oregon injury attorneys

Oregon car crashes are all too common, and those accidents are caused by an almost endless number of factors, to vehicles of all shapes and sizes, carrying people of every age, sex, race and religion. And oftentimes after one of these accidents, it’s necessary to call on the services of a good Portland car crash lawyer, to deal with the insurance companies and sort through the complicated and confusing jungle of the crash investigation, liabilities, and all those factors that lead to the accidents.

Bizarrely, the most common injuries to do with Oregon cars are those that do not involve anyone else.

The most common car-related injuries take place when the car isn’t moving. They include:
• Closing your hand in the car door
• Burning your hand on a radiator or receiving an electric shock
• Strain injuries from loading or unloading a vehicle, or trying to push an immobilized vehicle
• A vehicle or vehicle part falling while the vehicle is on a jack

Where a Portland car crash lawyer will be required, however, is when one of the three most common car crash injuries occurs because of someone else’s actions or negligence. They include whiplash, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries.

People who have been injured in a car crash often think the accident was a relatively minor one. An experienced Portland car crash lawyer will tell you that whiplash injuries generally don’t manifest themselves for anything up to 24 hours after the collision. Yet whiplash is the most common car crash injury there is, and an immediate medical exam after an accident is advisable.

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Location: Highway 229 North of Toledo
Names: Rebecca Jo Whelen, Betty L. Curran, Roy Curran

At least 15 vehicles leaving the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival on Friday, February 25 slipped on icy road conditions and crashed on Oregon 229. (Oregonlive.com 2-25-11)

In the most serious crash, Rebecca Jo Whelen, age 52 of Stiletz, was driving a 2007 Chevy Aveo at approximately 1:55pm and overtaking other vehicles heading north when she hit an icy patch of road, careened into the southbound lane and collided head-on with a 1997 Subaru Legacy station wagon being driven by Betty L. Curran, age 76 of Stiletz.

Both drivers were taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport with minor injuries.
Curran’s passenger, Roy Curran, age 79, was removed from the vehicle by firefighters and flown to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis with serious injuries.

All involved in this crash were wearing seatbelts and their vehicles’ airbags deployed.

Oregon State Police are cautioning drivers to slow down and to remain alert for unexpected ice on roads that appear dry. (Oregon State Police news releases)

Our thoughts are with those involved in this accident and others that happened along this stretch of highway that day. We wish them all a speedy recovery.

Please be careful while driving. And if you are suffering because of a car crash and wondering what to do next, we offer free information, including how to find a good lawyer and our free book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case is available for Oregon residents and people who were in an accident in Oregon. Our Oregon injury lawyers also offer free consultations, and you can contact us if you have questions.

Date: August 18, 2010
Location: U.S. 101 near Florence, Oregon
Names: Daniel Vader, Travis Wilson, Sarah Wilson, [Unknown]

A commercial truck and trailer slid across U.S. 101 near Florence, Oregon, on August 18, 2010, causing a crash that left two people injured.

According to The Oregonian, around 10:15 AM, Daniel Vader, 29, was driving a truck and trailer fully loaded with woodchips, when he lost control on a series of sharp curves. The truck tipped onto the driver’s side and slid into a scenic pullout, striking a Ford Focus. The trailer continued to slide, and crashed into a Nissan Sentra before coming to a stop against the guardrail.

Vader escaped injury, and he ran to help the occupant of the Nissan, a 19-year-old female tourist from Switzerland. She was not injured in the Oregon truck accident.

The two occupants of the Ford, Travis Wilson, 21, and his pregnant wife, Sarah Wilson, 21, had minor injuries. They were treated at the scene, then taken by ambulance to Peace Harbor Hospital. Both were released later that day.

Traffic on the highway was restricted to one lane for approximately four hours while the vehicles were removed. An OSP investigation was underway.

We send our wishes to everyone involved in this crash, especially Travis and Sarah Wilson. We hope both of them recover completely from their injuries and have a happy and healthy pregnancy, leading up to a joyful welcome to their new child. We are very glad no one else was injured in this crash. Our thoughts are with all of you.

When a truck crashes with a car, the outcome can be tragic. Because trucks are so much heavier, there is a greater chance that the car will be seriously damaged and its occupants hurt or even killed. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that in car-truck crashes, 78% of fatalities are car occupants.

We see many examples. For instance, on July 22, when a dump truck crashed into a car, one of the car’s occupants was killed and the other was injured; the truck driver was unhurt. And on May 26, a car crashed into a commercial truck. The car’s driver was critically injured in the crash, while the truck driver was not hurt.

Shulman DuBois LLC represents victims with injuries resulting from accidents. Our clients deserve representation with our experience, sensitivity and tenacity. Should an unfortunate episode find you or someone you know in need of representation as a result of an accident related injury, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated by reading our Frequently Asked Questions, exploring our Library, or ordering your free copy of 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. If you still have questions, contact us.

Date: May 6, 2010
Location: 4625 Silverton Road, Salem, Oregon
Names: Justin Kliewer

A drunk driver tried to outrun police, but lost control of the pickup he was driving and crashed into a storage building, then ran from the scene of the crash, according to KOINLocal6.com and an OSP press release. Police caught up with Justin Kliewer, 25, of Salem and took him to Marion County Jail on multiple charges.

Around 1:20 AM on May 6, 2010, OSP Trooper Joseph Skipper saw a white pickup in the area of Lancaster and Silverton Road. The pickup was not staying in its lane and ignored a traffic control device. Skipper tried to pull the truck over, but the Kliewer sped away, heading east on Silverton Road at speeds up to 60 MPH.

As Kliewer tried to turn north onto 47th Street, he lost control and the pickup crashed into a storage building at 4625 Silverton Road.

Skipper pulled in behind the pickup, but Kliewer backed his truck into the patrol car, then got out and started running. Skipper caught him and arrested him on charges including:

• Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle
• Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude on Foot
• Unlawful Possession and Distribution of Cocaine
• DUI
• Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (3 counts)
• Reckless Driving
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person

There was also a small amount of cocaine in the pickup.

The Salem car crash caused over $1,000 damage to the patrol car, a Qwest utility box, and the storage building.

This automobile collision in Oregon was senseless and outrageous. There is no excuse for drinking and using cocaine while driving. On top of it, running from the police is not just stupid, it’s criminal. We are just glad no one got hurt, because this driver was putting everyone on the road at risk.

When someone makes the decision to drink or use drugs and drive, they’re taking lives in their hands. Kliewer is lucky he was not killed or crippled. And there were many others on the road that day who probably don’t even know how close they came to a possible tragedy.

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 without an attorney. But when a drunk driver is involved, the law becomes very tricky, and you should contact an experienced Oregon injury attorney.

Date: December 19, 2009
Location: Highway 22 east of Idanha, Oregon
Names: Robert Lee Randis, Beverly J. Randis, Nicole Bowerman, Karlie Jean Callin, Dorian J. Dolinajec, Jessie E. Alway

According to an Oregon State Police press release, a three-car crash on Highway 22 east of Idanha, Oregon, on December 19, 2009, killed a Terrebonne man and injured five people, three seriously.

The accident happened around 4:30 PM when a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Dorian J. Dolinajec, 23, of Portland, was driving west on the highway, and moved partially across the center line as if to pass another car. The Jeep sideswiped an eastbound 2004 Hyundai car, driven by Robert Lee Randis, 69, of Terrebonne, then became airborne and crashed into an eastbound 2006 Ford truck driven by Jessie E. Alway, 61, of Bend.

The Hyundai’s driver, Randis, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two of his passengers received serious but non-life-threatening injuries: his wife, Beverly J. Randis, 67, of Terrebonne; and Nicole Bowerman, 10, of Sweet Home. The other passenger, Karlie Jean Callin, 13, of Sweet Home, had minor injuries. Beverly Randis, Bowerman, and Callin were transported by ambulance to Santiam Memorial Hospital.

The Jeep’s driver, Dolinajec, was seriously injured, and was taken by ambulance to Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

Alway received minor injuries. She was also transported to Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

Oregon State Police troopers were continuing to investigate, along with an OSP collision reconstructionist. As of December 20, it was believed that all occupants were using safety restraints.

Responders included Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Idanha Fire Department and Oregon Department of Transportation. The highway was closed for about 30 minutes, then opened to one-lane of traffic. Both lanes were reopened around 10 PM.

We send special thoughts to the Randises’ family members, and to all those who were injured – and we know that many, many others are sending thoughts and prayers to you now as well. We are so sorry for your loss, and we wish for the full recovery of the survivors. And especially to the children, who have their whole lives ahead of them.

When children are injured, the law can get complicated fast. For example, while the standard Oregon injury case must be filed within 2 years of the accident, the statute of limitations for children, on the other hand, is not so straightforward. ORS 12.160 steps you through the process for figuring out the statute of limitations. First, the regular statute of limitations applies. Second, it doesn’t start running until the child turns 18 years old. But, third, the statute cannot be extended more than five years. And fourth, it cannot be extended beyond the child’s 19th birthday. In addition to the statute of limitations, there’s also the issue of money. Money recovered belongs to the injured child, not to his or her parents. In certain cases, a judge will need to oversee the situation to make sure this happens.

Many traffic crashes are difficult to explain, and when death or injury is involved, it is important to contact a qualified personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation. We provide information on finding a good personal injury lawyer, and if you have questions after a car crash, please contact us.

Visit our car accident resource library.
Get a free 70+ page book Seven Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.
Contact Shulman DuBois LLC about a free consultation.
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Date: December 15, 2009
Location: I-84, Ontario, Oregon
Names: Milton Scot Belton, Miguel Victorio-Alvarez, Francisco Roberto Lecaro

The Oregonian reports that on December 15, 2009, around 8 AM, two truck drivers, who had pulled to the side of the road to put on chains, were hit by a commercial truck.

The accident, which occurred on an I-84 off-ramp near Ontario, Oregon, killed Milton Scot Belton, 49, of Colville, Washington, and injured Miguel Victorio-Alvarez, 45, of Nampa, Idaho. Victorio-Alvarez’s injuries were not life-threatening.
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