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Should I Call 911 After a Car Accident in Portland?

Posted on February 21, 2023 in
Should I Call 911 After a Car Accident in Portland?

You may have heard that, if you’ve been involved in a car crash in Portland, the first thing you should do is to call 911. But if you’re in a relatively minor car accident, is that really necessary? After all, is it worth calling an emergency line if no one is bleeding out or unconscious?

Read on to learn if you should really call the police after a car accident in Portland and why calling 911 might be the right move.

The Short Answer

The short answer to this question is yes – it’s always a good idea to call 911 after you’ve been involved in a car accident. As a rule of thumb, if you’re not sure whether a situation is a serious enough emergency to warrant calling 911, go ahead and call. The operator can help you decide the best course of action from there.

Calling 911 after a car accident can help you ensure that everyone at the scene gets the medical care they need and that the accident gets properly documented and reported.

Check for Hidden Injuries

Sometimes, the injuries you get at the scene of a minor accident may not be obvious right away. Soft tissue injuries and concussions in particular can take a day or two to show up. Other injuries may not become apparent for months or even years after the fact.

Even if you think no one was injured in your car crash, it’s a good idea to get checked for hidden injuries. Having early documentation of this can help you get compensation for those injuries down the line. Early detection can also make a big difference when it comes to getting the best outcome in your medical treatment.

Document the Crash

Calling 911 after a crash can also provide important documentation about the accident. There are all manner of reasons you may need a police report, including filing an insurance claim and making a personal injury claim. A police report provides an official record of the crash and may even include photos and witness contact information.

If you fail to get a police report, you could wind up in a he said/she said situation when it comes to filing a personal injury claim. The quickest way to get the police to the scene of your accident is to call 911. If your fender bender is especially mild, you can always choose to call the Portland non-emergency line at 311 instead.

Follow the Law

You might be surprised to learn that calling 911 after a car crash could help to keep you on the right side of the law in Portland. In some situations, you’re required by law to report your accident to the Oregon DMV. Having a police report can help you get all the details you need to include in your report.

You’ll need to report your accident if

  • Damage to any property, including but not limited to vehicles, totals more than $2,500 (even if you were the only one involved in the crash)
  • Anyone was injured or killed in the accident

Even if you have a police report, you’ll still need to report your accident to the Oregon DMV if it meets one of these criteria.

Get the Representation You Need

If you’ve been involved in a car crash in Portland, one of the first things you need to do is to call 911. Even if the crash seems minor and there are no obvious injuries, it’s always a good idea to get checked out by a medical professional. And getting an official record of the crash can be helpful for filing insurance and personal injury claims down the road.

If you were injured in a Portland car accident, the attorneys at Tillman Law want to help. We’ve recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we’re ready to go to bat for you, too. Schedule a free consultation with us today and start getting the representation you need in your case.

Contact Our Car Accident Attorneys in Portland, OR – Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers

If you were injured in an accident in Portland, OR, please contact our Portland car accident lawyers at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.

Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers
101 SW Main St. #1905
Portland, OR, 97204
(503) 773-3333

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