Areas of Practice

Personal Injury

Awards for serious injuries are no accident. We represent children and adults who have been catastrophically injured by the carelessness of others. Our clients have included victims with brain injuries, serious physical disabilities, and permanent disfigurement.

We work with many types of experts to prove negligence and to fully explain the impact of serious injuries on the lives of our clients. These experts include accident reconstructionists, rehabilitation doctors, neuropsychologists, vocational counselors, and child development specialists. Through such experts we have been successful in obtaining justice for our clients in many cases.

In each of our cases we constantly analyze the best and most effective ways to tell the story of our client – whether to an insurance company for settlement, or to a jury at trial. By preparing each case in a conscientious, credible, competent and caring way, we learn the true story of what happened and how to obtain the best possible result.

Our areas of personal injury practice include:
· Automobile collisions
· Auto / truck accidents
· Railroad disasters and accidents
· Construction accidents
· Products liability
· Death claims
· Medical malpractice
· Birth injuries
· Traumatic brain injuries
· Emotional / psychological / sexual abuse
· Intentional infliction of extreme emotional distress
· Invasion of privacy
· Bad faith insurance practices

We represent our clients knowing that in most cases they will have but one opportunity to obtain a lifetime of justice. We understand and appreciate the complex medical, financial and legal issues that are involved in serious personal injury cases. Many of our clients will never fully recover from their physical pain and suffering. Many of our clients will never work again in their chosen field. We understand this and we devote ourselves to obtaining the full justice and monetary compensation which our clients deserve.

Medical Malpractice – Medical Negligence

What is medical malpractice? In Oregon, medical malpractice means failing to act as an ordinarily careful physician. A physician has the duty to use that degree of care, skill, and diligence which is used by an ordinarily careful physician in the same or similar circumstance. Failing to use such care, skill or diligence is negligence. However, unsuccessful medical treatment does not necessarily mean that malpractice occurred, and doctors are not required to guarantee a good result.

Medical negligence accounts for significant injuries and deaths each year. A Harvard Medical Study found that there are approximately 80,000 deaths annually from medical negligence. Yet only a small percentage of people injured from medical malpractice seek compensation.
For the past 15 years, the Savage Law Firm, LLP has helped victims of doctor and hospital negligence recover compensation for their injuries. We have been successful in obtaining justice for our clients in the following areas of medical practice:

· Birth Trauma
· Cancer (breast, lung, colo-rectal, ovarian)
· Orthopedics
· Surgery
· Anesthesia
· Plastic Surgery
· Urology
· Post-surgical complications (eg., retained instruments or post-op bleeding)
· Infections / Infectious Diseases
· Pediatrics
· Podiatry
· Cardiac Diagnosis and Treatment
· Hospital Diagnosis
· Clinical Practice and Clinical Safety
· Emergency Room Treatment
· Treatment and Diagnosis of Gastro-intestinal disorders
· Operating Room Practices
· Hospital Administration and Credentialing
· ERISA

Settlements in medical malpractice cases are often confidential. However, we can tell you that we have achieved settlements for our clients ranging from $50,000 to over $3 million. Our clients in these cases have included 7 month-old children and senior citizens. The injuries in the cases that we agree to handle are often permanent and quite disabling. We also represent and have represented the estates of children and adults who have lost their lives due to medical mistakes.

Sex Abuse Victims

For the last 15 years, the Savage Law Firm, LLP have represented children and adults who have been victimized emotionally and physically by acts of sexual abuse. We have brought lawsuits against both individuals and organizations to obtain justice for our clients. Defendants in these cases have included state governments, private employers, public figures, professional athletes, churches, private parties, and probation and parole officers.

We understand and appreciate the emotional, physical and psychological trauma that is involved in these cases. We work closely with medical and mental health professionals to develop evidence for our clients and to assist in their recovery. Often recovery is difficult, but we have the courage and determination to seek all appropriate legal remedies and give our clients the necessary strength and confidence to obtain the justice they deserve.

We have been successful is using laws such as the Violence Against Women Act to obtain substantial money damages in these cases. There are various other state and federal laws that can be used. We have the means to conduct confidential investigations of defendants’ assets and property to determine the ability of defendants to satisfy a substantial judgment.

Wrongful Death

Accidents, acts of medical negligence, and child abuse can lead to death. Oregon law allows for wrongful death cases to obtain damages for the estate and heirs. In wrongful death cases, the decedent’s estate brings the action on behalf of the decedent and for the benefit of the surviving heirs. Wrongful death cases often include a claim for injuries, pain and suffering that preceded death.