Oregon law requires the driver of any vehicle in an accident to stop, remain at the scene, and exchange information with the other driver. Failure to perform these duties can be a misdemeanor or a felony, yet there are numerous hit-and-run accidents in Portland each year. Attorney Rob Kline can help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Portland Hit and Run Attorney
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Accident
If you are injured by a hit-and-run driver, here’s what you should do to protect yourself and help while seeking compensation:
- Report the accident to the police immediately and stay there until they arrive
- If you are in the path of traffic, try to move out of the way safely
- Document the accident scene if you are able to by taking photos and video
- Get complete contact information from all witnesses at the scene
- Seek medical attention even if you seem fine
- Notify your insurance company of the hit-and-run
Once you are out of harms way and have gotten necessary medical care, reach out to our Portland hit-and-run lawyer to discuss what happened and how we can help.
[Rob] treated me with the utmost respect, compassion and professionalism. I felt that I was in extremely good hands and never had a doubt that [he] had all the bases covered. I was very pleased with the result and felt that I got more than my money’s worth.
Susan Shea
How Common Are Hit-and-Run Accidents in Portland?
According to data from the City of Portland, hit-and-run collisions increased by 60% from 2017 to 2021. In addition, city officials found that hit-and-run accidents accounted for 17% of all serious injuries and fatalities involving pedestrians and cyclists during that period.
Why Hit-and-Run Drivers Leave the Scene of an Accident
There are a few common reasons why drivers decide to leave the scene of a collision even though it’s a crime under Oregon law:
- Avoiding Liability and Responsibility for a Crash: Many hit-and-run drivers know that they hit someone else’s vehicle or hurt a pedestrian or cyclist, but they do not want to accept legal responsibility for what happened or be held liable for injuries and property damage.
- Driving Without a License or with a Suspended License: Some hit-and-run drivers don’t have a driver’s license or are driving with a suspended or revoked license. These drivers believe that fleeing the scene of an accident means they can avoid criminal penalties for what they’ve done.
- Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII): Hit-and-run crashes often account for serious drunk driving/DUII accidents. Again, in these situations, the intoxicated driver is attempting to avoid criminal penalties.
- Driving Without Insurance or Underinsured: Oregon requires all drivers to have auto insurance. Uninsured or underinsured driver accidents may involve hit-and-run injuries or damage, and drivers trying to avoid penalties for their lack of insurance.
Legal Options for Hit-and-Run Accident Victims
If you or a loved one was the victim of a hit-and-run accident, your options for compensation will depend on if the driver can be identified. When you meet with Rob Kline and his team, he can let you know how best to proceed based on what happened.
Options When the Hit-and-Run Driver Can Be Identified
If the hit-and-run driver can eventually be identified, you can file a claim with that driver’s insurance provider. If a fair settlement cannot be negotiated, you can sue the hit-and-run driver for legal damages.
Identifying the driver can be extremely challenging, which is why it’s important to call the police at the accident site and to speak with a Portland hit-and-run attorney as soon as possible. Hiring a lawyer promptly enables the lawyer to start an immediate investigation including securing any CCTV or video footage of the accident before it’s recorded over.
Options When the Hit-and-Run Driver Cannot Be Found
If the hit-and-run driver cannot be found, your best option may be to file a claim against your own auto insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits. To ensure coverage, you must report the accident to the police within 72 hours of the hit-and-run, and then file a required statement with your insurer within 30 days.
Why Choose Rob Kline for Your Hit-and-Run Case
Rob Kline is fully committed to helping accident victims and their families throughout the greater Portland area. A former President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA), he brings more than 25 years of experience practicing law to every case.
- He Knows Accident Claims from Both Sides of the Table: Rob began his legal career representing large corporations and insurance companies. He now uses that knowledge of how these entities operate to better advocate for people who’ve been hurt or lost their loved ones and need legal help.
- He Understands Oregon and Portland Accident Laws: Rob has a deep knowledge of state and local laws pertinent to hit-and-run cases. In particular, he is the author of the Oregon Pedestrian Law Guide 2.0, which is part of The OTLA Automobile Litigation Deskbook series.
- He’s Recognized for His Excellent Legal Work: Rob has a 10/10 “Superb Lawyer” rating on Avvo, thanks in large part to his compassionate approach to personal injury law. He also has an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is given to lawyers who demonstrate high levels of legal ability and ethical standards.
- He Offers Free Legal Consultations: After a serious collision, the last thing you need is another bill. Our law office offers free consultations so you can discuss what happened and get the answers you need about what to do next.
Rob and his team are here to listen and to help. For a free consultation with a proven hit-and-run accident lawyer, contact our Portland law firm today.
Types of Hit-and-Run Accidents
Hit-and-run accidents can affect motorists as well as pedestrians and cyclists. Below are some of the different types of hit-and-run accidents our Portland law firm has worked on or seen over the years.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Hit-and-Runs
Vehicle-to-vehicle hit-and-runs are common throughout the city. These can happen on highways, in parking lots, on city streets, or in the suburbs. Our team can help motorcycle accident victims after hit-and-runs during turns or merges as well as families impacted by serious and fatal car wrecks caused by hit-and-run drivers.
Vehicle-to-Pedestrian Hit-and-Runs
Hit-and-run pedestrian accidents often result in catastrophic injuries and even fatalities. While many pedestrian accidents happen at night or in low-light situations, these kinds of collisions can happen at any time of the day, if a driver is reckless, distracted, or intoxicated.
Vehicle-to-Bicycle Hit-and-Runs
Even though there’s a great local cycling culture here in Portland, there are still numerous hit-and-run bicycle accidents. As with pedestrian accidents, these kinds of crashes can cause catastrophic injuries to cyclists, including injuries that result in permanent disabilities.
Commercial Vehicle Hit-and-Run Accidents
We count on professional commercial drivers to exhibit a higher level of care than everyday commuters, but they can also cause hit-and-run collisions. This could be the result of driver fatigue, reckless driving to meet deadlines, or the sheer number of blind spots around 18-wheelers and delivery vans.
One would expect the commercial driver to follow the law after a crash, yet some drivers speed off after an accident. As with non-commercial drivers, they may be attempting to avoid responsibility for what they’ve done or jeopardizing their commercial driver’s license (CDL) and career.
If you get into a hit-and-run accident with a semi-truck or a delivery vehicle, it may be easier to identify the driver or their vehicle. In such cases, attorney Rob Kline can help you hold the negligent commercial driver and possibly their employer accountable for the crash.
Phantom Vehicles: A Hit-and-Run Without Making Contact
A phantom vehicle is a hit-and-run vehicle that causes an accident but does not make contact with you or your vehicle. The hit-and-run driver may have been speeding, swerving, tailgating, or otherwise driving recklessly.
In these kinds of accidents, the phantom vehicle may run you off the road, cause you to swerve suddenly.
If you’ve been injured because of a phantom vehicle, you will need an independent witness, dashcam footage, or other evidence to substantiate what happened. Your own testimony alone will not suffice. Rob Kline and the team can help secure the evidence you need to prove your injuries.
When Children Are Hit-and-Run Accident Victims
When hit-and-run accidents happen near schools or around parks, the victims are often students or kids simply being kids. These kinds of hit-and-run accidents are especially tragic since there are numerous precautions in school zones and near public spaces to help prevent collisions.
Beyond physical trauma, children may face long-term psychological and emotional trauma because of the accident. This is especially true for young children.
Rob Kline and his team take great care when working on injury accidents involving children. We understand how difficult the situation is for families, and we will provide the comfort and sensitivity needed as we work on your case.
Justice After Fatal Hit-and-Run Accidents
As mentioned earlier, hit-and-run accidents cause many serious injuries and deaths throughout Portland. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal hit-and-run crash, you have our sincerest condolences. The grief and heartache are no doubt compounded when the driver flees to avoid responsibility.
If your family is reeling from a fatal hit-and-run crash, Rob Kline and his team can provide some answers on how best to proceed with your situation.
When it’s possible to locate the reckless driver, our law office can help you pursue a wrongful death lawsuit. When the driver cannot be found, our team will help review options to secure compensation for you and your family.
Compensation in Hit-and-Run Accidents
Fighting for compensation in a hit-and-run case can be challenging. There are different options available depending on whether we can locate the hit-and-run driver. Portland accident attorney Rob Kline will review what options are available to you as he works on your case.
Compensation When the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Identified
If the driver can be identified, our team can help you seek economic and non-economic damages that stemmed from the hit-and-run crash.
Economic damages are financial and material losses associated with an accident. Economic damages in a hit-and-run crash may include:
- Past and current medical expenses
- Future medical treatment and physical rehabilitation
- Mental health counseling
- Damage to your vehicle or other property
- Lost wages due to taking leave from work
- Loss of future earning potential due to disability
- For fatal hit-and-run accidents, loss of the deceased’s wages and monetary support
Non-economic damages are subjective human losses associated with an accident. Non-economic damages in a hit-and-run crash may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- For fatal hit-and-run accidents, loss of the deceased’s companionship
Compensation When the Hit-and-Run Driver Cannot Be Located
In situations where the hit-and-run driver can’t be found, many victims worry that they won’t be eligible for any compensation. Thankfully, that’s not the case.
As mentioned earlier, there are still ways to get compensation when the hit-and-run driver is unknown, and our Portland law office can identify all options you may qualify for.
Some options for compensation in these kinds of hit-and-run collisions include:
- Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
- Collision coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- MedPay
We Will Always Attempt to Maximize Your Compensation
Whether the hit-and-run driver is identified or not, you can count on Rob Kline and his team to do whatever they can to maximize your compensation.
Our work to find the driver includes:
- Careful investigation of the accident scene
- Securing any surveillance footage, video, or evidence that can help identify the hit-and-run driver
- Interviewing witnesses and local residents who may have witnessed the accident
- Review of the police report of the hit-and-run crash
As we negotiate with insurance companies, we will consider the full extent of your injuries, financial losses, and changes in quality of life. This will ensure that the true value of your losses is reflected in the compensation we secure for you.
Contact Our Experienced Portland Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been seriously hurt or have lost a family member in a hit-and-run crash, Rob Kline and his team are here to help. Reach out today so we can start fighting for the compensation you need. For a free consultation with a proven hit-and-run accident attorney near you, contact our Portland law office today.
Let Rob Kline Represent You
If you were in any kind of vehicle accident, or hit by a drunk driver, you need the advice of an experienced Portland personal injury attorney. Call today to get your free, confidential case evaluation.
