Educate Yourself Before You Hire an Oregon Personal Injury Lawyer

Date: July 4, 2009
Location: Highway 18, near Lincoln City
Names: David Carl Josephson, Melanie Marie Josephson, Richard Wayne Ohnstad, Khamsone Bandasith, Gerald Gene Holsler, and eight other unnamed passengers

A four car crash occurred yesterday on highway 18, near Lincoln City, leaving several people injured, two of which were serious.

The accident happened at approximately 12:20 PM, when David Carl Josephson, 44, of Yacolt stopped his motorcycle for accident-related, westbound traffic, after which Richard Wayne Ohnstad, 67, of Dallas neglected to stop and crashed into both Josephson and his spouse, Melanie Marie Josephson. Both persons were injured after falling from their motorcycle. The impact drove the motorcycle into a Chrysler van occupied by five people. This accident resulted in another crash with a Honda Accord with five passengers as well. The couple were eventually transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Both were wearing helmets and are listed in stable condition. Ohnstad and his passenger were free of injuries. Driver Khamsone Bandasith, 50, of Portland and his four unidentified passengers were taken to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital with only minor injuries. The Honda driver Gerald Gene Holsler, 68, of Canby and his passengers were not injured.

We are elated that Melanie and David Josephson practiced safe cycling by wearing their helmets. This story may have had a different result if they had not. We hope that everyone who reads this story drives safely and remembers to share the road. Oregon has a universal helmet law that works to protect cyclists much like the seat belt does for car-drivers.

All parties must be careful with how they proceed after this accident. Even submitting a recorded statement to one’s insurance company can be a risky endeavor. To reduce the amount of compensation you get, your or the other persons involved in the accident’s insurance companies may potentially use any statements you provide them for evidence against you. For all of those involved in this accident, it may be wise to contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney, who can help them navigate through the right and wrong ways to approach the finer points of their case. To read more about how to find a good Oregon personal injury lawyer, read 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.