Personal Injury Lawyer in Portland: Your Neighbor in Justice

We’ve Been In Your Shoes.

Three years ago, a delivery truck ran a red light at SE Hawthorne and 39th. The driver walked away fine. The cyclist didn’t. That cyclist was my neighbor’s daughter, and watching that family fight with insurance companies while their daughter recovered changed everything for me.

I’m Dave Eltringham and I learned firsthand that the harms & losses inflicted on an innocent victim like YOU are much greater than most people (including attorneys & insurance companies) will ever understand.

When someone gets hurt because another person wasn’t paying attention, the insurance companies show up with fancy lawyers and low offers. They count on you being overwhelmed. They count on you accepting less than you deserve because fighting back feels impossible.

That’s where I come in.

Because that is the law and we will Never, ever settle for anything less!

Don’t take our word for it, take 3 minutes to listen to what some recent clients in Portland, Oregon and Florida have to say.

Representing You, The Right Way

Car Accident Lawyer

Last February, a woman called me from Providence Portland Medical Center. She’d been T-boned by someone texting at a stop sign near Lloyd Center. Her car was totaled. Her back hurt. The other driver’s insurance company called her hospital room offering $5,000 to “make this easy.”

She hung up and called me instead.

Here’s what most people don’t know: insurance adjusters start working your case within hours of the accident. They’re gathering evidence, recording statements, and building their defense before you even leave the emergency room. Every word you say to them gets used to pay you less.

As your car accident lawyer in Portland, I handle every conversation with the insurance companies. You focus on healing. I focus on building your case. We investigate the scene, talk to witnesses, review police reports, and work with accident reconstruction experts when needed.

That woman from Providence? We settled her case for $127,000 six months later. She’s back to running half-marathons now.

Portland drivers deal with rain-slicked roads from October through June. I’ve handled hundreds of cases involving hydroplaning on I-84, poor visibility on the Vista Ridge Tunnel, and dangerous intersections like 82nd and Division. Every case teaches me something new about how these accidents happen and what evidence wins.

Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents are different. The injuries are worse. The legal rules are more complex. And the trucking companies have teams of lawyers who start working the moment their driver calls in the crash.

I represented a family whose father was crushed between two semi-trucks on I-5 near the Fremont Bridge. The trucking company’s lawyer showed up at their house three days after the funeral with paperwork and a check. The family almost signed.

They called me first, thank God.

Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, driver log books, maintenance records, and corporate liability. These companies often try to blame the driver and walk away. My job is to follow the money and hold everyone responsible.

That family’s case took 18 months, but we got them $2.3 million. No amount of money brings someone back, but at least they could keep their home and take care of their kids.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Portland loves motorcycles. We also have drivers who don’t look twice before changing lanes. I ride a bike myself, so I know exactly what it feels like when a car merges into you like you’re invisible.

Motorcycle accident cases face an unfair bias. Insurance companies love to blame riders. They’ll say you were speeding, weaving, showing off. Even when their driver never checked their blind spot.

I fight that bias with evidence. Helmet camera footage, skid marks, witness statements, and accident reconstruction. I’ve handled cases from the Sunset Highway to Marine Drive, and I know the roads where these crashes happen most.

One client got hit by a driver turning left across traffic on Burnside. The driver’s insurance tried to claim my client was racing. We proved with traffic camera footage that my client was going 32 in a 35 zone. The driver just never looked.

We won $340,000. My client walks with a limp now, but at least his medical bills are covered.

Wrongful Death Lawyer

Losing someone because of another person’s carelessness is a pain I can’t fix. But I can make sure their death means something. I can hold the responsible party accountable and help your family move forward.

Wrongful death cases in Oregon allow families to recover for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and the loss of love and companionship. These cases require sensitivity, patience, and aggressive legal work.

I’ve represented families who lost loved ones in car crashes, construction accidents, and medical malpractice cases. Each family deserves answers, accountability, and the resources to rebuild their lives.

Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Portland built itself on bikes. We have bike lanes on every major street. We still have drivers who don’t respect them.

I’ve handled cases involving dooring on NW 23rd, right hooks on the Hawthorne Bridge, and hit-and-runs on the Springwater Corridor. Bicycle accident victims often face serious injuries: broken bones, head trauma, road rash that takes months to heal.

Oregon law protects cyclists. Drivers must give bikes at least three feet when passing. They must yield at crosswalks. They must check before opening doors. When they don’t, I make them pay.

Dog Bite Injury Lawyer

Dog attacks happen fast. One moment you’re walking past a yard. The next moment you’re bleeding and scared.

Oregon holds dog owners strictly liable for bites. That means they’re responsible even if their dog never bit anyone before. Even if they didn’t know their dog was aggressive.

I’ve represented children bitten in parks, delivery drivers attacked on porches, and joggers mauled by dogs that escaped their yards. These cases often involve infection, scarring, and lasting fear of dogs.

Insurance usually covers these claims through homeowner’s policies. But insurance companies fight hard. They’ll say you provoked the dog. They’ll say you were trespassing. They’ll offer lowball settlements and hope you go away.

I don’t go away.

Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Uber and Lyft changed how Portland moves. They also created new insurance nightmares when their drivers cause crashes.

Rideshare accidents involve three different insurance policies depending on whether the driver was waiting for a ride request, heading to pick up a passenger, or actively carrying a passenger. Figuring out which policy applies takes legal expertise.

I’ve handled cases where Uber drivers ran red lights, Lyft drivers rear-ended stopped cars, and rideshare passengers got hurt when their driver swerved to avoid pedestrians. Each case requires working through multiple insurance companies.

The good news? When rideshare drivers are actively working, they’re covered by $1 million policies. The bad news? Those insurance companies fight every claim.

Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Portland wants to be a walkable city. We’re not there yet. Every year, drivers hit pedestrians in marked crosswalks, at bus stops, and in parking lots.

I represented a grandmother who was hit in a Fred Meyer parking lot by a driver backing up while looking at their phone. The driver’s insurance offered $8,000. We got $95,000.

Pedestrian accidents often cause life-changing injuries. Broken hips. Traumatic brain injuries. Spinal damage. These injuries need serious compensation, not quick settlements.

Oregon law says drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. They must yield when turning. They must look before backing up. When they don’t, they’re liable for every injury they cause.

Premises Liability Lawyer

Property owners have a legal duty to keep their spaces safe. When they don’t, people get hurt.

I’ve handled slip and fall cases at grocery stores, trip and fall accidents on broken sidewalks, and injuries from falling merchandise at retail stores. I’ve represented people hurt by inadequate security in parking garages and apartment complexes.

These cases require proving the property owner knew about the danger and did nothing. That means getting maintenance records, incident reports, and testimony from other customers who complained.

Property owners and their insurance companies love to blame victims. They’ll say you weren’t watching where you were going. They’ll say the danger was obvious. They’ll say you’re making it up.

I prove them wrong with evidence.

TRUTH

Of ALL the things we think, say, and do in our legal practice & business operations, it is ALWAYS the unvarnished Truth.

TRANSPARENCY

ALWAYS honoring our pledge & commitment to total openness & Complete Transparency with EVERYTHING we do.

JUSTICE

We are 100% committed to ALWAYS achieving Maximum Financial Justice.

30-Day Guarantee

Whether you’re in Florida or Portland, Oregon, try us risk-free for thirty days and if you’re not satisfied, you can cancel your contract and owe us NOTHING.

No Fee Unless We Win!

We only get paid when YOU GET PAID.