Areas of Practice
Medical NegligenceMedical negligence or medical malpractice occurs when a physician, hospital or other medical professional fails to properly treat a medical condition and the patient suffers serious harm, permanent disability, or untimely death. Health care providers are not liable simply because a medical situation resulted in a poor outcome. Rather, a physician or hospital must have acted, or failed to act, in a manner that was below the standard of care for professionals in their community and in their field or specialty.
Medical negligence cases can be some of the most expensive and complex cases to prepare and litigate. Many times, instead of admitting their mistakes, providers ignore the harm they have caused and have their insurance companies hire large Law firms to zealously defend them. Our firm will get right to work, ordering records, gathering witnesses and researching every aspect of your case - including hiring a team of Medical experts to review your situation and potentially testify on your behalf.
Determining whether you have a case for medical negligence is not an easy task. Our legal team will meticulously read through your medical records, study the facts of the case and determine whether a doctor or other health care provider has breached the standard of care. If we determine you have a case, we will fight to hold the provider accountable and fight for your right to be fairly compensated for your injuries.
Claims for medical negligence have strict time limitations. If you believe you have a medical negligence case, contact the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter immediately.
Brain Injury Trauma to the brain is often permanent and can have devastating consequences for the victim and their family. Simple tasks become extremely challenging, or impossible, and people often experience dramatic mood and emotional changes. Many times treating physicians will miss the diagnosis, or neurological exams and imaging will be normal, even though family members or even the victim observe behavioral or cognitive changes.
Some symptoms of a brain injury can include significant changes in personality, abilities to process and comprehend information, loss of mobility, long-term or short-term memory loss, or even death. Other times symptoms can be more subtle and include changes in the person’s ability to make decisions, manage money, care for themselves, or control impulses.
Because brain injuries and their symptoms can vary, it takes a truly skilled attorney to investigate a case involving a brain injury, and tactfully convey to a jury the true impact on the person’s life. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling the various kinds of serious head injuries, including closed-head injuries, traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures.
We understand the serious consequences of a traumatic brain injury, and work to protect the rights of people dealing with these devastating injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury or a closed head injury, contact the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter immediately.
Spinal Injury Injuries to the spinal cord include quadriplegia – paralysis affecting most of the body after a traumatic injury to the upper, or cervical, portion of the spine or paraplegia – a paralysis affecting the lower portion of the body after an injury to the spinal cord in the middle to lower, or thoracic and lumbar, region of the spine, or a less debilitating injury where a person only suffers partial paralysis and pain extending down their arms and/or legs.
A serious spinal cord injury can be the most traumatic, life-changing event a person will encounter. Spinal cord injuries arise most often after auto collisions, aviation accidents, or falls and crushing-type accidents at the workplace or construction site.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter have represented hundreds of seriously injured persons with compassion and skill. We work with medical and rehabilitation doctors, orthopedists and neurologists to understand the full extent of these types of injuries, the future limitations the person will face, and the extent of the future medical intervention required to fully compensate victims of negligence. Call the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter now for a Free Consultation if you have suffered a spinal cord injury.
Wrongful DeathWhen the negligence of another has resulted in your loved one’s passing away, we will aggressively fight to make certain those at fault, are held accountable for their actions. Nothing is more devastating than the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one, and the resulting loss of companionship, financial contributions, and abrupt insecurity suffered by the family members.
Oregon statutes allow certain family members of a person who passed away due to the negligence of another to pursue a claim for their family member’s untimely death. The manner in which the case is allowed to be brought and the types of damages recoverable are set forth in the statutes. Litigation can be complex, and insurance companies send their best attorneys to try and limit the family members’ financial recovery. And so should you have an experienced and aggressive attorney fighting for you.
If you have lost a family member, it is important that you contact an attorney immediately to be advised of your rights and to investigate the cause of death. Call us today for a free consultation. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter have experience in proceeding with these sensitive cases with compassion and efficiency to help protect the family, ensure they are being treated fairly, and bring closure to an undoubtedly traumatic and emotionally debilitating event. We handle claims resulting from collisions on the roadway, defective products and medications, medical negligence, and other areas of negligence resulting in the wrongful death of a loved one. We’ll take care of everything so you and your loved ones can focus on getting through this emotional and life altering period.
Nursing Home NegligenceAs America ages, more of our citizens turn to nursing homes for the convenience of managed living quarters and health care amenities. These people and their families choose a facility and rely on that facility’s skill, competence, and reputation to provide adequate care for their loved ones. Unfortunately, nursing homes often breach the standard of care required of them and their residents suffer serious injuries, sometimes resulting in death.
Nursing homes can take on many forms, they can be Skilled Nursing Facilities, Residential Care Facilities or Assisted Living Facilities. Federal and state regulations provide standards of care for each type of facility, and require that every member’s needs are met.
Abuse at these facilities can be severe like physical injuries that cannot be explained like bruises or broken bones, bedsores, residents who are not observed and let to wander or go missing, or financial abuse. Other times, neglect can take on more subtle forms like rapid decline in health, catheterization soon after becoming a resident, sudden changes in appetite or behavior, and inexplicable financial requests.
We handle cases of serious abuse by these facilities, and can work with you or the family of a resident to hold those at fault accountable after their negligence that results in injury. If you or a loved one suspect abuse by a nursing facility, report it immediately to your local ombudsman and call the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter for a free consultation.
Personal InjuryIf you have been injured in an accident, you will need a lawyer. Insurance companies have complex systems in place to try and get you to settle your claim for much less than it is worth. They will hire an attorney and spend a lot of money on expert witnesses to try and prove that those they insure were not at fault, or that you did not suffer the injuries for which you now complain due to their insured’s negligence.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter can help you investigate the incident thoroughly, review your medical records and billings, evaluate your case, and then ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries. We always attempt to negotiate a fair settlement without going to court, but we are not afraid to take your case to trial if the insurance company does not offer you fair compensation.
Our attorneys and highly trained legal assistants specialize in personal injury law – cases where a person suffers physical injuries due to the fault of another. We have cases throughout the state and can even assist you with an out-of-state case under certain circumstances. Bryan Gruetter was a former insurance defense attorney and knows well the tactics of the insurance companies and their attorneys. Call today for a free consultation if you or someone you know has been hurt due to the fault of another.
Motor Vehicle AccidentsAutomobile collisions are a leading cause of death and serious injury in Oregon and across America. Insurance companies are prepared to handle your claim very quickly and have complex strategies to limit the financial compensation they pay to victims injured by their insured drivers. Many times, the insurance company will place blame upon you or tell you your injuries were not caused by this particular collision. If a relative or the driver of the car you are in is partially at fault, they will use that relationship to minimize your damages or misguide you about your rights under Oregon law.
You do not have to negotiate with the insurance company alone, and you should not sign any document until calling us for a free consultation. Here at the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter, we have a reputation for representing the victims against the powerful insurance companies, and are not afraid to advocate for our clients through to trial. As experienced auto collision attorneys, we understand how these sudden injuries can affect your life and turn an entire family upside down.
We have represented people with claims involving all types of vehicles on or off the road: cars, trucks, motorcycles, bus lines, ATVs, snowmobiles, bicycles, and cases where the victim is a pedestrian. Our attorneys and staff specialize in serious and complex injuries such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, burns, and injuries to the extremities and back.
Do not hesitate. If you have been in an auto accident, call the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter today for your free consultation.
Airplane CrashesThough less common, accidents can occur anytime a plane is in the air, or proceeding with a take-off or landing. If you have been in an accident involving an airplane, or lost a loved one in a plane crash, whether it was during lessons, a commercial flight, or as a recreational passenger, contact the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter for a free consultation and let us investigate the cause of the accident. We have experience in collecting reports, including those generated by the FAA, and other unique aspects of this area of law. Our experienced attorneys and staff will meet and talk with you at no charge to determine whether you have a claim.
Train AccidentsPassengers on commuter trains and automobiles traveling near the tracks have expectations of trains and their operators. Trains are large, dangerous vehicles and when accidents occur, the injuries and damage can be catastrophic. A railroad carrier has the duty to maintain the train and cars and properly train and manage the operators. Even with these precautions, human error can cause a train accident.
Additionally, the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) requires railway carriers to properly train and supervise employees and provide them with a reasonably safe workplace. In addition to being responsible for injuries if they are negligent, the FELA holds railroad carriers strictly liable for violating safety standards such as the Safety Appliance Act, Locomotive Inspection Act, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, and the Boiler Inspection Act.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury while aboard a train, as a driver or passenger in an auto struck at a railroad crossing, or while working for a railroad contact an Oregon railroad accident attorney at The Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter PC today. We are experienced at representing people injured as a result of a train accident.
Product LiabilityEach year many manufacturers of products such as toys, medical implants and devices, car parts, and pharmaceuticals, recall their products after discovering defects and safety hazards. Often times, people have already suffered serious injury or worse, death as a result of these defective products.
Product liability cases focus on unreasonably dangerous and defective products the manufacturer knew or should have known were dangerous. Manufacturers and their agents have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their products when placed on the market and then used in a reasonable manner.
The Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter PC has the experience and expertise in this area of law, and have forged relationships with accident reconstructionists, engineers and industry experts to assist you with your case. We will help you hold these large corporations who carelessly or negligently place a defective and dangerous product on the market, accountable for their choices. If you or someone you love has suffered injury or death as result of a manufacturers negligence, preserve the product and call us immediately for a free initial consultation.
Sexual AssaultDespite growing awareness and preventative education, sexual abuse remains an unfortunate reality of some children’s lives. Child sex abuse survivors suffer physical injuries and incredible and devastating psychological damage observed by their family members as confusion, shame and anger. For some victims and their families, contacting an attorney and holding their abusers accountable can be an important part of the healing process and help to provide some closure.
Before you decide whether to pursue your rights, you should know what those rights are. Contact our experienced and compassionate attorneys for a free and confidential consultation. Your privacy is our utmost concern and rest assured all communication is confidential. The Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter PC has successfully litigated sexual abuse cases against the perpetrators and institutions who allow them access to children, and we are ready to assist you.
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Areas of Practice, or other legal information presented at this site, should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. Advice and opinions of the attorneys of the Law Offices of Bryan W. Gruetter, PC will vary and depend on the facts of the particular case, and results will differ from case to case. Please contact an attorney at our offices in Bend and Portland, Oregon. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the States of Oregon and may be considered advertising by the Oregon State Bar Rules.
