Like many states, Oregon follows a fault-based system when it comes to car accidents. Drivers who are responsible for collisions must use their insurance policies to pay for their victims’ damages. To uphold these financial obligations, Oregon law requires all drivers to hold the following minimum amounts of liability coverage.
$25,000 in bodily injury or death liability per person per accident
$50,000 in total bodily injury or death liability per accident
$20,000 for property damage per accident
You can choose to purchase higher amounts of insurance if you wish. Oregon also requires all drivers to hold $15,000 in personal injury protection coverage per person, as well as uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Under Oregon’s fault-based system, you have three options to pursue compensation after a car accident: filing an insurance claim against the at-fault party, filing an insurance claim under your own policy, or filing a personal injury lawsuit in Oregon civil court.
Most car accident claims begin in the insurance stage and progress to a lawsuit if necessary. However, you may want to pursue a lawsuit from the beginning if your damages exceed the at-fault party’s policy limits. Speak to a Portland auto accident attorney at DuBois Law Group to identify your optimal path to maximum recovery.