Importance of Your Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents are costly not only because of hefty medical bills but also because of the potential lawsuits that could arise out of an accident. If you or someone you know recently figured in a car accident and are now facing medical bills, not to mention income losses due to injuries, you may have good grounds to claim for the damages you suffered. Read on to know more about car accident injuries and how your lawyer can help you build a solid case for compensation. Most Common Causes of Car Accidents The most common causes of car accidents include: Reckless driving (speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, etc) Distracted driving (talking on the phone, texting, listening to music, etc.) Driving under the influence (alcohol or drugs/medications) Rain, sleet or snow Injuries Caused by Car Accidents Common injuries sustained from car accidents include: Head/brain/spinal cord injuries (whiplash injuries, brain trauma, etc.) Broken bones Internal injuries Mental and emotional trauma Minor bruising, muscle sprains and strains Injuries sustained during a car accident can vary in severity depending on many factors such as the speed of the vehicles at the point of impact, angle of impact, whether or not seat belts were used, whether or not airbags deployed, among others. Can you make a claim? If you were involved in a car accident and you suffered injuries and damage to your car, you can file a claim. You can file a claim even if it is unclear who caused the collision. The other party may have sustained damages as well and maybe looking to claim for compensation. If you are unsure about whether or not you have enough grounds to file a claim, or if filing a claim is the best thing you can do, talk to your lawyer. He or she can advise you on the pros and cons of filing a claim especially if the losses you incurred are less than the potential costs of a lawsuit. Reasons to Work with a Car Accident Attorney Technical Legal Know-How The most obvious reason why working with a car accident lawyer is the wisest thing you can do is because insurance claims and lawsuits can be time-consuming and very complicated for the lay-person to handle alone. The technical aspects of filing a claim and making sure documents are properly recorded and authenticated involve processes that car accident lawyers are very familiar with, but maybe totally alien to those who have no legal background. Legal Resources Car accident lawyers also have the resources to investigate the details of your car accident fully. There are car accidents that appear cut-and-dry and it’s obvious who caused the accident. However, there are cases when it isn’t clear who is the party at fault. In cases like these, your lawyer can muster all resources to investigate the facts of the accident and determine who caused the accident. Your lawyer knows how to fully utilize the discovery process so you can obtain all relevant information and documents that can help you build your case. Once he has gathered solid evidence he can prepare the documents for filing with your insurance company or in court. Protection of Rights A car accident attorney becomes indispensable especially if you have an insurance company that refuses to pay or the other party insists that you were the one at fault. When circumstances become adversarial you need a good lawyer who can walk you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. Your lawyer can help protect your rights, ensure that you understand insurance contracts, and build a solid case so you can aggressively pursue your right to be compensated. For instance, even if you successfully get an insurance company to pay, they may try to get you to agree to a low-ball offer in exchange for on-the-spot payment. This is less likely to happen with a lawyer by your side since he or she can determine the exact value of the compensation you are entitled to receive. Filing for compensation after a car accident can be an uphill climb. You raise your chances of getting a favorable outcome by working with a lawyer because he or she has the skills, experience, and the resources needed to build a solid case for you. Talk to your car accident lawyer today and start building your case so you can get the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys are available in Oklahoma City call (405) 253-4478 or in Ardmore call (580) 798-0447.
What Does an Oil Field Injury Attorney Do?
If you have been involved in an accident whilst working in an oil field, you may need to seek help or representation. You may not know this but there are specialized attorneys that work in oil field injury. Making sure that you get the best type of representation and lawyer is key to winning your case. In this article, we will explain exactly what an oil field injury attorney does and how they can use their specialist knowledge to help fight your case. Read on to get yourself acquainted with the information you need to begin the process to claim compensation or damages. Oil Fields and American Jobs The USA is one of the leading producers of oil in the world. It is also a field in which over 145,000 employees work in some capacity. Many of these employees are directly involved in the extraction of the gas and oil themselves. Even though this is an industry where a large number of people work, things such as a lack of safety standards, professional training, and a negation of professional culpability occur. There is a disturbing reality that oil field workers are up to 7 times more likely to suffer a fatality at work than other professions. And this isn’t taking into consideration the number of people who are severely injured or hurt as a result of workplace accidents in the oil fields. Oil field injury lawyers can assist individuals or individual’s families that have been affected by any accidents that weren’t their fault, by helping them seek appropriate compensation. What Can an Oil Field Injury Attorney Do? Oil field injury attorneys will specialize in the area of oil field accidents and be knowledgable in the different types of accidents that occur. They will be able to assess your case with a wealth of experience and advise you on the best course of action to take. They will be able to recommend whether a settlement with the company or individuals can be reached without the need to go to trial. Or whether it is something that needs to be pursued in court. The benefit of hiring an oil field injury lawyer is that they know exactly how an oil field company can behave after a workplace accident. Oil companies with their own legal team and medical staff might not be acting in the best interests of you or your family. Oil companies often try to remove themselves from responsibility and deflect blame. They also hide evidence and pressure individuals into insufficient medical treatment. Sometimes they even try to terminate employment. An oil field injury lawyer has the necessary experience to tackle this kind of behavior and treatment head-on. They are able to fight for the employee’s rights and settlement and hold the oil companies accountable for their lack of duty and care. If your case does need to go to trial they can also hire appropriate medical experts and professional oil and gas expert witnesses to help strengthen your case. Common Reasons and Types of Oil Field Workplace Injuries Accidents don’t usually happen without a reason. Often an accumulation of factors or reasons will end up causing a workplace injury or fatality. Things such as a lack of supervision, poorly maintained equipment, a lack of training, defective machinery, overworked employees, and flawed policies are all reasons that can attribute to people getting injured. This is where an oil field attorney can step in and make sense of what exactly happened leading up to the accident Due to the heavy machinery and heat that can be involved in oil extraction, unfortunately, severe injuries can occur. Things such as traumatic brain injuries, severe lacerations, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, third-degree burns, crush injuries, and traumatic amputations are all injuries that have happened on an oil field. With these types of injuries, you may be able to claim for loss of earnings, medical bills, pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, and other economic or non-economic damages. What to Do First When An Accident Occurs An oil field injury attorney’s job is to get to the bottom of a case or a claim and determine liability or an employee’s negligence. This will also be dependent on whether you have workers’ comp insurance. If you have workers’ comp insurance and a co-worker or employer is at fault then you can only file a claim through a workers’ compensation claim. There are other options that can be classed as a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim, but this will depend on your circumstances. You will also have two years to file a lawsuit to be within the statute of limitations if your injury happened in Oklahoma or Texas. It is three years if it happened in New Mexico. The main thing is that as soon as the accident happens, you seek medical attention. Then consult a lawyer who can advise you on the best steps going forward with your claim. Do not rely on the oil company to be transparent or act in your best interests. Most importantly, do not sign any paperwork or statements from the oil company or receive any money before retaining an attorney. Hiring an Oil Field Injury Attorney: Where Can I Find Out More? We hope that you have found this article on hiring an oil field attorney helpful and informative. If you have been involved in an accident in an oil field, you must seek legal advice as soon as you possibly can. Severe accidents can really affect the overall quality of your life and you need to be properly compensated. This is essential for you and your family’s future. If you have any questions or queries about anything discussed in the article, why not contact us directly?
