What Can I Do to Remedy Injuries and Damages From a Drunk Driving Accident in Oklahoma City Oklahoma?
Drunk driving in Oklahoma City can cause extensive damages, consult an attorney to remedy your loss.
About a third of all United States traffic crash deaths involve drunk drivers with blood alcohol levels of .08 g/dL or higher, although lower blood alcohol levels can impair driving and cause accidents as well. The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office reported that alcohol-related crash fatalities decreased from 189 in 2016 to 171 in 2017, and approximately 43% of those occurred on city streets. Unsafe speed, failure to yield to other vehicles and not paying attention are the common contributing factors to alcohol-related crashes which occur most often between 5 p.m. and midnight in Oklahoma.
Impaired Driving is Illegal in Oklahoma.
Impaired driving includes drunk driving, driving while intoxicated and driving under the influence, which all generally mean that the driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle has been compromised due to chemical changes to a person’s normal body and brain functions that may decrease reaction time and the ability to focus. Oklahoma DUI laws state that it is unlawful for any person to operate or attempt to drive a motorized vehicle in the state of Oklahoma while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicants or any combination thereof with a blood alcohol concentration level of .08% or greater. Oklahoma DUI Laws enforce a complied consent law for every driver consisting of 180 days to 3 years of automatic suspension of ones driving license. The refusal to participate in testing will result in an Oklahoma DUI conviction. The drunk driving charges will be addressed by the State and depending on the type of conviction handed down by the court, it may strengthen any civil suit you have initiated for damages due to the drunk driving accident.
At Fault Insurance State.
Oklahoma is an at-fault insurance state which means that drivers face financial liability after an accident, if it is determined they are to blame. According to the Oklahoma Insurance Commission, all drivers are state-mandated to carry a certain amount of vehicle insurance in the event of an accident. If you are involved in an accident where the at fault driver is uninsured or does not have enough insurance to cover the cost of your injuries, your own insurance may be able to help. The pros in an “at-fault” insurance state are: 1) reckless drivers are held accountable for their actions, and 2) prevention of insurance premiums increasing when drivers are involved in accidents where they are not to blame. The cons of an “at-fault” insurance state are: 1) the amount of time spent determining liability after an accident may delay settlement and funding necessary for certain treatments in personal injury and car replacement, and 2) compensation for damages and injuries may be limited if the other driver is under-insured or not insured at all.
Compensation.
Compensation for damages and injuries sustained in Oklahoma drunk driving accidents includes: 1) current and future medical expenses occurring due to the injury; 2) property damage to the vehicles involved; 3) lost income and future loss due to reduction in earning capacity; 4) emotional and physical pain and suffering; and 5) punitive damages when warranted due to an egregious act. If a wrongful death occurred as a result of the drunk driving accident, additional compensation may cover funeral expenses, lost wages that contributed to family, and spousal or children’s lost companionship.
Settlement Determination.
Determining damage and personal injury compensation amounts is done by the analyses of medical records, property damage and loss, financial planning activities regarding future earnings, career transitions, future medical care and rehabilitation costs, and residential modifications for example, when someone who has to use a wheelchair after an accident.
Hire an Attorney.
If a drunk driving accident caused an injury to you or someone you love, or if you have lost a loved one due to a crash, you should demand compensation for your losses. Insurance companies do not always make full and fair settlements on their own, so you will need a skilled Oklahoma City drunk driving accident lawyer on your side to thoroughly document your damages and fight for a full financial recovery.
Sources.
https://www.ok.gov/oid/documents/Auto%20Brochure.pdf
https://www.ok.gov/oid/Consumers/Insurance_Basics/Auto.html
