Personal Injury Legal FAQs

After any crash, your first priority is the safety of everyone involved. Immediately call 911 and alert them of any injuries or potential hazards (e.g., leaking gasoline or downed power lines).

Read more about the Dos and Don’ts after getting into a car crash in our blog.

It’s hard to put a dollar amount on potential damages awarded in a car crash case. It depends entirely on the situation and severity of the injuries. There are 3 types of damages:

• Economic damages: awarded as a direct result of financial loss, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more.
• Non-economic damages: includes non-financial hardships like mental distress, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship, reputation or enjoyment of life.
• Punitive damages: includes penalties or fines awarded to the defendant on top of the above damages. These are reserved for particularly egregious or reckless offenses.

Again, any damages awarded are entirely dependent on several different factors. At Lloyd & Lloyd, we take great care to walk you through the process and fight for what’s rightfully yours. If you have questions about whether you even have a valid lawsuit, we offer free consultations as well.

As with all crashes, first make sure everyone’s safe and immediately call 911. A crash with a semi is much more likely to result in serious injury or at least a totaled vehicle.

When you exchange information with the truck driver, make sure you get their name, the name of their superior, and the contact information for the appropriate party or department that deals with traffic incidents.

Failure to maintain lane is when a driver swerves in and out of lanes, drifts between lanes, or recklessly changes lanes without properly signalling. If any of these behaviors lead to a wreck, the driver can get a charged with failure to maintain lane on top of any other traffic offenses.

In almost all cases, the party who changes lanes or fails to stay within their lane is responsible for any crashes caused. The party who’s traveling straight in their own lane has right of way in that lane.

Read more about lane-change crashes in Oklahoma in our blog post.

Again, in almost all cases, the party who turns left across oncoming traffic is at fault for any crash caused. The only exception would be if the oncoming traffic were running a red light or stop sign while the left-turning party had right of way.

Learn more about left-turn crashes in Oklahoma in our blog post.

It’s best to contact an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected, evidence is preserved, and you don’t accept a low settlement from the insurance company.

Fault is determined based on evidence such as police reports, traffic laws, witness statements, and any available video footage from the scene.

You may still recover damages by filing a claim under your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or pursuing legal action directly against the at-fault driver.

You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages.

Lloyd & Lloyd handles all kinds of personal injury cases that can result from any of these incidents:

• Traffic wrecks involving cars, semi-trucks, motorcycles, bicycles or pedestrians
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Work-related accidents and worker’s compensation
• Medical malpractice and wrongful death
• Nursing home abuse and elder abuse
• Product liability
• Dog bites

A personal injury case must answer 3 questions:

• Was the incident and injury caused by negligence?
• Is another party at fault, and is the incident within the statute of limitations?
• Did you suffer financial loss or emotional hardship as a result of the injury?

If you can answer “yes” to all 3 questions, chances are you have a viable personal injury case and could be entitled to damages.

For help answering these questions, contact Lloyd & Lloyd today for a free consultation.

For more information about personal injury cases, check out this blog.

In Oklahoma, you have 2 years from the date of car crash to file a lawsuit.

Yes, injuries like whiplash or internal damage may not show symptoms right away. A doctor’s evaluation can detect hidden injuries and strengthen your legal claim.

Yes, you can file a claim if the accident aggravated your pre-existing condition. Documenting your medical history is crucial to proving this.

You’ll need medical records, doctor’s notes, treatment plans, and possibly testimony from medical experts to show the severity of your injuries and their impact on your life.

At Lloyd & Lloyd Law, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay any fees unless we win your case.

Insurance companies are notoriously tight with their money. They wear down policy holders and claimants with legal nonsense and underhanded tactics in an effort to minimize their out-of-pocket costs.

In these cases, you need an attorney who can fight the insurance company for you. Don’t let insurance companies bully you into accepting less than what you’re justly owed.

Technically no, but having an attorney deal with an insurance dispute will make the process so much easier on you—and will probably result in a higher payout to you.

Even after you account for your attorney’s fees, you’ll still net a higher amount with an attorney than you will without one.

For more information about how insurance companies try to trick you, check out this blog.

Because they’re greedy, and no amount of money in the world can sate them. It’s also because they know you as the claimant probably need the money sooner than later, and thus they can pressure you into accepting something lower now over something more later.

DO NOT accept any settlement offer without first consulting an attorney. If you accept a settlement, it could A) be for much less than you are entitled to and B) prevent you from filing any further claims or lawsuits stemming from the incident.

If your claim is denied, an attorney can help by appealing the decision, negotiating with the insurer, or pursuing legal action.

PIP insurance covers up to $10,000 in medical bills and lost wages, regardless of fault. However, if your injuries exceed this amount, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver.

Most car accident cases are settled out of court through negotiations. However, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case may go to trial.

Insurance companies often offer low settlements to close cases quickly. Consult an attorney to evaluate the offer and determine if it’s fair before accepting.

Yes, you can recover compensation for lost wages and future earning potential, but you’ll need documentation such as pay stubs, tax returns, or employer statements.

Nursing home abuse occurs when a resident is intentionally harmed or neglected by caregivers or staff. It can include physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse, as well as neglect, where basic care needs are not met.

The first thing you should do is talk to your loved one. However, be aware that sometimes abuse victims deny the abuse for fear of the repercussions from the abuser.

If you still have concerns after talking to your loved one, refer to these resources and contact the proper authorities:

• File a complaint directly to the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Long Term Care Service here (near the bottom of the page, above the Contact Information).
• File a complaint directly to the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services here.
• The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative provides resources specifically for Oklahoma.
• The National Center for Victims of Crime’s Financial Crime Resource Center can help with identity theft and other financial crimes.
• FINRA has a Securities Helpline for Seniors with investment or brokerage accounts.
• Call Lloyd & Lloyd directly at 918-246-0200 or contact us here and let us help you get the justice your loved one deserves.

We have a specialized practice for nursing home and elder abuse cases: OK Elder Care.

There you can find more information on elder abuse and neglect, as well as resources for you and your loved one.

OK Elder Care is a part of Lloyd & Lloyd with the same great attorneys, so you can trust to handle any case and get results.

Common signs include unexplained injuries, emotional withdrawal, sudden changes in behavior, poor hygiene, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, or unusual financial transactions.

Residents who are physically or cognitively impaired, isolated, or dependent on staff for care are more vulnerable to abuse or neglect.

Abuse involves intentional harm to a resident, such as hitting or verbal insults, while neglect occurs when caregivers fail to provide adequate care, resulting in harm.

Evidence includes medical records, photos of injuries, witness statements, staff documentation, and expert evaluations.

Typically, you have 2 years from the date of the abuse or injury to file a claim, but consult an attorney to confirm deadlines in your case.

Responsibility may fall on individual staff members, facility administrators, or the parent company of the nursing home.

You may seek damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, relocation expenses, and in some cases, punitive damages.

Residents have the right to safe and respectful care, freedom from abuse, and access to their medical and financial records under state and federal laws.

Families can help by choosing reputable facilities, visiting frequently, monitoring care, and addressing concerns immediately with staff or administrators.

Yes, you can transfer your loved one to another facility while reporting the abuse and seeking legal assistance to address the situation.

Nursing homes are required to provide proper care, maintain a safe environment, and comply with state and federal regulations to prevent abuse and neglect.

Yes, you can file a claim, but additional factors, such as the property owner’s liability, may come into play. An attorney can help clarify your options.

Report the hit-and-run to the police immediately. Provide any details about the vehicle or driver, and consult an attorney to explore options for compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage.

Yes, under Oklahoma’s comparative negligence laws, you can recover damages reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.