Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Oklahoma?
January 24, 2011
Yes!
This is where I sound like an insurance salesman:
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM) will help protect you if the person that caused the accident and injured you 1) doesn’t have insurance or 2) doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages.
In my opinion, UM is mandatory! I purchase it through my insurance company – it costs me just under an extra $200/year.
Why purchase UM?
- About one in four Oklahoma drivers don’t have insurance
- Our state insurance requirements are only $25k/50k. With a serious injury, it doesn’t take long to rack up $25k at a hospital.
Do I have to go to the doctor my employer told me to go to?
January 14, 2011
No! Go to whatever doctor you are comfortable with – preferably your primary care physician.
If, down the road, the insurance company is contesting if you are hurt (or the treatment), it will be proper for you to go to an “independent medical examiner.” The is basically a doctor that will review your case for the insurance company. This doctor will also be paid by the insurance company to examine your injuries.
Car accidents and “low-ball” settlement offers
January 12, 2011
The Consumer Federation of America is warning that software and other programs used by insurance companies to evaluate car accident injury claims result in “low-ball” settlement offers. The main problem is that, while the software considers “general” damages such as pain, suffering and anguish, it fails to calculate any “special” damages. The software doesn’t use the following to “calculate” a car accident claim:
- Past or future bills
- Reductions in wages (future lost income)
- Credibility of witnesses
Related articles
- What To Do When Your Insurance Company Won’t Pay (blogs.forbes.com)
“should I be reimbursed for my medical bills even if my medical insurance paid it”
January 11, 2011
Yes! But, your insurance company will want to be reimbursed (called their subrogation claim).
Auto Accident Settlement: My Attorney Won’t Settle
January 10, 2011
I saw this on our Google Search Analytics (how people are getting to our site from Google).
The decision to settle rests with the client, and the client alone. Your attorney should obviously offer insight in to why he/she thinks the case is worth more and if it is advisable to settle or not. But an attorney that won’t settle the case?? That’s ridiculous if it is true. Report ‘em to your state bar association.
Car accident lawsuit after the 2 year statute of limitations
January 7, 2011
“What happens if my car accident trial is after the two year statute of limitations is up?”
At least for the statute of limitations issue, the actual trial date doesn’t matter. The “two years” requirement is for filing the lawsuit. Trials are often well after the actual accident. By the time the actual trial date as rolled around, both parties have gone through multiple rounds of negotiation and discovery.
“I don’t want to hire a lawyer.”
January 6, 2011
You don’t have to! But, it’s in your best interest to at least talk with one.
I’m out of work – How can I afford a car accident lawyer?
January 5, 2011
First off, we provide a free consultation to meet with you to help you decide if you have a case and if you need an attorney. Remember that not all car accident claims actually need a lawyer.
If you and I decide that our firm is best to represent you, we then sign a contract. Our contract details our contingency fee. This means that we only get paid if we recover something for you. So, there’s no out of pocket costs on your end. We also front all the litigation costs. Our car accident contingent fees generally start out at 25% or 33%.
Profits Before People – Ford Wrongful Death
January 4, 2011
Here’s yet another example of a large corporation putting profits before people:
Ford received reports of more than 800 incidents! Of course, issuing a recall on the axles would be expensive. For more info on the tragic story, check out Father Killed In Crash Of Windstar Van After Ford Resisted Safety Recall. Note in the video that the van was only traveling 35 miles per hour.
DUI Accident Death Risks Increase 150% on New Year’s
January 3, 2011
I made a quick trip to the bank on Friday. I asked the teller if he had plans for New Year’s. His response: “of course not! It’s amateur day – too many drunk drivers.”
It turn’s out he’s correct. The average number of deaths from alcohol-related crashes on New Year’s Days is almost 150% higher than the average for the same day of the week. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reported the information.
