I recently settled a case for a woman who was a passenger in a car which was struck by another vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way. The case was complicated by the fact that the accident occurred in Oregon, which meant Oregon law applied to this claim. Unlike Missouri, Oregon has a modified no-fault law which provides for limited personal injury protection (PIP), but still preserves the right to sue the negligent driver.
My client had been diagnosed with a concussion at the emergency room in Oregon and had only been getting chiropractic treatment for a sore neck since she returned to St. Louis when she came to see me almost a year after the accident. I immediately noticed that she complained of signs of post-concussion syndrome that needed specialized treatment by a neurologist, and I made arrangements for her to treat with a neurologist who was able to significantly improve her symptoms.
Total recovery was approximately $80,000.00. An important thing that any lawyer handling a case in another state must be aware of is the statute of limitations in the state whose law applies to the case. Missouri has a five year statute of limitations for auto accidents while Oregon’s statute of limitations is only two years, so my client would not have been able to recover anything if she waited too long to retain a lawyer who could investigate the applicable law in the state where the accident occurred and get a lawsuit filed within the specified time period.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, please call Attorney Thomas J. Gregory at 314-241-4477.
