Oregon operates under comparative negligence guidelines when addressing personal injury. This means that all parties must retain full responsibility for their contribution to the incident. Each party possesses a percentage-based fault rating. This fault rating determines whether an individual can file a personal injury claim outside of an insurance claim. Only individuals with a fault rating of less than 50% can file a claim. So, although Oregon assigns unique ratings to each party, they still clearly designate a plaintiff and defendant in each accident.
This answers the question of who is liable for the costs associated with an accident. Because Oregon is fault-based, the party who is most to blame pays for the damages associated with the incident. In car accidents, this is regardless of whether the plaintiff decides to pursue a personal injury claim on top of an insurance-based claim. Consulting with an personal injury lawyer after an accident often provides insight into the options you have, considering your fault percentage and the context of the accident.