Salem Personal Injury Law Firm

More Salem Injury Questions

I was hurt at a state building in Salem. Is there an extra deadline?

There can be. Salem is the state capital, and Marion County counts the State Capitol and the Capitol Mall buildings among the city's public buildings. Claims against a public body, such as the State of Oregon or a local government, have an extra step. You must give notice of the claim within 180 days after the injury, or within one year for a wrongful death claim (ORS 30.275). The statute also lists where notice must be sent. For a claim against the state, it goes to the office of the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. The 180 day notice is easy to miss. A crash with a city bus or a county truck may fall under these rules too. Give our Salem legal team the place and the date. We work out whether notice is needed and send it.

How many people die in traffic crashes in Salem?

Federal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration counts 85 traffic deaths inside Salem city limits from 2020 to 2024. Of those, 28 were pedestrians and 7 were bicyclists. Marion County as a whole had 241 deaths in those years, and 32 of the people killed were motorcyclists. Behind each number is a family. In Oregon, the personal representative of the estate brings a wrongful death case, and it generally has three years (ORS 30.020). Some limits can make that time shorter, so call early. We do not charge to talk it through.

Who investigates a dog bite in Salem?

Get the wound treated before anything else. Marion County Environmental Health says it investigates reported animal bites within Marion County, and its main concern is the risk of rabies. Its number is 503-588-5346, and it posts bite report forms in English and Spanish. For a severe bite, the county says the dog may be confined at Marion County Dog Services, which takes questions at 503-588-5233. If the bite happened in the part of Salem that is in Polk County, Polk County has its own bite report form. Keep photos of the injury and your medical records. Then call or text us to talk about a claim.

My Salem Hospital bills are already past $15,000. Who pays now?

Salem Health Salem Hospital is a Level II trauma hospital, and care after a serious crash adds up. The medical coverage on your own auto policy (called PIP) covers at least $15,000 in reasonable and necessary medical expenses for up to two years after the injury (ORS 742.524). Serious injuries can use up $15,000 fast. After PIP is used up, bills usually go to your health insurance, if you have it. Other sources may apply too. These include a claim against the at-fault driver and your own underinsured motorist coverage. The at-fault driver's insurer usually pays once, in a settlement or after a court judgment, not one bill at a time. Our Salem legal team tracks every bill and pursues each source for you.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after an injury in Salem?

In most cases, two years. Most Oregon personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (ORS 12.110). In most crash cases the clock starts on the day of the crash. Opening an insurance claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Talking with an insurance adjuster does not, by itself, extend the deadline. Exceptions can make your deadline shorter or longer, so do not count the days on your own. Our Salem legal team confirms your date in a free phone call.