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Why Do I Need a McAlester Auto Accident Attorney?
Car accidents can quickly derail your life. You may be unsure of how to pay your medical bills, how you will support your family, and how you’ll replace your damaged vehicle.
An attorney can help you navigate the insurance process while exploring all your available legal options. With a knowledgeable car accident lawyer on your side, you can focus on recovery while they deal with the insurance companies. They may also advise you to file an injury lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for the crash if that is what is necessary to pursue fair compensation.
Only hire an attorney that you trust, and make sure that they have experience handling car accident claims. A knowledgeable law firm will consult with you about your case, explain your legal options, and will advise you on the best course of action for your claim.
Contact an Oklahoma Car Accident Lawyer
The car accident attorneys of Edwards & Patterson Law know how devastating an injury accident can be. We fight to secure fair compensation for car accident victims. We’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
Our team of trial attorneys has represented Oklahomans in Tulsa, McAlester, and throughout the state. We are here to help try to make things right after a crash. This means seeking the financial compensation that will help you replace your damaged property, pay your medical bills, replace lost wages, cover your pain and suffering, and help you move on with your life.
If you were seriously hurt in a car accident in Oklahoma, contact Edwards & Patterson Law by phone or online today for a free confidential consultation that comes with no strings attached.
What Caused Your Motor Vehicle Accident?
There are many different factors that could lead to an auto accident resulting in personal injuries. Some of the most common include:
Distracted driving (texting while driving)
This has become a major problem in recent years, as most drivers have cell phones that create major distractions. It’s important for motorists to avoid talking on a phone or texting while driving. Taking your eyes off the road for several seconds at a time can make it difficult to avoid a crash if traffic suddenly changes. Technology isn’t the only source of driver distraction. Even simple actions like eating, talking, tending to children or grooming can divert a driver’s attention.
Drunk driving or driving under the influence drugs
Drunk driving continues to be an issue throughout the country, including here in Oklahoma. Motorists with blood alcohol content (BAC) levels above 0.08 percent are considered to be legally intoxicated, however even drivers with lower BAC levels may be more likely to cause serious car accidents. Drug impairment is another major safety issue. Not only illegal drugs, but also prescription and over-the-counter drugs can make a driver unsafe on the road.
Many people operate their vehicles while overly tired due to lack of sleep or too little rest. This can be nearly as dangerous as intoxicated driving, as drowsy or fatigued motorists have reduced reaction times and may even fall asleep at the wheel. Driver fatigue is a particular problem for long-haul truck drivers and nightshift workers.
Reckless driving
Speeding, darting back and forth quickly between lanes, running red lights, tailgating, and other aggressive tactics are all incredibly dangerous, especially when there is a lot of traffic. These behaviors are often the result of road rage when drivers fail to keep their emotions in check.
Inclement weather
In rainy, icy, snowy or foggy conditions, all drivers have the responsibility to drive cautiously and reduce their speed to avoid accidents. If they fail to do so, they make our roads and highways more dangerous for everyone. Foul weather is not a valid excuse for a crash. Drivers are responsible for keeping their vehicles under control no matter the weather.
Vehicle defects
Some vehicles are defective by design or in the way they were manufactured. Auto defects may cause an accident, such as when a tire blows out, airbag problems, or brake failure. In some cases, the accident was caused by something else, but a defect made the injuries worse than they should have been – for example, when an air bag fails to deploy or a roof crushes down.
Teen drivers – Inexperience, immaturity, and feelings of invincibility are but a few traits that contribute to the high accident rates among the youngest drivers on the roads of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Car Accident Facts
Car crashes are an all-to-common occurrence in Oklahoma. The vast majority of these accidents result from carelessness or recklessness on the part of a driver or someone else responsible for the safety of motorists.
If someone else’s negligence caused the accident that injured you, Oklahoma law may allow you to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
If someone else’s negligence caused the accident that injured you, Oklahoma law may allow you to recover compensation from the at-fault party. The state uses a “tort” or “fault” system, unlike some jurisdictions that follow no-fault rules. This means that victims of crashes in Oklahoma can pursue compensation from the at-fault parties and their insurance carriers.
Even if you were partly to blame for the accident, you may still be able to recover partial compensation for your losses. That’s because Oklahoma uses a legal rule called “comparative fault.” Under this law, accident victims who were also negligent can still recover part of their damages, so long as they were not 51 percent or more to blame for the crash. The compensation would be reduced according to the percentage of fault. For example, if a driver were 10 percent to blame and suffered $100,000 in losses, he or she could recover $90,000.
What are the Insurance Laws in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma requires all motorists to carry liability coverage. The minimum required limits are 25/50/25. This means the policy must provide liability coverage for up to $25,000 in bodily injury insurance per person, $50,000 in total bodily injury coverage and $25,000 in property damage coverage.
Even though Oklahoma law requires auto insurance, many drivers lack even minimum coverage. Even if a driver carries minimum coverage, it may not be enough to pay for serious injuries.
If you are hurt in an accident caused by someone with too little insurance or none at all, you may be entitled to car crash compensation through the uninsured motorist / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy. However, even when dealing with “your” insurance company, you are likely to find that the company is reluctant to pay the full value of your claim. Working with an experienced car accident lawyer can help to ensure that you recover what you deserve from all available sources.
Get Your FREE Case Review Today
Contact us today for your free & confidential case review. Our team will help you get the compensation that you deserve.
An Auto Accident Lawyer Can Seek Car Crash Compensation For You
The negligence of a driver or another party generally plays a role in a accident lawsuit. At Edwards & Patterson Law, we take immediate action to investigate the true cause of your crash and determine who was really at fault. We follow up by seeking compensation from the responsible parties and their insurance companies, leaving no stone unturned.
If you’ve been involved in a serious car accident resulting in injuries, call on the experienced Oklahoma lawyers at Edwards & Patterson Law. We offer free case evaluations with no strings attached. Call us today or contact us online. Our team takes cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay no attorney’s fees unless you recover monetary damages.
There are many auto accident injuries that could occur, even from a minor fender bender. People hurt in auto accidents may be hospitalized for long periods and continued care may be required at home. The seven most common auto accident injuries are:
#1 The Most Common Auto Accident Injuries Are Scrapes and Bruises
Most auto accident injuries are minor scrapes and bruises that wouldn’t normally require a doctor’s attention; however, when you are injured in a car accident it is important to receive a medical exam in case of hidden or internal injuries.
#2 Ankle or Foot injuries
Since it is a natural instinct to brace yourself when you see an accident about to occur, injuries to the feet and ankles are the second most common auto accident injuries. These can be the most troubling injuries because we are dependent on the feet and ankles to bear the weight of our bodies as we perform our daily duties, either at work or home. However, when we are unable to perform our duties at work, this could lead to a loss of income. You may require the services of a profession personal injury attorney to assist you in being compensated for lost income.
#3 Injuries to the Knees
Oftentimes during that brace, we lock our knees or they are slammed into the dashboard; therefore, injuries to the knees are the third most common injury.
#4 Injuries to the Abdomen
Injuries to the abdomen are most common for the driver, as the steering is driven into the stomach area. These impacts cause the most internal injuries.
#5 Injuries to the Chest
Even when everyone in the car is buckled into their seat belts or in car seats, chest injuries occur due to the seat belts tightening on impact to keep the car occupants from being thrown around inside the car or through the windshield. Auto accident injuries to the chest can result in damage to the internal organs.
#6 Injuries to the Neck, Trachea, or Ribs
Frequently the seat belts slide from the shoulder into the neck area causing injuries to the neck or trachea. Lacerations in the neck area can cause serious bleeding and a collapsed trachea can be fatal. Injuries to the neck could also include whiplash from the sudden whipping of the head forward and then back on impact. Since the nerves controlling the hands and arms travel through the cervical vertebrae, injuries in this area can cause paralysis to the arms or hands. Spinal cord injuries can also occur, causing paralysis.
#7 Head Injuries
Many cars now have seat belts that automatically buckle when you enter or seat sensors with buzzers that do not stop until everyone is buckled up. These features and the fact that many states, including Oklahoma and Arkansas, have a penalty for not wearing seat belts help to keep down the number of head injuries. In fact, Oklahoma has one of the most stringent seatbelt laws in the nation. Therefore, head injuries are the least common of the auto accident injuries, but when they do occur, these are obviously the most dangerous.
