information about Oregon personal injury law?
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Monday, April 02, 2007
While it may not be easy to understand the fine points of Oregon maritime law, the basics are not too difficult to get a grasp of. The Jones Act which Congress passed in 1920 can be read in less than five minutes. This does not make it as easy to understand as one might think. First of all, the Jones Act requires that U.S. flagged vessels need to be built in the United States. These vessels also need to be owned by citizens of the U.S. and have to be documented under the laws of the United States. When a vessel is documented it is enrolled, registered or licensed under the laws of the U.S. On top of these requirements all officers and 75% of the crew must be citizens of the United States. Oregon maritime law under the Jones Act is important to injured sailors because it allows them to obtain damages from their employees because of negligence of the captain, ship owner or fellow members of the crew. While this explanation of Oregon maritime law may not seem difficult to understand, it all gets complicated because of the case law statutes and interpretations of cases and statutes that can be hundreds of years old. The Jones Act entitles sailors and workers who have been injured while working on the sea or on a U.S. flagged vessel to recover past and future wages. They may also entitled to medical care and pain and suffering damages which are usually not available under care and maintenance. The owner of the ship is only required to provide medical care until the seaman reaches maximum medical care under care and maintenance. If you think you have an Oregon maritime law case you need to make an appointment with a qualified Oregon maritime attorney.
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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
(503) 226-6361
Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC
1022 NW Marshall
Suite 450
Portland, Oregon 97209
Telephone (503) 226-6361
Fax (503) 226-6276
* 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.
Disclaimer: The personal injury, medical malpractice, dental negligence,
birth injury, traumatic brain injury, negligence, wrongful death, product
liability, accident or other legal information presented at this site
should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a
lawyer or attorney-client relationship. Any results set forth here were
dependent on the facts of that particular case and the results will differ
from case to case. Please contact a medical malpractice lawyer or personal
injury attorney at our office in Portland, Oregon. This web site is not
intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the States of Oregon or
Washington and may be considered advertising by the Oregon State Bar
Rules.
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