Tulsa Car Accident Lawyers

If you were hit by a car in Tulsa recently, you could be wracked with painful injuries, medical bills, and unable to earn a living. How will you pay your bills and keep your head above water financially? Will you ever be the same again? When another person hits you, the answer may be to file a car accident lawsuit to obtain the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.

The Tulsa car accident lawyers at Nix Patterson can handle insurance adjusters, healthcare providers, and legal filings while you focus on recovery. To get started, just contact one of our Tulsa car accident lawyers today for a free consultation.

Where Do Tulsa Car Accidents Happen Most Frequently?

There were more than 33,000 deadly auto accidents in the United States in 2018, and hundreds happened in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Tulsa has more than its share of hazardous intersections where far too many serious and fatal auto accidents occur. They include:

• 71st Street: This is one of the busiest roads in Tulsa and one of the most dangerous. Some of the most hazardous intersections along 71st Street include where the road intersects with Highway 169, Olympia Avenue, and Memorial Drive.
• Highway 51: This road is also called the Broken Arrow Expressway, and it is often the site of hit-and-runs, speeding, and drivers running stop signs and red lights. Dangerous intersections are at South Peoria and Highway 169.
• 61st Street: This street has several busy, hazardous intersections because it’s lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels.

If you are in a car accident at any of these intersections, call the police and an ambulance immediately. Say as little as possible to other involved drivers and contact a Tulsa car accident attorney to protect your rights.

Why Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

Do you need a lawyer after a car accident in Tulsa? It depends. If someone hit you from behind and it’s only a minor fender bender without injuries, you might deal with the case yourself. There may not be enough money at stake in the case for a car accident attorney to help.

However, once there are injuries in a car accident, the odds are that you are best off by hiring a Tulsa car accident attorney to represent you. Car accident injuries are tricky, and determining what your injuries and other damages will amount to takes skill. Most non-attorneys don’t truly understand what their car accident case is worth. Nor do they always understand the nature of their car accident injuries.

If you’re injured in a car accident and attempt to settle the case on your own, there’s a good chance you won’t get the money you deserve. The insurance company will try to offer as little as possible, hoping you’ll accept it before consulting an attorney.

After any car accident with injuries, the best idea is to get medical help immediately and call a car accident attorney for a legal consultation. Your attorney will ensure the insurance company won’t take advantage of you. Plus, the lawyer won’t take the case unless there is a high probability of a favorable settlement or verdict. So, you have nothing to lose.

What Are the Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Tulsa?

Oklahoma is often ranked among the worst states for car accidents. Most of these accidents happen because of human error. The most common causes of auto accidents in Tulsa are:

• Speeding: Like many cities, many drivers in Tulsa have a lead foot and want to get to their destination as soon as possible. Hundreds of people are injured and killed in Oklahoma accidents annually because of speeding. If a speeding driver hurts you, our Nix Patterson attorneys will discover it during the accident investigation.
• Drunk driving: One of the most dangerous behaviors on Tulsa roads is drunk driving. Oklahoma generally has more drunk driving deaths than most states. If you are hurt by a drunk driver, a civil lawsuit you file against the driver is separate from any potential criminal case.
• Distracted driving: Cell phones are often wonderful inventions, but they do lead too many drivers to be distracted behind the wheel. Oklahoma bans texting and driving, but people continue to flout the law and injure others. Your attorney can subpoena cell phone records to determine if the other driver was texting when the accident happened.
• Bad weather: Accidents happen in all weather, but rain, snow, or fog increases the chances of crashes. It’s best to stay home when there’s inclement weather, but if you must drive, always obey the speed limit and wear your seatbelt.
• Not obeying traffic laws: Ignoring a yield sign or coasting through a yellow light might seem like minor infractions. But these actions are against the law and put lives at risk. Many Tulsans are hurt every year in car accidents where drivers break traffic laws.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Tulsa

When you’re in an accident that isn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. You can increase the chances of a successful outcome to your case by:

• Getting immediate medical attention: Get treatment from the ER or your doctor immediately. Even if you think you’re unhurt, you should always be looked over by a medical professional. You might not feel pain for hours, and injuries can worsen quickly. Getting prompt medical treatment also ensures you can prove the injuries are related to the accident.
• Call law enforcement: Don’t let the other driver persuade you not to call the police. Having law enforcement document the accident can help with your accident claim or lawsuit. Additionally, leaving the accident scene without informing the police puts you at risk of a hit-and-run charge if the other driver changes their story.
• Take photos and videos: Most Tulsans carry cell phones everywhere. This is an excellent time to put it to good use. Take plenty of pictures and videos of the accident scene, your injuries, vehicle damage, and any physical evidence, such as tire marks on the pavement. This evidence could be critical to proving fault in your case, which is necessary to receive compensation.
• Collect other evidence: Talk to eyewitnesses and get their contact information. If another driver says they were at fault, try to get it in writing or on video.
• Talk to your lawyer: The sooner a lawyer is involved in your case, the better. Your attorney will ensure everything is noticed and that your legal rights are respected. Your lawyer also will negotiate with the insurance company and properly value your claim.
• Move your vehicle, if necessary: Oklahoma law states you must move your vehicle out of traffic after a minor accident. But if it is a serious accident with injuries, you aren’t required to move it.

There are also things you could do after your Tulsa accident that damage your case. The biggest one is to admit fault after the accident. You should say as little as possible to other drivers involved in the accident and never admit fault. Also, avoid posting on social media while your case is being negotiated. Social media posts can damage your claim if they make you look less seriously injured than you are.

Common Tulsa Car Accident Injuries

There are millions of auto accidents in the US annually. Approximately 70,000 happen every year in Oklahoma. Everyone wants to avoid getting in car accidents, but if you drive enough, it will eventually happen to you. Many car accidents involve serious injuries, including:

• Brain trauma
• Back and neck injuries
• Spine injuries and paralysis
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Cuts and scrapes
• Broken bones

When you have serious accident injuries, it’s vital to secure the help of an attorney immediately. For example, if you have a shattered pelvis from a car accident, you’ll probably need multiple surgeries and stay in the hospital. It’s very unlikely you can fairly value your car accident claim without the help of an attorney and the medical, legal, and financial experts they hire to prove the case.

Also, prompt medical treatment is essential after a car accident to ensure the best health outcome. The longer you wait for treatment, the worse your injuries could get. Also, waiting to see a doctor until injuries worsen could complicate a claim or lawsuit later. Why?

The insurance company for the liable driver will check when the accident happened and when you got medical treatment. If you wait a week for medical care for your sore back, the insurance company may argue that your pain is unrelated to the accident. Having a doctor document your injuries right after the accident puts you in a stronger legal position.

The insurance company will go to great lengths to avoid paying you fairly for your injuries. The sooner you get medical care, the more likely you’ll receive fair compensation for your injuries and other losses. Some of the compensation your attorney may help you obtain are:

• Medical bills in the past, present, and future
• Lost earnings
• Lost ability to earn a living
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Mental anguish

If you lose a loved one in a car accident caused by another party, you could be eligible for the following compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit:

• Burial and funeral expenses
• Medical bills for the deceased
• Lost income from the deceased
• Loss of inheritance
• Mental and emotional anguish
• The deceased’s pain and suffering

You Have Two Years To File A Car Accident Lawsuit

If you decide to file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations in Oklahoma is only two years from the accident date. This isn’t a lot of time, so you should file as soon as you believe you have a case. Evidence often disappears with time, so the sooner your Nix Patterson lawyer can dig into the case details, the better.

Speak To Our Tulsa Car Accident Lawyers Today

When you’re seriously injured after a car accident, the very last thing you need is to fight with the insurance company over fair compensation. Instead, contact a Tulsa car accident lawyer at Nix Patterson to fight for your rights. Our attorney will negotiate with the insurance company for the best settlement and take the case to court if necessary.