Our team at Mandekor Law Firm has many years of civil jury trial experience, which is essential to obtaining the best outcomes for our clients. Many lawyers want you to believe they have similar experience, but don’t. They’ll just settle your case for a more modest sum, and won’t pursue what’s best for you.

Looking for a lawyer is confusing, especially when you’ve been victimized by someone else’s negligence. You’re stressed, tired, and just need someone to treat you like a human being. Unless you already know a lawyer who can tell you who the heavy hitters are in the legal community, you could be deceived by clever marketing.

Most attorneys touting themselves as trial attorneys have minimal civil jury trial experience.

Civil means lawsuits seeking money. 

This is different from criminal trials, where the state is prosecuting a person accused of a crime. This civil jury trial experience is vitally important because it’s what motivates insurance companies to pay larger amounts of money to settle claims. 

Insurers know the select few attorneys who actually try cases (like us) and they know the ones who don’t (most others). Insurance companies offer more money to those who try cases because they know that our experience sets us apart and exposes them to the risk of being hit with a big verdict. Should your case not settle and need to be tried to a jury, an attorney with significant civil jury trial experience is far more likely to get you a bigger verdict at trial because she knows how to successfully try a case and bring home the biggest possible verdict.

Jury trial means a trial before a judge and a jury. 

The judge decides issues of law and the jury decides issues of fact, most importantly how much money to award injured parties (plaintiffs). Some “trial attorneys” loosely speak of their “trial experience” and include things like bench trials and arbitrations. But there isn’t a jury in a bench trial or arbitration. 

This is a key distinction. Knowing how to select a jury and present a case are the most important skills of any accomplished trial attorney. The rules of evidence are also different in a jury trial. Attorneys can study these rules, but can’t effectively use them to their client’s advantage unless they’ve actually tried cases in real life.

When choosing a personal injury attorney, especially those who market themselves as a “trial attorney,” ask these questions: 

• How many civil jury trials have you taken to verdict? 

• What’s your success rate? 

• Did you beat the last offer made before trial?

Civil jury trial wins and losses can be subjective because there are many factors at play. 

Gretchen’s background includes wins like this one — an insurance company offered $125,000 to settle a case and she obtained a verdict of over $11.4 Million. 

Her extensive jury trial experience sets her apart from most personal injury lawyers who call themselves trial lawyers.

Our team handles Oregon’s biggest personal injury cases in a variety of practice areas:

Motor Vehicle Collisions

Motor vehicle collisions can happen in the blink of an eye, leaving you with devastating injuries and financial burdens. We represent victims of severe or catastrophic motor vehicle collisions that occur in Oregon. These types of collisions involve significant impact, often at high speeds under dangerous conditions. The consequences of such accidents are profound, affecting not only the victims but also their families and communities.

Motorcycle Collisions

Motorcycle collisions often result in severe injuries due to the lack of protection afforded to riders, although drivers can also be greatly injured. We offer compassionate and expert legal support for victims of Oregon’s biggest motorcycle accidents, whether you were affected as the motorcyclist or driver.

Bicycle Collisions

Whether riding on the road or mountain trails, the aftermath of bicycle accidents can be devastating. We also know that responsibility for such accidents can lie with a driver, a bicyclist, or another party entirely when riding on public land. With a history of securing some of the most favorable personal injury verdicts in Oregon, including a landmark case, resulting in a “nuclear verdict” for a mountain biking accident, our goal is to help you navigate this difficult time and get back to living your life.

Outdoor Recreation Accidents

Outdoor recreation accidents involving boats, dune buggies, ATVs, or UTVs can cause catastrophic injuries that instantly upend your life. We’re here to hold the responsible parties accountable while offering kind and steadfast support during the legal process.

Premise Liability

When you enter someone else's property, whether it's a store, restaurant, private residence, or land, you expect a safe environment. Accidents caused by hazardous conditions can lead to serious injuries, turning a routine visit into a traumatic, life-changing experience. Whether you've slipped and fallen, been injured due to inadequate security, or suffered harm from a dangerous condition on someone else's property, we tirelessly advocate for your rights throughout the legal process.

Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one is one of the most painful things any of us can go through, especially when it happens because of someone else's wrongful actions. Our team doggedly pursues justice and compensation for those enduring the heartache caused by wrongful death.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers to methods of resolving legal conflicts without litigation. ADR methods include mediation, arbitration, and negotiation, providing parties with a collaborative approach to dispute resolution. Mandekor Law Firm finds practical solutions that save time, preserve relationships, and reduce the financial burden associated with prolonged legal battles. Gretchen is particularly skilled at all forms of ADR due to her extensive experience as a mediator and arbitrator, as well as her two decades of experience working for insurance companies.

Our team is here to provide the guidance and advocacy you need to navigate the complexities of the legal system with great success.