Portland Car Accident Attorneys

Portland Car Accident Questions

Who should I call first after a crash in Portland?

Anyone hurt? Call 911. Oregon law requires drivers to notify police right away when a crash causes injury or death, and in certain crashes with more than $2,500 in damage (ORS 811.745, ORS 811.748). For a non-emergency, the City of Portland lists 503-823-3333. From a cell phone, *677 reaches Oregon State Police. The Portland Police online reporting tool does not take crash reports, with one exception: a hit and run that damaged your vehicle or property, where nobody was hurt and you do not know who the driver was. Once you are safe and a doctor has seen you, we are a call or text away at (855) 772-6969.

Will Portland Police investigate my crash, and how do I get the report?

Not every crash gets a police investigation. The Portland Police Traffic Division says it investigates fatal and serious injury crashes, crashes with an impaired driver, hit and runs, and hazardous material spills. It also says a crash cannot be investigated later if no officer was at the scene, unless it was a hit and run. If an officer did write a report, the Records Division takes requests through the city's online records request center. The city says all requests have a fee, and the Records Division no longer has a public counter. Its automated information line is 503-823-0041. If a Multnomah County Sheriff's deputy wrote the report, that office takes requests through the county's online records portal. Our clients do not chase reports. We request them.

Police did not come to my Portland crash. Do I still have to report it to the DMV?

Very often, yes, and the same is true when police do come. Oregon DMV says you still need to file your own report even if law enforcement files one. The report is due within 72 hours if anyone was injured or killed, if damage to your vehicle is over $2,500, or if damage to other property is over $2,500. It is also due if any vehicle has more than $2,500 in damage and any vehicle is towed from the scene (ORS 811.725). DMV2U takes the report online, or you can hand in the paper form at a DMV office. Portland has three: Downtown at 1502 SW Sixth Ave, North at 1186 N Hayden Meadows Dr, and Southeast at 8710 SE Powell Blvd. Keep a copy, because DMV says it cannot give you one later. Not sure whether yours qualifies? We can tell you.

Which Portland streets does the city list as high crash streets?

The Portland Bureau of Transportation keeps a list it calls the High Crash Network: 30 streets and 30 intersections. The city says the network makes up 8 percent of Portland streets but accounted for an average of 67 percent of traffic deaths from 2020 to 2024. The list includes 82nd Avenue, 122nd Avenue, Powell Boulevard, Division Street, Sandy Boulevard, Lombard Street, Barbur Boulevard and Marine Drive. The intersection list includes ramps at I-205, I-84 and I-5. A crash can happen on any street, and we handle claims from all of them. To talk with us for free, call or text (855) 772-6969.

How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Portland?

Most Oregon injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (ORS 12.110). If a public body such as a city, a county or the state is involved, you also need to give notice of the claim within 180 days (ORS 30.275). A crash with a city bus or a county truck may fall under these rules. Exceptions can make your deadline shorter or longer. Opening an insurance claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. Talking with an insurance adjuster does not, by itself, extend the deadline. Ask our Portland legal team to pin down your deadline. Asking is free.