Hit-and-run accident injuries can have a lasting impact on your life. However, holding the liable party accountable can be challenging when the driver flees the scene. However, that does not mean you are without legal recourse. With help from an experienced and respected Ponca City hit-and-run accident lawyer at BDIW Law advocating for you, you can breathe easier.
If our team takes on your case, you can rely on us to determine who to sue for your damages and maximize the compensation you win. Learn more about the value of your claim and the steps you must take to identify the driver who fled the scene when you contact a Ponca City Personal Injury Lawyer for a free consultation.
Grounds for a Hit and Run Accident Claim in Ponca City
Many injury victims hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney for help. This is because they have concerns they will not have met the grounds necessary to take legal action against those responsible. However, the best way to find out what legal options are available to you is to contact a hit-and-run accident lawyer in Ponca City, OK, for help.
Generally, as long as your car accident attorney can show that someone else’s negligent actions were the cause of your injuries and damages, they can be held accountable. You might have concerns that your injuries are not severe enough.
However, the type of injury you sustained does not determine whether you can pursue legal action. The elements of negligence must be met, 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 TODAYCommon Types of Hit and Run Injuries to Sue for
As can be seen, enduring life-threatening injuries is not a requirement to pursue a civil claim or insurance settlement. However, there are some types of injuries we see more often in hit-and-run accidents than others. These injuries include:
- Facial injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Third-degree burns
- Concussion
- Penetrating brain injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Abrasions and contusions
- Organ failure
- Internal bleeding
- Broken and fractured bones
- Neck and back injuries
If you were diagnosed with another injury we did not include above, you may still have the right to compensation for your losses. Your hit-and-run accident attorney in Ponca City, OK, will go over the various ways your life has been affected and gather compelling evidence against those responsible so we can prove negligence and maximize your award.
How to Identify the Liable Party After a Ponca City Hit and Run Accident
The only way your insurance or civil claims against the liable party can be successful is if your Ponca City hit-and-run accident attorney can identify the driver who fled the scene. Thankfully, by working with the Ponca City Police Department, private investigators, and other law enforcement officials, the chances of uncovering the identity of the driver that hit you are high.
You can expect investigators to interview witnesses, examine traffic and dash cam footage, and evaluate other forensic evidence to find out the identity of the motorist who caused your injuries. Once we have identified them, we can proceed with your insurance claims and civil lawsuits.
Crucial Personal Injury Laws in OK Impacting Your Case
As you move forward with your claims against the at-fault party, there are multiple Oklahoma personal injury laws you should be aware of. Most notably:
- Shared liability in Ponca City hit-and-run accidents
- Statute of Limitations for Oklahoma personal injury lawsuits
- Auto insurance laws in Oklahoma
Shared Liability in Ponca City Hit and Run Accidents
Oklahoma follows modified comparative negligence laws. Here, as long as your portion of the liability is not greater than 50%, you can still recover compensation for your suffering despite sharing fault. However, if your percentage of liability exceeds 50%, you will no longer have the right to compensation.
Additionally, you can expect your injury settlement to reflect a shared fault deduction. For example, if you were not wearing your seatbelt when you were hit by a driver who fled the scene, the judge might find you 5% liable for your injuries. If you were awarded $250,000, the settlement would be reduced by 5%, leaving you with a settlement worth $237,500.
Statute of Limitations for Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawsuits
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Oklahoma is strict. You will have up to two years from the date of your accident to file your claim.
However, the statute of limitations may not always be clear in hit-and-run accidents, as you must first identify the liable party. Your hit-and-run accident lawyer will ensure your claim is filed in time so you are not barred from pursuing your case at trial.
Auto Insurance Laws in OK
Oklahoma follows fault-based insurance laws. When you are hit by a driver that flees the scene, they will be held accountable for your damages. Instead of filing the claim with your own insurance company, if the liable motorist has auto insurance coverage, you file a claim with their insurer.
The Value of Your Losses After a Hit and Run Accident in Ponca City
You can recoup every loss when a hit-and-run driver causes your injuries. This includes economic and non-economic damages. Examples of these losses include:
- Diminished value of your vehicle
- Healthcare costs and future medical expenses
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and skin scarring
- Personal property damages
- Loss of income
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
How Our Car Accident Lawyer Can Help After a Hit and Run Accident
A hit-and-run is a devastating car accident, one that leaves people facing countless losses and nowhere to turn for help. We recognize the challenges you face, and we want to provide you with the support you need throughout this process. Our Ponca City hit-and-run accident lawyer has the experience and knowledge to help you to overcome these challenges.
There are several benefits to hiring the team at BDIW Law for help.
We Will Work to Find Who Is Responsible
Our team will work with local police officers to help determine who may be responsible for your losses. This means we can try to gather evidence related to the driver’s actions, including area cameras. We can also talk to witnesses.
Ultimately, the police tend to do a good job, but our legal team will take any steps we can to help determine the fault of such accidents. We know you are facing incredible challenges, and we want to fight to protect your right to compensation. Finding who is to blame could help with that process.
Estimate the Value of Your Losses
It is a common misconception that the losses you incur are your medical bills alone. Most often, there are numerous types of losses you have, including those you have not realized yet. One of the services we offer to you is the ability to learn as much about your injuries as possible so that we can help you pursue fair compensation.
Often, in Ponca City hit-and-run accidents, a person is faced with injuries that will impact them for years to come. This could include:
- The limited ability to work or maintain your career
- Long-term pain and suffering
- Emotional distress from the trauma you have endured
- Physical limitations on mobility
- Complications of your health that could happen in the future
- Repeated surgical procedures or medical treatment you need
- Long-term mental health support
Relationships are often damaged. People are sometimes impacted by numerous changes to their overall quality of life. You may not be able to do the things you love to do.
As your hit-and-run accident attorney in Ponca City, we make it our goal to try to put a value on these losses by understanding just how complicated your future could be. We want to make sure that, when we approach any responsible party, we have a clear understanding of your losses.
Fight for Complete Compensation in a Court of Law
In a hit-and-run accident, it is likely that the police department or others will track down who caused this loss. Once they do, they know they are guilty, and oftentimes, it is hard for the insurance companies to simply write off that guilt. They fled the scene – and that sometimes means they were engaged in nefarious actions, including driving under the influence.
As a result of this, our hit-and-run accident attorneys will work tirelessly to pursue fair compensation for you. When punitive damages are available, we will work to help you obtain those as well.
The process often starts with trying to get a settlement from the insurance company responsible for the hit-and-run driver. Our goal is always to seek out as much compensation as we believe you are owed. That sometimes means we end up going to court to fight for more. You can trust that we are going to hold those responsible accountable as much as we can under the law.
Working with Your Insurance Company
There are some instances in which we cannot prove that someone was responsible for your losses. For example, the police may not be able to determine who was to blame. That can be heartbreaking for many of our clients who are unsure what to do next.
Generally, you have the right to pursue claims under your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, a component of your personal car insurance. Our team will work closely with you to ensure you get the maximum compensation under the law from your insurance company for your losses.
Do not underestimate the insurance company. They will try to reduce the compensation paid to you even though you are their customer. Let us work to ensure that does not happen.
Will a Person Be Charged with a Crime in a Hit and Run Accident?
Under state laws, it is necessary for a person to stop whenever they are involved in an accident, no matter who caused it or the circumstances. As a result, the police may pursue those responsible and charge them with a hit and run. This is a criminal offense.
Typically, in these types of cases, you may be asked to provide a statement and give specific insight into what is to occur. However, the personal injury claim is separate from this case. Our goal is to work with you to ensure you prove that you are owed compensation for your losses. We do that by pursuing a claim with the insurance company.
If there is any question about fault or the other party claims they are not guilty of the hit and run, we will remain by your side as the police work to prove this. In many situations, evidence will show that they are, in fact, to blame, and that means they owe you compensation.
Let Us Talk to You About Your Case in a No-Cost Consultation
Hit-and-run car accidents like this can be challenging to understand. Many times, the details are quite overwhelming. When you set up a free consultation with us, we are happy to discuss your case with you at length and offer insight into:
- How to find out who caused your hit-and-run accident
- How to pursue compensation for your losses through their insurance company
- How to prove they are responsible for your losses
- What steps to take in getting your own insurance company to cover your losses
- What legal rights do you have if someone tries to prove they were not responsible
Call a Ponca City Hit and Run Attorney for Help Today
Your hit-and-run accident injuries do not need to take over your life. When you have help from a dedicated Ponca City hit-and-run accident lawyer, you can focus on healing while your attorney works on building a case against the liable party.
Find out more about whether you meet the grounds necessary to pursue your case when you contact BDIW Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can reach us through our secured contact form or by phone to get started on your insurance and civil claims as soon as today.
