Car accidents can and do happen to the best drivers. It can take time to determine what actions to take when they occur. This can result in losing time, money, and earning potential if you are injured and cannot work at your usual capacity.
If you or a loved one are involved in a traffic collision, it is essential to secure a Guthrie car accident lawyer from BDIW law immediately. Your Guthrie personal injury lawyer can guide you through dealing with the insurance company and building your case to determine liability and get the compensation you are entitled to. Even if damage to your car is minimal, other complications that may not have initially been identified can arise in the coming days or weeks.
What to Expect After a Car Accident in Guthrie
When a car accident happens, it disrupts your entire day. When you secure your Guthrie car accident attorney, they will likely help you by talking with the insurance company representative, gathering evidence from the collision, including police reports, and determining liability. Even if you are partially at fault for an accident, you may still be entitled to compensation if your liability is less than half.
It is important to note that liability can fall on more than those directly involved in a collision. This can include city workers, mechanics, or manufacturers. If third parties are found to hold any liability, you may be entitled to increased compensation. Your council can investigate to determine if this applies to your case.
If you are involved in a collision, you will want to document as much as possible. This will include taking pictures of any damage or injuries, witness statements, the police report, and the insurance information of anyone else involved. Any injuries should also be photographed and documented as the healing process moves forward.
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYDos and Don’ts After a Car Accident
After a car accident, it can be overwhelming to determine the appropriate next steps to take. Some things that your car accident attorney in Guthrie might advise you of would be to take pictures and collect all medical bills and insurance documents. Many would advise against
signing anything before reading it very carefully, accepting any settlement within the first few days, or apologizing in any way because this can be seen as a form of guilt or fault.
In the first days after an accident, you may not know the extent of damage and injury sustained. For example, soft tissue injuries or loss of functioning from anxiety may take several days to manifest. This is why you might be advised to wait before accepting any settlement offered by the insurance company immediately.
The immediate aftermath might make you feel the need to say something regarding the accident, but even something as benign as ‘I didn’t even see you’ or ‘I’m sorry’ can look like an admission of guilt. Even if you are not primarily responsible for the accident, comparative negligence laws could lead to reduced compensation if it is determined that you have any fault. The best course of action is to speak of the accident sparingly and only to your attorney.
How a Guthrie Car Accident Attorney Will Build Your Case
Your attorney may request evidence to build your case, including medical records, a copy of the police report, any dash cam footage, or other video evidence. This will allow them to investigate and prove the liability and fault of the other party or parties. If multiple parties are at fault, this could increase your compensation, which is why immediate actions following the incident are necessary.
Medical records from the emergency room immediately following the accident can establish any initial injuries. Follow-ups from other specialists may also provide support for injury and recovery time. Your council may also use your document folder with medical expenses to build the argument for compensation.
It is important to remember that physical injury, as is your emotional well-being, is a large part of your compensation entitlement. This is where a documented account of your recovery can come into play. You may be entitled to compensation for your time, emotional distress, and any lost wages that result from the accident.
Rates and Causes of Car Accidents in Guthrie
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety page, in the most recent reporting year, Oklahoma saw 9,360 accidents, 762 of which were fatal, and 11,619 resulted in injuries. Five hundred seventy-nine of these were a hit and run, and 32 of those resulted in a fatality. These accidents saw 655 people injured.
The most common types of accidents reported were caused by speeding and distracted driving, and drug or alcohol use was the next most frequent cause.
Speeding
Speeding was responsible for 1,625 accidents in the most recent reporting year. Speeding increases the likelihood of an accident by decreasing the amount of time you have to respond to changes in the environment as well as giving other drivers less time to react to you. Exceeding the speed limit also increases the amount of damage, and the likelihood and severity of injury are greater.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a broad label that covers many different behaviors, including
texting or eating while driving, putting on makeup, checking e-mail, or otherwise looking at your phone. These are all things that could increase your comparative fault or that your attorney can use to prove more fault on the other driver. This is also where it might be helpful to have witness statements or video footage of the incident.
Get Support
When your life is impacted by an accident, you want to know that you have someone in your corner. BDIW Law’s car accident lawyer in Guthrie will have your best interest and maximum compensation in mind while they build your case. They can handle the day-to-day tasks of getting your compensation while you can focus on your recovery.
Don’t let concern for finances hold you back from claiming the compensation you are due. BDIW law offices can work on a contingency fee system which means they only get paid when you get paid. Reach out for a free consultation today. Case consults are available 24 hours a day.
