Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Minor Car Accident In Oklahoma City?
After a car accident in Oklahoma City, the state has specific requirements. Car accident victims must report the accident to the police if there are any injuries and/or more than $300 in property damage—or if one of the involved drivers lacks valid insurance or a driver’s license. The state does not require car accident victims to hire attorneys. After an accident, many people wonder when it’s necessary to hire a car accident lawyer in Oklahoma City. Do you have to hire a car accident attorney after a minor car crash in Oklahoma City?
When Is a Car Accident “Minor?”
The severity of a car accident isn’t always immediately clear. For instance, what seems like a minor fender bender could cause far more damage than you might have anticipated at the scene. For instance, what if the stiff neck you thought you could shake off worsens into debilitating pain and limited mobility? Some injuries—like whiplash—have delayed symptom presentation and worsen as inflammation impacts nerves and other internal structures.
In other cases, a motorist in the other vehicle involved in your car accident could later develop injury symptoms.
It’s important to carefully evaluate the impacts of a car accident before deciding it was only minor. A car accident is only minor if it results in very minimal damage to the vehicles and no chance of injuries.
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney In Oklahoma City?
If a collision causes a significant impact, it’s beneficial to hire a car accident lawyer to protect your rights. If you’ve experienced any injuries and the accident was caused by the other driver, it’s crucial to hire a car accident attorney to protect your right to compensation. An Oklahoma City personal injury attorney assists in filing a claim and recovering the full value of your damages, including property damage, medical expenses, lost earnings, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Oklahoma is a modified comparative negligence car accident state. In this system, an injury victim must file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. To recover compensation, the injury victim has the burden of proving the other party’s liability and showing ample evidence of their economic and non-economic damages.
Proving Liability After a Minor Car Accident In Oklahoma
City
Minor collisions can still result in significant financial damages if there are injuries. Even a mild, fully recoverable injury can quickly cause financial consequences with a single emergency room bill and a couple of days of lost pay. If someone else caused the accident and injuries, you don’t have to be left responsible for financial consequences as well as the pain. These consequences become the “damages” in an Oklahoma car accident claim. Proving another driver’s liability requires an investigation to document evidence of the following:
- That the at-fault driver owed a duty of care to the injury victim (in car accidents, this is the duty to follow traffic laws and avoid distractions)
- They breached this duty through negligence
- Their breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The accident victim suffered damages from their injuries
A skilled car accident lawyer documents substantial evidence to present a compelling case to the at-fault party’s insurance and pursues all avenues for compensation.
If another driver, the manufacturer of a defective auto part, or a negligent road maintenance agency caused or contributed to your injuries, you don’t have to be left responsible for the damages. A car accident lawyer protecting your rights demands financial accountability. Contact us today.