Oklahoma Car Accident Lawyer

Helping Auto Accident Injury Victims Recover in Ponca City, Oklahoma City, Stillwater, and Tulsa

After suffering car accident injuries in an auto accident, you need more than run-of-the-mill legal representation. Any Oklahoma car accident lawyer at Martin, Jean, Jackson, Martin & Peach put in the time and effort to fully investigate a case and learn all the facts.

We vigorously maintain our commitment to individually tailored legal services, which has set our firm apart for decades as the premier personal injury practice in Oklahoma. If you have suffered an injury don't wait to get help. Our Oklahoma auto accident attorneys are ready to fight for you!

How Our Team Can Help You

• Free Consultations
• Award-Winning Representation
• Over A Billion Dollars Recovered
• 100+ Years of Combined Experience

Is Oklahoma Considered a Fault State?

When it comes to car accident laws, Oklahoma is what is known as a fault state. This means that after an accident the party responsible for the accident is the one held liable to pay damages, or more likely the insurance company of the responsible party is held liable. In a fault state, an injury victim has the option to file a third-party personal injury claim against the negligent driver, whereas in a no-fault state there are many more stipulations in order to do so.

How Long After a Car Accident in Oklahoma Can You File a Claim?

The statute of limitations to file a car accident claim in Oklahoma is two years. This means that you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim or you may lose your right to compensation. Additionally, Oklahoma follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule.

This rule states that you are still eligible to receive compensation if you were at fault for the accident that led t your injuries as long as your share of the fault is less then the other parties. A modified comparative negligence rule also means that your total compensation amount will be reduced by the percentage of fault you are determined to be responsible for.

Contact Martin, Jean, Jackson, Martin & Peach today to speak with our auto accident lawyer in Oklahoma today! 

Why You Should Consider a Lawyer After A Car Accident

You should always consider working with a professional attorney after being in a car accident because it can take so much of the stress and guesswork out of the processes ahead of you. Rather than trying to learn liability law and legalese on your own, you can give the car accident case to your lawyer and let them manage everything. Effectively, your car accident attorney’s knowledge and background become your own when you let them work on your behalf.

Your attorney will also be better prepared to deal with the opposing insurance company or companies. Insurers hire aggressive defense attorneys to chew up any claim that comes their way, but they are especially good at deconstructing claims that have not been prepared by an experienced legal professional. If you go into that legal fight on your own, then you could be giving yourself an uphill battle that few can win.

Instead of stressing yourself out, come to our firm for compassionate assistance. Our Oklahoma auto accident lawyers apply more than 100 years of combined experience to our OKC clients' cases. We possess the seasoned legal insight required to effectively address all the details that go into your car accident claim. Our commitment to achieving maximum results has led to us recovering over a billion dollars for over 20,000 injury clients.

We represent clients injured in situations that involve:

Why Investigations After an Auto Accident is Beneficial for You

Another considerable benefit of hiring a car accident lawyer is that they can investigate the details of your crash while you focus on your health and recovery. When liability is not clear or has been contested, an investigation can find useful evidence to prove what happened and why. The protests from the other driver and their insurance provider can only go so far when faced with a thorough and logical case built by a OKC professional attorney.

What comprises an investigation will vary from case to case, depending on what is not known or what needs to be proven. Accident reconstruction experts could be called for some cases to get a strong second opinion about how the accident occurred. Oftentimes, medical experts are called upon to testify that the claimant’s injuries happened due to the crash, as well as to explain their severity or permanence. Our team of auto accident lawyers has a network of trusted experts that we can work with to investigate your crash better and enhance your claim overall.

What are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

A car accident, also known as a traffic collision or crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other obstacle. These incidents can vary in severity from minor fender-benders to catastrophic collisions resulting in significant injuries or fatalities.

Common types of car accidents include:

Rear-end collision: This occurs when one vehicle crashes into the rear of another vehicle, often due to sudden braking or tailgating.

Head-on collision: This type of accident happens when the front ends of two vehicles collide, usually at high speeds, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities.

Side-impact collision (T-bone): This occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle, forming a "T" shape. Intersections are common locations for these accidents.

Single-vehicle accident: In this type of accident, only one vehicle is involved, often due to factors such as loss of control, hitting an obstacle, or running off the road.

Rollover accident: This occurs when a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof. Rollovers can happen due to sharp turns, high speeds, or collisions with other vehicles or obstacles.

Multi-vehicle pileup: Also known as a chain-reaction crash, this involves multiple vehicles colliding with each other in a series of impacts, often on highways or in low-visibility conditions such as fog or heavy rain.

Side-swipe collision: This occurs when the sides of two vehicles come into contact while traveling parallel to each other, often while changing lanes or merging.

Hit-and-run accident: In this type of accident, a driver leaves the scene of the collision without stopping to provide assistance or exchange information, which is illegal and can result in serious consequences.

What are the Most Common Types of Car Accident Injuries?

Common injuries caused by car accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Burns
• Fractures & broken bones
• Whiplash
• Bruises

Proving Liability in a Car Accident Claim

In a car accident, establishing fault is crucial for determining liability and resolving legal disputes. Several types of evidence can be utilized to prove fault in such cases:

Police Reports: Law enforcement officers often respond to car accidents and create official reports detailing their observations, statements from involved parties, and any citations issued. These reports can provide valuable information about the circumstances of the accident and help establish fault.

Eyewitness Statements: Statements from eyewitnesses who saw the accident occur can be powerful evidence in determining fault. Eyewitness testimony can provide additional perspectives and corroborate or challenge the accounts of the parties involved.

Photographs and Videos: Visual evidence, such as photographs and videos taken at the scene of the accident, can provide valuable documentation of the vehicles involved, the damage sustained, road conditions, and other relevant factors. This evidence can help reconstruct the sequence of events and establish fault.

Skid Marks and Debris: Physical evidence at the accident scene, such as skid marks, debris, and damage to roadside objects, can provide clues about the dynamics of the collision and the actions of the drivers involved. Analyzing this evidence can help determine factors such as speed, braking, and the point of impact.

Vehicle Damage: The extent and location of damage to the vehicles involved can provide insight into how the accident occurred. Damage patterns, such as dents, scratches, and paint transfers, can help establish the positions and movements of the vehicles at the time of the collision.

Black Box Data: Many modern vehicles are equipped with event data recorders (EDRs), commonly known as black boxes, which capture data related to vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, and other metrics leading up to and during a collision. This data can provide objective information about the actions of the drivers involved.

Cell Phone Records: In cases where distracted driving is suspected, cell phone records can be subpoenaed to determine if a driver was using their phone at the time of the accident. Evidence of texting, calling, or using apps while driving can support claims of negligence or recklessness.

Accident Reconstruction Analysis: In complex cases, accident reconstruction experts may be employed to analyze available evidence and create a detailed reconstruction of the accident. Using mathematical models, physics principles, and engineering expertise, these professionals can provide valuable insights into factors such as speed, trajectory, and causation.

What Damages Can be Recovered in a Car Accident?

Damages that can be recovered in a car accident include:

• Medical costs
• Wage losses
• Pain & suffering

Don't Wait to Get Help On Your Case

Our Oklahoma car accident lawyers are accessible to clients so our clients know their attorneys and the attorneys know their clients. Devoting personalized attention to a client enables our legal team to develop individually tailored legal strategies that best address the unique needs of each car accident case. This approach allows us to achieve maximum results for our clients.

Our team is committed to clients and see their cases through to the end. With our help, you can rest easier and focus on recovering from your injuries. It is our commitment to provide frank and candid guidance with respect to your legal matters.

To provide our clients with convenient legal representation, Martin, Jean, Jackson, Martin & Peach have four conveniently located offices in Ponca City, Stillwater, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. All communications with our Oklahoma auto accident lawyers are strictly confidential, and we do not charge a fee for legal services unless you collect compensation for your injuries.

• Tulsa: (918) 623-4119
• Stillwater: (405) 384-7887
• Ponca City: (580) 290-1006
• Oklahoma City: (405) 221-9699

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents

• Should you take pictures of your car accident? 
  Yes, you should photograph your car accident as much as possible using your smartphone with the timestamp setting turned on. Pictures are often the most convincing evidence of damage, which makes it more difficult for insurance companies to try to pass a lowball settlement as “fair.” You will want to photograph all injuries, damage to vehicles, traffic conditions, road signs, and the weather if it could have been a factor in the crash.
• Can you get money if you’re hit by an uninsured driver? 
  Yes, you might still be able to receive compensation after being hit by a driver without insurance if you have purchased an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy from your auto insurance company. When using UM insurance, coverage is provided by your insurer, not that of the other driver, which means you could go head-to-head with your insurance adjuster if they don’t want to give you a fair coverage amount. UM insurance can also work if you’re hurt by a hit-and-run driver.
• Is a car accident claim invalid if you’re partially at fault? 
  Oklahoma uses a modified comparative fault law that allows you to pursue compensation from another driver if you were partially at fault for the accident, but only if your fault remains at 50% or below. If you are determined to be 51% at fault, then your ability to recover compensation from the other driver will be removed.
• What is your car accident claim worth? 
  The value of your car accident claim will depend on how badly you were injured, how much damage was done to your car, and how much income you are losing while being unable to work. Also, the emotional trauma and physical pain you have experienced due to the crash can increase the claim’s worth. With everything considered, no two car accident claims will have the exact same value, so predicting your claim’s worth at the start of a case is essentially impossible.

Recommended Reading:

• What Does It Mean to Be a Defensive Driver
• Modern Auto Tech & Tips to Keep You Safe
• Understanding Fault in Oklahoma Car Accidents
• Third-Party Liability for a Car Accident 

Discuss your case with a car accident lawyer in Oklahoma at one of our four office locations and get started on your case! Call today to Schedule a Free Consultation.