Accidents cause more than physical and mental injuries. An accident will change your entire life. From the minute that the accident occurred, everything that you do will be different. The way that you go through each day will be different, your transportation methods will be different, and even your job will be different because of the injuries you received.
As a Tulsa personal injury law firm, we have seen how much car accidents impact the lives of our clients. We believe that it is only right that the responsible party for the injury compensates the victim for all of the losses that they have incurred. While this cannot relieve the physical and emotional pain, it can help stabilize other areas of our client’s lives so that they can focus on healing.
Car Accidents
Involvement in a Tulsa car accident is the leading cause of personal injury in Tulsa. According to the 2018 data released by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 11,200 serious injuries that occurred in a car accident during 2018 in the state of Oklahoma. The data does not include minor injuries or deaths. The data shows that 687 deaths occurred in a car accident during this same year.
The leading causes for a car accident during this time period included:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Improper turns
- Improper lane change
- Driving under the influence
Of course, a car accident can happen at any time a person acts carelessly or negligently when they are operating a vehicle.
Steps To Take After A Car Accident
Involvement in a car accident is chaotic, especially when you are injured. If possible, you are encouraged to take the following steps after a car accident occurs:
Contact Emergency Services
Every car accident should be reported to emergency services immediately. You ill need a police report to make a claim with your insurance company. The police will also gather very important information in their report that will help with your case.
Seek Medical Attention
It is crucial to your health that you seek a medical exam right after the accident happened. Even if you do not leave the scene by ambulance, you should go to the local Tulsa emergency room to get an exam.
Many people who are involved in a car accident are so upset and stressed out by the event that they overlook symptoms of serious injuries. The headache you are experiencing could be a concussion or serious head injury, the upset stomach may not be nerves but instead internal bleeding or organ damage. Neck pain, back pain, and hairline fractures may not show signs of injury right away, so it is important to be evaluated.
By law, you do have up to seven days from the date of the accident to seek medical care. However, delaying treatment often leads to insurance disputes. The insurance company will begin to deny claims after about 24 hours because they “believe’ that your injuries may have come from a different event instead of the car accident because you waited to get medical care.
Report The Car Accident To The Insurance Company
You will need to report the car accident to the insurance company as soon as possible so that they can begin to process the claim and cover your medical expenses. However, it is important that you refrain from giving a complete statement at this time.
You are encouraged to give the basic information about the date, time, place, and the fact that you were getting medical care when you make the report. The extent of your injuries and losses should be withheld at this time. It is impossible to know this information yet, regardless of how hard the insurance company pushes for you to make an absolute claim.
Politely decline to make a full statement by stating that you would like to speak to a Tulsa personal injury lawyer first. You have this right.
Contact A Tulsa Car Accident Attorney
Protect your rights as a car accident victim and contact a Tulsa personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Having an attorney manage your claim ensures that the insurance company treats you fairly and that you receive all of the benefits and compensation that you are entitled to under Oklahoma law.
For over 15 years, our Tulsa law firm has been representing personal injury claims and helping those who have been injured by the negligence of others. If you have been injured in an automobile accident, you are encouraged to schedule a free consultation today.
Motorcycle Accident Claims
Motorcycle accidents are always serious events. Motorcycle drivers often suffer from life-changing injuries because they do not have the same physical protections as the people in the passenger vehicle. The NHTSA data shows that there were over 1,100 accidents involving motorcycles in 2018, with all of them registering injuries.
Sadly, the police and the insurance company often place the blame on the motorcyclist for the accident because they say the person took a risk when driving a motorcycle. This is absolutely wrong. Everyone has the right to operate a motorcycle if they are licensed, just like a passenger vehicle.
Because of this bias against motorcycle drivers, it is critical that you seek legal representation from a Tulsa motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your rights must be protected so that you can receive the medical care and compensation that you deserve.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
People involved in a motorcycle accident are more prone to serious injuries than those in an automobile only event. The most common injuries associated with a motorcycle accident include;
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and spine injuries
- Multiple lacerations and road rash
- Multiple broken bones
- Internal organ damage
Most motorcycle accident victims suffer from multiple injuries and require extensive medical care.
Common Causes of A Motorcycle Accident
Although a motorcycle accident can happen for any reason, there are a few reasons that our Tulsa personal injury law firm has seen that are more common.
- Entering or exiting the freeway
- Left-hand turns
- Improper passing
Many people that are involved in a motorcycle accident claim that they could not or did not see the motorcycle before the accident occurred. Motorcycle drivers are encouraged to always use their headlights, even during the day, to improve their visibility.
Commercial Trucking Accidents
Every commercial trucking accident is a catastrophic event that often leads to serious injuries of the people located within the smaller passenger vehicle. Semi-trucks are 65 feet long and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when loaded, making them a danger to any small vehicle during impact.
The trucking industry is regulated by federal and state laws. Because of this, commercial trucking accidents can become quickly complicated. To enhance the problem, there can also be multiple insurance companies involved when the injured party makes a claim.
Anyone that is involved in a commercial trucking accident is encouraged to seek immediate legal representation from a commercial trucking accident attorney. You will want to work with a law firm that has the working knowledge and resources to pursue compensation from the right sources correctly.
Common Causes of Commercial Trucking Accident
There are several reasons that a commercial trucking accident may occur. These large vehicles require special training and licenses to operate, and a failure to operate them correctly can lead to an accident. Some of the most common reasons for Tulsa trucking accidents to happen include:
- Inexperienced or unqualified driver
- A driver that is too tired and operating over hours
- A driver that is distracted
- Mechanical failure
- Weather conditions
- Unstable load
As your Tulsa commercial trucking accident attorney, we will thoroughly investigate the reason for the accident so that we can hold all of the responsible parties accountable for your injuries and losses.
Our Tulsa personal injury law firm has aggressively represented commercial trucking accident victims for over 15 years. We understand the trucking industry and all of the laws surrounding the operation of these vehicles. If you have been injured in a commercial trucking accident, you are encouraged to schedule a free case evaluation today.
Insurance Defense / Insurance Disputes In Tulsa
When you have a personal injury, the insurance company of the responsible party will cover the expenses associated with the accident. At least that is how the system was set up to work. In many cases, the insurance company denies, delays, or undercut benefits that are due to the Tulsa personal injury victim.
Insurance companies are in the business to make money, not pay out claims. Whenever they payout on a claim, it hurts their profit margin. Regardless of all the commercials stating that insurers care about their clients, the truth is they only care about their bottom line.
As your Tulsa personal injury lawyer, we will make sure that the insurance company honors the terms of their insurance policy and Oklahoma law. We will not allow them t deny or delay benefits that you are entitled to, nor will we accept lowball compensation packages that are unfair to the victim.
As a personal injury victim in Tulsa, you are entitled to receive certain types of compensation for your losses. Every case is different, but you may qualify for one or more of the following types of compensation:
- Medical expenses for the injury both current care and any potential future care that you may need to manage the injury
- Lost wages. All wages that you did not receive because you had to miss work due to your injury will be included in your settlement if this applies to your case.
- Future earnings. If your capacity to work changes and you cannot return to work full time or at all because of your injuries, your Tulsa personal injury attorney will seek damages for your future earning losses.
- Related expenses. Some related expenses, such as the cost of transportation to and from medical care, renovations to your home or car to accommodate your injuries, and over-the-counter supplies required to treat your injury, may be included.
- Pain and suffering, and mental anguish. This is a unique type of compensation that will differ with each case. Your attorney will explain to you how this type of compensation may apply to your case and how it will be calculated.
- Punitive damages. On the rare occasions when the cause of a personal injury is deemed as purposeful or heinous, the court will award punitive damages to the victim. This is a firm of fiscal punishment against the responsible party.
Our Tulsa personal injury law firm will always seek all of the forms of compensation that are available to our clients. We believe that it is only right that a personal injury victim receives all of the benefits that they are entitled to because of the chaos that this injury has caused in their lives.
Even If You Have Already Begun The Insurance Claim Process, the Gorospe Law Group Can Help
Many people begin the personal injury claim process on their own because they fear that the insurance company will not provide the medical care that they need if they do not comply with the insurer’s requests.
Even if you have already begun the insurance claim process, our Tulsa personal injury law firm can help you with your claim. We can take over at any point before the case is settled and make sure that you are receiving all of the benefits that you are entitled to for your losses.
An aggressive car accident injury attorney in Tulsa can assist and guide you to build a personal injury case, countering any attempt by a negligent defendant to avoid taking responsibility for your personal injuries or damages. The Gorospe Law Group car accident injury attorney law firm has a long track record of excellent results for their clients in Tulsa.
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