Oregon law guide
Oregon Car Accident Laws, in Plain English
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Only two years to file, a 51% fault bar, and a 180-day trap for government claims — Oregon's rules, without the legalese.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and OR Legal Help is not a law firm. Deadlines and rules vary by situation — a participating Oregon law firm can explain what applies to you. No outcome is guaranteed.
Attorney advertising. OR Legal Help is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Your information may be shared with a participating Oregon law firm for review. No outcome is guaranteed.
Two years to file — shorter than you think
Oregon allows just two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (ORS 12.110) — shorter than Washington's or California-adjacent assumptions suggest. And claims against a government entity require formal Tort Claims Act notice within 180 days (ORS 30.275). When a transit bus, a city vehicle, or a public road defect is involved, the clock is sprinting from day one.
The 51% bar: modified comparative fault
Oregon follows modified comparative fault (ORS 31.600): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share. Cross 50% and recovery is barred — which is exactly why insurers work so hard to shift blame onto you.
Rain, bikes, and every-intersection crosswalks
Oregon driving has its own rules of physics and law: nine months of wet pavement, one of America's densest bike cultures — drivers must yield to riders in bike lanes — and a crosswalk law that treats every intersection as a crosswalk, marked or not. Fault analysis often turns on these Oregon-specific duties. Start at the Oregon car accident hub.
Dogs, lane splitting, and the first offer
Oregon's dog-bite law runs on two tracks: owners are strictly liable for a victim's economic damages — medical bills and lost wages — regardless of the dog's history, while non-economic damages generally require showing negligence. Lane splitting is not legal in Oregon. And on any claim: first offers often arrive before the damage is fully known — a participating Oregon law firm can review an offer for free at the Oregon personal injury hub.
Oregon law FAQ
Common questions
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Oregon?
Generally two years from the date of injury — and government-entity claims require Tort Claims Act notice within 180 days. This is general information, not legal advice; a participating Oregon law firm can explain the deadlines that apply to you.
What if I was partly at fault?
Oregon's modified comparative fault rule lets you recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share. A participating Oregon law firm can explain how this may apply.
Is this legal advice?
No. OR Legal Help is a legal advertising website, not a law firm. This guide is general information; a participating Oregon law firm can review your specific situation for free.
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