Portland Personal Injury Attorneys

DUII Rollover Crash Injures Two Passengers

Date: October 15, 2009
Location: 10138 Donald Road NE, Donald, Oregon
Names: Cassandra Westgate, James Cothern, Shawn Stearns

According to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office press release, an Aurora man was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and two counts of assault October 15, 2009, after an early-morning car crash injured his two passengers.

At 5:53 AM, Marion County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a crash at 10138 Donald Road NE in Donald, Oregon. They found an overturned Ford Explorer, and determined that the driver, Shawn Stearns, 20, of Aurora, was intoxicated.

Stearns was not hurt, but one of his passengers, Cassandra Westgate, 19, of Woodburn, was seriously injured in the crash, and was transported by Life Flight to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The other passenger, James Cothern, 20, also of Woodburn, was taken to Salem Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Stearns, who was not injured, was taken to Marion County Jail. By October 16, Westgate had improved and was in good condition at the hospital.

We are saddened anytime we hear of an impaired driver causing a crash, but in this case we were relieved and grateful to learn that Westgate was recovering, and that there were no other serious injuries. We send our warmest wishes to Westgate and Cothern, and wish them all the best in the future.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are up to 36 deaths and 700 injuries every day in the U.S. due to motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The CDC reports that in 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. This comes to almost one-third of all U.S. traffic deaths. And in 2007, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence – but this is less than 1% of persons who admit to driving impaired each year. Male drivers and young people are especially likely to be involved.

It is important to understand what to do after you’ve been involved in a crash where alcohol is a factor. We hope you will never need this information, of course, but you may want to check out our fact sheet or this informative video. We encourage people to educate themselves on the law of drunk driving in Oregon, and we provide free information to help you settle your lawsuit. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes complicated, and you should talk with an experienced Oregon injury attorney. Please contact us if we can help.

19-Year-Old Pulls Woman from Burning Car After Drunk Driving Incident

Date: October 17, 2009
Location: Highway 22 & Joseph Street SE, Salem, Oregon
Names: Destiny Edwards, Nickolas Edwards

A 19-year-old Oregon man saved a woman’s life on October 17, 2009, when he saw her trapped inside a burning car on Highway 22 and Joseph Street SE in Salem, Oregon, and pried the car’s windshield off with his bare hands, just before the car exploded.

Nickolas Edwards, 19, of Salem, spotted Destiny Edwards, 21, of Mill City, inside her burning 2005 Honda Civic as he drove along the highway. The two are not related.

When Edwards saw the car in the ditch at Joseph Street SE, his first thought was that it was abandoned, and he took out his cell phone to call the police. But, as he told KGW.com, he just had to check: “I had to make sure nobody was in the car, that’s horrible, I wouldn’t want to be left there burning.”

When the trapped woman saw Edwards, she started screaming. Edwards managed to kick a hole in the glass, then started tearing at it with his bare hands, receiving severe lacerations in the process. As he struggled to free the woman, the fire was intensifying. Edwards pulled the woman from the car just before it exploded. “It went up in flames, boom, boom, boom,” he said.

Police are calling Edwards a hero. “This kid saved her life,” Marion County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Sheila Lorance said. But Edwards said he just did the right thing, and, although it was a terrifying experience that he never wants to go through again, he knew he could never live with himself if he hadn’t stopped.

Destiny Edwards was treated for lacerations and released from Salem Hospital, where she was cited for drunk driving.

We are inspired by Nick Edwards’ bravery and his willingness to act in a dangerous situation. Edwards could have passed by the burning car, but instead he felt compelled to check if anyone was inside. In a society where people are sometimes too busy or distracted to get involved, Edwards is a true hero. We applaud this young man’s conscience and courage.

Important questions to consider when hiring a lawyer:
Does the lawyer understand how to help me pay my medical bills after an accident?
What about testimonials?
What kind of time limits are involved?
What if I have a smaller case?
Are there any hard rules to follow when looking for a great personal injury lawyer?

Car Hits Two Women Waiting for Highway Help in Portland Carless Driving Accident

Date: October 21, 2009
Location: Highway 26, Vista Ridge Tunnel, Portland Oregon
Names: Caprice Miller, Jessica Kvidera, Fabian Fertig

Two women who had crashed their truck and were waiting for help on Highway 26 in Portland, Oregon, were struck by a car that lost control as it exited the Vista Ridge Tunnel, October 21, 2009.

Caprice Miller, 20, and Jessica Kvidera, 19, were heading to the Oregon Zoo when their truck crashed into a barrier near the tunnel. They steered to the right shoulder and called for help.

As the pair waited by the highway, Fabian Fertig, 26, exited the tunnel and lost control of his car. He crashed into them at around 10:30 AM.

Both women were injured, and they were transported to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital for treatment.

Fettig was charged with careless driving.

According to the Oregon Driver Manual 2007-2009, a person commits the offense of careless driving if he or she causes serious injury or death to a “vulnerable” person on a roadway, such as a pedestrian, bicyclist, or highway worker. We all share the road, and it is important to treat everyone with respect – but especially those who do not have the protection of being inside a car.

We send our thoughts to Miller and Kvidera and hope your recovery will be quick and easy, and that you will get to enjoy their day at the zoo very soon. For now, you should concentrate on getting better, but when it comes time to pay the medical bills, you may need some guidance. Do not give a statement to the insurance company until you’ve visited our website; it’s free and full of helpful tips. We are not ambulance chasers, we just want you to get the information you need, like how to win your case without an attorney. You can also request a free copy of our book 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. And if you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Milwaukie, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.

Crash Kills Woman, 91, Injures Policeman

Date: October 12, 2009
Location: Highway 58 & Crestview Street, Oakridge, Oregon
Names: Virginia Spalinger, Daniel Miller

(Photo: KVAL.com)

The Oakridge, Oregon, community was stunned and grieving after a shocking car crash on October 12, 2009, killed a 91-year-old grandmother and seriously injured a young police officer. The head-on collision at the only stoplight in the small town killed Virginia Spalinger, 91, and critically injured Officer Daniel Miller, 27, who was pursuing a speeder with his siren and police lights on when Spalinger drove her car into his path. Miller has since been released from the hospital.

The crash occurred around 4 PM at the intersection of Highway 58 and Crestview Street in Oakridge, a small town east of Eugene. According to an Oregon State Police press release, Miller, who was attempting to pull over a speeder, was approaching the intersection in the left westbound lane, when Spalinger, who was traveling in the opposite direction, entered the left turn lane and started to turn onto Crestview Street, directly in front of the police car. The two vehicles collided head-on in the middle of the intersection.

Miller was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. He was initially in critical condition, but The Register-Guard said on October 14 that his condition had stabilized. Spalinger was transported to the same hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

In an interview with KVAL.com, Spalinger’s son, Ed, said his mother was on her way to her regular Monday bowling game in the family’s cherished 1965 Thunderbird. “It’s shocking to know that in a small community like Oakridge, something like this would happen, you know? A head-on collision at the only stoplight in town.”

Oakridge police were trying to come to grips with the tragedy that left one of their own in a hospital bed. Oakridge Police Chief Louis Gomez told KVAL.com that officers will undergo counseling to deal with the aftermath of the crash.

Ed Spalinger told KVAL.com that his mother only drove her car twice a week, did not have any vision or hearing problems, and just had her license renewed last year. He said his mother enjoyed driving and cherished her independence.

As events started to sink in, Oakridge residents began to question whether police should reexamine their procedures for chasing speeders. Two locals, Don Hadley and Clifford Himmel, contacted KVAL.com with their concerns.

This was the second fatal collision in the last year that involved an Oakridge police officer chasing a speeder. In September 2008, police were in pursuit of a motorcyclist traveling about 90 MPH on Highway 58. Eric Bracken Tyner, 32, of Bend, led officers on a high-speed chase for eight miles before he missed a turn, collided with a guardrail, and was thrown from his motorcycle. Officer Zechariah Ames was unable to avoid striking Tyner with his patrol car.

According to the Register-Guard, Oakridge police are conducting an internal investigation to make sure Miller followed procedure. Both Spalinger and Miller were using safety restraints at the time of the crash.

The Oakridge Fire Department and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene. The highway was closed for about 4 1/2 hours during the on-scene investigation. As of October 14, Oregon State Police were continuing to investigate the accident, assisted by the Oakridge Police Department.

Why do people speed? To get somewhere quicker? Shaving a few minutes off your trip is not worth the risk of potentially harming or killing another innocent driver or passenger. For the thrill? The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Traffic Crash Summary reports that in 2008 alone, speed-related accidents killed 216 Oregonians. That number far exceeds the amount of drunk-driving fatalities! But, as always, law enforcement is in full effect, and the Oregon State Police are continually looking for ways to both protect the innocent and punish those who endanger lives. If caught, you could lose your license, receive an expensive ticket or go to jail.

The risk is too great—lives can be lost as well as licenses and the ability to operate your own vehicle. It’s not worth it.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.

Hit-and-Run Driver Turns Himself In After a Portland Car Accident

Date: October 18, 2009
Location: NE 33rd Avenue & Shaver Street, Portland, Oregon
Names: Jared Sletager, Quandrell Dumas

After a shocking hit-and-run crash early October 18, 2009, left a Seattle, Washington, man in critical condition, the driver who fled the scene gave himself up to police. Quandrell Dumas, 23, of Portland, Oregon, turned himself in the same morning.

The crash occurred around 1:20 AM at NE 33rd Avenue and Shaver Street in Portland. Dumas, who was driving a Lincoln Continental, ran a stop sign and crashed into a Volkswagen Vanagen heading south on 33rd, then crashed into the porch of a nearby home. Dumas fled the scene on foot, leaving his car on the porch and abandoning the other driver, Jared Sletager, 29, who suffered serious injuries.

A local resident described the crash as the worst he had ever seen. “You didn’t have to be trained in accident forensics or anything like that to understand that it was a high-speed hard impact,” said Scott Rider.

Dumas presented himself at the Northeast Police Precinct around 9:30 AM, and turned himself in. He faces charges of assault, felony hit-and-run, and reckless driving.

Sletager was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, where, authorities said, he is expected to survive.

According to the Oregon DMV, hit and run is a serious crime, and conviction will result in your driving privileges being suspended or revoked. In any accident, you have the following obligations:

• Stop at once. If anyone is killed or unconscious, you must stay at the scene until a police officer arrives.
• Render aid. Do not move an injured person carelessly, but give reasonable aid
• Exchange information with the other driver. Give them your name, address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information. DMV offers a printable checklist you can download and keep in your car.
• Report the accident to DMV.

While we are glad that Dumas turned himself in, we can’t help being horrified by this hit-and-run. Dumas was probably frightened and in shock, but that does not excuse leaving Sletager injured at the scene. For all Dumas knew, Sletager was dying, and leaving him was inexcusable. We implore drivers in any accident situation to put the safety and welfare of others above their own interests, and always, always remain at the scene and make sure no one is hurt. We send our best wishes to Sletager for a quick and complete recovery, and hope he is out of the hospital soon.

Hit-and-run is a serious violation of Oregon Vehicle Code 811.705. The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. In a case like this, the Sletager family may be well advised to contact a reputed personal injury attorney with experience in hit-and-run crashes who will fight for the justice and compensation that they deserve. At Shulman DuBois, we believe that what happened to Sletager is simply unacceptable; we are committed to making sure that hit-and-run drivers are held accountable for their actions and that both victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.

'COPS' Crew Seriously Injured in Portland | Oregon Car Crash Attorneys

Date: September 29, 2009
Location: SE 136th Avenue and Stark Street, Portland
Names: Jeffrey Ruppel, Robert King

Alcohol may have been a factor in a head-on collision that seriously injured a member of the film crew for the reality television show COPS, which was filming in Portland. On September 29, 2009, at about 9 PM, a police car driven by East Precinct Officer Jeffrey Ruppel was hit head-on by a vehicle, driven by Robert King, 53, that had veered into the wrong lane. According to The Oregonian, police suspect King of driving under the influence of alcohol, but he had not yet been cited. One of the passengers in the police car sustained serious head injuries; he remained hospitalized as of September 30.
(more…)

I-5 Accident Leaves Junction City Man in Critical Condition | Oregon Collision Attorneys

Date: June 21, 2009
Location: Interstate 5, between Portland and Salem
Type:  Car Accident
Outcome: 1 Minor Injury, 1 Critical Condition
Names: William Brown, Martin Landeros, Daniel Swift

KMTR.com reports that a Junction city man is left in critical condition today after an accident on I-5, between Portland and Salem on early Sunday.
(more…)