Car Accident Attorneys Serving Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City and other cities and towns across Oklahoma
If you were injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s carelessness, you probably have a lot on your mind. Past medical expenses. Future medical expenses. Time away from work. Insurance issues. The list goes on.
Car accidents often leave victims hurt and confused about their options. The insurance company may try to pressure you to settle your claim before you even know the true extent of your injuries and damages. Some insurance companies try to get injured people to immediately sign their rights away in a written or verbal release. The initial offers from insurance companies are very rarely enough to fully compensate people. Insurance companies often suggest that a wreck was just “an accident” to try to avoid responsibility or minimize your injuries and damages. When another driver chooses not to follow the rules of the road, we know how to get the insurance companies to pay.
If you were hurt or a loved one died in a car accident that was the result of another’s negligence, please call us at 918.477.7884 or contact us online.
Our experienced auto accident lawyers have helped thousands of Oklahomans. We have obtained millions of dollars for injured victims and their families. We offer free consultations to help you understand your choices and what should be done. Plus, we don’t get paid unless we collect compensation for you. This is another reason so many people turn to the car accident lawyers at Toon Law Firm.
Receiving Compensation for Oklahoma Car Accident Victims.
Oklahoma requires all drivers to carry a minimum level of insurance. There are many drivers on the road who do not follow this rule. When the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to compensate car accident victims, something called uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured motorist coverage can apply. These types of claims are often referred to as UM or UIM claims. There are very important steps to follow in these types of claims.
In our state, insurance companies are required to comply with Oklahoma’s Fair Settlement Practices Act. Insurance Companies often violate this Act, which can expose insurance companies to additional compensation and damages. These claims are known as insurance bad faith claims.
Oklahoma allows people in a car accident to pursue compensation for a variety of things such as:
- Medical treatment
- Lost earnings
- Past pain and suffering
- Future pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
Common auto accident injuries include but are not limited to:
- Herniated disks
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Bulging disks
- Broken bones
- Muscle injuries
- Radiculopathy
- Wrongful death
- Liver, spleen and kidney injuries
- Disfigurement
In Oklahoma, we follow what is called a modified comparative negligence standard. This means drivers who are involved in a wreck are assigned a percentage of liability. A driver who is more than 50 percent at fault for an accident is prevented from recovering damages. Insurance companies often try to put more liability on the accident victim. We have helped people recover damages even where the insurance companies originally tried to claim that injury victims were more than 50 percent at fault. Our car accident lawyers can review the facts of your case to determine whether you are allowed to recover.
If someone was killed in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, our car accident attorneys may be able to file a wrongful death claim. There is an Oklahoma statute specifically governing wrongful death actions. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1053 establishes the procedure for a wrongful death lawsuit and sets forth those individuals entitled to recover. We have handled numerous wrongful death car accident claims. We have the experience and resources to help car accident victims and their families.
What To Do After a Motor Vehicle Accident.
Even if there are no immediate signs of an injury, accident victims should have a medical evaluation. Some symptoms do not appear until hours, days, or months after the wreck. A doctor may be able to diagnose injuries before a person has symptoms. This is very common in people who have sustained brain injuries or internal bleeding. If you have injuries that are not showing symptoms, it is extremely important that those injuries are diagnosed and treated before it becomes too late.
An incredibly important thing to remember is there are very specific time limitations for filing claims related to auto accidents. A time limitation for filing a claim in Oklahoma is referred to as a statute of limitation. Although most auto accidents in Oklahoma have a 2-year statute of limitations, some claims will have a much shorter period. One example is some auto accidents are governed by Oklahoma’s Governmental Tort Claims Act.
The auto accident lawyers at Toon Law Firm can guide you through the process of handling these claims within Oklahoma’s various statutes of limitations. Whether your claim falls under a 1-year, 2-year or some other statute of limitations, as a general rule, the sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner your claim can be resolved. Toon Law Firm offers free consultations, and we aren’t paid unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
It is important to document information about the auto accident. Have photographs of the vehicles been obtained? Have witnesses given statements? Has other important evidence been procured? Does a private investigator need to be obtained right away? We can help you with all of this. Please call us at 918.477.7884 or contact us online.
Do I need a car accident lawyer?
Should you handle the claim on your own – or should you hire an auto accident attorney? Insurance companies usually try to lowball people who are not represented by an auto accident attorney. Think about this – if the insurance company knows you are not represented by an auto accident attorney, do you think the insurance company is going to be fair and pay you what you deserve?
We do not represent any insurance companies. More than 25 years ago – before Rich Toon became an attorney for injured people – he represented large insurance companies. He knows how the other side works. Oklahoma injury lawyer Rich Toon can put that knowledge to work for you.
Will I have to go to court?
We will go over the pros and cons with you. We will answer all of your questions and will discuss the plusses and minuses of settling vs. going to trial. You will be able to make a well-informed decision about whether you should settle or go to trial. We will guide you through the process so you can make the ultimate decision. We can do this on the phone, in person or via Zoom.
