What to Do After a Car Crash

How to Describe an Auto Accident to the Insurance Company

For any Oregon driver who has ever had to file an auto accident insurance claim, giving a clear, accurate description of what happened is critical to a successful settlement of that claim. Even if you weren’t directly involved in an accident, but you were a witness, there are a number of key things to remember to ensure that you’re giving an accurate description of an auto accident. You’ll probably have to talk to the police and the insurance companies. These can be stressful experiences, so to make it as painless as possible for yourself, try remembering and following these tips:

  • Stay as calm as humanly possible. Shouting, crying or becoming angry and emotional will make you seem less credible, and you will also have difficulty recalling details accurately.
  • If no one was seriously injured in the accident, don’t touch anyone, but if someone is in danger, don’t hesitate. Render whatever assistance you can.
  • If someone asks you for help, provide it. Other than that, keep your distance to avoid being influenced by one of the accident victim’s version of events. Read the rest »


Seven Injured in Crash near Clatskanie | Oregon Personal Injury Lawyers

Date: July 27, 2010
Location: Wauna Mill near Clatskanie, Oregon
Names: Jacob N. Sullivan, Heather L. Gibson, Toby Gibson, Brianna Gibson, Mary Millar,
Leigha R. Warner, David Bayer

A two-car crash injured seven people, including two small children, July 27, 2010 near Wauna Mill, Clatskanie, Oregon, reports Examiner.com.

The accident happened around 3:40 PM. Jacob N. Sullivan, 16, of Kelso, Washington, was westbound when, for unknown reasons, the car he was driving went over the double solid line into the left eastbound lane, and crashed into the right front section of a car driven by Heather L. Gibson, 29, of Vancouver, Washington.

The vehicle driven by Gibson had four occupants, all of whom were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Two of the passengers were Gibson’s children, Toby, age 4, and Brianna, age 1-1/2. The children were secured and riding in the rear. Another passenger, Mary Millar, 83, had to be extricated from the vehicle, and was then taken to OHSU for treatment.

In the car driven by Sullivan, Leigha R. Warner, 16, was riding in the right front passenger seat. She had to be extricated from the car by firefighters. She and Sullivan were taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Also riding in the car, in the back seat, was David Bayer, 16, of Kelso. He was transported to St. John Medical Center in Longview, Washington.

Police described the injuries to all parties as non-life threatening.

We want to send our warm wishes for healing to everyone involved in this accident – especially little Toby and Brianna. We hope you mend quickly and are out of the hospital soon.

The moments and days after a crash are the most important. First, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should have a record of anything after the accident in case the pains become more serious. Second, either you, a friend or family member, or a qualified attorney, should collect evidence from the accident scene. Evidence can disappear quickly, so doing this while your loved one is in the hospital is of extreme importance. We understand that you may not want to do this while you or your loved one is in the hospital, so you may want to ask an Oregon accident attorney to do it for you.

The months after an accident are important as well. There are time limits to filing a claim if you have been in an accident. And sometimes you can’t go back to work, so you start to worry about paying medical bills and wage loss. These are all stressful things, and it doesn’t help that the insurance company won’t leave you alone, but they won’t help you either. So please, do not hesitate to call us or request a free copy of our book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case. Our website has helpful advice, and what we don’t cover there, we will be more than happy to answer ourselves.


Dallas Crash Seriously Injures Three | Oregon Car Accident Lawyers

Date: December 19, 2009
Location: Highway 22 near Dallas, Oregon
Names: Roy Warner, Catherine Warner, Jerry Dean Weber

According to an Oregon State Police press release, a two-car crash seriously injured three people on December 19, 2009, around 2:20 PM on Highway 22, west of Dallas, Oregon.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Bob Charpentier said that a black Chevrolet SUV driven by Jerry Dean Weber, 48, of Sheridan, was traveling west on Highway 22 near milepost 10, when, for unknown reasons, the car crossed the center line.

Read the rest »


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© 2012 Shulman DuBois LLC, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission. Oregon Personal Injury Attorneys - Portland Car Accident Lawyers

Portland Personal Injury Attorney Disclaimer: The personal injury, car accident, bike accident and pedestrian accident information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Any results portrayed here were dependent on the facts of a particular legal matter and results vary from case to case. Please contact an Oregon personal injury lawyer or Portland injury attorney at Shulman DuBois LLC for a consultation on your particular case.

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