Pickup Truck Crossed Center Line, Hit Two Motorcyclists

Date:  May 28, 2012
Location:  Highway 7, milepost 40, Baker County
Names:  Leta Louise Currey, Joanne Mohrland, Derrick Coates

One woman was killed Monday afternoon, and another woman was critically injured in a crash involving a pickup truck and a group of motorcyclists. The accident happened on Highway 7, in Baker County.

Oregon State Police released a statement to KTVB.com which said the horrific accident happened at about 12:30 Monday. Derrick Coates, 24, from Baker City, was driving south on Highway 7 in a 1994 Nissan pickup. Near milepost 40, a group of four northbound motorcycles came in Coates’ direction.

After the first motorcycle passed him, Coates’ pickup crossed the center line and collided with the second and third motorcycles in the group of four. One of the motorcycles struck was being driven by Leta Currey, 46, from Pendleton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. In a tragic twist of fate, Currey’s husband had been on the first motorcycle, which had not been hit by Coates.

The woman on the other motorcycle that was hit by Coates, a 2004 Harley Davidson, was Joanne Mohrland, 53, from Walla Walla Washington, whose husband was on the fourth motorcycle and was not struck by the pickup. Mohrland was critically injured and was flown by LifeFlight to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, where she remained in critical condition Monday night.

Coates received only minor injuries in the crash and did not require hospitalization. The OSP are continuing their investigation into events leading up to the crash.

We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Leta Currey’s husband, family and friends at this very sad time, and we also send our best wishes for a full recovery to Joanne Mohrland. Our thoughts are with you.

Anytime a motorcycle fatality occurs, we are reminded of the high injury and death rates for motorcycle riders. Several factors contribute to the potential risk, but probably none more so than motorists seeming inability to see motorcycles. Certainly rider skill can come into play, and we absolutely welcome the Oregon law requiring motorcycle skills training. However, no matter how safely a person rides, a car driver who isn’t looking will remain a danger to a motorcyclist.

Man on Motor Scooter Died in Hillsboro Collision

Date:  May 23, 2012
Location:  SE Tualatin Valley Highway, near SE Imlay Avenue, Hillsboro
Name:  Jared Wright

 A 55-year-old Hillsboro man has died from his injuries after a Wednesday morning accident on Tualatin Valley Highway. The man was on a motorized scooter near Southeast Imlay Avenue when the accident occurred.

The Hillsboro Police Department released a statement saying the man was riding a Schwinn two-wheeled motorized scooter along the sidewalk at about 8 a.m. Witnesses told police the man then left the sidewalk and veered into the path of a 1996 Toyota Camry being driven by Jared Wright, 18, of Beaverton.

Wright told investigators he was doing about 35 miles per hour and could not stop in time to avoid the man on the scooter. The scooter driver received serious head injuries and was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to OHSU Hospital, where he underwent emergenc surgery, but he died on Thursday.

Investigations into the crash are continuing, but police told The Oregonian that they do not believe drugs, alcohol or reckless driving were factors in the crash, and at this point, no citations have been issued. The man who died has not yet been named, pending notification of relatives.

We would like to send our sincere sympathies to the family of the man who was killed in this tragic accident.

Anytime a motorcycle fatality occurs, we are reminded of the high injury and death rates for motorcycle riders. Several factors contribute to the potential risk, but probably none more so than motorists seeming inability to see motorcycles. Certainly rider skill can come into play, and we absolutely welcome the new Oregon law requiring motorcycle skills training. However, no matter how safely a person rides, a car driver who isn’t looking will remain a danger to a motorcyclist.

Wet Roads Cause Motorcycle Crash Fatality

Date:  May 19, 2012
Location:  Southwest Laurelwood Road, near Gaston
Names:  Troy Moody, Terry Smith

An Estacada man was killed Saturday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with an SUV. The accident happened near Gaston.

At about 3:30 Saturday afternoon, Troy Moody, 50, of Estacada, was driving his motorcycle uphill on Southwest Laurelwood Road. As he was going around a curve, Moody lost control of his motorcyle and skidded into the path of an oncoming 2000 Dodge Durango SUV being driven by Terry Smith, of Beaverton.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office told KGW News that the two vehicles collided head-on. When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they found that Moody had been killed in the crash. In addition, a 50-year-old passenger is Smith’s SUV had to be taken to a local hospital with injuries that were described as minor.

We would like to send our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Troy Moody at this tragic time, and we hope the injured passenger makes a full and speedy recovery from their injuries.

Our hearts go out to the Moody  family during this difficult time. Anytime a motorcycle fatality occurs, we are reminded of the high injury and death rates for motorcycle riders. Several factors contribute to the potential risk, but probably none more so than motorists seeming inability to see motorcycles. Certainly rider skill can come into play, and we absolutely welcome the Oregon law requiring motorcycle skills training. However, no matter how safely a person rides, a car driver who isn’t looking will remain a danger to a motorcyclist.

 

Motorcyclist Injured After Running Red Light

Date:  April 27, 2012
Location:  Intersection of 34th Avenue and SW Pacific Boulevard, Albany
Name:  Seth Albert

A motorcyclist was fortunate not to have been killed when he ran a red light and was hit by a Ford Excursion in Albany on Friday night. Police believe the motorcyclist had been drinking before the collision.

Albany police say Seth Albert, 29, was riding his motorcycle on Southwest Pacific Boulevard just before 10:30 p.m. Friday night. When he reached the intersection with 34th Avenue, Albert ran a red light and collided with a Ford Excursion that was turning into the intersection. The Excursion was being driven by a woman, and there were three minor passengers in the vehicle as well.

When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they determined that Albert’s injuries were serious enough that he should be transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. He was later transferred to River Bend Hospital in Springfield.

When Albert is released from the hospital, he will be appearing in court on charges of DUII and reckless driving, according to the report on KPTV.com.

We hope that Albert makes a quick recovery from his injuries, and we also hope that the woman and children who were involved in this accident were not badly affected by this traumatic incident.

As Portland motor vehicle 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.

Driver Cited For Dangerous Left Turn that Critically Injured Motorcyclist

Date:  April 29, 2012
Location:  Highway 138, Glide
Names:  Austin L. Atkinson, Nancy J. Andrich

A young Roseburg motorcyclist was critically injured Sunday when a car turned directly in front of him on Highway 138 in Glide. The driver of the car has been cited for their part in the crash.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Matt Bowersox said the accident happened just after 3 p.m. Sunday. Austin Atkinson, 18, from Roseburg, was westbound on Highway 138, driving a motorcycle. According to the report in The Oregonian, Nancy Andrich, 62, from Glide, was eastbound in a Chrysler PT Cruiser.

When Andrich attempted to make a left turn, she pulled directly into the path of Atkinson’s motorcycle, and the two vehicles collided almost head-on in the westbound lane. Atkinson was critically injured in the crash, and emergency responders rushed him to Mercy Medical Center, before transferring him later to Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, Springfield.

After the initial investigation, Andrich, who was treated at the scene for minor injuries she received in the crash, was cited by the OSP for making a dangerous left turn.

Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Austin Atkinson at this desperately worrying time. We hope he makes a complete recovery and is out of the hospital soon.

Anytime a motorcycle injury occurs, we are reminded of the high injury and death rates for motorcycle riders. Several factors contribute to the potential risk, but probably none more so than motorists seeming inability to see motorcycles. Certainly rider skill can come into play, and we absolutely welcome the new Oregon law requiring motorcycle skills training. However, no matter how safely a person rides, a car driver who isn’t looking will remain a danger to a motorcyclist.

If you’ve been injured by a driver while on a motorcycle, the driver’s insurance should help pay your medical bills and other damages. If you’re not sure how to reach this settlement with the auto insurance company, you can contact our Portland motorcycle accident lawyers for help.

Motorcycle Rider Fatally Injured in High-Speed Crash

Date:  April 21, 2012
Location:  31400 block of the East Columbia Highway
Names:  Troy Lasater

Police believe both speed and alcohol were factors in the Saturday afternoon collision between a motorcycle and a car on the East Columbia River Highway. The motorcyclist was killed in the crash, and the driver of the other vehicle was injured.

A statement from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office said that Troy Lasater, 48, of Vancouver, was riding his motorcycle at high speed on the 31400 block of the highway, when it crossed the center line and into the path of oncoming traffic. The motorcycle hit another vehicle head on, and Lasater was thrown from the motorcycle and 75 feet down a steep embankment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other vehicle was also injured in the crash. The report on KPTV.com said that driver showed no signs of impairment, and he will not be charged.

We send our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Troy Lasater. We also hope the injured driver makes a full and speedy recovery from his injuries after this tragic accident.

As Portland personal injury 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. 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. 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.