As the second-largest city in Oklahoma, you can expect that a high percentage of fatal and injury-causing car accidents occur in Tulsa. Statistics from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) are proof of this point, as almost 11,000 of the 61,700 total crashes across the state happen in Tulsa County. More than 36% of these collisions lead to a fatality or injuries to at least one person, so they carry devastating ramifications for entire families.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one, it is reassuring to know that you have options for recovering compensation. There are multiple, complex steps to the legal process, but you can trust BDIW Law to tackle the challenges. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Tulsa, OK car accident attorney today. An overview of how to file an auto crash claim is also useful.
When to File a Tulsa Car Accident Claim
You may not be sure whether you have the right to file a car accident claim in Tulsa. After all, you do not want to deal with the unsavory accusations of filing a frivolous car accident claim. Fortunately, there are several ways in which you may be able to tell that you have the right to reimbursement of your damages.
First, consider the types of personal injuries you sustained. Although the types of injuries you were diagnosed with do not determine whether you have the right to compensation after a car accident, the impact these injuries have had on your life will. Some of the most common types of car accident injuries Tulsa injury victims sue for include
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation
- Emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia, quadriplegia, and paralysis
- Compound fractures and broken bones
- Scarring and burn injuries
- Internal injuries, including bleeding or organ failure
For your Tulsa car accident claim to be successful, you must show that someone else is responsible for causing the accident. Your car accident lawyer will need to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident so we can reveal the identities of those responsible. The defendant must have violated the elements of negligence, which include:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYHow to Get Started on Your Car Accident Claim in Tulsa
Here are the initial steps you should take to file your Tulsa car accident insurance and civil claims:
Investigate and Collect Evidence
The two important keys to an auto crash claim in Oklahoma are fault and damages, and you need solid proof of both to obtain compensation. You may have been able to collect some information at the scene, including:
- Photos of the intersection or stretch of road
- Images of the damage to vehicles
- Physical characteristics that reflect an accident, such as skid marks
- Contact information for witnesses
Prepare Demand Packet
Most insurance companies have forms for you to fill out, but you will also need to include considerable information to support your claim. Some of this proof is the evidence mentioned above; your medical records are also important, but proper timing is critical in releasing them. Providing these details before your health stabilizes may be premature.
With the forms and evidence, you create a demand packet to send to the insurance company and request a certain amount of compensation.
The Insurer’s Investigation
After receiving your packet, the insurance company will conduct its own investigation. A claims adjuster will speak to its policyholder, who may have a very different version of what happened with the car accident. The insurer may request a statement or additional information from you, and BDIW Law will advise you in dealing with the company.
Counteroffer and Settlement Discussions
The insurance company will respond to your claim, but rarely will it pay in full right away. You may receive a lowball counteroffer since insurers are looking out for their own financial interests. If the company refuses to pay fair compensation, our Tulsa, OK reckless driving attorneys will move to the next step: litigation.
Set Up a Consultation with a Tulsa, OK Car Accident Lawyer
Knowing the basic steps is helpful, but there is more to filing a car accident claim than filling out some forms. A Tulsa car accident lawyer at BDIW Law will handle the details, so please call our office or go online to speak with an Oklahoma car accident attorney. We can set up a no-obligation, no-cost case review to learn more about your story and start building a powerful case against those responsible.
