To successfully file an injury claim in Oklahoma City, you should first seek immediate medical attention, document the accident scene, your injuries, treatment, and recovery process, and consult an experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorney who can file a claim with the insurance company, negotiate a fair settlement, and, if necessary, file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. While you can file a claim yourself, being represented by an experienced injury lawyer significantly increases your chances of a successful outcome.
What To Do Immediately After An Accident
What you do or refrain from doing after your accident is crucial to your success. Even if you do not think you are seriously injured, have a complete medical evaluation. Some life-threatening injuries do not have immediate symptoms. For example, internal bleeding may not be apparent in the first moments or even hours after an accident. And spinal injuries such as herniated discs may take hours or days to make themselves known.
If you are not evaluated promptly after your accident and then later discover that you are injured, insurance companies will often argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim or that your injuries were not caused by the accident. Having an evaluation immediately after the accident helps link your injuries to the accident.
Seeking immediate medical attention after an accident can protect your health and your ability to recover compensation for your damages.
You also must immediately report an accident to the police to request emergency medical help and to ensure there is an accident report is created. When possible, you should also document the accident scene by taking photographs or video footage of the vehicles involved, property damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries, and obtain contact information from all eyewitnesses to the accident. You are required to exchange information with other drivers.
Do not admit fault or apologize to anyone for the accident.
Investigate Your Accident and Build Your Strongest Case
You need to determine all possible causes and potentially liable parties in connection with your accident. Do not just take the cause of your accident at face value. There could be numerous contributing factors and multiple sources of available compensation to pay your damages.
At Warhawk Legal, our Oklahoma City accident attorneys scrutinize the facts of your accident so we can hold all liable parties accountable for paying the full value of your claim.
You also need to preserve essential evidence before it is lost or destroyed and uncover the facts to prove your claim. An experienced personal injury attorney will take fast action to secure evidence and issue discovery to identify and collect the proof needed to build your strongest case.
Determine Your Filing Deadline
Oklahoma law has established a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury claims. That means you must file your claim within two years of your accident. If you miss your filing deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation for your damages. However, there are exceptions to the two-year filing deadline, so you must promptly consult an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer to help ensure you file on time.
Calculating the Value of Your Claim
Before accepting a settlement offer, you need to know the actual value of your claim. Your injuries may require additional medical treatment and may have a lifelong impact on your ability to work and quality of life.
At Warhawk Legal, our personal injury attorneys consult medical, vocational, economic, and other industry experts to establish and accurately value all your damages, including the economic and non-economic value of both current and future damages.
The Insurance Claim Process
Once your attorney has gathered the necessary evidence, they will file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. The claim will include documentation of your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages, and proof of causation and liability.
The insurance company will assign the claim to an adjuster who will investigate it and determine whether to deny it or make a settlement offer.
Insurance companies are in business to make a profit, so their goal is to deny your claim when they can and when they can’t, to settle it for as little as possible. Their first settlement offer is usually far less than the actual value of your claim. They hope you do not understand the actual value of your claim, that you have not retained an attorney, and that you will be overwhelmed and stressed enough to accept whatever they offer.
At Warhawk Legal, we know how to establish and accurately value all your current and future economic and non-economic damages and hold the insurance companies accountable for paying the full compensation you are entitled to.
When Negotiations Fail
If negotiations fail and the insurance company or defendant refuses to offer a fair settlement, an experienced personal injury attorney with trial experience can file suit and take your case to court to demand the full value of your claim.
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in an accident or incident caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. You can represent yourself and try to piece together your claim. However, your chances of securing maximum compensation for your damages are much higher when an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer represents you.
At Warhawk Legal, we have the experience, skills, and resources to protect your rights, build your strongest case, and help you secure the full value of your damages. Call (405) 397-1717 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation.