Protecting Bicyclists Every four to five seconds, a bicyclist is injured in a crash.¹ On average, two or three of them will die on any given day, although the numbers are higher during the nicer weather months.² While society encourages people to bicycle both for the environment and for their health, it’s important for both bicyclists and motorists to appreciate significant differences in laws and practices. Some motorists do not know the different rules that apply to bicyclists at intersections.  At a stop sign or flashing red light in Oregon, a bicyclist is not required to come to a com ..read more

Protecting Pedestrians Every sixty-six minutes, a motor vehicle kills a pedestrian in our country.  Every day, over 280 pedestrians are injured seriously enough to require hospital emergency room treatment¹ Most of us drive cars; almost all of us are at times pedestrians.  When we get behind the wheel of a car, we have dozens of safety features to protect us, mostly thanks to decades of product liability cases that have led to everything from padded dashes to seatbelts and airbags.  When we walk across the street, there is nothing between us and moving motor vehicles that typica ..read more

Oregon Vehicle Insurance Limits Need Updating We often hear people say after a crash, “but I bought full coverage.” Many people do not understand that when they buy auto insurance, their coverage is anything but “full.”  Oregon’s minimum auto insurance laws have not been updated in almost two decades.  Oregon statutes require only a “25/50″ liability policy for personal injury: a maximum of $25,000 for any one injured person, up to a total of $50,000 for multiple people injured in the same incident.  That kind of coverage can be used up on hospital bills on just the first day o ..read more

Lara Johnson Appointed to Council on Court Procedures Rules of civil procedure are part of the nuts and bolts of how non-criminal cases are prepared and how the courts and juries do their work.  While those rules may seem technical, they are extremely important.  Former Oregon Senator Wayne Morse, who had been Dean of the University of Oregon School of Law, observed that in practice procedures determine rights.   Litigation can unfairly favor powerful and wealthy interests, so it is important that the rules of procedure promote “the just, speedy, and inexpensive determin ..read more

2024 Best Law Firms Honors for The Corson & Johnson Law Firm The Corson & Johnson Law Firm was recognized in three practice areas in The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” metropolitan area 2024 rankings: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs For a firm to be ranked, it must have at least one attorney who is recognized in the current edition of Best Lawyers. In addition, there is a formal submission process which includes clients and/or professional references, who are emailed a survey addressing ..read more

Corson & Johnson Attorneys recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 We are happy to announce that attorneys  at The Corson & Johnson Law Firm, P.C. are recognized in the 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©! Best Lawyers in America © recognized Don Corson with its local 2024 Lawyer of the Year award for his work in helping people with Personal Injury Litigation.  Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review, which sets this award apart from many review organizations. In addition, Don Corson was selected by his peers for inclu ..read more

Don Corson and Lara Johnson Named as 2023 Oregon Super Lawyers We are pleased to announce that Don Corson and Lara Johnson at The Corson & Johnson Law Firm have been selected to the 2023 Oregon Super Lawyers list. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in the state. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer influenced rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Attorneys are selected from more than 70 practice areas and all firm sizes. The annual sele ..read more

Motor Vehicle Property Damage Property damage claims following a motor vehicle collision can cause irritation, confusion, and frustration.  When a vehicle is damaged or destroyed by a crash, the person often needs a replacement vehicle as soon as possible for things as basic as getting to work, driving children to school, and buying the family groceries.  “Fair market value” is the legal standard in Oregon for determining property damage for a totaled vehicle.   Fair market value is in theory the price a willing seller and willing buyer in the area would agree upon for the ..read more

Brain Bucket Brigade Bicycle Helmet Donation To Yolanda Elementary School Every year the Corson & Johnson Law Firm, with help from Bicycle Way of Life and local schools, gives away new bicycle helmets to children whose families cannot afford this basic safety necessity. This year we donated helmets to children at Yolanda Elementary school in Springfield, Oregon. Below is a photo of Don Corson donating helmets at Yolanda Elementary. We wish all children a fun and safe season of bicycle riding ..read more

Why Are Some Cases Not Accepted by an Attorney? When a person or an organization seeks an attorney, they often pay by the hour for legal services. Traditionally, that is how contract, real estate, business, estate planning, and a wide range of other legal matters are handled. The client typically tries to find the best attorney for the work, and pays monthly for the time of the attorney and their staff, no matter what the outcome (“win, lose, or draw”). Generally, if the attorney feels they can work with the client, they do not have a conflict of interest, the legal matter is within the scope ..read more