Records to keep after an Oregon car crash

Check the DMV reporting requirement.

Oregon requires a driver to submit a collision report to DMV within 72 hours when specified conditions apply, including injury or death. A police report does not replace the driver’s DMV report. Review the current DMV instructions for the full criteria and reporting options. Oregon DMV collision reporting and responsibilities.

Preserve information without changing it.

• Keep photographs of the vehicles and scene, along with the original files.
• Save witness names and contact information, available reports and insurance details.
• Preserve dashcam footage and messages. Ask promptly about other recordings that may be overwritten.
• Retain insurer letters, emails, claim numbers and any proposed releases.

Do not edit original images or delete records because you think they hurt your position. Keep a separate note describing what you remember and where each record came from. If something is uncertain, label it that way.

Document the practical effects.

Keep appointment information, bills, receipts, work restrictions and records of missed work. A brief dated account of changes in everyday activities can help you explain the injury’s effects accurately. Distinguish what you experienced from what someone else told you.

Insurance questions may extend beyond the other driver’s liability coverage. Bring your own policy and any denial letters to a discussion with counsel. Our case updates include a recent Oregon decision about underinsured-motorist coverage and work vehicles.

Before signing a release, understand which people and claims it would cover. EWC Law helps personal injury clients throughout Oregon discuss these questions.