oregon car accident attorneys

Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a consumer advisory, urging all motorists to inspect the tires of their vehicles to ensure they are properly inflated and to check for indications of tread wear and damage before driving in hot weather during the summer months. The announcement overlaps with National Tire Safety Week, which lasts from June 5 until 11, and was planned to coincide with the summer season, a time when more motorists are on the nation’s roads and vehicles are often overloaded with luggage as families head out for extended vacations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2005 to 2009, close to 3,400 people were killed, and approximately 116,000 were injured in vehicle accidents that were determined to have been tire-related. The DOT warns motorists that using tires that are old during hot weather can be a potentially fatal combination, since aged tires are more vulnerable to suffering stress from heat, particularly if they are not inflated properly. Motorists should check the sidewall of their tires to check to see how old each tire is, as well as check with their owner’s manual or the tire manufacturer regarding how often they should change their vehicle’s tires.

In addition to safety benefits, having tires that are inflated properly will improve the fuel economy of a vehicle. The Department of Energy reports that under-inflated tires can decrease gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 pound per square inch (PSI) drop in pressure in all four tires. For example, for a vehicle that has a fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon and a tire pressure recommendation of 35 PSI, a drop of 25 percent in tire pressure would equal a loss of 8.8 percent in fuel economy, which is a drop of 2.6 miles per gallon.

For most of us, we don’t even consider the state of our tires before getting in our cars to drive to the store or embark on a much-needed vacation. However, as this advisory from the DOT shows, it is important to regularly inspect tires, particularly before a long journey. As Portland car accident lawyers, we have unfortunately seen the devastation accidents caused by defective or poorly maintained tires or a negligent motorist can cause injured victims and their families to suffer. If you have questions regarding your involvement in a car crash in Oregon, call Shulman DuBois LLC at 503-222-4411 to get the answers you need.

Sources:http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/Consumer+Advisory:+Motorists+Should+Check+Tires+in+Hot+Weather+to+Improve+Safety,http://www.betiresmart.org/tire_safety/tire_maintenance_and_safety/national_tire_safety_week/index.cfm

Date: January 25, 2010
Location: U.S. 26 near Government Camp, Oregon
Names: Robin “Babes” Rae Udey, Ronald Jory

Oregon State Police troopers are investigating a fatal crash between a commercial truck and an SUV on U.S. 26 near Government Camp in Oregon. Robin “Babes” Rae Udey, 54, of Pine Grove, Oregon, died January 25, 2010, around 7:45 AM, after a truck driven by Ronald Lewis Jory, 63, of Olympia, Washington, crashed head-on into the car she was driving, according to reports by The Oregonian and Salem-News.com.

While traveling downhill, nearing a curve in the road, Jory lost control of the truck he was driving, which was pulling two tankers loaded with malt. The highway was covered with packed snow and ice.

Udey was thrown from her car, even though police believe she was wearing safety restraints. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jory, who was using safety restraints, received non-life-threatening injuries, and was transported by ambulance to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

According to an obituary in The Dalles Chronicle, Udey is remembered by her husband, Raymond; children JC, Alex, Ginny, and Stacey; four grandchildren; and many other loving family members and friends.

Udey was an avid hunter, fisher, and traveler. She worked as an Equal Employment Specialist for the United States Forest Service.

A memorial service was held February 2 at First Christian Church in The Dalles.

Our hearts go out to Udey’s family as they mourn the loss of a very special, much loved woman. A friend of the family commented on The Oregonian’s article, “Robin was a wonderful, fun loving person who had a giggle that would make anybody smile.” We join our prayers with the many community members grieving this tragic loss.

Wrongful death claims are allowed by law. ORS 30.010-30.100.

The statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is tricky. It is “three years after the injury causing the death . . . is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. . . .”  In other words, it’s not three years from the date of death; it’s three years from the date of the original injury that ultimately caused the death. If a person goes into a coma from a car crash, and dies eight months later, the case will have to be brought within three years from the date of the car crash, not from the date of the death.

If a city, state, county, or other public body is being sued, a Tort Claim Notice must be received by the entity being sued within 180 days of the injury.

Compensation available includes charges for medical expenses; memorial and burial services; compensation for the person’s pain, suffering, disability, and loss of income from the time of the injury through the time of death; financial losses to the person’s family or other heirs; compensation for the loss of companionship and services to the person’s spouse, children, stepchildren, stepparents and parents; and punitive damages may sometimes be available as well.

The law caps the amount of noneconomic damages at $500,000. This does not apply to economic damages, which are not capped.

Shulman DuBois does not represent any of the parties in this article. If you were involved in this or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. We offer a free, confidential consultation to not-at-fault people discussed in this article. The free consultation extends to family members as well.

Date: January 23, 2010
Location: Highway 20 near Suttle Lake, Grandview, Oregon
Names: Kim Barry, Mark White, Wayne Johnson, Cynthia Worfford, Nelty Burggraf, Doyle Foster, Dewayne Wafford

On January 23, 2010, a series of crashes on an icy stretch of Highway 20 near Suttle Lake in Grandview, Oregon, seriously injured three people. As of January 25, two of the victims had improved, but one was still in critical condition.

Dewayne Wafford, 60, of Eugene, and Doyle Foster, 48, of Veneta, were upgraded from serious to fair condition, but Nelty Burggraf, 36, also of Veneta, remained in critical condition. All three were passengers in cars involved in the crash.

Around 9:45 AM, Kim Barry, 48, of Sisters, attempted to negotiate a turn on the highway, when she lost control of her car. The car left the road and flipped onto its top. Luckily, Barry told KTVZ, that she walked away without a scratch.

Just moments later, an SUV driven by Mark White, 46, of Veneta, which was behind Barry’s car, also lost control, spinning into the opposite lane. Burggraf and Foster, who were injured, were passengers.

The Bronco was then hit on its passenger side by a Ford Explorer driven by Wayne Johnson, 81, of Eugene. Wafford, who was also injured, was a passenger in the car.

Last, a car driven by Cynthia Worfford, 53, of Corvallis, slammed into one of the other cars. Worfford was apparently uninjured.

We send our thoughts and wishes for recovery to Burggraf, Wafford, and Foster, as well as everyone else involved in the crash. We hope you’re out of the hospital and back with your families soon.

Springtime is ahead, but it’s not here yet, and all drivers should be careful of icy roads. The Oregon Department of Transportation, in “Winter Driving Can Be Tricky,” offers some tips for driving in winter weather:

•    In snow or fog, drive with your low beams on. And keep headlights clean – dirty headlights can cut visibility by half.
•    Keep a good grip on the steering wheel. Do not make sudden turns; if you skid, correct your car using a light touch.
•    Increase following distance, then increase it some more. ODOT recommends at least three times the normal following distance in snow or ice.
•    If you find yourself skidding, ease your foot off the accelerator. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch. While keeping your foot off the brake, steer the same direction your car’s rear end is skidding.

Shulman DuBois does not represent any of the parties in this article. If you were involved in this or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. We offer a free, confidential consultation to not-at-fault people discussed in this article. The free consultation extends to family members as well.

Date: January 16, 2010
Location: U.S. 101 near Florence, Oregon
Names: Han Kim, David Chai, Esther King, Bin Seo, Minhye Park, Brandon Schooley, Nicholas Torres, Samantha Frese, Felicia Baldwin

In a devastating head-on crash January 16, 2010, nine people in two cars were injured, three of them seriously, according to The Oregonian.

The crash took place around 3:40 PM on U.S. Highway 101 near Florence, Oregon, as Brandon Schooley, 19, of Eugene was driving north on the highway. As he attempted to negotiate a sharp turn, his car crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a car driven by Han Kim, 25, also of Eugene.
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Date: December 31, 2009
Location: SE Wilson Avenue & Fifth Street, Bend, Oregon
Names: Jayson Barker, Kelsey Colleen Magee

After a hit-and-run driver seriously injured a Bend, Oregon, pedestrian on New Year’s Eve, the driver came forward and turned herself in.

The victim, Jayson Barker, 20, suffered a brain injury in the crash, and doctors said his condition was critical.

Late on the night of December 31, 2009, a motorist spotted Barker lying in the middle of the road near SE Wilson Avenue and Fifth Street in Bend, and called Deschutes County 911. Barker, who was unconscious, was transported to St. Charles Medical Center – Bend. As of January 3, he was in the ICU, recovering from emergency brain surgery.

Hospital representatives told KTVZ.com that his condition was “very critical,” and while his vital signs were stable, “doctors do not know the extent of brain damage right now.”

After the accident, police determined that Barker was hit by a metallic-blue 2003 to 2005 Toyota 4Runner SUV. Around 9:40 PM, January 1, Kelsey Colleen Magee, 31, of Bend, contacted police about the crash. She was driving a blue 2003 Toyota 4Runner that night.

Police verified that Magee’s car was involved in the crash. She was arrested for failure to perform the duties of a driver to an injured person, and held at Deschutes County Jail. Around 2:30 AM January 2, she was released on bail. She is to appear in court January 19.

The investigation is continuing, but police said speed and alcohol do not appear to have contributed.

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.

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 thoughts and prayers to Barker for a full recovery, and we hope Barker’s family finds support and strength to carry them through.

The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. And the Barker family may be well advised to contact a reputable 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 in this crash 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.

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.

Date: December 26, 2009
Location: Highway 42, east of Remote, Oregon
Names: Sigrid Wilma Wheeler, Sarah Helen Beck, Amber Nicole Olson, Ronald Eugene Beck, Robert D. Beck, Brett Dean Bishop

According to the Oregon State Police Report, a four-car crash on Highway 42 in Coos County, Oregon, east of the town of Remote, killed a Coos Bay woman the morning of December 26, 2009. Four people were injured, and Sigrid Wilma Wheeler, 74, was killed.

The crash happened on an icy stretch of road, when Brett Dean Bishop, 25, of Warrenton, lost control of his 2003 Dodge truck and slid into the eastbound lane. The truck sideswiped a car, then hit a PT Cruiser driven by Ronald Eugene Beck, 58, of Prosser. The collision pushed the PT Cruiser into the van behind it.
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