Following a car accident, most people just want to put the incident behind them as quickly as possible.
But injury victims can find it hard to pick up the pieces when they’re facing mounting medical expenses, time away from work, mental anguish, and costly property damage.
The Oklahoma car accident lawyers at Carr & Carr Injury Attorneys are dedicated to helping injury victims recover the financial peace of mind they need to properly heal and move forward with their lives.
While more than 90 percent of personal injury cases related to motor vehicle accidents settle out of court, it’s occasionally necessary to take a case to trial in order to achieve a fair financial resolution.
Car Accident Injury Cases and Settlements
One of the most frequently asked questions by car accident victims is, How long will it take to resolve my case? The answer depends on a number of factors, including:
Fault
Liability for motor vehicle crashes can be subjective, and it may be further complicated when multiple drivers share fault. Establishing liability often requires examining a collision beyond what appears in the law enforcement accident report.
Medical costs and other damage
Many car accident victims need more than immediate, short-term medical care in order to fully recover. Car accident injuries sometimes require extended time away from work and lengthy rehabilitation.
Evidence and investigation
Documentation related to the crash—including police reports, witness statements and insurance estimates—must be gathered and investigated. The victim’s medical records and extended prognosis must also be thoroughly assessed.
One of the goals of a successful personal injury claim is to recover sufficient compensation to help the victim reach “maximum medical improvement,” which is the state in which the victim is either fully recovered or in which his or her condition cannot be further improved.
Insurance companies—knowing that injury victims are under stress and are often desperate for money to deal with growing expenses—try to protect their bottom lines by making initial settlement offers that are too low for victims’ long-term needs.
A knowledgeable car accident attorney can negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to reach a fair settlement and, if necessary, fight for you in court.
While some cases settle quickly, others take longer based on the unique circumstances involved. The car accident lawyers at Carr & Carr strive to accomplish just settlements in a timely fashion for each of our clients. We also have the resources and trial experience necessary to take your case to court when settlement offers are too low.
How a Car Accident Attorney can Help
When you hire a personal injury attorney to represent you in a car accident case, your lawyer will take the lead on insurance company negotiations and guide you through the process so you can focus on getting better.
As you complete your medical treatment, your attorney will perform a comprehensive analysis of your case, including the facts and circumstances surrounding the collision.
Your lawyer will also gather all pertinent medical records, as well as documentation related to lost wages and other damages stemming from the accident.
When you have healed or when your condition has stabilized, your attorney will submit a so-called “demand package” to the insurance providers.
This package includes a written summary of your injuries and treatment and details about how your injuries have affected your daily life.
The demand package also includes evidence to support your claim.
Finally, the package makes a demand for payment of your medical expenses and for compensation related to lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the crash.
The demand package opens the door to negotiations. Insurance companies may agree in whole with the demand package, or they may counter with another settlement offer.
If you and your attorney believe that settlement is unfair, your lawyer will continue to negotiate the amount. If a favorable settlement can’t be reached, your attorney may recommend that you file a lawsuit and take your case to trial.
Statistics indicate that about 95 percent of car accident claims are settled out of court. Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and while they don’t want to pay more than they have to in settlements, they also try to avoid trials, which can be time-consuming and expensive.
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma Car Accident Lawyer
Carr & Carr Attorneys at Law has been fighting for the rights of Oklahoma car accident victims since 1973, and we’ve helped thousands of injured individuals and their families recover the financial security they need.
Our dedicated lawyers understand the unique challenges faced by injury victims, and we are proud to have built a record of success spanning more than 49 years based on providing individualized attention to our clients.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations to help you understand your options, and we don’t charge for our services unless we recover compensation for you.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in an Oklahoma motor vehicle crash, please call us today at (918) 747-1000 or contact us online to arrange your complimentary consultation.
We have offices in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, but we can also meet you at your home, hospital room, or other location convenient for you.