Your Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer

What you do in the moments after a car accident can greatly matter for both your health and your claim. You should take the following steps:

Call for help and seek medical treatment. Even if you don’t feel injured right away, get checked out by a medical professional. Injuries like whiplash, internal bleeding, or concussions can take hours or days to surface. Early documentation also strengthens your legal claim.

Call the police and get a report. According to Oklahoma law, if someone is injured or property damage appears to be more than $500, you should contact law enforcement for a crash report. The official police report is critical evidence for insurance and legal claims.

Take photos and video if safe to do so. Document the accident scene including vehicle damage, skid marks, traffic signs, lighting conditions, weather, and your injuries.

Exchange information with other drivers. Get names, contact info, insurance details, and vehicle information for all involved parties.

Gather witness contact details. Independent witnesses may offer key accounts later.

Keep all records. Hold onto medical records, bills, receipts, repair estimates, lost wage statements, and anything else related to your accident.

Contact an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer. Your legal team can begin building your case while protecting your rights and paperwork from the start.

Oklahoma has a statute of limitations that limits the time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. For car accident injury claims, the deadline is 2 years from the date of the accident.

If you miss this deadline, you could lose your right to pursue compensation, even if you’re seriously injured.

Call an Oklahoma car accident lawyer as soon as possible so your legal team can preserve evidence and build your case while memories and records are fresh.

Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and defense lawyers whose job is to minimize payouts. They will look for reasons to reduce your claim or deny it entirely.

A car accident attorney:

• Knows how insurance companies operate
• Communicates and negotiates directly with adjusters
• Calculates your total damages, including future medical care
• Gathers needed evidence (medical records, accident reconstruction, expert testimony)
• Protects you from making mistakes that could hurt your claim
• Will take your case to court if needed

An experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer will lower your risk of accepting an offer that’s far less than you deserve—sometimes only pennies on the dollar compared to the true value of your losses.

You are not required to speak with the other driver’s insurance company. In fact, it’s almost always your best interest to avoid direct communication before consulting an attorney.

Insurance adjusters may seem friendly, but their goal is to minimize your claim. They may ask you to:

• Provide a recorded statement
• Sign medical authorization forms
• Accept a quick settlement

Don’t do any of the above. Instead, politely refer all questions to your car accident lawyer.

BLOG: Insurance Company Dirty Tricks (and How to Deal with Them)

Insurance companies often make early offers hoping you’ll accept less than your case is worth.

Be wary:

• Initial offers are often too low
• They may not account for future medical care
• Accepting too early can eliminate your right to later compensation

Never accept an offer without consulting a car accident lawyer.

Most car accident injury cases do not go to a full jury trial. In fact, the vast majority resolve through settlement negotiations before litigation ever begins.

A lawsuit is simply the formal step of filing documents with the court. Even then:

• Many cases still settle after a lawsuit is filed
• Only a small percentage ever go to a jury trial
• Your lawyer will prepare your case as if it may go to trial, which strengthens your negotiation position

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, going to court may be necessary — and when that happens, The Wolf Pack™ will fight tooth and nail to protect your rights every step of the way.

BLOG: Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?

No. Oklahoma does not require Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

Instead, Oklahoma drivers may choose to purchase Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay), which helps pay for medical bills after an accident regardless of fault. MedPay is not required, but it can be helpful.

Note: MedPay does not cover lost wages or non-medical costs like PIP often does in other states.

Yes. Oklahoma is an at-fault state. This means:

• The person responsible for causing the accident is financially responsible for the victim’s losses
• You may pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company
• You are not required to collect from your own insurer if the other driver is fully responsible

If the at-fault driver has inadequate insurance, you may be able to use your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.

BLOG: How Do Adjusters Determine Who is At Fault in a Car Accident?

In addition to your injury claim, you may be entitled to compensation for property damage, including:

• Cost to repair your vehicle
• Replacement of your vehicle if it is totaled
• Diminished value (if your car is worth less after repairs)
• Rental car or transportation costs while your vehicle is unavailable

Even if your car still drives, document every issue and have a trusted mechanic inspect it.

Property damage claims are separate from personal injury claims. Here’s how the process generally works:

1. The insurance company evaluates the crash and determines fault
2. They assign an adjuster or appraiser to estimate repair costs
3. You can choose your own repair shop
4. If the insurer disputes fault, you may need to file your own claim

It’s often best to have an Oklahoma car accident lawyer assist you so you receive full value for repairs or replacement.

Unfortunately, many crashes involve hit-and-run drivers or drivers without adequate insurance.

If you have Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage on your policy, you can make a claim under your own insurance:

• For injuries caused by a driver with no insurance
• For injuries that exceed the at-fault driver’s coverage
• For hit-and-run accidents where the at-fault driver cannot be identified

Oklahoma law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage at the same limits as your liability coverage, but you must affirmatively accept it. In many cases, carrying higher UM/UIM limits is inexpensive and worthwhile protection.

BLOG: What Happens If I Was Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Oklahoma?

Medical expenses must be paid as they occur, even if your claim is unresolved. 

Common solutions include:

• Health insurance
• MedPay (if you purchased it)
• Hospital or provider payment plans
• Negotiation with providers
• Legal assistance to pursue compensation

If your health insurer pays your bills, your attorney can help ensure you satisfy any required reimbursements from your settlement.

Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means:

• You can still recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault
• Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover compensation

Example: If you are found 30% at fault and your total loss is $100,000, you would be eligible for $70,000.

Determining fault can be complex, so having a skilled Oklahoma car accident attorney is important, especially when insurance companies try to shift blame onto you.

No one can predict the exact timeline, but most cases resolve in several months to a year. However, more complex case may take longer.

Factors that can affect the timing of a car accident case include:

• The severity of your injuries
• Whether liability is clear
• Whether the insurer cooperates
• Whether negotiations or litigation are necessary

Your Oklahoma car accident lawyer will keep you informed every step of the way.

If another driver was at fault and you were not ticketed, your insurance rates typically should not increase because of their accident.

If you were partly at fault, there may be an impact. Your Oklahoma car accident attorney can help explain and protect your interests.