Roseburg, OR Car Accident Lawyer

Should I file a report?

After being involved in an auto accident in Roseburg, OR, some drivers don’t want to report the collision to the authorities. There are many reasons why drivers may not want to call 911. They may have been driving while intoxicated, be uninsured, have been driving without a license. Or perhaps you simply do not want to take the time to wait for the authorities to arrive and a report to be filled out. 

When you must file a report

In Oregon, you must file a traffic and accident report with the DMV within 72 hours if one or more of the following applies to your case:

• The damage to any vehicle or other property involved is over $2,500
• A vehicle was towed from the scene
• There were any injuries or fatalities as a result of the accident

In most situations, you will need to call 911 to report the accident. A police officer and, if necessary, an ambulance will be dispatched to the scene. A police report will be filled out detailing the potential cause of the accident, injuries sustained, and damaged property. It’s important that this report is filled out, as it could be beneficial to your claim later on. 

After a motor vehicle collision in Roseburg, you will need to report the accident to your insurance company. However, try to keep your conversation with them as brief as possible, and try to avoid saying anything that could affect your compensation payout. Don’t allow insurance adjusters to talk you into accepting a settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries and losses. You should speak to a lawyer first.

Tips from a Roseburg Car Accident Lawyer when dealing with insurance companies

1. Don’t give a recorded statement
2. Don’t unknowingly say anything that may hurt your claim
3. Don’t admit fault in the accident
4. Don’t minimize your injuries
5. Don’t let the insurance company dictate where you receive medical care
6. Don’t sign anything before it’s reviewed by a lawyer

We recommend speaking to one of the personal injury attorneys with our law firm before finalizing anything with the insurance company. An accident lawyer will be able to calculate your losses, negotiate with the insurance companies, and ensure you receive the full compensation amount you are due. 

After an auto accident, it is normal for people’s emotions to be running high, making it difficult for them to think clearly and rationally. The most important thing to do after a collision is to seek medical attention for yourself and others that need it. Once help is on the way, there are other important steps that you can take to protect yourself physically and financially after the accident. 

Steps after a collision

If possible, after a motor vehicle collision, try to remain calm and focused and take the following steps:

• Check yourself for injuries and call 911. This is the most important thing that you can do after a collision. It may save your life and the lives of those in the other vehicle. You should call 911 even if the injuries seem minor, especially since there are times when the full extent of injuries sustained aren’t immediately obvious. A person could unknowingly have a brain injury or be bleeding internally. 

• Move to safety. If it is possible, move your vehicle off the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Turn off your vehicle, turn on your hazards, and set out orange cones or triangles if you have them.

• Exchange information. If possible, exchange contact information with all parties involved in the collision as well as with any witnesses in the area. Obtain full names, addresses, phone numbers, the make and model of the vehicles, license plate numbers, and insurance information. While exchanging information, be polite but refrain from saying anything that could be construed as an admission of fault.

• Document the scene. Use your phone to take photos of the scene of the crash. Photograph any injury sustained, property damage, weather and road conditions, and anything else that could be pertinent to your claim. 

• Contact your insurance company. As noted earlier, it’s important to alert your insurance company that you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle collision, but you should never accept a settlement without first consulting with a Roseburg personal injury lawyer. Keep in mind that, once you accept a settlement offer, that’s it; you can’t go back later and ask for more financial compensation. 

Consult a personal injury attorney.

Insurance companies want you to settle for the lowest amount possible. With a trusted Roseburg lawyer from Bell Law Offices on your side. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you aren’t taken advantage of by insurance companies who only care about profit. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed in an auto accident, contact our law firm at (541) 636-4930 today.

Oregon state law allows financial compensation for a range of damages after a motor vehicle collision. Your personal injury attorney will review the extent of your injuries and damages and may pursue compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earning potential
• Long-term disability
• Short-term disability
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death

You typically cannot seek damages in a motor vehicle accident claim for a pre-existing injury or condition. However, if the collision aggravated the pre-existing injury or condition, you can pursue damages for the worsening of the injury. 

Possible Pre-existing conditions

The following are a few of the possible pre-existing conditions that may be exacerbated by a car crash:

• Back injuries: Chronic back injuries such as arthritis and degenerative disc disease can be exacerbated by a vehicle accident; back pain that was once manageable could be unbearable after the collision. 

• Brain injuries: A person who has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be at serious risk of re-injury
• Broken bones: If you had a broken arm, leg, or other bone that was starting to heal, the car crash could cause the bone to re-fracture and/or worsen the injury

These types of cases are usually a bit more complex since the pre-existing condition is a factor taken into account when negotiating a settlement. While it’s true that recovering compensation for aggravated pre-existing conditions can be complicated. Our Roseburg personal injury attorneys at our law firm are up to the challenge. Contact Bell Law Offices today to schedule a free case consultation. 

Defects in the design or manufacturing can directly lead to a vehicle accident or contribute to the severity of a person’s injuries in the event of a collision. If you believe that a faulty auto part played a role in your motor vehicle collision, consult a personal injury attorney at our law firm today. 

Defective auto parts that have lead to injuries

• Seat belt malfunction: Seat belts have greatly reduced the number of car crash injuries and fatalities over the years. However, when seat belts malfunction, they can injure those who they were designed to protect. Faulty seat belts may become unlatched or tear during impact, further increasing the risk of injury. 

• Airbag defect: Airbags are a great safety feature that has saved countless lives. Tragically, when an airbag fails to inflate, deploys at the wrong moment, or inflates with too much force. This can cause the very injuries it was intended to prevent. 

• Fuel system defect: Improperly placed gas tanks, inadequately designed fuel systems, and welding failures. This may cause a vehicle to catch fire or explode in the event of a collision. But accidents involving faulty fuel tanks should be completely preventable. Nevertheless, accidents involving vehicle fires and explosions continue to occur. 

• Defective tires: A poorly designed tire can result in tread separation and tire blow out. Because of this some of the country’s largest tire producers have been linked to design flaws and shoddy production that resulted in poor tread adherence. 

The personal injury attorneys at Bell Law Offices are proud to serve the residents of Roseburg, OR. The members of our law firm value open and honest communication. That’s why we, once we take on your case, will take the time to keep you regularly updated on the negotiations of your claim settlement. We are committed to obtaining the best results possible for our client’s personal injury cases.

Get in touch with our Roseburg Car Accident Lawyer

To get started with a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at (541) 636-4930 or send us a message from our website. You pay no fees unless we recover money for you in a settlement or jury verdict.