Salem Car Accident Lawyer
Personal Injury Law Handled Personally Since 1991
A car accident can upend everything at once: medical decisions that can’t wait, an insurance adjuster already working to limit your payout, missed work, and evidence that begins disappearing within hours of the crash. At Smith Morgan LLP, we’ve handled personal injury cases since 1991, and when you call us, you speak directly with Attorney Langdon Smith from that first conversation through resolution. No case managers, no handoffs.
We serve clients in Salem, Keizer, Albany, and throughout the Willamette Valley. Free case evaluations are available by phone or online. Hablamos español.
Insurers assign adjusters whose job is to minimize what your claim costs them, not to protect your recovery. The sooner an attorney is involved, the sooner we can preserve evidence, coordinate your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, and make sure no statement you give is used against you later.
Call (541) 248-6979 or reach us online to request a complimentary office or virtual consultation with our Salem car accident attorney. Hablamos español.
Oregon Law Every Salem Crash Victim Should Know
Oregon gives injured drivers two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury claim under ORS 12.110(1). Miss that deadline and the right to recover is gone. If the at-fault party is a government entity, the window is shorter: a Tort Claim Notice must be filed within 180 days of the incident under ORS 30.275.
Oregon follows modified comparative negligence under ORS 31.600. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you can still recover as long as your share of fault doesn’t exceed the combined fault of all other parties. Even if an insurer argues you were partly responsible, that doesn’t end your claim.
Coverage that may apply to your claim:
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Oregon’s mandatory PIP coverage pays up to $15,000 in medical expenses and 70% of lost wages up to $3,000 per month for up to 52 weeks, regardless of fault, under ORS 742.524 and ORS 742.526.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM): Under ORS 742.502, if the driver who hit you carries no insurance or not enough, you can file a claim under your own policy. This coverage exists for hit-and-run situations and underinsured drivers.
- Third-Party Liability: A claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer for the full range of your damages, including pain and suffering and long-term losses.
Before any insurer calls: you aren’t required to give a recorded statement to the opposing insurer, and doing so before speaking with an attorney can reduce your settlement value. We handle all insurer communications on your behalf once you retain us.
Our Settlements & Verdicts
-
$1,000,000 Mother Injured In Auto Accident
Arbitration award for a 39-year-old mother injured while driving her children home from school.
-
Good Samaritan Injured Policy Limit Settlement
A 52-year-old man was run over while trying to stop a severely intoxicated driver. Despite the insurer blaming the victim, Smith Morgan, LLP pursued punitive damages, resulting in a policy limit settlement within days.
-
$175,000 Hit-And-Run Accident
Arbitration award against a driver who fled the scene and attempted to blame someone else.
-
$100,000 Denied Claim Turned Around
Policy limit settlement where the insurance company initially denied responsibility until Smith Morgan, LLP got involved.
-
$1,500,000 Pedestrian Hit By Drunk Driver
Settlement for a pedestrian struck by a drunk driver, which included recovery from the bar that overserved the driver.
-
$250,000 Uninsured Motorist Claim
How We Help Auto Accident Victims
Since 1991, our firm has practiced personal injury law. Attorney Langdon Smith has represented clients since 2006, bringing 19+ years of focused experience to every case. At Smith Morgan LLP, you receive personal, hands-on attention from day one and won’t be passed off to case managers or assistants. We handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on healing.
When you choose our firm, you benefit from:
- Free case evaluation – Clear answers with no upfront cost.
- Aggressive advocacy – We stand up to insurers and can take your case to court when necessary.
- Local insight – A thorough understanding of Oregon traffic laws and the Salem court system.
- Pursuit of compensation – Including medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. Serious crashes can also result in catastrophic injuries that require long-term care.
- Responsive communication – Calls answered live during business hours, with prompt follow-up evenings and weekends.
Call (541) 248-6979 or submit our online contact form to book a free case evaluation with our Salem car accident attorney today. Available 24/7.
Why Direct Attorney Access Changes Your Case
At larger firms, the attorney you meet at intake is often not the person working your file. At Smith Morgan LLP, Attorney Langdon Smith evaluates your case and remains your point of contact from the first call through settlement or verdict. Same-day or next-day evaluations are available, and we’re reachable after hours and on weekends when questions don’t wait for Monday morning.
We handle personal injury cases and nothing else. That means our knowledge of insurance adjuster tactics, Oregon PIP billing, and Marion County Circuit Court procedures isn’t divided across unrelated practice areas. We’ve achieved thousands of verdicts and settlements for injury victims, and we can take cases to trial when an insurer’s offer doesn’t reflect what the claim may be worth. There’s no fee unless we recover for you.