Elderly Couple Injured in Happy Valley Auto Collision

Date:  May 23, 2012
Location:  Highway 212 and SE 172nd Avenue, Happy Valley
Names:  Parzy Rose, Phyllis Rose, Marc LaVaque

An elderly couple were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 212 Wednesday, when the car they were in was struck by a truck in Happy Valley.

Deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office say Phyllis Rose, 86, and Parzy Rose, 89, were in a car that was making a left-hand turn at the junction of Highway 212 and Southeast 172nd Avenue. As they attempted the turn, a truck towing a trailer, being driven by Marc LaVaque, crashed into them.

Emergency responders were called to the scene, and the Roses were taken to a local hospital complaining of pain. LaVaque was not injured in the crash, according to the report on KPTV.com.

LaVaque told sheriff’s deputies that his brakes were not working properly and that this is what contributed to the crash. An off-duty Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputy witnessed the crash and immediately lent his assistance.

We would like to wish both Phyllis and Parzy Rose a full and speedy recovery from their injuries after this tragic accident.

As Portland car accident attorneys, we know that filing an insurance claim can be extremely complicated and stressful. After a crash like this, any injured person can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, or through their own uninsured motorist coverage.

Steps to Take for Filing an Insurance Claim after an Oregon Accident:

1. Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
2. Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
3. Contact your insurance company and get a copy of your insurance policy if you don’t have one. Talk to your adjuster about using your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical treatment, lost wages, etc.
4. Determine the amount of property damage done.
5. Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
6. If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
7. If you know you are not going to hire an attorney, contact the insurance company for the other driver yourself. Be honest, but do not give a recorded statement and do not admit any liability.
8. Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
9. Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
10. Check the statute of limitations on your claim. For most car accidents in Oregon, the time limit is two years, but this is not true for all cases. In some cases, you will only have 180 days – speaking to an attorney can clarify your time limits.
11. Discuss your case with a car accident attorney in Portland who offers free consultations to start understanding the laws that affect your case and your rights as an accident victim.

But before you speak to the insurance adjuster or an attorney, you can learn more about the Oregon insurance claim process in the very helpful book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

Walterville Woman Seriously Injured in Hwy 126 Crash

Date:  May 27, 2012
Location:  Highway 126, junction with Camp Creek Road, Walterville
Names:  Donna Glass, Gregory Montgomery

A Walterville woman was flown by LifeFlight helipcopter to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend after a two-vehicle collision Sunday afternoon. The woman sustained serious injuries in the crash, which happened on Highway 126 at around 1 p.m.

OSP Trooper Michael Berland told KVAL TV that Donna Glass, 89, from Walterville, was driving a Mercury station wagon on Highway 126, when she tried to make a left turn onto Camp Creek Road. Instead, she turned into the path of a Saturn station wagon being driven by Gregory Montgomery, 53, from Springfield, and the two vehicles collided.

Glass’s car went nose-first into the roadside ditch, and when emergency responders arrived on the scene, they discovered she had received serious injuries. She was flown to RiverBend, where she continues to be treated for her injuries. Montgomery was reportedly not injured in the collision.

We send our best wishes to Donna Glass for a full and speedy recovery from her injuries after this very unfortunate accident.

As Portland car accident attorneys, we know that filing an insurance claim can be extremely complicated and stressful. After a crash like this, any injured person can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, or through their own uninsured motorist coverage.

Steps to Take for Filing an Insurance Claim after an Oregon Accident:

1. Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
2. Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
3. Contact your insurance company and get a copy of your insurance policy if you don’t have one. Talk to your adjuster about using your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical treatment, lost wages, etc.
4. Determine the amount of property damage done.
5. Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
6. If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
7. If you know you are not going to hire an attorney, contact the insurance company for the other driver yourself. Be honest, but do not give a recorded statement and do not admit any liability.
8. Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
9. Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
10. Check the statute of limitations on your claim. For most car accidents in Oregon, the time limit is two years, but this is not true for all cases. In some cases, you will only have 180 days – speaking to an attorney can clarify your time limits.
11. Discuss your case with a car accident attorney in Portland who offers free consultations to start understanding the laws that affect your case and your rights as an accident victim.

But before you speak to the insurance adjuster or an attorney, you can learn more about the Oregon insurance claim process in the very helpful book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

Two Injured in Hwy 101 Crash After Dangerous Turn

Date:  May 22, 2012
Location:  Highway 101 and SW Abbey Street, Newport
Names:  Paul Davis, Meredith Maishen

Two people were injured in a Tuesday afternoon two-vehicle crash on Highway 101. One of the drivers has been cited for making a dangerous turn.

Newport Police received word of the accident at the intersection of SW Abbey Street and Highway 101 at around 3:30 p.m. The report on KVAL.com says Paul Davis, 56, of Siletz, had stopped his 1999 GMC pickup on SW Abbey Street at the junction of Highway 101.

When Davis attempted a left turn onto northbound Highway 101, he pulled into the path of a 2011 Honda Accord being driven by Meredith Maishen, 63, of Newport. An ambulance was called to the scene, and Maishen was transported to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

Davis suffered a bump on the head, but refused medical treatment. He was charged by Newport police with making a dangerous left turn.

We wish both the people involved in this crash a full and speedy recovery from their injuries.

As Portland car accident attorneys, we know that filing an insurance claim can be extremely complicated and stressful. After a crash like this, any injured person can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, or through their own uninsured motorist coverage.

Steps to Take for Filing an Insurance Claim after an Oregon Accident:

1. Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
2. Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
3. Contact your insurance company and get a copy of your insurance policy if you don’t have one. Talk to your adjuster about using your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical treatment, lost wages, etc.
4. Determine the amount of property damage done.
5. Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
6. If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
7. If you know you are not going to hire an attorney, contact the insurance company for the other driver yourself. Be honest, but do not give a recorded statement and do not admit any liability.
8. Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
9. Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
10. Check the statute of limitations on your claim. For most car accidents in Oregon, the time limit is two years, but this is not true for all cases. In some cases, you will only have 180 days – speaking to an attorney can clarify your time limits.
11. Discuss your case with a car accident attorney in Portland who offers free consultations to start understanding the laws that affect your case and your rights as an accident victim.

But before you speak to the insurance adjuster or an attorney, you can learn more about the Oregon insurance claim process in the very helpful book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

85-Year-Old Woman Critically Injured in Single-Car Crash

Date:  May 11, 2012
Location:  Highway 238 and Forest Creek Road, near milepost 28, east of Ruch
Name:  Dorothy Livingston

An 85-year-old woman is in critical condition after her car flipped several times in a single-vehicle accident Friday morning, easy of Ruch. The accident happened on Highway 238 just after 10:30 a.m.

OSP Senior Trooper Jeff Allison told OregonLive.com that a 2004 Toyota Camry being driven eastbound on Highway 238 by Dorothy Livingston, 85, from Ruch, was near milepost 28 when it drove off the north (left hand) side of the highway, into a ditch. The car hit a stop sign at Forest Creek Road, then struck a culvert and went airborne, flipping end over end several times before finally coming to rest on its wheels.

When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they discovered that Livingston had been critically injured in the crash. She was rushed to Rogue Valley Medical Center, where she remains in a critical condition.

Car accidents can be life-changing, and we hope Dorothy Livingston is able to fully recover soon.

While many single-car accidents seem uncomplicated, there are sometimes other factors to consider. If you have been injured in a single-car accident like the one described here, you may be able to receive compensation in several instances:

1. If poor road conditions, poor signage, or bad traffic control contributed to the accident, there may be a lawsuit available against the city, county, or state. In cases against a public body, you may only have 180 days to file a tort claim notice (in most cases) so act quickly to protect your rights.
2. If the car’s mechanic was negligent in his last repairs, contributing to the accident, there may be a lawsuit available against the mechanic or his business.
3. If the car’s manufacturer was negligent, you may be able to file a product liability suit against them. Car manufacturers have often been held accountable for design defects and manufacturing defects, and these lawsuits help ensure that future drivers are not hurt by negligent safety standards.

If you have been injured in a single-car accident that you believe may not have been your fault, you can call a Portland car accident lawyer for help with your investigation at 503-222-4411. Or you can learn more about filing your own claim by reading the book 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

Woman Crashed into Patrol Car Making a U-Turn to Chase Speeding Vehicle

Date:  May 9, 2012
Location:  Highway 38, near milepost 53, east of Drain
Names:  Heather McDonald, Charles Mapes

A young Drain woman was injured when a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputy made a U-turn in front of her to chase a speeding vehicle on Highwy 38. OSP is conducting a crash investigation into the incident, which occurred Wednesday morning around 8 a.m.

The report on OregonLive.com said Heather McDonald, 20, from Drain, was driving a 1999 Honda Prelude northbound on Highway 38, about four miles east of Drain. McDonald was following a patrol car being driven by DCSO Deputy Charles Mapes, 46.

When Deputy Mapes spotted a speeding southbound vehicle, he pulled onto the right shoulder, then attempted a U-turn across the two northbound lanes, but Mapes was unable to avoid the patrol vehicle. The two vehicles collided, and the Honda’s airbags deployed.

Mapes was not injured in the collision, but McDonald was transported to Cottage Grove Community Hospital for treatment of what were described as minor injuries.

We would like to wish Heather McDonald a full and speedy recovery from her injuries after this unfortunate accident.

As Portland car accident attorneys, we know that filing an insurance claim can be extremely complicated and stressful. After a crash like this, any injured person can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, or through their own uninsured motorist coverage.

Steps to Take for Filing an Insurance Claim after an Oregon Accident:

1. Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
2. Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
3. Contact your insurance company and get a copy of your insurance policy if you don’t have one. Talk to your adjuster about using your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical treatment, lost wages, etc.
4. Determine the amount of property damage done.
5. Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
6. If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
7. If you know you are not going to hire an attorney, contact the insurance company for the other driver yourself. Be honest, but do not give a recorded statement and do not admit any liability.
8. Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
9. Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
10. Check the statute of limitations on your claim. For most car accidents in Oregon, the time limit is two years, but this is not true for all cases. In some cases, you will only have 180 days – speaking to an attorney can clarify your time limits.
11. Discuss your case with a car accident attorney in Portland who offers free consultations to start understanding the laws that affect your case and your rights as an accident victim.

But before you speak to the insurance adjuster or an attorney, you can learn more about the Oregon insurance claim process in the very helpful book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.

Corvette Ran Stop Sign, Caused Collision that Injured Five

Date:  May 6, 2012
Location:  Highway 126E intersection with Holden Creek Lane, near Leaburg
Names:  Verne Dowty, Mary Montoya, Megan Martens, Bettie Bessonette, Diana Cardwell

Five people were injured in a dramatic two-vehicle collision west of Leaburg Sunday afternoon. The accident was triggered when a Corvette failed to stop at a T-intersection.

OSP Trooper Andy Youngblood told The Register Guard that the accident occurred just before 1:45 Sunday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 126E and Holden Creek Lane. Youngblood says Verne Dowty, 76, from Springfield, was driving a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette north on Holden Creek Road but failed to stop at the intersection with McKenzie Highway (126). Dowty’s car went directly into the path of an eastbound 2000 Nissan Quest van.

The violent impact caused both vehicles to leave the highway and travel down a steep embankment. When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they discovered that Dowty had been seriously injured in the crash. He was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend where he remains in a serious condition.

Four Redmond-area women were in the van, which rolled at least once when going down the embankment. All four women were taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center, River-Bend. They have been identified as driver Mary Montoya, 66; Megan Martens, 33; Bettie Bessonette, 84, and Diana Cardwell, 60.

Monday afternoon, information regarding the women’s injuries was released. Montoya received minor injuries and was released. Martens remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Bessonette is listed in a good condition. Cardwell, who was transported to the hospital by LifeFlight, is currently listed in a serious condition.

We wish all the people involved in this terrifying crash a full and speedy recovery.

As Portland car accident attorneys, we know that filing an insurance claim can be extremely complicated and stressful. After a crash like this, any injured person can seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy, or through their own uninsured motorist coverage.

Steps to Take for Filing an Insurance Claim after an Oregon Accident:

1. Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
2. Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
3. Contact your insurance company and get a copy of your insurance policy if you don’t have one. Talk to your adjuster about using your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical treatment, lost wages, etc.
4. Determine the amount of property damage done.
5. Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
6. If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
7. If you know you are not going to hire an attorney, contact the insurance company for the other driver yourself. Be honest, but do not give a recorded statement and do not admit any liability.
8. Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
9. Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
10. Check the statute of limitations on your claim. For most car accidents in Oregon, the time limit is two years, but this is not true for all cases. In some cases, you will only have 180 days – speaking to an attorney can clarify your time limits.
11. Discuss your case with a car accident attorney in Portland who offers free consultations to start understanding the laws that affect your case and your rights as an accident victim.

But before you speak to the insurance adjuster or an attorney, you can learn more about the Oregon insurance claim process in the very helpful book, 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.