Serious Injuries Sustained in 3-Car Crash on Hwy 199

Date:  June 11, 2012
Location:  Highway 199 intersection with Fish Hatchery Road, south of Grants Pass
Names:  Gisa Hertler, Ernest Klein, Peter Daza

A terrifying three-vehicle collision involving two cars and a large truck sent a Selma woman to the hospital with life-threatening injuries Monday morning. The accident happened a few miles south of Grants Pass, on Highway 199.

OSP Sergeant Jeff Proulx said the accident happened when Ernest Klein, 91, from Grants Pass, who had been driving on Fish Hatchery Road, pulled his 2005 Toyota Camry onto Highway 199. The Toyota moved directly into the path of a 1999 Volvo station wagon being driven by Gisa Hertler, 37, from Selma.

The Volvo first struck the rear of the Toyota, then went out of control and into the southbound lane of Highway 199, where it was hit head-on by a 2005 Freightliner truck being driven by Peter Daza, 63, from Florida.

Personnel from both Rural Metro and Grants Pass Fire Departments had to extricate Hertler from her car, and she was airlifted by Mercy Flights to Rogue Valley Medical Center, with what were described as very serious injuries.

Klein received only minor injuries in the crash and did not require transporation to a hospital; Daza was uninjured.

We wish Gisa Hertler and all the people involved in this 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.