People who drive while intoxicated place everyone on the road at risk. Impaired drivers cause accidents that injure or kill thousands of people each year, and if a drunk driver injured you or killed a close family member in an accident they caused in Tulsa, you are likely considering your options for obtaining compensation.
Contact an experienced Tulsa drunk driving accident lawyer at the Aizenman Law Group today for a free consultation of your case. We will review your claim and advise you of your options for recovering damages resulting from the accident. We can also fight hard to obtain the maximum financial recovery possible to cover all your injuries and losses.
Why Choose the Aizenman Law Group for Your Tulsa Drunk Driving Accident Claim
The attorneys at the Aizenman Law Group have decades of combined legal experience, and we are fully committed to helping our clients obtain full and fair compensation for the injuries someone else caused. We have gained reputations as tenacious negotiators and aggressive litigators, and we are prepared to go toe-to-toe with the other party’s insurance company or legal counsel to assert your rights and increase your chances of getting the favorable outcomes you deserve.
We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, including many substantial awards for victims of drunk driving accidents. Many of our attorneys have earned national recognition as some of the country’s top-rated personal injury lawyers, and our firm’s website proudly displays some of the many compelling client testimonials we have received for our outstanding client service.
This means you can expect quality representation from a local attorney with your best interests at heart.
Our lawyers offer free consultations, and we work on a contingency fee basis. Thus, you won’t have to pay any money upfront to determine if you have a viable claim and have our attorneys represent you. We will only accept a fee if we recover compensation on your behalf. Contact the Aizenman Law Group today to get started.
Drunk Driving Accident Statistics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that around 32 people die each day in drunk driving accidents, and alcohol-impaired drivers account for around 30 percent of all traffic-related fatalities nationwide. The average total of fatalities across the U.S. each year is more than 11,000.
Oklahoma’s Drunk Driving Laws
Oklahoma has several laws governing impaired driving.
A person can face driving while impaired (DWI) charges for a blood alcohol content (BAC) between 0.05 and 0.08 percent. A person may receive a driving under the influence (DUI) charge if their BAC exceeds 0.08 percent within two hours of their arrest for suspected drunk driving.
People under 21 can face DUI charges if authorities find any amount of alcohol in their system, and impaired-driving offenders can face additional charges and enhanced penalties for things like aggravated DUI or child endangerment.
Those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) may face charges if their BAC is 0.04 percent or more.
What Injuries Can I Sustain in a Drunk Driving Accident?
Drunk driving accidents can result in injuries that vary in severity depending on the speed of the vehicles involved, the point of impact, the use of seatbelts, and other circumstances.
Here are some common injuries in drunk driving accidents:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): These injuries range from concussions and contusions to skull fractures or brain hemorrhages. TBIs can have long-lasting effects on cognitive function, memory, and quality of life.
- Spinal cord injuries: Drunk driving accidents can damage the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete loss of sensation and motor function. Spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis, either paraplegia (loss of function in the lower body) or quadriplegia (loss of function in all four limbs).
- Neck and back injuries: Whiplash occurs when the head abruptly jerks forward and backward, straining the neck muscles and ligaments. Back injuries, such as herniated discs or spinal fractures, can also occur.
- Broken bones: A drunk driving accident can break bones in the arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis. Compound fractures, where the bone pierces the skin, can increase the need for surgery and the risk of infection.
- Internal injuries: Internal injuries may not immediately appear but can kill people. They may include damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, or lungs. Internal bleeding requires urgent medical attention.
- Soft tissue injuries: Drunk driving accidents can sprain, strain, and tear ligaments, tendons, and muscles. These injuries can cause pain, swelling, and restricted mobility.
- Psychological and emotional injuries: Survivors of drunk driving accidents may experience lasting psychological and emotional effects like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions.
After a drunk driving accident, seek immediate medical attention no matter how serious your injuries appear. Some injuries may not present symptoms right away, and you need a medical examination to rule out any underlying issues or potential risks to your health and well-being.
You also need documented evidence that you suffered an injury and received treatment for your drunk driving accident injury claim. An attorney can ensure you receive the proper medical treatment you need and file your claim.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Drunk Driving Accident in Tulsa?
After a drunk driving accident in Tulsa, you may seek damages. Consult a Tulsa drunk driving accident lawyer at Aizenman Law Group who can guide you through your case.
Here are some common damages that you may recover:
- Medical expenses: Your lawyer can seek compensation for the cost of medical treatments you have received or will require in the future because of the accident. This includes hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any necessary medical equipment.
- Lost income: If your injuries caused you to miss work or resulted in a loss of earning capacity, your attorney may pursue compensation for the income you have lost and any potential future earnings your injuries may cause.
- Property damage: If the accident damages or destroys your vehicle or other personal property, your lawyer can recover compensation for the cost to repair or replace your property.
- Pain and suffering: The drunk driving accident likely left you with considerable psychological and emotional harm. Your attorney may pursue compensation for t6he mental trauma of the accident and the ongoing physical pain and suffering you experience, including emotional distress, mental anguish, PTSD, and depression. Calculating subjective pain and suffering damages requires an experienced lawyer who can consider the severity of your injuries, the impact on your daily life, and the expected recovery time.
- Wrongful death damages: If the drunk driving accident killed a close family member, such as your spouse, child, or parent, your attorney can obtain compensation through a wrongful death claim. The damages you recover can help with funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and other related losses.
- Punitive damages: In cases involving drunk driving accidents, Oklahoma law allows you to pursue punitive damages. These damages punish the at-fault party for their reckless or willful conduct and deter similar behavior.
The compensation you can receive depends heavily on the severity of your injuries, state law, the liability of those involved in the accident, and other factors.
You need an attorney who understands Oklahoma’s personal injury laws and has experience handling drunk driving accident cases to evaluate your claim, identify the damages you can pursue, and calculate the amount of compensation you need. You need a Tusla drunk driving accident lawyer from Aizenman Law Group.
How Do I Hold a Drunk Driver Liable for My Injuries?
An insurance company may try to refute liability and deny your claim. Worse, they may even blame you for the accident and your injuries.
You need an attorney to show thorough evidence that the drunk driver breached their duty of care to you by driving impaired and causing the accident. Your lawyer must then show that you suffered injuries and compensable damages because of the drunk driver’s negligence.
To do this, your attorney will need to collect the necessary evidence to support your claim, such as:
- Accident reports
- The police report showing the other driver’s BAC at the time of the crash
- Eyewitness testimony
- Photographs of the accident scene and your injuries and vehicle or property damage
- Copies of your medical records and treatment plan
- Receipts, statements, and estimates of your out-of-pocket costs related to the accident and your injuries
Your attorney may also obtain testimony from industry and medical experts who can attest to the cause of the accident and the extent of your injuries.
You can pursue compensation from the drunk driver even if the state never charges or convicts them of the crime, though a DUI conviction can certainly bolster your case.
No matter the circumstances surrounding the drunk driving accident, your lawyer will work diligently to prove the other driver’s liability for your injuries and fight to get you that full amount of compensation you deserve.
Other Liable Parties
Your attorney can hold other parties liable for the injuries and losses you suffered in a Tulsa drunk driving accident, including:
- Alcohol servers: In certain, limited situations, Oklahoma allows people injured in drunk driving accidents to file claims against the establishments or hosts that served the driver alcohol before the crash. You may have a claim if your lawyer can prove the establishment served alcohol to an already inebriated customer or to someone under 21 years old.
- Employers: If the drunk driver performed official work-related duties when they caused the crash, your attorney may seek to hold their employers accountable since employers typically have a responsibility for the actions of their employees while they’re on the clock.
- Vehicle owner: If another person or entity owned the vehicle the drunk driver was driving, your attorney may seek compensation from the vehicle’s owner for negligently entrusting the person with their car.
When investigating your case, your lawyer could identify other parties who bear liability for your injuries and losses and will work to hold all parties accountable for your damages.
How Long Do I Have to Sue a Drunk Driver in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims resulting from negligence, including drunk driving accident claims, is two years from the date of injury, death, or damage to property. Therefore, you need to have an attorney file your lawsuit in civil court within that time, or you may forfeit your right to pursue compensation.
Some exceptions can change the time you have to file, so you need to contact an Oklahoma drunk driving accident attorney immediately to discuss your options.
Contact an Experienced Oklahoma Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Today
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a Tulsa drunk driving accident, you need a lawyer to help you hold the responsible parties accountable and get the compensation you need. The attorneys at the Aizenman Law Group are here for you during this difficult and uncertain time, and you can trust we will do all we can to help you recover the maximum compensation possible. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer.
Contact us today at (918) 212-4166 for a free consultation.
