Car Accidents Attorney Tulsa
Tulsa Car Accident lawyer
Proven Trial-Tested Claim Representation
You were just in a car accident in Tulsa or somewhere else in Oklahoma and now you have a lot of questions. We understand what you are going through and we are here to help you get through this ordeal.
The most important thing to think about after you were in a car accident is your personal well-being. Seek medical attention immediately if you have sustained any injuries. Keep all records of hospital or doctor visits, all receipts for co-pays, and keep track of mileage as well as any work you may have missed. Make sure to contact a dedicated Tulsa car accident attorney for help through each step of the claim.
Do I Need A Car Accident Lawyer in Tulsa?
Many people think that they don’t need the help of car accident attorney. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Studies have shown that people who hire an injury attorney to protect their rights after an accident receive much larger settlement amounts than those who choose to defend themselves against insurance companies. (Check out our blog post for more information: How Should I Respond to a Low-Ball Insurance Settlement Offer?)
Oklahoma Car Accident Statistics
Some 2017 statistics regarding car accidents in Oklahoma as reported by the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO):
- 71,415 crashes were recorded statewide in 2017, resulting in 657 fatalities and 33,128 injuries.
- Crashes occurred at a rate of 196 per day, with 1.33 fatalities per 100 millions miles traveled.
- More crashes occurred on Friday than any other day of the week in 2017.
- 1,372 total crashes were recorded in Tulsa alone in 2017, resulting in 4,914 injuries and 69 fatalities.
- 171 motor vehicle fatalities in 2017 were alcohol-related.
- Unsafe speed was attributed to 127 fatalities and 4,769 injuries in 2017.
Don’t Handle Complicated Claims on Your Own
There are many different aspects involved in an auto accident claim, including medical bills, insurance companies, drivers, witnesses, and police reports. Unless you have years of experience handling auto accident claims, these can be very confusing, and they can prevent you from the pitfalls that may keep you from recovering the compensation you deserve and need.
A car accident attorney from our firm will work with you to determine what losses you have suffered, how to prove fault of the other driver, and what compensation you deserve.
Innocent people are injured in a car accident each day in Oklahoma and the results can change your life forever.
If you have been injured in a car accident, there are many different losses that you may have to face, including:
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost Wages
- Medical Bills
- Future Lost Wages
- Future Medical Bills
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident, make sure you do the following:
- Stop at the scene and provide assistance to any injured parties
- Call the police and report the accident
- Exchange insurance information with all involved parties
- Take detailed photos of all damage and injuries
- Get the contact information of all witnesses
- Avoid admitting fault and do not say you are not injured if you are unsure
- Contact your insurance company and report the crash (Check out this blog post for more specifics about what you should and should not say to your insurance adjuster)
- Don't sign or say anything until you have spoken to an attorney
- Seek medical attention after the crash, even if you feel fine
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents are caused by a wide range of factors, though most collisions involve some form of driver negligence. Our attorneys can review the evidence surrounding your crash including police reports, witness testimonies, and vehicle "black box" data to identify the exact cause of your collision.
The most frequent causes of car accidents in Tulsa include:
- Distracted driving – Distracted driving, especially texting while driving, has been a growing threat for the past several decades. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving was the cause of 3,166 road fatalities in 2017 alone. Sending or reading a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds; at 55 miles per hour, a driver can travel the length of a football field without seeing an oncoming hazard.
- Speeding – Speed limits exist for a good reason. While it may be tempting to exceed the speed limit when you are running late, speeding is the second leading cause of car accidents. Likewise, the faster a person drives, the more severe the damage will be in the event of a collision.
- Falling asleep at the wheel – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep driving during the previous 30 days. Commercial drivers who operate trucks, tractor trailers, and buses are particularly susceptible to drowsy driving.
- Drunk driving – Driving drunk is not only illegal, it is also one of the most dangerous things a person can do. The CDC reports that 29 people are killed each day in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, or one drunk driving death every 50 minutes.
- Aggressive driving – Aggressive driving is a major factor in traffic accidents in the United States. According to data from the NHTSA, aggressive driving is when a driver commits a combination of moving violations and endangers others on the roadways. While difficult to quantify, NHTSA has estimated that more than 52,000 reckless driving behaviors were cited as contributing to fatal crashes in 2017 alone.
- Tailgating / following too closely – Most rear-end collisions occur when drivers follow the car in front of them too closely, causing them to not have enough time to react to sudden braking. Most experts recommend you maintain at least a two-second gap between your car and the car in front of you in optimal road conditions, with more being necessary in heavy traffic or low-visibility weather.
Oklahoma Is an At-Fault State
Oklahoma is an "at-fault" state when it comes to car accidents, meaning that drivers face financial liability if it is determined that they are to blame. All drivers are required to carry a certain amount of car insurance which provides coverage for injuries and damages suffered by others in the event of a collision.
The minimum car insurance limits in Oklahoma are:
- At least $25,000 for the injury or death of a single person in any accident
- At least $50,000 for the injury or death of two or more persons in any accident
- At least $25,000 for injury or destruction of property in any accident
Under Oklahoma's at-fault system, you may seek compensation after a collision by filing a claim with your own insurance company, by filing a third-party claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company, or by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
For more information about Fault laws, check out our blog post: At-Fault vs. No-Fault: What Does it Mean for Your Case?
What Happens if I'm Hit By an Uninsured Driver?
The last thing you want to hear after being in an accident is that the other driver only has the bare minimum insurance – or worse, that they do not have insurance at all. In these cases, you may be able to seek compensation from your own insurance company. Drivers have the option to add uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage which pays for your medical expenses and other economic losses in the event of a crash with an uninsured driver, as well as collision coverage which pays for damage to your own vehicle. These added coverage options will typically also apply in the event that you are the victim of a hit-and-run collision.
If you do not have UIM or collision coverage, you may attempt file a lawsuit against the uninsured driver in pursuit of compensation. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will actually be able to collect any damages as uninsured drivers tend to have little money or assets. In these situations, it is best to consult with a skilled attorney to determine your legal options.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Under Oklahoma Statutes section 12-95, car accident injury victims have up to two years from the date of their collision to take legal action. If this deadline passes, you may lose your ability to pursue compensation for any damages stemming from your collision. Since memories can fade and key evidence can be lost with time, it is important you speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your crash to protect your rights and maximize your chances of having a successful claim.
It is important to note that insurance claims have a much tighter time limit and generally must be filed within a few days of your crash in order to be eligible for compensation.
Results Matter to Us. Call for a Free Consultation.
The bottom line is that after a car accident, it becomes you against the insurance company. They have a team of professionals protecting their rights, shouldn’t you have a legal team protecting yours? Insurance companies operate under the guise of "helping you" as they offer you as little as possible because it cuts their losses. Don’t settle for what the insurance company is offering, get the compensation you deserve.
Our experienced car accident attorney can handle your claim in the following ways:
- Speaking with insurance companies and insurance adjusters so that you recover the compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses.
- We have a team of accident reconstruction experts to help prove fault in your accident.
- We have the resources available to fight your case against even the largest insurance companies.
- We are there for our clients every step of the way and we will explain everything so that you understand what decisions you are making about your case.
Don’t wait - get started as soon as possible before you lose your right to file a claim.
Call The Law Office of Michael R. Green and let us help now!
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