If you sustained injuries in an accident due to driver error, contact Abel Law Firm immediately. We might be able to help you hold the other driver accountable for their actions and pursue the compensation you need to recover from your injuries. We understand the suffering you were forced to endure. Our goal is to ensure you don’t have to suffer any further. Someone else was at fault for the crash, and you shouldn’t have to pay for their mistakes.
Driver error is a common cause of car accidents. It involves any negligent behavior that puts other people at risk of harm. Texting while driving, failing to yield the right of way, and speeding are just a few examples of how one mistake could result in a serious accident. If you or someone you love has been injured because of someone else’s negligence, the Oklahoma City driver error attorneys of Abel Law Firm may be able to help you get the compensation that you deserve. To learn more about how we may be able to fight to defend your rights, contact us today by calling (405) 239-7046 for a free consultation.
How Can a Lawyer Help with My Driver Error Case?
Having an experienced Oklahoma City car accident attorney in your corner can be a make-or-break factor when trying to settle or if the case has to go to trial. An effective personal injury lawyer will be able to discuss your legal options. They will work with you to build a case. Then they’ll fight for your rights at the negotiation table or in the courtroom to ensure you get the compensation you need. We can fight to bring justice to drivers who, through their careless actions, have caused you and your family pain.
Driver error cases, like many kinds of personal injury cases, can be complex. To prove negligence is to prove that a reasonable person would not have taken the same actions under similar circumstances. A qualified driver error lawyer will have the knowledge and familiarity with personal injury law to build an effective case and understand the common defenses drivers may use if they have been careless or negligent. An experienced lawyer will communicate with insurance companies and understand the tactics they use to try to dodge your claim.
Why Choose Abel Law Firm?
The Oklahoma City driver error attorneys of Abel Law Firm have more than 130 years of combined experience handling many types of car accident cases, including driver error accidents.
We don’t attempt to meet case quotas or push you through. Our attorneys promise to treat your case and needs as unique. We’ll give your case the individual attention necessary to come out victorious in the settlement process or court. Several of our attorneys maintain perfect 10 ratings on the legal rating website Avvo, which aggregates reviews and awards for the firm and individual attorneys.
Senior partner and Oklahoma native Ed Abel has been named “Super Lawyer” each year from 2007-2020. This is an honor bestowed to only the state’s best lawyers. Mr. Abel has practiced in Oklahoma City since 1966, winning several seven-figure settlements for his clients as well as one eight-figure settlement, which at the time was the largest-ever personal injury verdict handed down by a jury in Oklahoma.
Someone else’s negligence or carelessness should never be allowed to have a permanent impact on your life. We will be able to effectively communicate with insurance companies and all those involved, ensuring that they do not get away with making you a lowball offer or trying to dodge a settlement altogether. You should never have to handle a personal injury claim alone. The attorneys of Abel Law Firm are armed with the knowledge, experience, and resources to win the compensation you need to recover and return to a normal life.
Common Types of Driver Error Accidents
Getting money to repay you for your medical bills and lost wages and to compensate you for the pain and suffering you have experienced is our goal. We believe that justice means getting injured victims the money they need. We may be able to help you if your driver-error injury involved:
Multi-vehicle collision
If multiple vehicles were involved in the crash, it might be difficult to understand how to determine who was liable and who needs compensation. We can help you sort through the insurance policies and establish who may have been at fault.
Pedestrian injury
If you were on foot and struck by a car, truck, or another commercial vehicle, you may be eligible for compensation if the driver of that vehicle was negligent or careless.
Truck collision
Professional truck drivers are often held to a higher standard and should be subject to strict oversight by the trucking companies they work for. If a truck driver hit you due to driver error, then the trucking company and the driver may be liable.
Distracted driving
In Oklahoma, it is not legal to text and drive. If a driver was paying attention to their phone, stereo, GPS device, or was otherwise not focused on the road, it may constitute negligence or carelessness.
Violating traffic laws
If the driver caused the accident due to breaking a traffic law (such as failing to yield the right-of-way or running a red light), this could constitute negligence.
Intoxicated driving
People who drive while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or even prescription drugs put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk.
Aggressive driving
Tailgating, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights and stop signs, failing to signal, and other aggressive actions can cause serious accidents.
Abel Law Firm brings the knowledge and experience to the table to handle all of the above types of cases and more. It is important to remember that you must have evidence that the other driver’s actions led to the accident. If you can’t show an insurance company or jury that they were responsible for your injuries, you likely won’t be able to collect compensation.
Compensation You Could Seek After A Car Accident
When you get hurt in an accident, there are various losses you end up suffering. You not only have to worry about medical expenses; you also have to deal with the emotional and mental trauma of what you just went through. You could attempt to compensate for these losses by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Oklahoma follows a traditional fault system when it comes to financial responsibility after a car crash. That means whoever caused the accident becomes liable for the injured party’s medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.
Common losses you could pursue from the other driver include
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
- Out of pocket expenses
Every driver must carry auto insurance with minimum liability limits to cover the victim’s physical, financial, and emotional losses after an accident. When you file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you could pursue compensation up to the coverage listed on their policy.
Our Oklahoma City driver error attorneys can review their insurance policy to determine the available limits. The amount of your settlement will depend on their coverage and various other factors, such as:
- The type and severity of the injury
- The length of the recovery period
- The total medical expenses associated with the accident
- The value of damage to your vehicle and personal property
- The total cost of future medical treatment needed
- Any emotional trauma caused by the crash
- The availability of evidence proving another driver was at fault
- The impact of the injury on quality of life
- Any permanent impairment or disability resulting from the crash
- Any time missed from work
Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t want to pay claimants a fair settlement. They will do whatever it takes to deny your claim or provide a lowball offer and hope you will feel tempted to accept it immediately. Abel Law Firm won’t allow anyone to take advantage of you during the legal process. We will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. If the insurance company refuses to provide an adequate settlement amount to cover your losses, we can file a lawsuit against them and bring your case to court.
Filing A Lawsuit After An Accident In Oklahoma City
Depending on the circumstances of your case, the Oklahoma City driver error attorneys of Abel Law Firm might try to settle your case with the insurance company. That is often the best method for covering your past and future losses. However, there are times when the better option is to file a lawsuit against the insurance company and at-fault driver.
When the insurance company denies someone’s claim or provides a low settlement offer, a lawsuit could potentially force them to pay what they owe you. There’s a strict deadline, known as a statute of limitations, that you must follow if you want to file a lawsuit after a driver error car crash. The statute of limitations in Oklahoma is two years.
You must initiate legal action within two years of the accident date, or you could lose your right to compensation. Abel Law Firm will ensure we file your lawsuit before the deadline, so you have a fair chance of seeking the monetary award you need to pay for your medical treatment and associated costs.
It is critical that you don’t admit any amount of fault after a car accident. Even if you believe your actions partially contributed, you shouldn’t speak about it with anyone, especially not with the investigating officer or insurance company. A jury could diminish the compensation you’re entitled to if they determine you share blame for your injuries.
This is known as modified comparative negligence. Your percentage of compensation would be reduced by the percentage of fault you share. For example, if your total losses are $100,000, but you were 50% responsible for the accident, you could only seek up to $50,000 in compensation. If a jury determines that you were more than 50% at fault, you would be prohibited from any amount of compensation in a lawsuit.
Contact Us
Car accidents can lead to physical pain, emotional distress, and financial struggles. It’s unfair that you have to bear the consequences of another person’s actions. You will not be alone during this devastating time in your life. Our Oklahoma City driver error attorneys will advocate for your rights and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Abel Law Firm has been representing clients in Oklahoma City and the state since 1976. We are known for providing dependable legal services to those who have been injured by the wrongdoings of others. Our legal team will work hard on your case to reach a favorable outcome. Whether we’re handling your insurance claim or litigating your case in court, we will be diligent in our investigation and find a way to prove the other driver should be held liable for their actions.
If you were involved in a car accident due to driver error, call us at (405) 239-7046 today. One of our Oklahoma City driver error attorneys will be happy to meet with you for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
