- Wrongful DeathCharlie Burt and Lawrence Brown joined forces in 1958 to start Brown & Burt, PC, a firm focused on representing individuals. In the 1970s, they were joined by Keith Swanson, Neil Lathen, Mic Alexander and Don McCann, where the firm became one of Oregon’s premier personal injury law firms and known as Burt, Swanson, Lathen, Alexander & McCann, PC. Travis Prestwich and Brian Lathen ushered in the third generation of lawyers, focusing solely on personal injury and wrongful death claims, and becoming Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC.
- Personal Injury” I was walking and a truck hit me. I had to have all my arm muscles reattached in surgery and extensive physical therapy, massage and chiropractic. Attorney Brian Lathen worked hard to get me a settlement from the insurance company. He is professional yet friendly, honest, knowledgeable, and thorough. I HIGHLY recommend him to anyone who needs a personal injury lawyer.
- Medical MalpracticeMost personal injury cases are settled out of court; estimates show less than 5 percent of all personal injury cases in the United States will go to trial. In Oregon, an auto accident case has about a one percent chance while a medical malpractice case has about a 50 percent chance. This low trial rate can be beneficial to all parties involved for several reasons. Trial is expensive and both sides have to pay significant sums for experts and other costs associated with trial. For defendants, going to court is costly and risky; it’s safer and more affordable for them, their insurance provider, and their legal team to reach an agreement through negotiations. For you, the victim, settlements can often be achieved much sooner than a verdict in a trial. Additionally, in out-of-court negotiations, your lawyer can continue negotiating until a favorable settlement is reached. In a trial, a verdict handed down by a judge or jury is final. For all these reasons — and based on the statistics — it’s safe to assume that you will likely resolve your personal injury case out of court.
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesFor any personal injury case, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, and much more, reach out to the law firm Salem knows and trusts. Our Salem attorneys have the confidence and experience to stand up to insurance companies and get you the help you need.