- 1014 Franklin St, Vancouver, WA
- Mon–Fri 8a–6p · 24/7 Phone
- info@thepdxlawyer.com
- No Fee Unless We Win — Personal Injury
- Licensed WA · OR
Personal injury attorney licensed in Washington and Oregon. Car accidents, slip
and fall, dog bites, wrongful death – on contingency. You pay nothing unless
we win.
I’ll review your case and call you back today.
No upfront costs. No hourly fees. No payment of any kind unless we recover money for you.
We represent injury victims throughout Washington and Oregon in the following types of cases. Every case is handled
personally by Kris – not passed to a paralegal or case manager.
Whether you were rear-ended, hit by a distracted driver, or struck by someone who ran a red light, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies move fast after an accident – so should you.
Losing a family member because of someone else’s negligence is devastating. A wrongful death claim allows surviving family members to recover compensation for funeral costs, lost income, loss of companionship, and more.
Washington is a strict liability state for dog bites – the owner is responsible regardless of whether the dog had ever bitten anyone before. Oregon imposes strict liability for economic damages as well. You don’t have to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
Property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they fail — a wet floor, broken pavement, poor lighting, a hazard they knew about and ignored — and you get hurt as a result, you have a claim.
Kris is one of the few attorneys in the Pacific Northwest who handles both personal injury and criminal defense. That matters because some of the most serious injury cases – car accidents involving drunk drivers, assaults, road rage incidents – involve criminal conduct by the at-fault party. Kris understands how those cases work from the inside, how prosecutors build DUI cases, and how to use that knowledge to strengthen your civil claim.
You won’t get passed off to a paralegal or a case manager. Kris works your case personally from start to finish — not a junior associate, not a case manager. That kind of direct access is rare, and it matters when your life has just been turned upside down.
Insurance companies pay attention to which attorneys settle everything and which ones litigate. Kris has trial experience in both Washington and Oregon, and he isn’t afraid to take your case to a jury if the insurance company won’t offer what your case is worth. That reputation matters at the negotiating table.
Kris has practiced in Clark County and the Portland metro area for over 15 years. He knows the local courts, the local insurance adjusters, and the local medical providers. That local knowledge isn’t something you get from a national firm with a local phone number.
The steps you take in the days after an injury can significantly affect the value of your case.
Even if you feel okay, see a doctor. Adrenaline masks pain. Symptoms from whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often don’t appear until 24-72 hours after an accident. A gap in medical treatment gives insurance companies ammunition to minimize your injuries.
Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any property damage. Get the names and contact information of witnesses. Keep every medical bill, every prescription receipt, every record of time missed from work.
The at-fault driver’s insurance company may call you quickly and ask for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one, and you should not do so before speaking with an attorney. They are looking for ways to minimize your claim.
Once you sign a settlement agreement, it’s final. You cannot go back and ask for more money if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected. Call us before you sign anything.
Every case is different, and we won’t give you a number before we know the facts. But here’s what factors typically
affect the value of a personal injury claim:
Severity of your injuries
broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and permanent disabilities carry higher value than minor soft tissue injuries.
Medical expenses
past and future medical costs are a major component of any claim.
Lost wages and earning capacity
time missed from work, and any impact on your ability to work in the future.
Pain and suffering
Washington and Oregon both allow recovery for physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Fault
Both states use comparative fault rules, meaning your recovery may be reduced if you were partially at fault.
Insurance coverage available
The at-fault party’s policy limits and your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage both matter.
We offer free consultations and will give you an honest assessment of what your case may be worth – including whether it makes sense to hire an attorney at all.
In Washington, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of injury. In Oregon, it is two years. Missing this deadline means losing your right to recover — no matter how strong your case is. Don’t wait.
Washington and Oregon both follow comparative fault rules. In Washington, you can still recover damages as long as you were less than 50% at fault — though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Oregon follows a similar rule. We’ll help you understand how fault is likely to be assessed in your case.
A police report is helpful but not always required. What matters most is the evidence — medical records, witness statements, photos, and documentation of your damages. We’ll help you identify and preserve what you need.
It depends on the complexity of the case and whether we can reach a fair settlement. Straightforward cases may resolve in a few months. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or uncooperative insurance companies may take longer, including going to trial. We’ll give you a realistic timeline from the start.
Most personal injury cases settle before trial. But we prepare every case as if it will go to trial — because that preparation is what produces better settlements. If the insurance company won’t pay what your case is worth, we are prepared to litigate.
Washington requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but not everyone complies. If you were hit by an uninsured driver, your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may apply. We’ll help you identify all available sources of recovery.
Vancouver · Battle Ground · Camas · Washougal · Ridgefield · Woodland · Salmon Creek · Longview · Kelso · Clark County · Cowlitz County · Skamania County · Klickitat County · Statewide
Portland · Gresham · Beaverton · Hillsboro · Tualatin · Lake Oswego · Multnomah County Washington County · Clackamas County Statewide
