Gresham Accident Lawyers: What to Do After a Car Crash

67-Year-Old Man, Trapped Under the Dashboard of His Wrecked Vehicle, Appears to Be Okay

With little to go on except a neighborhood resident explaining that GPS directions in his location sometimes misdirect people, police in Lake City are still wondering how a 67-year-old man wrecked his car, became stuck under the dashboard, and spent the night in a ravine undetected overnight.  Discovered when the resident who made the GPS comment was headed to work on Tuesday morning March 5, 2013, the 67-year-old man had to be rescued by firefighters from his vehicle by stabilization of his car with ropes and a roof extraction. Cold and suffering from bruises, cuts, and a black eye, the man was taken to hospital by ambulance, but was said to be talking with rescuers and conscious—a fortunate outcome for what could have been a case of serious injury.

While most of us don’t end up unscathed or get stranded in our cars overnight as the result of a vehicle accident, many of us will be in an auto accident at some point in our lives that will require us to know what to do after an accident. Here a Gresham accident lawyer offers you some steps you need to take whenever you are involved in a wreck of any kind as well as some tips about how to handle your insurance claim.

You Must Attend to Certain Tasks per Oregon Law When In a Car Accident in Gresham

First, according to Oregon law you must carry a certain amount of car insurance per ORS 806.010 and report any accident that involves injury or property damage to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) using its Traffic Accident and Insurance Report Form within 72 hours of the accident. Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime (called a “hit and run”) conviction of which could mean revocation of your driver’s license, fines, and jail time. Once your accident has been reported, then the fun part begins—trying to file your auto insurance claim.

Things Not to Do and Things to Do Concerning the Filing of an Auto Insurance Claim after a Car Accident in Gresham

Your best resource when filing an auto insurance claim is the assistance of a Gresham accident lawyer; however, even with the help of an attorney, you’ll want to consider the following actions concerning your claim. Remember that your health always comes first, so seek medical assistance for any injuries sustained before worrying about the filing of insurance claims.

Things Not to Do:

1.     Do not admit liability for the accident. Give only facts concerning the accident to police and insurance officials—not opinions.
2.     Do not sign any insurance paperwork until you know all injuries are treated.
3.     Make sure you file your auto insurance claim within the time limitations stated in your policy.
4.     Do not accept an estimate for damages from an insurance agent without checking on the estimate independently on your own.
5.     Do not sign any type of waiver or release without consulting a Gresham accident lawyer.
6.     Do not accept payment in full for your injury or damages unless you are sure you are getting the full compensation you are entitled to.

Things to Do:

1.     Contact your insurance company promptly after the accident. (Of course, if you are injured, you should seek medical attention before thinking about your insurance claim.)
2.     Read your Insurance policy so you know what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t cover.
3.     Take pictures of the accident scene if possible.
4.     Collect names and contact information from witnesses to the accident.
5.     Get insurance information for anyone else involved in the accident.
6.     Keep detailed written notes of any conversations you have with insurance agents, insurance adjusters, and claim officers.
7.     Retain bills and receipts for any expenses you have as a result of the accident (i.e., medical bills, car repair bills, other treatment expenses, etc.).
8.     Be honest when relating the circumstances of the accident to police and insurance investigators to avoid having your claim denied because of fraud.
9.     If you have more than one auto insurance policy, check for coverages that might be applicable to the accident in each policy.
 

DuBois Law Group, Gresham Accident Lawyers Offering Expert Auto Accident Insurance Claim Assistance

Serious injuries from auto accidents can easily side-track your life forever, both physically and financially. Consequently, you don’t want to rush into settling an insurance claim until you’ve fully evaluated your future medical needs and the financial strain your auto accident injury has put on you and your family. Consultation with an experience Gresham accident lawyer adept at handling accident claims is, thus, a wise decision to make. At DuBois Law Group, we offer free consultation to auto accident victims throughout Portland and the surrounding areas. For expert advice concerning your accident contact the Gresham accident lawyers at DuBois Law Group for an appointment to discuss your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.