Ylla Gosney represents injured car accident victims injured by drunk drivers in Oklahoma City. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in OKC, our Car Accident Attorneys will get you compensation for present/future medical costs, lost wages, and emotional trauma experienced from the accident. DUI accidents tend to be traumatic, so it is important to put an attorney on your side to help you fully recover.
In this article, we’ll detail when you need to contact a lawyer, how the law protects you, and the amount of compensation you can expect after being injured in a car accident with a drunk driver. If you need legal help now, contact Ylla Gosney today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
How Ylla Gosney Helps Oklahoma City Car Accident Victims
DUI car accidents can be devastating. In a single second, an impaired driver can alter the course of your life, subjecting you to extensive medical treatment, loss of income, or even permanent disability. These are costly life changes that most people are not prepared to face alone. Fortunately, at Ylla Gosney, we will aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf to recover all your current damages and the potential damages you may face in the future as a result of the accident. We offer the following services to injured car accident victims in Oklahoma City in order to maximize your compensation and achieve a successful outcome:
- Investigate and determine wrongdoing or recklessness: Car accidents are complicated due to the number of victims and liable parties involved. There will be several people to get statements from, and some parties may only be discussing their involvement through their attorneys. Ylla Gosney can help manage this quickly and efficiently.
- Collect and preserve key evidence: Street cameras, dash cams, and witness statements are all key points of evidence for your case. Our car accident attorneys will take the proper legal steps to obtain this information and strengthen your claim.
- Communicate with insurance companies and other attorneys: It is recommended to have an attorney speak to the insurance adjusters on your behalf. Oftentimes, insurance companies will attempt to trick you into taking part of the blame or get you to say something that hurts your claim. Our attorneys can protect your liability and right to fair compensation.
- Prove liability: With several parties potentially being involved in a car accident, any number of them could have caused or contributed to the incident. This makes determining and proving liability challenging. The attorneys at Ylla Gosney will assign a team of investigators and accident reconstruction specialists to determine the cause of the accident, identify all liable parties, and hold those responsible for compensating you for your damages.
How Do I Know if I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident with a Drunk Driver?
Determining whether you need a lawyer after filing a car accident claim with your insurance will depend on a number of factors. For example, if your insurance does not fully cover your damages, it is recommended to consult with a Car Accident Attorney at Ylla Gosney. If your injuries are minor, such as scrapes and bruises, then you will most likely not need a lawyer. However, most DUI accident victims suffer significant damage. If you suffered injuries that caused you to need medical treatment or miss time at work, that’s where our law firm can help. At Ylla Gosney, we make sure Tulsa car accident victims receive full compensation for the following damages:
- Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
- General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
- Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
- Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the driver engaged in reckless driving with the intention of hurting you, then you could sue for punitive damages. A DWI (in most cases) would qualify you for punitive damages.
Laws to Protect Drunk Driving Accident Victims in Oklahoma City
In Oklahoma, DUI laws are referred to as DWI or APC (Actual Physical Control). These laws are strict and come with significant penalties. Drivers, as well as passengers, have the right to sue for damages if they’re injured in a car accident with a drunk driver. A driver is deemed to have violated Oklahoma’s DUI laws if:
- The driver has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more at the time of a test of a person’s blood or breath within two hours after the arrest of the driver, as defined in 47 O.S.756.
- The driver has any amount of a Schedule I chemical or controlled substance in their blood, saliva, urine, or bodily fluid within two hours of a person’s arrest, as defined in 63 O.S. 2-204.
- The driver is under the influence of any intoxicating substance other than alcohol which may render such person incapable of safely driving or operationg a motor vehicle
- Driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of:
- .08% for non-commercial vehicles
- .01% for non-commercial drivers under the age of 21
- .04% for commercial vehicles
- .04% for Uber, Lyft, and Taxi drivers
Drunk driving accidents can be traumatizing accidents. Unfortunately, insurance companies will still try to convince victims that their damages and injuries are minor. At Ylla | Gosney, we fight for the drunk driving victims in Oklahoma City, and uphold their rights to compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation and assessment of your case.
What is Considered Reckless Driving in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Law deems reckless driving whenever a driver engages in a careless manner without regard for the safety or property of another person, according to Statute 47-11-901. In Oklahoma, reckless driving is a more serious charge than speeding. In certain cases, reckless driving is obvious. For example, drunk driving or a hit-and-run accident. In other instances, the term “reckless” may be up to the interpretation of a police officer or judge.
Speeding can also be considered reckless driving if a driver’s speed exceeds more than 20 MPH above the posted speed limit. For example, if a driver is caught going 90 MPH in a posted 65 MPH zone.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Car Accident
The steps you take after a car accident will be important to ensuring you and your passengers’ safety, as well as protecting your right to compensation if you decide to take legal action. After a car accident with a drunk driver, you should:
- Ensure the safety of you and your passengers: Depending on the situation, this could mean moving your car to the side of the road, or if you are severely injured, it could mean remaining where you are until help arrives. Check yourself for burns, lacerations, or broken bones. Oftentimes, the adrenaline from an accident can mask the pain from major injuries.
- Call the Police: The police will file an accident report and take down the names of everyone involved, as well as assign fault based on the evidence in front of them. A police report will serve as evidence if you need to back up your claims later.
- Document the incident: Take photos or film the aftermath of the bus accident. Film yourself recounting the details of the incident and describe the pain you’re in. It is best to capture how the accident played out while the memory is still fresh in your mind.
- Gather witness statements and driver information: Film or record witnesses willing to give a statement about the accident. Take down their names and phone numbers. Take a picture of the other driver’s license and license plate number. Take down the contact information. All of this information will help support your claim and assist your attorney in building your case if you end up taking legal action.
- Do NOT admit fault: Don’t admit fault even if you feel you may have caused the accident. Allow the police to conduct their investigation and determine fault.
- Get Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it is important to get checked out by a doctor or go to a hospital. Certain injuries can lie dormant and manifest themselves hours or even days later.
- Notify your insurance of the accident: Notifying your insurance of the accident is typically a part of any auto insurance policy. Failing to report an accident can result in a dismissal of your policy agreement, depending on the contract you signed with your insurance company.
- Contact Ylla Gosney: If you consult with one of our attorneys after a drunk driving car accident in Oklahoma City, we can manage your claim and ensure you are taking the proper legal actions to receive compensation and protect yourself from liability.
Contact Ylla Gosney | Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Oklahoma City, Ylla Gosney can help. Our team of Car Accident Attorneys will aggressively pursue all liable parties for the full extent of your damages. Potential liable parties drunk driving accident could fall to a number of people, which is what makes every DUI accident case different. At Ylla | Gosney, we treat each client with a custom legal plan that best fits their situation to get them the compensation they need to fully recover. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action. Get started today by contacting us for a free consultation and case evaluation.