When you have injuries from a car accident, you face a long, complex uphill legal struggle to recover compensation. An experienced personal injury attorney understands the law and the necessary processes. They can be a guide and advocate for you to help you climb that hill with confidence.
Our Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers at Warhawk Legal have years of experience helping clients secure the fair and full compensation they deserve for their car accident injuries. When you are not sure of how much compensation you deserve or the full cost of your injuries, we can provide you with the guidance you need in your injury claim. You will have a lot of questions about what you should do next. Let us answer your car accident questions and advise you on how to fight the insurance company.
Some evidence of a car accident is more reliable immediately after your accident, such as witness testimony. While the Oklahoma statute of limitations for crashes allows you to file a claim within two years of your injury, now is always the best time to file a claim. Schedule your initial consultation at our Oklahoma City law office by calling (405) 397-1717 or by emailing us.
Why Choose an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer at Warhawk Legal?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Oklahoma City, and you are seeking compensation for your injuries and losses, choosing the right legal representation can make all the difference. At Warhawk Legal, our team stands out for several compelling reasons:
- Our Experienced and Award-Winning Attorneys: Our attorneys have garnered recognition for their legal prowess and dedication to achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients. With years of focused experience in car accident cases in Oklahoma, we understand the complexities of the local laws and how to leverage them in your favor.
- Our Client-Centric Approach: At Warhawk Legal, we prioritize your needs and well-being. We understand that each car accident case is unique, so we offer personalized legal strategies tailored to the specific details of your situation.
- Our Proven Track Record: Our law firm has a history of securing fair and full compensation for victims of car accidents. From your medical expenses and pain and suffering to lost income and the cost to repair or replace your vehicle, we will fight tirelessly to ensure you receive the justice you deserve.
- We are Accessible and Supportive: We believe in making ourselves available to our clients, offering guidance and support through every step of the claims process. From your initial consultation to settling with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance provider (or resolving your case in court), we will be available to answer your questions and alleviate your concerns.
Choosing Warhawk Legal means partnering with a legal team that is dedicated to the success of your car accident claim. We understand the challenges you are facing and are here to help you overcome them with confidence.
Fighting For Full Compensation After An Accident
Insurance companies have a reputation for offering a quick settlement that is far smaller than the victim deserves. We can help you pursue compensation for your car wreck that covers all of the consequences of your injury, including:
- Medical expenses: Past, present and future hospital bills, transportation costs related to your care, surgeries, ongoing wound treatment for burns and scars and medication
- Property damage: Car repairs, damage to buildings, replacements for personal items and other damage
- Lost income: Wage replacement for lost time recovering and compensation for lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering: Emotional and mental anguish caused by the accident and your recovery
For us, it is not enough for the liable party to pay a small portion of your losses and leave the rest to you. We want to know that you are getting the resolution you deserve for your injuries, and we can help you pursue all types of compensation.
After a serious car accident, there is no guarantee that you will receive the compensation you need to cover medical bills and other losses. Let our experienced and committed attorneys help you pursue justice after your accident by helping you with your compensation needs. Contact our Oklahoma City office by calling (405) 397-1717 or by emailing us to schedule your initial consultation today.
Resources On This Page
- Liability in Oklahoma City Car Accidents
- What To Do After A Car Accident In Oklahoma City
- Compensation In An Oklahoma City Car Accident Claim
- Oklahoma City Car Accident Injuries
- Common Types of Car Accidents in Oklahoma City
- How Long Do I Have to File a Claim In Oklahoma City?
- Oklahoma City Car Accident FAQ’s
- Contact
Liability in Oklahoma City Car Accidents
Determining who is liable for a car accident is a critical step in securing compensation for your losses. Oklahoma operates under a “modified comparative negligence” system that can profoundly affect the compensation you are entitled to recover.
Under Okla. Stat. tit. 23 § 13, which explains the comparative negligence rule, the compensation you can recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault for the accident. However, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages.
To establish liability, several elements must be proven:
- Duty of Care: It must be shown that the defendant owed you a duty of care. For drivers, this means following traffic laws and driving safely to avoid causing harm to others.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to meet their duty of care through negligent actions, such as speeding, driving under the influence, or not following traffic signals.
- Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty directly caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered quantifiable losses due to the accident, such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
Navigating these legal complexities can be challenging without the help of a knowledgeable Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer. At Warhawk Legal, we have the experience and resources to investigate your case, establish liability, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Getting Answers After Your Oklahoma City Accident
A car accident can leave you extremely confused about your future and how you will recover from your injuries. Getting the answers you need is not always easy, which is why at Warhawk Legal, we are here to answer your questions. Before you come to meet at our Oklahoma City office, here are some answers that can help set you on the path to a better future:
What To Do After A Car Accident In Oklahoma City
The steps you take immediately after your car accident can drastically help you. After your accident, everyone should take a few critical steps:
- Document the accident: Even one day after a car accident, it can be challenging to recreate the events of the collision. By taking a few minutes to take pictures and videos of the accident scene, any factors that may have helped cause it, and even the surrounding road conditions, you are providing yourself with an additional and vital resource in your accident compensation claim.
- Collect insurance company names and other information: The more information you collect at the time of the accident, the better. Witness testimony is the most accurate immediately following collisions, so be sure to record any statements a witness of the accident is willing to give you. Also, be sure to collect the license, license plate, car details and contact information of the other driver. Before even getting out of the car after the collision, be sure to collect the car information if the at-fault driver tries to flee the accident scene and avoid speaking directly to the other driver’s insurance.
- Call the police; they investigate accidents: After a serious injury, the police can offer many services to help you. A police report that comes from calling officers for help can be an additional piece of evidence in your compensation claim. Additionally, police officers can also help clear the scene of the accident, reroute traffic and clean any car parts from the road. They can also send an ambulance at your request for any medical attention you may need.
- Contact our law firm in Oklahoma City: Even when all the evidence is in your favor in a compensation claim, there is no guarantee that you will receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Our Oklahoma City car wreck attorneys can help you secure the compensation you deserve and provide you with the resources you need to cover the costs of your injuries.
Compensation In An Oklahoma City Car Accident Claim
When people suffer a serious car accident because of someone else’s reckless or negligent driving habits, they may not pursue a compensation claim because they do not know how much they can get. Personal injury compensation is vital in covering the costs of any injury, which makes it essential for accident victims to secure the funds they need for their injuries.
The first of the two types of compensation you can pursue is “economic damages.” These damages refer to any financial losses, such as medical bills, that come from your injuries. Common examples of this type of expense include:
- Lost income during the recovery process
- All medical care expenses
- Property damage replacement or repair
- The cost of modifying your home to accommodate your injuries
- Loss of earning capacity
These costs are relatively easy to pursue, as there are often documents to prove the exact expenses of your injuries. We can help you compile these documents while we build your case for fair compensation.
While it is easy to put a price on many aspects of your personal injury, not everything has a simple price tag. “Noneconomic losses” refer to the pain and suffering, and other losses that a victim may have experienced. These losses are commonly tied to the emotional experience of recovering from the accident and regularly include:
- Current and future pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Scarring or burns
- Permanent limited mobility
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
When a car accident injury causes you to suffer extreme amounts of emotional difficulties, the liable party should also compensate you for that suffering. Just because you cannot put a price tag on trauma does not mean that the liable person needs to answer for it. If there was a death in the accident, our Oklahoma City wrongful death lawyers are here to handle your case.
Oklahoma City Car Accident Injuries
People often have a list of injuries that they imagine someone can receive from a car accident. When someone is not fully aware of just all the ways that an accident can hurt them, it may keep them from pursuing full compensation for their accident. The naked eye cannot see many injuries in a car accident, and many more injuries can have far more consequences than you may suspect. We have come to learn about all the types of injuries that can come from a car accident, including:
- Knee damage, wrist damage, and other joint damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage throughout the body
- Paralysis
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
Just because you were able to walk away from your accident does not mean that you are uninjured. The best thing you can do after an accident is to see a doctor to confirm your health following a car crash. After you see a medical professional and receive your diagnosis, contact one of our Oklahoma City car accident lawyers. You can trust our team to secure the compensation you deserve.
Common Types of Car Accidents in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City roads witness a variety of car accidents, each presenting unique challenges and legal considerations. Some of the most common types and causes of car accidents include:
- Rear-End Collisions: Often resulting from tailgating or sudden stops, these accidents can cause significant injuries, including whiplash. This commonly happens during high-traffic times.
- Head-On Collisions: Among the most dangerous, head-on crashes usually occur on two-lane roads and can lead to severe or fatal injuries.
- Side-Impact Crashes: Also known as T-bone accidents, these occur at intersections and can cause serious injuries to passengers and drivers alike.
- Sideswipe Accidents: Often a result of distracted or other forms of reckless driving, drivers fail to stay in their lane and the side of their car collides with another car.
- Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups: Common on highways, these accidents involve multiple vehicles and can complicate liability issues.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents: These accidents pose unique challenges in tracking down the at-fault driver and securing compensation.
- Distracted Driving Accidents: With the rise of smartphone use, distracted driving has become a leading cause of accidents in the city.
Understanding the type of car accident you have been involved in is important for determining the best legal strategy. Warhawk Legal has extensive experience handling all these types of accidents and using our experience to navigate the complexities of each case.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim In Oklahoma City?
Oklahoma law sets a strict deadline on your ability to seek compensation for a car accident through the courts. Specifically, Okla. Stat. tit. 12 § 95 dictates:
“…actions for recovery of damages for injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated, shall be brought within two (2) years…”
This essentially means that you have only two years from the date of the accident to assess all of your damages (including your future medical expenses, loss of future earning capacity, etc.) and either negotiate a reasonable settlement with the at fault driver’s auto insurance provider or file a lawsuit for personal injury or property damage resulting from your car accident.
This two-year timeline is standard for nearly all lawsuits related to car accidents in the state. However, for cases involving wrongful death resulting from a car accident, the statute similarly allows a two-year window for filing a lawsuit, but this period commences from the death date of the victim, which might differ from the accident date. This is detailed in Okla. Stat. tit. 12 § 1053.
Failing to reach an insurance settlement within this timeframe, while also failing to file a lawsuit in court, can result in you having to pay for your medical expenses and related damages out of your own pockets. This highlights the need to have an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney who can ensure that the statute of limitations and other important deadlines related to your case are met.
Oklahoma City Car Accident FAQ:
Do I Need To See A Doctor?
Even if you do not feel hurt after your car accident, you should see a doctor, as you could experience delayed pain. The resulting medical report creates a benchmark for your health so you can monitor any worsening conditions. A doctor can also look for any hidden life-threatening injuries like a traumatic brain injury.
If My Car Still Runs, Can I Drive It?
Unless you have had a full inspection of your vehicle, do not drive it. Hidden damages to your vehicle may cause you to suffer a serious injury, which may then qualify as only your liability for driving a faulty vehicle.
What Kind Of Damages Can I Recieve?
The compensation for your personal injury should cover all of the costs that come with the car accident. Common damages include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. A skilled attorney can help you secure the fair compensation you deserve.
Do I Need A Car Accident Attorney?
After a car accident in Oklahoma City, you might wonder whether you need to hire a lawyer. While it is possible to handle a minor accident claim on your own, there are several situations where seeking legal representation is in your best interest:
- Severe Injuries or Significant Damage: If the accident resulted in serious injuries or substantial property damage, a lawyer could help you navigate the complexities of your claim and ensure you receive fair compensation.
- Disputed Liability: If the other party or their insurance company disputes their client’s liability, a lawyer can gather evidence to support your case and fight for your rights.
- Insurance Company Challenges: Insurance companies are in the business of minimizing payouts. A skilled lawyer can negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf to make sure they do not undervalue or deny your claim unjustly.
- Complex Legal or Medical Issues: Car accident claims involving complicated legal issues or long-term medical care require knowledge that only an experienced car accident lawyer can provide.
An experienced car accident attorney can help you negotiate for compensation that accurately reflects the total cost of your injury, avoid making critical mistakes during the claims process, and reduce the time it takes to receive the compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Oklahoma City, do not wait to seek legal assistance. Contact Warhawk Legal today to schedule a free consultation. Our experienced Oklahoma City car accident lawyers are ready to discuss your case, answer your questions, and guide you through the process of securing the compensation you deserve. Call us at (405) 397-1717 or visit our contact page to get started.