Just call us and ask, we are happy to help you find out.

The Long Answer: The law is a little tricky and in the words of a recent client sometimes mind-melting, but what we do as lawyers is apply our intellect and knowledge and experience to apply your facts to the law in a legal analysis and see if we can provide value to your life. Frankly, we don't want to take a case if we aren't going to be able to add value to your life by helping you and nearly always the best way to answer this question is to just ask the expert and we will let you know honestly and fairly if you need a lawyer to handle your case. If we don't think a lawyer will be helpful we will do our best to point you in the right direction to help you accomplish your goals.

Typically, you won't have any out-of-pocket costs.

The Long Answer: In order to ensure access to justice in these types of cases, and because we typically recover damages (money) on behalf of the client, we bill on a contingent fee basis in these cases. That means, we charge a percentage of what we recover. Normally, that percentage is 1/3rd of the money we recover. In theory, this aligns the interests of the lawyer and the client such that we are both on the same team trying to recover as much as possible.

Almost all Motor Vehicle accident cases settle without going to trial. We are equipped to try your case if needed, but if you want to resolve the case short of a trial we will be able to help you achieve that result as well. No matter what, we will always honestly evaluate your case and provide you with the best advice we can muster in order to help you get the best possible outcome in your car collision case.

Like teammates working toward a goal.

The Long Answer: When you call Hunking Law with an issue your first point of contact is likely to be one of our Intake Specialists. Their job is to get a brief overview of what is going on, apply their judgment and route you to the person that can help you best. At the end of the conversation they will follow up with an email so that you have a way to send any documents you have for the attorney to review before your meeting with the attorney.

Next, you will likely have a consultation with an attorney who will apply their knowledge, experience and intellect to try and understand your issue from your perspective, determine if we can add value to your life and provide instructions for what to do next.

Next, if we can add value to your case a paralegal will send you what we call opening documents which will be a retainer agreement, an explanation of a retainer agreement, either a HIPPA release or an Arctrieval Individual Right of Access form, and a collision intake sheet. Using email they will begin that thread and request that you respond with any documents you have regarding the case.

Next, follow any paralegal and attorney instructions, but mostly get any medical treatment you need and be sure to notify your paralegal once you are done treating and ready for the next step.

Next, we request medical records and any other supporting documents needed to prepare your case for a demand. Once received, the paralegal and the attorney work to synthesize the records and format them into a demand package.

Next, the attorney will discuss the demand amount with you and make sure you understand the consequences of picking any amount to demand. Once the demand is approved we send the demand to the at fault party and/or their insurance carrier and await their response (typically 30-45 days).

Next, once we receive the response we will let you know and the attorney will walk you through potential replies and the consequences of those choices to try and give you the information you need to make an informed choice regarding how to respond. Once you make your choice the attorney and paralegal will work to execute that decision.

Next, we reach a resolution to the conflict that is acceptable and begin the process of closing the case up. The attorney and paralegal work to make sure the distribution is drafted correctly, that we have identified potential lien-holders and their claims, that the release or judgment has legally acceptable language. You review those documents, discuss with the attorney or paralegal any issues that come up and then formally close the case.

Next, we close the case by receiving a check, processing the closing documents, issue a check to you that you can have mailed or you can pick up at any one of our three locations (Albany, Corvallis, Eugene), you deposit the check in your bank and we ask you about how we did in processing your case.

Lawsuits for car accident cases generally take a long time; sometimes years. We will work expeditiously to ensure your case moves forward as quickly as possible to help you reach your desired outcome in the case.

Call an attorney!

The Long Answer: These types of crashes, in the legal sense, have lots of moving parts. If the police responded then it is likely that the other person was issued a citation or taken to jail. That initiates a criminal legal process that moves quickly. Police and prosecutors are likely to want to speak with you and ask you detailed questions about what happened. Prosecutor's offices have victim's services sections that may reach out to you and try to keep you informed of your rights in the criminal case. In Oregon, you have constitutional rights as a victim in that proceeding to potentially play an active role in the prosecution; but keep in mind the prosecutor represents the State of Oregon against the drunk driver, they are pursuing Oregon's goals, which may not always be the same as your goals. You have access to discovery (police reports, BAC reports, pictures and video, etc.) that is provided to you via statute, but you need to properly request that information in order to assert that right. Importantly, if the drunk driver was over-served at a bar, pub, restaurant, or any establishment that serves alcohol for consumption on the premises they may be liable as well for serving alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who later caused you damage. But, you have a very short 180 days under the Dram Shop Act to be sure you have properly perfected your legal rights. Because there are so many moving parts, and because the wealth of experience we have on both sides of the aisle in these types of cases we at Hunking Law have the experience and knowledge to make sure that you have protected every legal right you have and to help you get the best possible outcome as the injured party.

Under Oregon law, you purchased personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. PIP is designed to allow people to get medical treatment without delay while the insurance companies work out liability issues. You should use your own auto PIP coverage to pay for medical expenses and wage loss up front and then, ultimately, the at fault insurance company will pay your insurance company back for the PIP benefits paid.

Ask and confirm. There should be one claim number for your own insurance and a different claim number for the other insurance, even though they are both with the same company. When an adjuster contacts you, ask which claim number they are handling and confirm with that person whether they are working under your claim or the other driver's claim.