Category Archives: Oregon Car Accidents
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.
Two-Car Crash Killed One, Injured One
Date: May 24, 2012
Location: Highway 97, near intersection with Mud Hollow Road, Wasco
Names: Gabriel Pigotti, Peter J. Macnab
A Washington man was killed and an Oregon man injured in a two-vehicle smash on Highway 97. The accident happened Thursday morning, near Wasco, and police believe speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash.
Oregon State Police Trooper Mark Jubitz told OregonLive.com that a 1994 Ferrari 348 being driven by Gabriel Pigotti, 33, from Seattle, was southbound on Highway 97 at about 9 a.m. Thursday. As the Ferrari approached the intersection with Mud Hollow Road, it collided with a left-turning 2011 Ford Edge being driven by 90-year-old Peter Macnab, from Wasco.
Pigotti was taken from his badly damaged car and flown by air ambulance to Mid-Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles, but he died from his injuries around 11 a.m. Macnab was taken by ambulance to the same hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening.
Investigations are continuing into what caused the crash, but witnesses at the scene told officers that the Ferrari was traveling very fast just prior to the crash.
We wish Peter Macnab a full and speedy recovery, and we send our sincere sympathy to the family of Gabriel Pigotti 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:
- Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
- Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
- 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.
- Determine the amount of property damage done.
- Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
- If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
- 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.
- Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
- Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Two-Car Collision Kills One, Injures Another in Damascus Crash
Date: May 14, 2012
Location: 19800 block of Tillstrom Road, Damascus
Names: Laura Schaeffer, Gary Monaco
A two-vehicle collision in Damascus Monday afternoon has claimed the life of one woman, and another person was seriously injured. The accident happened on Tillstrom Road, just before 4 p.m.
According to the report on OregonLive.com, the crash involved a Ford F350 pickup and a Nissan Versa. At about 3:55 Monday afternoon, the two vehicles collided on the 19800 block of Tillstrom Road. The crash caused the pickup to roll over onto its side, while the Nissan went down an embankment.
When emergency responders called to the scene, they discovered the female driver of the Nissan, since identified as Laura Schaeffer, 76, of Eagle Creek, had been killed in the accident. The pickup’s driver, 52-year old Damascus resident Gary Monaco, was taken to Oregon Health and Sciences University Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Clackamas County Sheriff’s officers are continuing their investigations into the events leading up to the accident, and any witnesses are asked to come forward. No charges have been filed at this time.
We would like to send our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Laura Schaeffer, and we also extend our wishes for a full and speedy recovery to Gary Monaco 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:
- Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
- Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
- 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.
- Determine the amount of property damage done.
- Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
- If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
- 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.
- Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
- Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
- 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.
- 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 Women Injured in Drunk Driving Crash Blocks from Home
Date: May 4, 2012
Location: Highway 97, Negus Way overpass
Names: Patricia Webb, Rebecca Kral, Jose Francisco Estrada
A Redmond woman who was just two blocks from home is now in the hospital with serious injuries and facing DUII charges after a Friday night accident on Highway 97. The woman’s passenger was also injured.
Redmond Police Sergeant Bob Duff told KTVZ.com that the accident happened around 11:45 Friday night. According to the report, Patricia Webb, 24, of Redmond, was driving a 1997 Ford Expedition on the Negus Way overpass when the SUV suddenly swerved in front of an oncoming car, hit a guardrail, went airborne and then went 50 feet down the north side embankment.
The driver of the other car, Jose Francisco Estrada, also of Redmond, stopped his vehicle, telephoned the police and then scrambled down the embankment to try to assist the two occupants of the Expedition. Medics from Redmond Fire Department had to cut away wreckage to free Webb and her passenger, Rebecca Kral, 21. Both were rushed to St. Charles Medical Center, Redmond, with serious injuries. As of Saturday, Webb was listed in fair condition, but Kral had been transported to St. Charles-Bend, where she is listed in serious condition.
A friend of Webb’s later told reporters the two women were on their way home, and that they were just two blocks from the house when the crash occurred.
We would like to wish anyone who was injured in this terrible accident a full and speedy recovery from their injuries.
If you were hurt by a drunk driver, special time limits may apply for filing a claim.
Under ORS 471.565, you can sue the establishment that served the drunk driver alcohol (assuming there was one) by filing a Dram Shop Notice within 180 days.
A Dram Shop Notice is a special letter that tells the establishment or person who served the alcohol that a claim for damages is being made against the establishment, a description of the time, place, and circumstances giving rise to the claim, and the name and mailing address for the person making the claim. If the drunk driving led to not just an injury, but death, then you have a year instead of 180 days. Basically, a Dram Shop Notice will hold a bar owner responsible for not training employees according to the OLCC’s guidelines regarding intoxicated drinkers.
If the drunk driver was not at a bar or other business that serves alcohol before the crash, there is still the possibility of filing a claim through auto insurance. And in many cases, the drunk driver will also be punished in a criminal court. Although being found guilty for criminal charges can increase the likelihood of a civil personal injury case succeeding, you may still need the help of a drunk driving accident injury lawyer to deal with adjusters and use all the evidence correctly.
Two Men Injured in Hwy 26 Crash – Police Still Investigating
Date: April 29, 2012
Location: Highway 26, east of Highway 35 junction near Government Camp
Names: Felip Curry, Timmy L. Gifford
Two men were taken to the hospital after a collision on Highway 26 Sunday night, one of them with serious injuries. Oregon State Police is investigating what caused the collision.
According to the report on KOIN Local 6, Felip Curry, 23, from Bend, was driving a 1999 Volvo V70 station wagon eastbound on Highway 26, just after 9:10 Sunday night. When he was just east of the Highway 35 junction near Government Camp, Curry’s vehicle suddenly skidded sidways into the westbound lane, directly into the path of a westbound 2004 Dodge pickup being driven by Timmy Gifford, 50, also from Bend.
Gifford’s was unable to avoid the collision, and his pickup smashed into the passenger side of the Volvo. When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they discovered Curry had been seriously injured in the crash, and he was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to OHSU Hospital in Portland. Gifford was taken by ambulance to Mt. Hood Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening.
OSP investigators are continuing to try to determine what caused the Volvo to slide broadside into oncoming traffic.
We wish Timmy Gifford and Felip Curry a full and speedy recovery after this frightening crash.
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:
- Get medical treatment. If you’ve been injured, waiting to seek medical treatment can greatly affect the value of your claim.
- Right after the accident, write down any details you remember.
- 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.
- Determine the amount of property damage done.
- Start keeping good records. Get the police report, copies of medical bills, pictures of your car before and after repairs, etc.
- If you are considering hiring a lawyer, talk to the lawyer before you talk to the other driver’s insurance company.
- 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.
- Get all correspondence with both insurance companies in writing.
- Do not sign anything until you are done treating and are medically stationary.
- 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.
- 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.
