What to Do After a Car Accident in Portland: A Step-by-Step Guide

Nobody plans for a crash. But the ten minutes after one matter enormously: for your safety, your insurance claim, and your wallet. Here's the playbook.

Step 1: Safety first, everything else second

Check yourself and your passengers. If anyone's hurt, call 911 immediately. If the cars are drivable and it's safe, move them out of travel lanes. A secondary crash is the last thing you need. Hazards on, engine off if there's fluid leaking or airbags deployed.

Step 2: Call the police

In Portland, call police for any accident with injuries, significant damage, or a hit-and-run. A police report is the backbone of your insurance claim. Even for a minor fender-bender, a report protects you if the other driver changes their story later.

Step 3: Document everything

Photos of both vehicles, the scene, skid marks, road conditions, license plates, and the other driver's insurance card. Get names and numbers of witnesses. It takes two minutes and it's the highest-value thing you'll do all day.

Step 4: The tow: YOUR call, not theirs

Here's what most people don't know: you have the right to choose your own tow company, even at an accident scene. After a crash, unsolicited wreckers sometimes arrive fast and pressure you on the spot. You can say no. If your car isn't drivable, call a company you trust, (503) 253-3030, and we'll coordinate directly with you and the officers on scene.

How accident recovery works with us

We do this daily. Our operators work alongside Portland police, fire, and ODOT to clear scenes fast and safe: uprighting vehicles, containing fluid spills, and recovering your car without causing more damage. We'll take it wherever you need: your home, your shop, or a storage facility. If it goes to storage, move it out quickly. Daily fees add up.

Step 5: Call your insurance

Report the claim the same day if you can. Give them the police report number, your photos, and where the vehicle is stored. Most policies cover towing up to a limit. Ask.

A crash is bad enough without getting pushed around afterward. Know your rights, document the scene, and call a tow