What Is In My Oregon Accident Report?
Regardless of whether you were involved in a mild car accident or a major collision, it’s always a good idea to call a law enforcement officer to the scene so that they can file an official Oregon accident report. In this document, the officer will take note of all of the important details connected to the accident.
As you might imagine, this information can be extremely valuable to you if you plan to claim insurance benefits or file a lawsuit for compensation for injuries or damaged property. There are several important things for you to keep in mind as you read and interpret your official Oregon accident report.
Your Oregon Collision Report Explained
Even if you’ve dealt with an official Oregon accident report in the past, it can be confusing to navigate the layout of the document. That’s why we’re here to help. Though it may be confusing at first, your accident report is made up of two simple pages, divided into several sections. Each section contains a different set of details regarding the nature, cause, and result of the accident.
Page 1:
The first page of your report is made up of several sections. At the top of the page, the officer will take note of all the most basic information about the accident, including:
- Reporting officer’s information
- Time, date, and location of the accident
- Whether or not any hazardous materials were released in the accident
In the next section, the officer will include details regarding the vehicles involved in the accident. Here, the officer will note:
- Vehicle identification numbers
- Make, model, year, and color of the vehicle
- Any damages either vehicle sustained
Below this section is where the officer will list the drivers’ names, license numbers, and contact information. They will also record any witnesses’ contact information here, as well.
Page 2:
The second page of the report is comprised almost entirely of boxes where the officer will indicate many details about the accident, including:
- Weather conditions
- Surface conditions
- Light conditions
- Crash type
- Traffic control device condition
- Road character
- Road flow
- Driver’s license violation
- Driver factors
- Driver impairments
- Passenger factors
- Pedestrian location
- Pedestrian action
At the bottom of the page is a section where the officer will include a sketch to visually interpret the events of the accident, as well as a narrative description of the events of the accident.
Common Questions About the Oregon Crash Report
You can file your crash report, although you should call an officer to the scene of the crash when you’re able. Oregon state law requires you to report an accident within ten days if you were unable to call a law enforcement officer to the scene of the crash.
Because Oregon law requires you to report any accident which results in death, injury, property damage of $1,500 or greater, or the towing of any vehicle, you can face fines, license suspension, or even jail time for failing to report an accident.
You will need to provide the driver’s name, as well as the time, date, and location of the accident in order to search for the report.
Don’t wait to obtain legal information that can greatly benefit your claim. Request a completely free copy of your crash report today. Click HERE to find out how!
