What to do after a car accident in Oregon
Every rule below is quoted from Oregon law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
Oregon is an at-fault state. Even though Oregon requires you to carry personal injury protection insurance, you can still sue the driver who caused the crash for your damages. A crash on a public road or place open to the public must be reported to the Department of Transportation if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage is over $2,500. You have 2 years to sue over injuries from a car crash in Oregon.
Deadlines in Oregon
- 2 years
- to sue for injuriesORS 12.110
- 6 years
- to sue for car or property damageORS 12.080
- 3 years
- for a family to sue after a deathORS 30.020
- 180 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedORS 30.275
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a crash must stop immediately at or near the scene, figure out what was hit, and give their name, address, vehicle registration, insurance company and policy number to the other driver or any injured person. If someone is hurt, the driver must also stay at the scene and give them reasonable help, including arranging a ride to a doctor or hospital if that is clearly needed or requested.
“Render to any person injured in the collision reasonable assistance, including the conveying, or the making of arrangements for the conveying, of an injured person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such conveying is requested by any injured person.”
When you must call the police
A crash on a public road or place open to the public must be reported to the Department of Transportation if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage is over $2,500.
“an accident occurring on a highway or upon premises open to the public resulting in damage to the property of any person in excess of $2,500”
Moving your car out of traffic
In Oregon, if no one appears hurt, the car still runs and does not need a tow, and it is safe to do, the driver must move the car off the road as close to the crash scene as possible. Not doing this is a traffic violation.
“The driver of a motor vehicle commits the offense of failure to remove a motor vehicle from the roadway if, after an accident: (a) A person has not suffered any apparent personal injury as a result of the accident; (b) The motor vehicle is operable and does not require towing; (c) It is safe to drive the motor vehicle to a location off of the roadway as close to the accident scene as possible; and (d) The driver does not move the motor vehicle to a location off of the roadway as close to the accident scene as possible.”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
If your crash meets the injury, death, or 2,500 dollar damage threshold, you must file an Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report with DMV within 72 hours, most easily online through DMV2U. DMV cannot give you a copy afterward, so save your own copy when you submit it.
“Within 72 hours of a motor vehicle collision, drivers involved in a collision are required to submit an Oregon Traffic Collision and Insurance Report to DMV.”
Getting a copy of the crash report
In Oregon, copies of a police crash report come from the DMV, not the state police directly. A copy costs $8.50, whether or not the report is found.
“This is a copy of the police report on the accident.”
Who pays for the damage
Oregon is an at-fault state. Even though Oregon requires you to carry personal injury protection insurance, you can still sue the driver who caused the crash for your damages.
“Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or the legal representative of the person to recover damages for death or injury to person or property if the fault attributable to the claimant was not greater than the combined fault of all persons specified”
Insurance rules in Oregon
What insurance every driver must carry
Oregon drivers must carry at least $25,000 in liability coverage for one injured person, $50,000 total per accident if more than one person is hurt, and $20,000 for property damage.
“$25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident; Subject to that limit for one person, $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident; and $20,000 because of injury to or destruction of the property of others in any one accident.”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Oregon requires every auto insurance policy to include personal injury protection covering at least $15,000 in medical expenses within 2 years of the crash, no matter who caused it.
“All reasonable and necessary expenses of medical, hospital, dental, surgical, ambulance and prosthetic services incurred within two years after the date of the person's injury, but not more than $15,000 in the aggregate for all such expenses of the person.”
If the other driver has no insurance
Oregon requires every auto liability policy to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage automatically, at least equal to your liability limits. Unlike some states, Oregon does not let you skip this coverage entirely.
“Every motor vehicle liability policy that insures against a loss that a natural person suffers and that results from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death that arises out of owning, maintaining or using a motor vehicle shall provide in the policy or by indorsement on the policy uninsured motorist coverage”
Medical payments coverage
Oregon does not require a separate medical payments coverage. Instead, every policy must include personal injury protection, which pays your medical bills after a crash no matter who was at fault.
“Personal injury protection benefits consist of payments for expenses, loss of income and loss of essential services as provided in ORS 742.524.”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation online, or call their consumer advocacy line for help.
“The Division of Financial Regulation handles complaints about mortgage lenders, loan originators, finance service professionals, and most lines of insurance.”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 2 years to sue over injuries from a car crash in Oregon.
“An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, or for any injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract...shall be commenced within two years.”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 6 years to sue over vehicle or property damage from a car crash in Oregon. This is longer than the 2 year deadline for injury claims.
“An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property...shall be commenced within six years.”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
Families generally have 3 years to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Oregon, counted from when the death and its cause were discovered or reasonably should have been discovered, but never more than 3 years after the death.
“The action shall be commenced within three years after the injury causing the death of the decedent is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a government vehicle or road is involved, you must give written notice of the claim within 180 days of the crash. If the crash caused a death, the family has 1 year to give notice.
“within 180 days after the alleged loss or injury”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- ORS 31.600
- ORS 742.524(1)(a)
- ORS 12.110
- ORS 30.020
- ORS 811.720
- ORS 811.725; ORS 802.220(5)
- ORS 806.070
- ORS 742.502
- ORS 742.520
- ORS 811.700; ORS 811.705
- Or. Rev. Stat. § 811.717
- Oregon DMV, Available DMV Records & Fees (Police Traffic Crash Report entry, $8.50)
- Oregon Division of Financial Regulation
- Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)(1)-(2)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.