Personal Injury

In Salem, Oregon and throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley, the attorneys at Fetherston Edmonds, LLP represent accident victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases, seeking to recover compensation for damages and hold negligent parties accountable for their reckless or wrongful conduct.

Our lawyers lend their skill and expertise to litigating serious personal injury cases involving severe or catastrophic injuries, as well as cases of wrongful death.  We handle cases ranging from automobile, motorcycle, and trucking accidents to airplane crashes.  People who survive these accidents may face a long and painful recovery from burn injuries and fractures, or find themselves adapting to a lifetime of paralysis from paraplegia or quadriplegia.  We also deal in injuries involving dangerous or unsafe conditions on property, such as icy, wet or slippery surfaces, broken sidewalks or uneven pavement, unmarked steps or broken handrails, exposed wiring, and falling objects from negligently-placed materials or construction zones.  Slips or trips and falls under these conditions can cause severe injuries, including broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and internal injuries.

Handling catastrophic injury cases requires not only skill and experience in the courtroom and at the negotiating table, but also an in-depth understanding of the complications and lifetime costs these serious injuries can cause.  At Fetherston Edmonds, LLP our lawyers draw on decades of civil trial experience to help our clients receive the full amount of damages allowed by law.

A plaintiff's own contributory negligence can prohibit a recovery in some instances, or reduce the amount of an award in others.  Under Oregon's law of comparative fault, an injured plaintiff can only recover if his or her negligence is not greater than the negligence of the defendant in causing the accident or injuries.  If the plaintiff's negligence is attributed as 50% or less, the plaintiff can still sue and recover a judgment, although the amount will be reduced according to the amount of negligence attributed to the plaintiff.  In Washington, on the other hand, an injured plaintiff can sue even if the plaintiff's own negligence was considerably greater than that of the defendant, although again any recovery obtained by the plaintiff will be reduced proportionately.

In any personal injury case, whether representing the plaintiff or the defendant, the plaintiff's own negligence is often a critical factor, and it is important to be represented by an experienced attorney who understands this aspect of the litigation and does not ignore it while focusing only on the issue of the defendant's negligence.

Contact our office for a complimentary consultation regarding your case.  Where applicable, we may be able to handle your matter on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we do not collect a fee unless and until we obtain a recovery on your behalf.