Steps To Follow When You Are Involved In A Car Accident
Crucial Steps To Follow When You Are Involved In A Car Accident In Oklahoma. Accidents are inevitable and can happen to anyone. No one ever expects to be in a car accident, but it is crucial to know the steps to follow when it happens. The truth is that most people do not know what to do after they are involved in a car accident, as they are confused and traumatized. Sadly, the mistakes that you make at this stage are crucial to your case as insurance companies will use them for their benefit. To avoid these mistakes, below is a guide on what to do after an Oklahoma City car accident to ensure that you protect your rights and your case holds up in court. Read on. The first thing you should do is to remain calm. This may seem surreal and strange since the accident is scary and traumatizing, but being in panic mode will do more harm than good. Take a second to calm down and make sure you are okay. Check for any injuries that you and other people may have sustained and need critical help. Once you have calmed down, call 911 for emergency medical help on the scene of the accident. It is required by law to contact the police before leaving the scene of the accident in Oklahoma. Receiving medical care as soon as possible after a car crash will help take care of any serious injuries and save lives. Documented medical treatment will help you later when you file a compensation claim. Try to record your statement with the police to ensure that they have all the details of the accident. Answer all the questions that the police ask truthfully, but do not admit fault. Admitting that you are at fault will not help your chances of receiving compensation later on. Also, please do not blame the other driver, even if they were at fault as it will only start an argument and worsen the situation. Let the police do their work and figure out who was at fault. If there were any witnesses, ask for their contact information before they leave the scene. Also, exchange information with the other drivers involved. You should get their name, address, the insurance company, policy number, phone number, and license number. It is best if you are able to take pictures of the accident. Get photos of all the cars that were involved in the crash and any property that was damaged. Also, take photos of anything else that may be helpful such as the traffic controls, street signs, and debris as they may come in handy. If you are injured and unable to take pictures, get someone to help you out as you may need the evidence later. Even if you were not injured, it is advised to seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible. The reason for an early medical evaluation is that you have sustained injuries that take days before any symptoms are present. The doctor will be able to examine you and document any injuries that you have. Get a copy of the police report to help you get started on your case. This will be the starting point for you as you begin your claim. It is also crucial to report the car crash to your insurance company regardless of who is at fault. Ensure that you give notify them promptly to avoid a denial of your claim. To ensure that your rights are protected it is vital to contact an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer. This is the most crucial step in a car accident and it should be followed. The attorney will investigate the accident, gather all the evidence that pertains to it and deal with the insurance companies to get the compensation that you deserve. If you have been involved in a car accident, it is critical to follow the above steps to ensure that you get maximum compensation for your injuries and damages. With the right attorney, you will be able to navigate these stormy waters and come out better on the other side. For more information contact one of our highly qualified Attorneys at 580-224-0900 for a free consultation.Â
Oklahoma’s Wrongful Death Statute Explained
Are you looking to file a wrongful death lawsuit and want to know what that entails? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Not only are you going to find out what a wrongful death suit is, but you’re also going to find out about the Oklahoma wrongful death statute and other limitations that you need to be mindful of. We don’t want to keep you waiting to achieve the justice that your loved one deserves. Let’s get right into all the useful information that you need to know to move forward with your claim. What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Wrongful death is defined as the death of a person that has occurred because of the negligence of another person. Many causes fall under the causes category of wrongful death. The first will be medical malpractice if the diagnosing of an illness or injury leads to the death of the patient. Death could also be the result of the doctor using the wrong method of treatment to assist in patient recovery. Another cause of wrongful death would be someone killing another person with a car. Whether they were speeding or driving while under the influence because of their negligence, someone lost their life. More than 10,497 people lost their lives because of a drunk driver. While we’re on the topic of vehicular deaths, another cause could be the malfunctioning of the vehicle. If it’s the vehicle that causes death, then it’s called product liability. It’s the job of the vehicle manufacturer to ensure that the car is in working conditioning before debuting it in showrooms for potential customers to purchase. Now that you’ve gotten a better understanding of what wrongful death is, we can now dive deeper into what you can sue for in your lawsuit. What Damages Should My Lawsuit Include? When you file a lawsuit, you’re doing so to seek compensation for your loved one that has lost their life because of someone else negligence. The first thing that you might consider suing for is lost wages. This will help to provide income until someone else can take over as the sole provider for everyone. The next thing you might seek as far as damages go is monetary help to provide funeral services for your loved one. Funerals can be expensive, and it’s only right that the person that caused the death be responsible for helping the family pay the funeral expenses. You should also ask for funds to help pay the remaining medical bills that were left behind by the deceased. One type of damage you can sue for that sets Oklahoma apart from others is the ability to sue for punitive damages. Punitive damages are not a monetary amount awarded to the deceased family. Instead, it is a way to punish the company that is at fault for causing the death in the first place. It serves as a reminder to the company and those that work within it that no crime will go unpunished and that they need to take the work they do seriously or risk being hit with more lawsuits in the future. Statute of Limitations Like with most crimes when it comes to filing a wrongful death lawsuit, there is a time limit. It’s recommended that following the death of a loved one, you file as soon as possible and find an Oklahoma City wrongful death lawyer. But the course system also understands that during a time of grieving, the last thing that’s on your mind is filing a lawsuit. To provide victims with the time they need to grieve their loss, the statute of limitations ends two years after the death of the victim. This gives family members the time they need to collect all of their documentation and find a legal team to represent them in court. But, it should be known that once the two years is up, then the lawsuit can no longer be presented in court. When you sot down to speak with your lawyer, ask them if the limitations and other guidelines apply to your case. The reason for this is that a wrongful death suit is a criminal case, and it can hold different guidelines when it comes to the legal process. Who Can Submit a Wrongful Death Claim? Being that the victim is deceased, family members will be the ones to submit the wrongful death claim, but not just anyone can file a claim. The first set of people in the victim’s family that can file a lawsuit are the immediate family members. This includes their spouse and any children that they’ve had together. If they weren’t married and didn’t have children, the next group of people that could file would be the parents and siblings of the victim. After them, it would be a domestic partner or close friend that can file the lawsuits. Oklahoma Wrongful Death Statute Explained Now that you’ve got all of the information you need when it comes to the Oklahoma wrongful death statute, you can continue with the process of your legal case. No one deserves to die because of someone else carelessness, but unfortunately, it happens every day. With the facts we gave above, you can help your loved one receive the justice that they deserve even though they are no longer living. If you’re in need of a personal injury lawyer to represent you in court contact Little Oliver Gallagher. The practice features three skilled lawyers that practice in various areas, including wrongful death, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, and more. With our lawyers in your corner, you’re sure to get the settlement that your family deserves.
