If you have been in an automobile accident, there are some things you need to know to protect your legal rights. Our Tulsa car accident lawyers discuss five auto accident FAQs in this blog that could help you recover the compensation you deserve after another driver causes a car crash in Tulsa.
Five Auto Accident FAQs You Need to Know
Before you talk to an insurance adjuster about your car wreck or accept a settlement offer, consider the following auto accident FAQs.
1. Oklahoma is an at-fault state for car accident claims
Oklahoma drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. Liability insurance compensates accident victims for damages caused by the insured driver. However, before you can recover money for your injuries and damages, you must prove the other driver caused the crash.
Evidence that can help prove the other driver caused the collision includes:
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Video of the accident from traffic cameras or nearby surveillance cameras
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
- The damage to the vehicles involved in the crash
- Analysis by an accident reconstructionist
Our legal team performs an extensive accident investigation to gather and preserve key evidence proving how the crash occurred.
2. Insurance companies may use unfair tactics to avoid paying claims
Insurance companies are in business to make money. Paying your claim undermines the goal of making money. Therefore, some insurance companies might try to pressure victims into settling for amounts that are much lower than the value of their claim. Insurance adjusters might twist comments made by victims to make it appear as if the victim is partially at fault for the cause of the crash.
In some cases, an insurance company crosses the line. They utilize illegal insurance practices. If an insurance company engages in illegal insurance practices, you could have a separate claim against the insurance company.
Working with a Tulsa car accident attorney can protect you from aggressive insurance adjusters and bad faith insurance practices.
3. You could be entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages
When a car crash injures you, you may be entitled to compensation for both non-economic and economic damages. Economic damages include your financial losses, such as loss of income, medical bills, and personal care costs.
Non-economic losses are damages you sustain that cause physical, emotional, or mental pain and suffering. They also include compensation for permanent impairments, disabilities, disfigurement, and a loss of quality of life.
Make sure that you know the value of your damages before you settle your accident claim. You do not want to accept an amount that is less than your car accident claim is worth.
4. Being partially at fault might not bar you from recovering compensation for accident damages
Oklahoma uses modified comparative fault to assign damages in a personal injury case. If you are partially at fault for the cause of the car accident, your compensation can be reduced by the same percentage as your fault. If you are 51 percent or more at fault for the cause of the crash, you are barred from receiving any money for your claim.
Insurance companies may try to use comparative fault allegations to avoid paying the full value of a claim. If an adjuster tries to shift blame for the crash to you, contact a car accident lawyer in Tulsa immediately.
5. Settlement agreements are final and binding
If you accept a car accident settlement, you give up your right to pursue more money for your claim. Most settlement agreements release all parties from all claims. Therefore, before you accept a settlement agreement, have a car accident lawyer review the agreement to ensure you receive a fair settlement amount.
Call Now for a Free Consultation with a Tulsa Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents result in painful injuries and financial damages. Get the help you need to recover compensation for damages from a Tulsa personal injury attorney.
Call The Law Office of Michael R. Green, PLLC, at (866) 944-4733 to schedule your free consultation.