Attorney for Hit-and-Run Accidents in Oklahoma City OKC. Drivers are required under Oklahoma law to remain at the site of an auto collision.
Drivers are required under Oklahoma law to remain at the site of an auto collision. They must assist the other drivers and give them their insurance information and contact details. The other drivers may be concerned about receiving reimbursement for their damages if the driver who caused the collision disregards this regulation and escapes the scene.
Fortunately, you have choices if you find yourself in this circumstance. The attorney at Cain Law Office can assist you in exploring your options and pursuing the compensation you are entitled to because they have more than 20 years of experience handling all types of auto accident cases, including crashes involving vehicles leaving the scene of an accident in Oklahoma City. Through our offices in Oklahoma City and Edmond, get in touch with us right away to learn more during a free consultation with no commitment.
How Can Our Lawyer Aid You Following a Hit-and-Run Crash?
Being in an accident is stressful enough, as our lawyers are aware. It can be even more difficult if the other driver chooses to leave the scene. We wish to reassure you. Working with Cain Law Office means that we have the knowledge to:
- Find the negligent driver. We'll cooperate with law police, eyewitnesses, and other parties to find the driver responsible for your collision. If we are successful in finding the driver, we will assist you in filing a lawsuit against him or her and pursuing the highest possible settlement.
- Submit a claim to your insurance provider. Even if the other driver is never found or identified, you can make a claim with your own insurer if you have uninsured motorist coverage for your medical costs, property repair or replacement, and other expenses.
The sooner you get in touch with our legal team, the sooner we can get to work on your case, safeguard your legal rights, and take action to demand financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, among other things. Do not hesitate to contact us. We can take your call around-the-clock. If it's more convenient for you, we can meet with you at your house, the hospital, or another place. If we don't receive payment for you, you won't have to pay anything.
Oklahoma's requirements for drivers following an accident
When involved in an accident that results in injury or death to any person or damage to any vehicle, a driver is required under Oklahoma Statute 10-104 to provide information and administer aid. The motorist must have a valid driver's license, a security verification form, and accurate information for their name, address, and registration number.
Failure to halt and comply with those requirements may result in criminal charges under Oklahoma Statute 10-103. If the other vehicle is damaged but no one is hurt, it is a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and/or up to one year in county jail. According to Oklahoma Statute 10-102, fleeing the scene of an accident that causes non-fatal injuries is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or a two-year prison sentence. Leaving the scene of an accident that results in death is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or by up to 10 years in jail, according to Oklahoma Statute 10-102.1.
In Oklahoma hit-and-run accidents, criminal penalties vs civil liability
In addition to the aforementioned criminal penalties, under Oklahoma Statute 10-103, the driver who caused the hit-and-run accident may be ordered to pay three times the actual cost of the damage the accident caused through a civil lawsuit.
Depending on the circumstances, a driver may decide to leave the scene of a collision for a variety of reasons. Typical explanations include
- possessing an expired license
- having insufficient insurance
- Alcohol or a controlled drug use when impaired
- not having the right to call the United States home
- having an arrest warrant out for them
- refusing to take accountability for the collision.
A criminal prosecution is quite distinct from a civil lawsuit. Even if they were cleared of criminal charges, a person might still be held civilly accountable for a hit-and-run accident. However, it will undoubtedly aid in proving the driver's accountability if they are found guilty under Oklahoma's hit-and-run rules.
What to Do in Oklahoma After a Hit-and-Run
You shouldn't try to pursue a driver who leaves the site of your collision. Instead, call the police right away. Brand a note of the car's make, model, license plate, and any other details you can remember.
Even if you don't believe your injuries are serious, you should still get medical attention right once. You should visit a doctor to have a complete examination and receive treatment for your wounds. Additionally, this will produce a medical record that will be helpful if you need to convince an insurance provider that you didn't put off getting care.
In order to abide under the terms of your policy, you need notify your own insurance provider about the accident. If the negligent driver cannot be found, you might be able to receive reimbursement through your own auto insurance policy's uninsured motorist clause.
Injuries from Hit-and-Run Accidents
It is much more important for vehicles to stop in the event of an injury accident so that they can provide quick treatment to anyone who has been harmed. In hit-and-run accidents, victims frequently suffer from the following injuries:
- neck wounds
- strained muscles
- Fractures
- harm to internal organs
- nerve injury
- burn wounds
- harm to the spinal cord
- Paraplegia
- brain damage caused by trauma.