If you’re ever involved in a car accident in Oregon, there are several steps you’ll need to take to ensure your safety and your ability to collect damages if you’re injured in a wreck.
Every day, more than 100 people in the Portland metro area are involved in car accidents. In many of these wrecks, someone was careless or distracted. Even though Oregon has strict distracted driving laws on the books, accidents still happen. If you’re ever involved in a car accident in Oregon, there are several steps you’ll need to take to ensure your safety and your ability to collect damages if you’re injured in a wreck. If you’ve already been hurt in an accident, please contact Precision Litigation Northwest for a free injury consultation to discuss how we can collect monetary compensation for your injuries.
1. Understand the Law
The state of Oregon, by law, requires drivers of a vehicle to report the accident if it meets any of the following criteria:
- A person was injured or killed in the crash.
- The accident caused property damage over $2,500.
- A vehicle was towed because of the wreck.
Failing to report an accident that meets these criteria within 72 hours after the incident can result in fines and other legal issues. Please keep in mind that you must report the wreck if it met any of these three points, not all three in combination. Report to DMV within 72 hours (ORS 811.725) and notify police immediately (ORS 811.748).
2. Remain at the Scene
Immediately after a crash, stop or pull over where it’s safe, and you’re not obstructing traffic or creating a dangerous situation for other people. Stay at the scene of the accident until police arrive. Unless your injuries force you to leave, you must remain at the site until the police arrive.
You must also give the other driver your name and address, the name of your insurance company, and your car’s registration number. If you have any passengers, they will also need to give their names and addresses to the other driver. You must also provide the other driver the name and address of the car’s owner if you are not the owner of the vehicle.
If another person is injured, call for an ambulance, and assist the injured if it’s reasonable and safe for you to do so. Warn passing traffic of an accident if it is reasonably safe, and make sure to get the names and addresses of any witnesses to the crash.
3. Do Not Negotiate
Immediately after a wreck, injuries aren’t always apparent. It can take weeks or months for your medical team to assess the extent of your injuries fully. But the insurance company will want to settle with you right after the accident so they can avoid paying for the full extent of your injuries, pain, and suffering. Do not negotiate and settle with the insurance company on your own. After you’ve been injured in a car accident in Oregon, give Precision Litigation Northwest a call to discuss your rights and options for moving forward.
Call 541-948-8830 for a FREE consultation.
Frequently asked questions
When do I have to report a car crash in Oregon?
Oregon requires a report within 72 hours when anyone was hurt or killed, when a vehicle was towed, or when property damage passes the state’s dollar threshold. Only one of those has to be true. File the DMV crash report yourself even when police respond, because the police report does not replace it. Keep a copy for your insurer and your attorney.
What information do I have to exchange after a crash in Oregon?
Your name, address, insurance company and vehicle registration number. Passengers give their names and addresses too. If you were driving someone else’s car, provide the owner’s name and address as well. Take a photo of the other driver’s license and insurance card so nothing is copied wrong. Ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers before they leave.
Can I leave the scene of a crash if I am hurt?
Yes, if your injuries require it. Otherwise Oregon law expects you to stop, move to a safe spot and stay until police arrive. If an ambulance takes you, ask someone to gather the other driver’s information and witness names for you. Tell the responding officer where you were taken so the police report records your injuries.
Why does the insurance company call so soon after a car crash in Oregon?
Because early settlements are cheaper. Many injuries take weeks or months to show their full extent, and an adjuster who settles before then avoids paying for what has not been diagnosed yet. You do not have to negotiate with them alone. Let your doctor finish evaluating you, and have an attorney handle the adjuster’s calls.
What should I bring to a free consultation after a car crash?
Bring the police report number, the other driver’s insurance information, photos from the scene, your own insurance card and any medical paperwork you have so far. Notes on what happened, written while it is fresh, help too. If you do not have everything, call anyway. Call 541-948-8830 for a free consultation.