How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Portland?

Generally 2 years from the date of injury under Oregon law. Government claims: 180-day notice. Government claims (Oregon DOT, the city of Portland, transit) usually require notice within 60 to 180 days.

Is Oregon a no-fault auto state?

No. Oregon is a fault state — the at-fault driver's liability insurance is the primary source of recovery.

How is shared fault treated in Portland?

Oregon applies modified comparative — 51% bar. Recovery barred at 51% or more fault under ORS § 31.600.

Multnomah County • Oregon

Personal injury claims in Portland, OR.

What Portland residents need to know before settling a personal injury claim. Local court, 2-year filing deadline, fault rules, and the practical math behind settlement value in Multnomah County.

Where Portland personal injury cases are filed

Multnomah County Circuit Court (1200 SW 1st Ave).

What Oregon law means for your claim

Oregon applies modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar (ORS 31.600). SoL is 2 years.

How settlement value is built in Portland

Settlement value in Portland comes from the same building blocks as anywhere in the US: documented medical bills, lost wages, and a non-economic component (pain and suffering) calculated using the multiplier method. Local venue matters at the margins — a Multnomah County jury pool will value the same injury differently than a rural county in the same state.

The biggest single driver of your case value is not the city; it is the strength of the medical documentation, the available insurance policy limits, and how clearly fault is established. Because Oregon is a fault state, the at-fault driver's liability policy is the primary source of recovery.

Portland filing deadline

Oregon personal injury claims must generally be filed within 2 years of the injury. Government claims: 180-day notice. Claims against government entities (Oregon DOT, the city of Portland, transit authorities) usually carry much shorter notice deadlines, sometimes 60 to 180 days.

Case types we cover

State law deep dive

For the full state-by-state breakdown of negligence rules, damages caps, and statute of limitations, read the Oregon state hub.

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