Personal Injury

Whether you or someone you love is suffering from a soft tissue injury, a catastrophic spinal injury resulting in paralysis, or has been killed as a result of another’s negligence, you will need the skilled and effective advocacy of a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer. That is where the Wellstone Law Group comes in. We reduce the stress of injury claims so you and your loved ones can focus on getting better. The Wellstone Law Group handles a wide range of cases, including car crashes, motorcycle crashes, bicycle crashes, semi truck crashes, construction site injuries, premises liability cases, and dog bite cases.

Car accidents take only a second, but the consequences of a crash can last a lifetime. After an accident happens, and just when an accident victim is feeling their worst, the barrage of paperwork and stress begins.
Accident victims struggle with a range of stressors including returning to work as soon as possible so that household bills can be paid to figuring out an endless maze of insurance rules and protocols. The lawyers at the Wellstone Law Group are knowledgeable, skilled and experienced at effectively handling all aspects of motor vehicle accident cases.

Motorcycle accident victims often suffer very serious injuries because there is little to protect the rider from the forces of cars, trucks, and other dangers in the road. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is not required on motorcycle policies in Oregon, and unfortunately, insurance companies rarely offer PIP to bikers. As a result, even if you have your own health insurance, you will typically have significant unpaid medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses.
The lawyers at the Wellstone Law Group are knowledgeable, skilled and experienced at getting your unpaid medical bills paid, making sure you are reimbursed for your out-of-pocket expenses, and obtaining fair compensation for your injuries.

Bicyclists are classified as vulnerable roadway users because they are smaller, lighter, and travel at speeds much lower than their vehicular counterparts. Bicyclists also cast a smaller silhouette which makes them less visible than motorcycles, cars, and trucks.
It is often said that there are two types of cyclists: those that have been hit by a car and those that will be. Bicyclists are usually injured in one of three scenarios: (1) when a car traveling in the same direction as the bicyclist takes a right turn in front of them without proper notice (“the right hook”); (2) when an oncoming car makes a dangerous left turn in front of a cyclist (“the left hook”); or (3) when a driver or passenger opens a car door in front of an oncoming bicyclist (getting “doored”). Bicyclist-versus-car accidents often result in broken bones, closed head injuries, paralysis, and death, and therefore, demand lawyers who understand the legal and medical aspects of each and every claim. Attorney Joe Durkee is an avid cyclist and prior racer who has the experience, skill and knowledge to effectively advocate for bicyclists who have been injured as the result of a driver’s negligence.

Not only do semi truck accidents result in more severe injuries and deaths than most car accidents, they often present more legal challenges as well.
Federal and state regulations establish truck maintenance schedules, load maximums, inspection requirements, liability insurance coverage requirements, and driver conduct standards. Investigation of semi truck accidents usually involves, but is not limited to, such things as: comprehensive scene investigation; engine control module inspection; equipment condition/repair log inspection; truck driver log book inspection; GPS data; and pre-trip inspection reports.
If you have been injured in a semi truck accident in Oregon, you need a skilled and experienced semi truck accident lawyer to represent you. The lawyers at the Wellstone Law Group effectively manage the investigation, claims handling, and litigation aspects of semi truck accidents so that you can focus on getting well.

Every day in Oregon, pedestrians are severely injured and even killed when they are struck by cars, motorcycles, and truck drivers who are not keeping a proper lookout. It is no wonder that pedestrian accidents often result in catastrophic injuries and death as the human body is no match for a two-ton machine.
Pedestrians are struck as a result of various kinds of negligent driver behavior such as, but not limited to: distracted driving (talking or texting on a cell phone); failure of a driver to yield at an intersection or crosswalk; unsafe turns; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and failure to use headlights. The lawyers at the Wellstone Law Group have the experience and skills to effectively handle Oregon pedestrian injury cases and to recover damages for past medical expenses, future medical expenses, lost wages, future lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Drunk driving collisions often and needlessly result in serious injuries and death as a result of an impaired driver's diminished judgment and reflexes.
Drunk drivers are a danger to our community. That is why the lawyers at the Wellstone Law Group are motivated to make examples of the drunk driver’s selfish behavior when they cause injury or death to an innocent person. We will fight for your rights and the recovery of damages such as (but not limited to): medical expenses; future medical expenses; wage loss; future wage loss; pain and suffering; and punitive damages.

Losing a loved one is the most difficult life event that a person can face. This is particularly true if the loved one was lost due to someone else’s negligence. At the Wellstone Law Group, our lawyers are passionate about advocating for victims who have suffered the loss of a loved one. We truly believe in what we do, and are committed to taking all necessary action to protect the people we represent.

Dog attacks often lead to serious, debilitating, and life changing injuries. Dog bites are also prone to infection which can be fatal in some cases.
If a dog attacked you or a loved one, you need a skilled Oregon personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. Oregon law on dog bites can be confusing to attorneys who do not specialize in dog bite cases. The lawyers at the Wellstone Law Group can help investigate and effectively handle dog bite claims which includes the recovery of damages such as: past medical expenses; future medical expenses (e.g., scar revision therapy is common in dog bit cases); lost wages; future lost wages; and pain and suffering.

Oregon premises liability cases are often very difficult to prove, particularly if the accident-causing hazard was temporary (such as a wet floor).
Because these cases are so hard to prove, it is wise to seek the counsel of a qualified, Oregon premises liability attorney who has the knowledge and skills to effectively investigate and handle the case. Victims of premises liability accidents may have claims for some or all of the following items (not an all-inclusive list): reimbursement of medical expenses; lost wages, future lost wages, pain and suffering, and burial expenses.

Heavy machinery, commercial power tools, toxic chemicals, dangerous surfaces, and other hazards can make construction sites, industrial sites, and warehouses dangerous places to work.
While worker’s compensation is often the only recourse of recovery for a person who is injured on a construction site, industrial site, or in a warehouse, there are times when the injured worker can also recover from a someone other than his or her employer. This may be a possibility if the injury was caused by: a negligent general contractor or subcontractor; defective equipment or machinery; toxic substances; or a dangerous condition on the land where the injury occurred. Because the Wellstone Law Group is one of the few firms in Oregon that specializes in both workers' compensation law and personal injury law, we are able to confidently identify any claims that may arise from a work injury beyond just the workers' compensation claim. Additionally, rather than referring you out to other law firms to assist with different aspects of your case, as many firms will do, the Wellstone Law Group is able to represent you with respect to all aspects of your work injury.

Every year slip/trip and fall accidents result in serious, life threatening and life changing injuries to Oregonians.
Slip and fall accidents result from a wide variety of dangerous conditions such as wet surfaces, broken stairs, stairs or surfaces that are not building code compliant, missing or broken handrails or debris that was negligently left on the ground. Victims of slip and fall accidents may have claims for some or all of the following items (not an all-inclusive list): reimbursement of medical expenses; future medical expenses; lost wages, future lost wages, pain and suffering, and burial expenses.

Diminished value is the difference between what your vehicle was worth before it was involved in an accident and what it is worth after being damaged in an accident.
Just because a car has been damaged in an accident does not mean that it has sustained diminished value. Some of the factors that help determine whether a car has sustained diminished value are: the year of the car; make of the car; mileage at the time of the accident; amount and type of damage sustained in the accident; quality of cosmetic and mechanical repairs; and lingering cosmetic or mechanical issues following the repair of the vehicle.

“Baby Boomers," the largest population demographic in the United States, are beginning to take residency in American nursing homes.
As a result of our rapidly growing population of those living in nursing homes, an unprecedented amount of nursing home neglect and abuse claims are beginning to surface. If someone you love is in a nursing home, you should be on the lookout for the following signs that may indicate neglect or abuse: unexplained injuries; multiple falling episodes; unresolved infections; malnourishment or dehydration; excessive anxiety; poor hygiene; and abnormally defensive nursing staff.