Car accidents are catastrophic events that leave behind innocent victims and devastation in their wake. Car accident victims have many things to contend with, including painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and uncertainty about their legal rights when they were not responsible for the wreck. If you were injured in a recent vehicle accident, you do not need to go through a complicated legal process alone. Our Oklahoma City vehicle accident attorneys are here to help.
Why Choose the Oklahoma Injury Law Firm?
The Oklahoma Injury Law Firm was founded on the concept of helping our clients achieve complete recovery. We work closely with accident victims every day, so we know how an accident can derail your life and impact your future. Our mission is to help hold the at-fault parties accountable and secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
You can choose any personal injury lawyer to represent you, but we believe we are the right fit for you due to our:
- Experience: Our attorneys have an impressive 45 years of experience in personal injury law. We’ve handled a wide array of cases, including car accident cases, wrongful death claims, and workplace injury cases. You can trust that we will know how to best approach yours.
- Focus: Our firm focuses exclusively on personal injury law. This laser-sharp focus has allowed us to develop an in-depth understanding of this complex area of law and the resources we need to resolve personal injury cases successfully.
- Results: We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, money they needed to compensate for lost wages, pay off medical bills, and acknowledge the long-term impact of an accident.
- Personalized attention: Our legal team provides personalized attention to each client, so you’ll never feel out of the loop. Every case is handled by a team of attorneys and staff whose only goal is to help you recover fair compensation. We fight for what’s right and for the justice you deserve. We offer our clients a unique big-city experience with small-town values. You benefit from our collective wealth of knowledge while still being treated like a member of our family.
- Strong communication: We pride ourselves on our excellent communication skills. We keep clients informed about the status of their case and provide direct communication, so you can easily reach your lawyer when you have questions.
- Ability to negotiate: Our reputation precedes us in the negotiating room, often leading insurance companies to offer more favorable settlements. Because we prepare every case for trial, we negotiate from a position of knowledge and strength.
Because our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee, you get the immediate benefit of having an experienced lawyer handling your claim without having to worry about paying for our services until you recover compensation. Call us today to take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Can an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer Help After a Car Crash?
If you were involved in an auto accident in Oklahoma City, you may be dealing with painful injuries and an uncertain future. You need a strong advocate in your corner who can protect your rights and interests. When you choose our Oklahoma City personal injury law firm, we help with every aspect of the case, including:
- Case evaluation – An experienced OKC accident lawyer can meet with you, discuss the details of the accident, and explain if you have a viable personal injury claim.
- Investigation – The insurance company representing the at-fault driver may conduct a cursory investigation, largely to find ways to dispute or deny your car accident claim. An Oklahoma City car accident lawyer can conduct an independent investigation to determine how the accident happened and who the at-fault driver is.
- Case management – Insurance companies will try to do all they can to minimize the value of your car crash claim, including requesting recorded statements from you and then using them against you. An experienced OKC vehicle accident attorney can safeguard your interests, communicate with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf, and monitor case deadlines. Knowing someone else will protect your rights can give you peace of mind and the space you need to recover.
- Damages assessment – An Oklahoma City personal injury attorney can gather evidence of your accident-related injuries and losses, including medical bills, check stubs, property damage repair estimates, and receipts to document how the accident has affected you. In some cases, they may pull in expert witnesses to provide insight or testimony about long-term medical issues or economic losses.
- Negotiations – Our OKC car accident lawyers can prepare a detailed demand letter that sets out how the accident happened, why the other driver is at fault and the amount of financial compensation you reasonably expect to be paid to resolve your case.
- Legal representation – If your case involves litigation, arbitration, or mediation, our highly rated vehicle accident attorneys from OKC can represent your interests during these legal proceedings.
Contact our law firm, Oklahoma Injury Law Firm, for a free consultation where we can discuss more about how we can help you through the process.
Signs You Need an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer
You are not required by law to hire a car accident attorney to handle your claim. However, a lawyer can focus on your claim while you focus on your recovery. You can benefit from their experience and knowledge in personal injury law.
While you might be equipped to handle a property damage-only claim, some indications that you might need an attorney for help with your car accident case include:
- You suffered a significant injury. Serious injuries can result in more damages, as well as a greater likelihood of the insurance company denying your claim to avoid paying for them.
- Liability is in dispute. The insurance companies may try to shift blame to other parties, so you might need a lawyer to help prove fault.
- The insurance company isn’t cooperating. If the insurance company has denied your claim, refuses to investigate, or is not returning your calls, you may need legal support.
- Time is running out. Oklahoma’s statute of limitations gives you only two years to file a car accident lawsuit. If this deadline is approaching, contact a lawyer to help preserve your rights.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Oklahoma City
The leading cause of auto accidents is driver error. Common types of driver errors include:
- Speeding – Speeding decreases the amount of time a person has to avoid a collision after recognizing a hazard. Also, it makes it more likely that injuries will be severe in the event of a crash.
- Running red lights or stop signs –A driver may speed through a red or yellow light, crashing into a person with the legal right to proceed. They could also disregard or fail to notice stop signs.
- Impaired driving – Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol has impaired judgment, reduced motor function, and diminished inhibitions.
- Texting while driving – Distracted drivers may have less time to react because they do not notice a hazard in front of them. They can also drift into an adjoining lane of traffic when they are not paying attention.
- Failing to yield the right-of-way – Right-of-way rules exist to protect all motorists, but when drivers don’t obey them, they endanger others.
Determining the cause of the accident can help your Oklahoma City vehicle accident lawyer identify all parties at fault for your injuries.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of accidental injuries and death each year. Because car crash victims feel the combined force of both vehicles, their bodies may suffer various injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries when their heads hit a hard surface like a steering wheel or dashboard or their brains crash into the interior of the skull
- Spinal cord injuries are common because the back may take the brunt of the force
- Broken bones when the force of trauma is stronger than bones
- Catastrophic injuries, including amputations or severe burns
- Internal organ damage or bleeding, which can be fatal if not immediately diagnosed
- Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash and damage to ligaments, tendons, and muscles
The most important thing to do after a car accident is to seek medical attention. A healthcare provider can ensure your injuries are properly diagnosed and treated.
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover After a Car Wreck?
Oklahoma City car accident victims have the right to recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are direct financial losses stemming from the accident, such as car repairs or medical expenses. Non-economic damages compensate for less quantifiable damages, such as pain and suffering.
A successful car accident claim may be able to recover compensation for the following:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Physical rehabilitation and therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Costs to repair or replace your damaged vehicle
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
An experienced Oklahoma City car accident lawyer can review your case and determine the damages you can make part of your vehicle accident claim.
What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Oklahoma City
If you are ever involved in a car accident in Oklahoma City, take these steps immediately after the crash and in the days and weeks that follow:
Get to Safety
If your vehicle is still drivable, pull it over to the shoulder of the road. Activate your hazard lights and place cones or traffic flares around your vehicle if you have them to alert other drivers to the accident. If you feel you have sustained serious injuries, remain in place and wait for emergency service personnel to arrive. If you are fine to walk, check on others and render any necessary emergency aid.
Report the Accident
Call 911 or the Oklahoma City Police Department to report the accident. This can help deploy an ambulance to render emergency medical treatment and a police officer to the scene to complete an accident report.
Exchange Information
While you’re waiting for emergency responders, exchange information with the other driver. Ask for their:
- Name
- Contact details
- Driver’s license number
- Make, model, and year of vehicle
- Insurance information
Document the Accident Scene
Preserve evidence from the accident by taking photos or videos of the following:
- Damage to all involved vehicles
- Debris, skid marks, and other evidence on the roadway
- Road and weather conditions
- Nearby traffic signs, traffic signals, and cross streets
- Any conditions that could have contributed to the accident
Also, ask any witnesses for their names and contact information so your lawyer can follow up with them later to get their statements.
Seek Medical Attention
If paramedics ask to take you to the hospital, consent. Follow up with your care. Identify all of your injuries and explain your symptoms to your healthcare providers. Request that they carefully document their findings and treatment recommendations. Follow these recommendations, and keep all of your medical records.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
A car accident attorney can investigate your case, handle communications with the insurance company, and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Don’t Give a Recorded Statement
When dealing with insurance companies, it’s important that you understand that your and their interests do not align. Do not agree to give a recorded statement. Avoid speculating or making guesses about things. Don’t answer health questions from the insurance company. Instead, refer the insurance company to your lawyer for further details.
Be Careful What You Say
While your case is pending, avoid posting anything about it on social media. Insurance representatives often try to find anything they can to use against you to deny or minimize the value of your claim.
By seeking legal representation from the Oklahoma Injury Law Firm, you will have a dedicated team working on your behalf to recover fair compensation.
What Is the Deadline to File a Car Accident Lawsuit?
In Oklahoma City, the statute of limitations states that you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If you have not settled your case up to this point and you let the deadline pass without taking legal action, you can lose your right to recover compensation through the courts. Contact an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney to safeguard your rights.
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer for Legal Advice and Representation
If you were injured in a vehicle accident, you have options for financial recovery. The dedicated legal team at Oklahoma City Injury Law wants to help you recover compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses. We offer a free consultation where you can discuss your case and ask any questions you have about the car accident claims process. Contact us online or by phone (405) 310-8800 today to get started with yours.