Hire an Oregon motorcycle attorney who rides.
I ride street, track, motocross, and off road. I have ridden thousands of miles on my street bike and know the dangers that motorcyclists face every time they get on a bike. In my experience, most motorcycle riders are very safe and cautious, as our life is on the line if we are not. Insurance companies often try to blame motorcyclists just because we are on two wheels. I work very hard on all of my motorcycle cases, as I know it could have been me that went down. I am a big believer in motorcycle education. I have learned a lot by attending PSSR’s track day at PIR and I offer a free PSSR track day with every motorcycle case I handle.
Protect your rights
You have been injured in an Oregon motorcycle accident and you are worried about who is going to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The last thing you want is to be taken advantage of by an insurance company. If you don’t protect your rights, you may not be able to make a claim. Insurance companies have attorneys and adjusters whose goal is to pay you as little as they can. You need an Oregon motorcycle accident attorney to fight for you.
Why should you hire attorney Mike Colbach?
You need an attorney who will work hard to protect your rights, maximize your insurance settlement and minimize the hassles of dealing with the insurance companies. You need an experienced and aggressive Oregon trial lawyer with PROVEN RESULTS who will fight for you. Having an experienced Oregon motorcycle accident lawyer can make the difference between getting what you deserve and getting nothing. I will work hard to help you recover as much money as possible under the law.
An experienced trial lawyer can make the difference.
I am an experienced aggressive trial lawyer who has tried over 100 cases. I am not afraid to take your case to trial if that is what it takes to maximize your Oregon motorcycle accident insurance recovery. I offer one-on-one service, and I wil not hand your case off to an inexperienced lawyer or a paralegal./p>
Reduce the stress of making a claim.
Motorcycle accident injuries can turn your life upside down. Making an insurance claim can be difficult and time consuming. Once I take your case, you can stop worrying about dealing with the insurance companies and focus on recovering from your motorcycle accident injuries. I take care of all of the paperwork, phone calls, and negotiations, so you can get on with your life.
I handle Oregon motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis.
This means:
YOU DON’T OWE ME A LEGAL FEE
UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU.
Oregon Motorcycle Attorney
Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: What is my motorcycle claim worth?
A:
The value of your motorcycle accident injury claim depends on the severity and permanency of your injuries. Contact me now for a free consultation so I can assess your claim and tell you what I think it is worth.
Q: Should I accept the offer that the car insurance company has given me?
A:
Oftentimes I can get insurance companies to substantially increase the amount of their settlement offer. If you have already received an offer for your injuries, contact me and I will let you know if I think it is a fair offer. I will not charge you for this consultation. If I do not beat their original offer to you, I will not charge you a fee.
Q: How soon after an motorcycle accident should I call you?
A:
Call me immediately. Do not give the other person’s insurance company a statement until you have consulted with a lawyer. I make a point of returning all calls and e-mails promptly. If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, you need to know right away what insurance coverage is in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages.
Q: Will I get to talk to a lawyer if I call?
A:
Yes. Everyone who calls for a free consultation gets to talk to a lawyer. I do not have my staff screen cases. Usually you will get to talk to a lawyer right away or later the same day.
Q: Should I call you even if I want to handle my claim myself?
A:
Yes. In a few minutes over the phone I can usually give you an estimate of what your claim is worth so you don't get ripped off by the insurance company. If they give you an offer and you later hire me, I will not charge you a fee unless I can increase the amount that goes into your pocket.
Q: Can I recover if the other driver had no insurance?
A:
Yes. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can recover money for your medical bills and pain and suffering even if the other driver had no insurance. I recommend that you buy as much uninsured motorist coverage as you can afford. It is inexpensive and can protect you if you are ever seriously injured by an uninsured motorist.
Q: How do I know if I have a good motorcycle accident or personal injury case?
A:
You need to contact me and we can discuss your case. My consultation on a personal injury case is always free.
Q: How long does it take to settle most motorcycle accident personal injury cases?
A:It depends on the nature of your personal injury claim. I have settled smaller claims for the full amount my client wanted within 10 days and I have settled policy limits cases in as little as a few months. Larger motorcycle accident injury cases typically take longer to settle. Oregon law has a provision that can require insurance companies to pay my attorney fees for cases under $5,500, so oftentimes these cases can be resolved quickly, as the insurance companies don’t want to get a big attorney fee bill from me.
Q: Will pursuing my case take up a lot of my time?
A: No. Oftentimes I only meet with clients for the initial interview and then we can just talk over the phone. If we do have to go to court, it will take more time. I realize your time is important, so I don’t waste it.
Q: Will I have to go to trial?
A:
The vast majority of motorcycle collision and personal injury cases don’t go to trial. However, I treat each case as if it is going to be a trial, as you have to be willing to go to trial to maximize the amount of money you receive.
Q: Why is it so important to hire an Oregon motorcycle attorney who goes to trial?
A:
Most motorcycle and personal injury cases settle before trial, but you want to maximize your settlement. If you hire an Oregon personal injury attorney who has little trial experience, oftentimes they will be afraid to go to trial. Insurance companies know who these lawyers are, and they oftentimes offer them less than the case is worth. I have 10 years of courtroom experience and I have tried well over 100 cases. A good example of why you sometimes have to go to trial are the recent results I have had. I recently tried three separate cases where the offers totaled approximately $51,500. The juries awarded a total of over $850,000. If my clients had hired a lawyer who does not try cases, they would have lost a combined total of around $800,000. Verdicts like these do not come easy and it took me years of trying cases and over 100 jury trials before I had the skills to get big verdicts for my clients. I know a number of Oregon personal injury attorneys who do not try cases. I believe that these attorneys do a great disservice to their clients and cost their clients millions of dollars by settling cases that should go to trial. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that they are actively trying cases and have had a number of six figure verdicts.
Q: Do I need an Oregon lawyer?
A:
In order to settle your personal injury and motorcycle accident case you will have to deal with insurance companies. Their goal is to pay you as little as you will take. It is tough for someone who is not familiar with motorcycle accident and personal injury cases to know what a fair settlement amount is. An experienced Oregon personal injury attorney can help you to determine that amount and reach a fair settlement.
Q: How do I pay your legal fees?
A:
I handle motorcycle accident, auto accident, and all of my other personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means YOU DO NOT OWE ME A LEGAL FEE UNLESS I RECOVER MONEY FOR YOU. I do not ask for any attorney fees upfront. If there is no recovery there is no fee.
Q: Lawsuits can be expensive, will it cost me any money up front for filing fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and any other costs?
A:
Filing a lawsuit, paying court costs and expert witness fees can be very expensive. Every year I spend thousand of dollars in litigation costs. I know that most people cannot afford these costs up front, so I forward these costs up front in every case I take. Spending a few thousand dollars on a good expert witness can make the difference between getting thousands of dollars and getting nothing for your personal injury claim. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that they are willing to forward the money to adequately pursue your personal injury case. Otherwise, you may be forced into taking a minimal settlement if you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars to pursue your personal injury claim.
Q: What do you charge for recovering my medical expenses?
A:
I do not charge my clients a fee recovering their past medical expenses. Many lawyers charge a percentage of the total recovery, including your medical expenses. I base my fee on what is recovered in addition to your medical expenses. If your lawyer charges you for recovering your medical expenses it can significantly reduce how much goes in your pocket. For example, if you had $50,000 in medical expenses and a $100,000 settlement, your lawyer would get $33,000, $50,000 would go to repay your medical expenses, and you would be left with around $17,000. In a case like that, I would base my fee off of the $50,000, putting $33,000 in your pocket instead of approximately $17,000. The only time I charge a fee for recovering your past medical expenses is when someone other than the client, usually my client's insurance company or healthcare provider, pays me to recover the medical expenses.
Q: Are there any hidden fees?
A:
No. I do not charge you fees for consultations, opening your file, copies, long distance, etc. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure you find out what they will be charging you, as these hidden fees can add up.
Q: I don’t want to bankrupt somebody. What happens to the person I sue?
A:
Although the lawsuit will have the other driver’s name on it, we are actually going after the insurance company’s money. In virtually every case, the person we sue does not have to pay a penny, as their insurance company pays the settlement or verdict amount, as well as all of the legal fees. In the three cases where I have received verdicts bigger than the policy limits, the insurance companies still paid, as it was there fault for not settling for the policy limits.
Q: Lawsuits can be expensive, will it cost me any money up front for filing fees,
court costs, expert witness fees, and any other costs?
A:
Filing a lawsuit, paying court costs and expert witness fees can be< very expensive. Every year I spend
thousands of dollars in litigation costs. I know that most people cannot afford these costs up front, so I forward these
costs up front in every case I take. Spending a few thousand dollars on a good expert witness can make the difference between
getting thousands of dollars and getting nothing for your personal injury claim. Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that
they are willing to forward the money to adequately pursue your personal injury case. Otherwise, you may be forced into
taking a minimal settlement if you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars to pursue your personal injury claim.
Q: What types of Oregon accident cases do you handle?
A:
I handle all types of Oregon personal injury, wrongful death and products
liability cases, including: auto accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents,
ATV accidents, boating accidents, dog bites and all other types of injury cases.
Q: What parts of Oregon do you handle cases in?
A: Although I am located in Portland, Oregon, I will handle take cases
throughout the
state of Oregon including the following counties and cities:
Counties:
Multnomah County, Washington County, Clackamas County, Marion County, Polk County,
Columbia County, Hood River County, Yamhill County, Clatsop County, Wasco County,
Linn County, Benton County, Lane County, Clatsop County, Tillamook County, Sherman
County, Jefferson County, Linn County, Benton County.
Cities:
Portland, Salem, Gresham, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie,
McMinnville, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sherwood, Molalla, Aloha, Albany,
Corvallis, Cascade Locks, Astoria, Wilsonville,Woodburn, The Dalles, Fairview, Oregon
City, Silverton, Sandy, Rainier, Monmouth, Newberg, Keizer, Gladstone, Forest Grove,
Estacada, Canby, Philomath, Newberg, Parkdale, Seaside.
Oregon State Bar
Attorney Referral Tools
Free Oregon State Bar Attorney Referral Services and Oregon State Bar Member Research tool can help you find and retain a qualified and ethical Oregon attorney for any type of Oregon Law matter.
Before you retain an Oregon attorney research the attorney for Oregon State Bar disciplinary history. An attorney may have been previously disciplined or supspended for ripping off a client or other ethical issues you should know about before you retain an Oregon attorney.
The Oregon State Bar Member research tool:
- To research an attorney you are considering hiring all you need is the attorney's name.
- Using the free online Member Research Tool, once you've located the attorney by name, then click: "Show Disciplinary History" (underneeth Bar Member's Information) which will show the particular attorney's disciplinary history with Oregon State Bar disciplinary actions.
If you have questions, contact the Oregon State Bar disciplineonweb@osbar.org
503.431.6394, toll-free in Oregon 800.452.8260 x 394.
Oregon DUI Criminal Defense Attorney Referral
If
you have been charged with an Oregon
DUI or other Oregon criminal charge, I recommend
you contact David
Lesh through his web site. Mr. Lesh is an experienced
Oregon lawyer.
Experienced USA Personal Injury Attorney Referalls
If you are looking for an experienced attorney in any other state, please email me as I may be able to refer you to an experienced attorney at no charge to you.
I also have provided some links to experienced USA
personal injury attorneys (left column).
USA Bicycle Attorney Referalls
If
you are looking for an experienced bicycle attorney, please
see my bicycle
site or the above linked USA
bicycle attorneys section for a list of experienced
bicyclist injury attorneys in Oregon, Idaho, Colorado,
Alabama, New York, Pennsylvania,
Arizona, and Nevada.
Oregon Bicycling ::Links::
I
support Oregon Bicycle Racing Assocation (OBRA) www.obra.org.
I support the local Portland bicycle team of www.prestovelo.com.
The Presto Velo Cycling Team
Portland Chiropractic ::Link::
Portland, Oregon Chiropractic:
I
reccomend Dr. Bassinger and Dr. May at Clearwater
Chiropractic.
Dr. Bassinger is a personal friend
and an excellent doctor.
Portland Massage Therapy ::Link::
Portland, Oregon Massage Therapy:
I recommend Brent
King, Oregon LMT & Washington LMP |
