I crashed driving between Bend clinics on black ice what do I do now?
The police report may say "loss of control on ice," but that is not what makes or breaks your claim. What matters in Oregon in the first 48 hours is whether you create a clean medical and reporting record before insurers, employers, or a risk department start framing this as "just weather" or a preexisting injury.
The biggest mistake is waiting because you think the officer already documented it.
If you were driving between worksites or on an errand for your employer, report it to your supervisor immediately as a work injury. In Oregon, you generally must give notice within 90 days, and a formal workers' comp claim usually must be filed within 1 year. Ask for the Form 801 process to start. The carrier may be SAIF or another insurer, but the state agency overseeing disputes is the Oregon Workers' Compensation Division.
Also handle the crash side. In Oregon, you must file an Oregon Traffic Accident and Insurance Report with DMV within 72 hours if anyone was injured, a vehicle was towed, there was a death, or property damage meets the reporting threshold, including vehicle damage over $2,500. Do not assume Bend Police or Oregon State Police sent that in for you.
Get checked today, even if it feels like "just soreness." A hip labral tear, concussion, or neck injury often shows up after the adrenaline drops.
Do these next:
- Photograph the ice, roadway, skid area, damage, shoes, and any salt/sanding conditions on US-97, local hospital lots, or clinic entrances.
- Save your shift schedule, route, texts, badge logs, and mileage records.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other insurer today.
- Do not post photos, "I'm okay," or joking updates on social media.
One more trap: do not let treatment get pushed onto your personal health insurance first if this happened in the course of work. That often creates months of delay and finger-pointing.
This is general information, not legal counsel. Your situation has details that change everything. If you were injured, speaking with an attorney costs nothing and could change your outcome.
Speak with an attorney now →