Contact Us 24/7 • Free case review (405) 232-1985
Contact Us Call 24/7 (405) 232-1985

After a car accident, you likely have many pressing questions on your mind.

Because you’re reading this, you’re also probably thinking about hiring a lawyer, but you may not know where to start—or even if it’s too soon after the accident to contact one. The good news is that it’s never too early to reach out for legal help after a crash!

In fact, contacting a lawyer should be one of the first steps you take after a car accident. The sooner you get in touch with a lawyer who can build your claim, the better your chances are of getting maximum compensation. In this blog, we’ll explore why that’s the case and all the advantages of starting the legal process right away.

5 Reasons Contacting a Lawyer Right Away Can Help Your Claim

Contacting a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your rights and maximize your compensation, and there’s no downside to doing it as soon as possible.

Here’s why there’s no such thing as calling a lawyer “too early” after a crash in Oklahoma—and why making the call right away can be of significant benefit to you and your family:

Crash-Related Evidence Can Disappear Quickly

The sooner an attorney gets involved in your car accident claim, the better they can preserve important evidence that will be needed for your case. Skid marks fade, vehicles get repaired, witnesses become difficult to contact, and surveillance footage can be erased. A lawyer can take immediate action to gather accident reports, witness statements, and other key evidence before it’s lost.

Insurance Companies Act Fast—And Not in Your Best Interest

Insurance adjusters start working on your case right away by looking for ways to reduce or deny your claim. If you speak with them before consulting a lawyer, you may accidentally say something that hurts your case. An attorney will handle all communications with insurers to protect your rights and ensure you don’t get pressured into accepting a lowball settlement.

You Need to Meet Legal Deadlines

Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims, including car accident claims, is two years from the date they occurred. If you miss this deadline, you could lose your right to compensation. Having an experienced Oklahoma car accident lawyer on your side ensures you’ll meet all the legal requirements and file your claim with plenty of time to spare.

Medical Bills and Lost Wages Add Up Fast

A serious injury can leave you unable to work and facing expensive medical treatments. A lawyer can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages as soon as possible. The sooner your claim starts, the sooner you’ll get the compensation you need for your crash-related expenses and damages.

Your Case Needs a Strong Start

Even if you’re unsure if you want to file a claim, getting legal advice early on helps you make informed decisions about what to do over the coming days, weeks, and months. A lawyer will explain your rights, assess your case, and guide you through the legal process from day one. This can help give you peace of mind during an otherwise difficult and uncertain time.

Been a While Since Your Crash? You May Still Be Eligible for Compensation!

While it’s ideal to contact a lawyer immediately after a crash, it’s not a requirement for getting compensation. If your crash occurred less than two years ago, you’re still eligible to file an injury claim against the at-fault driver and their insurer.

Contact Us Today for a Free Case Review

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we’ve built and won countless cases for injured car accident victims.

Some of those clients contacted us right away, and others contacted us weeks, months, or even over one year after their crashes occurred. Regardless of when your accident happened, we want to hear from you, and we’ll work hard to help you get the money you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Contact us now to learn how we can help and to get a free consultation. There are no upfront fees, and you won’t see a single bill from us unless we get money for you. That’s our No Fee Guarantee®.

The answer to this question depends on how much at fault you were for your slip and fall injury.

Oklahoma has a comparative negligence fault law, which means people are still eligible for compensation even if they’re partially at fault for their own accidents and injuries. However, there are two caveats.

First, they must be less than 50% at fault for their accidents and injuries to get compensation. Second, if they are more than 0% but less than 50% at fault, their compensation will be decreased by their percentage of fault. That means a person who is 40% at fault for a slip and fall injury would have their compensation reduced by 40%, and would receive only $6,000 from a $10,000 settlement.

Now that we’ve established that it’s possible to get compensation for a slip and fall injury that you’re partially at fault for, let’s look at scenarios where these types of accidents might occur and whether compensation may be awarded.

Slipping and Falling When a Warning Sign is Posted

Warning signs can let visitors and guests know of potential dangers such as broken or loose stairs, steep drops, wet floors, and more. The presence of these signs doesn’t automatically let property owners off the hook for slips and falls, but they can shift some of the blame onto slip and fall victims (assuming the signs are clearly visible and legible).

When people slip and fall due to hazards that are marked by warning signs, determining who is most at fault isn’t always easy. For example, victims may slip and fall on liquid that is spilled far beyond where warning signs indicate the hazard is located.

These cases require plenty of investigation, and property owners and their insurers are often quick to point their fingers at the injured parties. Having the help of an experienced Oklahoma slip and fall lawyer can make it easier for victims to get the compensation they need.

Slipping and Falling in an “Off-Limits” Area

Warning signs are just that—signs. They may not always be noticed, legible, or even in the native languages of the people who get injured near them. However, areas that have been purposely blocked off or rendered “off-limits” to visitors and guests are different, especially in the eyes of the legal system.

When people willingly and knowingly trespass into these areas, such as “Employees Only” sections of stores or restaurants or “Under Construction” areas of shopping malls and attractions, and then they slip and fall due to dangerous conditions, their level of fault is often too great for them to be eligible for compensation.

Slipping and Falling Due to Footwear Choice

Sometimes, property owners and their insurers may even argue that slip and fall victims are partially or fully at fault for their injuries because of the shoes they were wearing at the time. For example, a convenience store owner may argue that a customer who slipped and fell on pooled rain water near the entrance was at fault because they were wearing thin flip-flops instead of sneakers or sandals with thicker soles.

While this argument may hold up in extreme conditions such as strenuous mountainous hikes, it usually doesn’t hold up in everyday life. As long as the victim was wearing shoes in an establishment that requires them, the type of footwear they choose to wear usually won’t have any bearing on their ability to get compensation.

Slipping and Falling While Intoxicated

People who are impaired or intoxicated almost always have a tougher time getting compensation for their injuries, and that includes when they slip and fall. Because alcohol and many types of drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, can affect balance, gait, and walking ability, it’s easy for property owners and their insurers to claim that victims fell mostly or solely because they were under the influence.

Sometimes, this argument is correct, and victims slipped and fell in the absence of known hazards solely because of their level of intoxication. But other times, they may slip and fall in dangerous areas that weren’t properly marked or blocked off from visitors and guests. In these situations, it becomes a battle of proving who was more at fault for the fall—the victims or the property owners who knew or should have known about the hazards and addressed them before someone got hurt.

We Help Victims of All Types of Slip and Fall Injuries Get Compensation

Insurance companies will do anything to avoid paying injured victims fair settlements, and that includes claiming they were fully or partially at fault for their slips and falls. Because this argument is valid in certain scenarios, you can bet that the insurance company will probably use it against you if you slip and fall on someone else’s property.

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we know how insurance companies work when it comes to shifting blame onto innocent victims or even onto victims who are partially—but less than 50%—at fault. When you hire us, we’ll work hard to maximize your settlement and reduce any level of unfair blame you’ve received. Reach out today for a free consultation.

When it comes to having fun on the water, it’s hard to beat a jaunt around one of Oklahoma’s many lakes on a jet ski. Whether they’re one, two, or three-seaters, jet skis are much faster and more agile than even the fastest speed boats, making them one of the most exhilarating recreational vehicles you can own or ride.

Jet skis’ speed and maneuverability comes with a significant downside: a higher risk of accidents and injuries. Driving a boat isn’t something to take lightly, and riding a jet ski is even more demanding from a safety and awareness standpoint. However, many people treat jet skis like toys and go zipping off without a care in the world, and that puts themselves, their passengers, and other boaters in danger.

If you own a jet ski or are planning on renting one this summer, these tips can help you stay safe on the water.

Ensure Everyone Onboard Wears a Life Jacket

There’s a much greater risk of being thrown off of a jet ski than of being thrown off of a boat. When you’re riding a jet ski, it’s essential that you and all of your passengers wear properly-fitted life jackets. Passengers can be thrown from jet skis and end up dozens or hundreds of feet away from them before drivers are able to turn around and pick them up. Without a life jacket on, weak swimmers can drown in that short timeframe.

Don’t Ride After Drinking

Just as you wouldn’t drive a car or motorcycle after drinking, you also shouldn’t drive a boat or jet ski after drinking. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your ability to drive a jet ski safely and responsibly. Many jet ski accidents occur because drivers are intoxicated, and when people ride jet skis after drinking, they put themselves, their passengers, and other boaters and swimmers at risk.

Attach the “Kill Switch” Key to a Lanyard on Your Life Jacket

Drivers getting thrown off jet skis is less common than passengers, but it can and does happen. Thankfully, jet skis have “kill switches” than turn them off when their keys are pulled from their ignitions. By attaching your jet ski’s kill switch to your life jacket via lanyard or cable, it will immediately stop as soon as the key is pulled from the ignition, leaving you free to swim to it if you get thrown off.

Learn the Jet Ski’s Handling and Acceleration

If you’re riding a jet ski for the first time, or are simply riding a different jet ski than the one you’re used to, it’s important to go slow in the beginning to learn how it handles. Different jet skis have different acceleration and turning capabilities, and acclimating to the unique characteristic of the jet ski you’re driving can help you stay safe on the water.

Maintain a Safe but Steady Speed

When driven at very slow speeds, jet skis can take on water, get tangled up in aquatic plants, and even tip over. While you don’t need to ride your jet ski at full throttle (and typically shouldn’t), you should maintain a steady speed while you’re out on the open water. Not only does this help you keep pace with other watercraft and avoid a collision, but it makes the jet ski easier to control and less likely to stall or flip.

Know the Right-of-Way Rules for Oklahoma’s Waterways

When driving a jet ski, you must follow Oklahoma’s rules for observing right-of-way on the water. In the words of the Oklahoma Department of Safety, “it is the duty of every vessel operator to take substantial and early action to avoid a collision.”

See the Oklahoma Department of Safety website for full details on following right-of-way, and when you are the “stand-on” vs the “give-way” vessel.

Be on the Lookout for “No Wake” Zones

When approaching docks, marinas, swimming areas, sloughs, and other secluded or public areas of the water, you’ll need to reduce your speed to avoid creating a wake. Not only does this protect the people in those areas, but it also reduces your risk of an accident due to hitting other watercraft, swimmers, or submerged rocks and plants.

Jet Ski or Boating Accident that Wasn’t Your Fault? We Want to Help.

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we love spending summers on Oklahoma’s many bodies of water. There’s nothing like a summer day on the lake with friends and family, but all it takes is one person’s negligence to cause a devastating injury that can change a person’s life forever.

If you or someone you love is injured in an accident on the water, our Oklahoma boating accident lawyers want to help you get the compensation you’re owed.

 Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll work hard to get you maximum compensation.

Going out on a boat can be relaxing, fun, and a great way to spend a summer day with friends and family. However, driving a boat isn’t something to be taken lightly. Boating can be dangerous, even in perfect conditions, and boaters must be prepared for emergencies and life-threatening situations.

To keep boaters safe, the Oklahoma requires certain equipment onboard for all boats. If these requirements aren’t met, boaters can be pulled over and ticketed. In some cases, they can even be arrested.

If you own a boat or plan on purchasing one, ensure that you meet these requirements to avoid a ticket and to keep yourself and your passengers safe in the event of an emergency on the water.

Registration and Title

All boats in Oklahoma must be registered and titled within 30 days of purchase. Registration numbers and a registration decal must be prominently displayed on boats in block, high-contrast lettering that’s located on both sides of the bow and above the waterline.

Personal Flotation Devices

Boats must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for every person on board. Boats that are 16’ or longer must also be equipped with at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type IV throwable device, such as a life ring.

All passengers 12 years old and younger must wear flotation devices while boats are underway, and everyone who is being towed by a boat while water skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing must also wear a life jacket, regardless of age. 

Fire Extinguishers

Boats with gasoline-powered engines are required to have at least one fire extinguisher onboard. Boats that are between 26’ and 40’ in length must have either two B1 fire extinguishers or one B2 fire extinguisher, while boats between 40’ and 65’ in length must have three B1 fire extinguishers or two B2 fire extinguishers.

Mechanical Sound-Producing Devices

It’s important to be able to communicate with other boaters and people in the water. For this reason, boats must be equipped with whistles or horns.

Lights

Not only do you need to be able to see to navigate in dim light, but you need other boaters to see you, too. Boats that are operated between sunset and sunrise must display working lights while on the water. They also must have working lights turned on during times of reduced visibility, including fog, heavy rain, and mist.

Boater Education Cards

Watercraft driven by children between the ages of 12 (the minimum age for driving a boat in Oklahoma) and 16 must have their boater education certificates on board to prove that they’re legally allowed to drive the vessels.

You Should Also Stock Your Boat with These Optional Items

Although these safety items aren’t required by law in Oklahoma, they can help make your next outing safer and more comfortable:

Understanding Oklahoma Boating Laws and Regulations

Keeping your boat stocked with all of the items legally required by law doesn’t just help you avoid a citation—it also ensures your safety and the safety of your passengers in the event of an emergency. However, true safety on the water requires doing everything in your power to avoid those situations in the first place.

To reduce risks and the dangers negligent boating habits might pose to others, Oklahoma requires boaters to observe a few important laws on the water, including:

After a Boat Accident, Contact Our Firm for Experienced Legal Representation

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we know how serious boating accidents can be. Unfortunately, many people who take to Oklahoma’s lakes are reckless, under the influence of alcohol, or simply inexperienced behind the wheel. When that happens, they can cause crashes that result in significant medical bills and years of lost wages for victims.

If you’re injured in a boat accident that was caused by a negligent boater, we want to help. Our Oklahoma boat accident attorneys know how to build claims that maximize our clients’ compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Originally published June 27, 2022.

Boating season is here, and that means families throughout the Sooner State will soon head to their local lakes for days of fun in the sun. Getting around on the water on a boat is a great way to spend a summer afternoon, but not everyone can legally get behind the wheel of a boat.

Just as everyone isn’t legally allowed to drive a vehicle on Oklahoma’s roads by default, the same is true for boaters. All boaters in the state must meet a few important requirements, and their boats must meet a few requirements, too. In this blog, we’ll discuss those requirements and what to do if you’re involved in a crash with another vessel.

Drivers of Most Boats Must Be At Least 12 Years Old

In Oklahoma, children under the age of 12 can’t operate boats or personal watercraft that have more than 10 horsepower or sailing vessels that are 16 feet or longer in length. This designation rules out most engine-powered boats, including most small fishing boats. For safety purposes, small children shouldn’t drive boats, period, even if they are driving boats that are technically legal for them to operate.

Children between the ages of 12 and 15 can operate boats that fall into the categories above, but they must first complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators-approved boating safety course. If the vessel they’re operating is a personal watercraft, a competent person must be supervising them within 500 yards. If the vessel isn’t a personal watercraft, a competent person at least 18 years of age must be on board the vessel and ready to take over if necessary.

Drivers Must Remain Sober While Operating Watercraft

There’s no getting around the fact that days on the water are often synonymous with drinking alcohol. And while there’s nothing wrong with boat passengers ages 21 and up responsibly enjoying alcohol on boats, it’s illegal for boat operators to partake in the festivities.

Just as Oklahoma has laws against driving under the influence (DUI), it also has laws against boating under the influence (BUI). Vehicle drivers who have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher can be arrested for DUI, and the same standard applies to boaters. In addition, boaters are required to submit to alcohol testing if they’re stopped by law enforcement on the water the same way that drivers are required to submit to testing if they get pulled over.

Drivers Must Follow Right-of-Way Requirements

Although there aren’t clearly defined lane markers on roads in Oklahoma, drivers must abide by right-of-way rules. Oklahoma’s lakes aren’t a free for all, and there are clearly defined rules for what to do when approaching another vessel. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol defines them as such:

Meeting Head-On

Crossing Situations

Overtaking

Drivers Must Equip Their Boats Properly

Boats must be well-equipped with safety items to be legally operated in Oklahoma. Children 12 years old and younger on boats less than 26 feet in length must wear life jackets when boats are underway, and all boats must carry one life jacket for each passenger. Boats 16 feet or more in length also must have at least one throwable floatation device on board.

All engine-powered boats must have the right type of fire extinguisher on board. Boats less than 26 feet in length without a fixed system require one B-I extinguisher, boats 26 feet to 39 feet in length require either one B-I extinguisher, two B-I extinguishers, or one B-II extinguisher, and boats 40 feet to 65 feet in length require between one B-I extinguisher up to one B-II extinguisher.

Finally, boats must be equipped with navigation lights when they are operated between sunset and sunrise.

Our Oklahoma Boat Accident Lawyers Are Here to Help After an Injury

Too often, boating is viewed solely as a recreational and leisure activity. Boaters often forget about the power of the vessels they’re operating and the dangers of accidents that occur on the water. Watercraft collisions happen frequently, and when they do, occupants can be seriously injured.

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, our legal team knows the intricacies of boat accident claims, and we know how to get innocent victims full compensation for their damages. Contact us today for a free consultation and to find out how we can help your family after a boat accident that wasn’t your fault.

Originally published January 17, 2022.

After an injury that wasn’t your fault, it’s important that you get legal representation as soon as possible. That’s because waiting too long can make the insurance company more skeptical of your claim and make it more difficult to find evidence that proves you weren’t at fault. Calling a lawyer soon after your injury also makes it very unlikely that the statute of limitations on your claim will expire before you have a chance to get compensation.

Like most states, Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date they occurred. For most people, that’s plenty of time to get in touch with a lawyer and start the legal process. However, there are certain situations and scenarios that can make the statute of limitations impractical. For those situations, Oklahoma law allows for exemptions to the two-year time limit.

These 6 Exemptions Can Give Victims More Time to File Injury Claims

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped many people get compensation after injuries—including those that happened nearly two years before they contacted us. But in some cases, victims aren’t able to pursue compensation until the statute of limitations has expired. However, those victims may still be eligible to get compensation if they meet the criteria to qualify for a few exceptions, which include:

The Victim Was a Minor When They Were Injured

The parents of an injured minor under age 12 can file a personal injury lawsuit on their behalf within seven years of their injury. If the child was 12 or older when their injury occurred, their parents have two years to file a lawsuit. However, if the child wants to pursue compensation on their own after becoming a legal adult, and their parents have not already done so, they have one year after their 18th birthday to file a lawsuit.

The Victim Was Cognitively Incapacitated by Their Injury

If a victim’s injuries cause them to become temporarily mentally incapacitated, the statute of limitations clock doesn’t start until they are declared legally competent again.

The Victim Was Injured Because of Governmental Negligence

Although the government can’t be sued directly because of sovereign immunity, injured victims can still file claims against governmental employees or contractors if their negligence resulted in accidents or damages through the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act. However, the statute of limitations for these injuries is only one year from the date they occurred.

The Victim Didn’t Discover Their Injury Until Long After the Accident

After most accidents, victims know right away that they’ve been injured.  However, occupational illnesses can take years to show symptoms. When victims couldn’t possibly be aware of their injuries until they became symptomatic or were discovered by their doctors, the statute of limitations clock doesn’t start running the day they are diagnosed.

The At-Fault Party Left the State or Concealed Themselves

Personal injury claims can only be successfully filed when the at-fault party can be found and contacted. When at-fault parties leave the state of Oklahoma or hide, the statute of limitations pauses for the length of time that they are unable to be located or communicated with.

The Victim Died as a Result of Their Injuries

If an injury victim passes away as a result of their injuries, their family members or the representative of their estate can file a wrongful death claim instead of a personal injury claim. Even if they never filed a personal injury claim, they have two years from the date of their loved one’s death—not the date of the accident—to file a wrongful death claim.

Contact Our Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawyers to Learn Your Options

As you can see, the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims doesn’t apply in all scenarios. There are many exceptions depending on the type of injury, the consequences of the injury, who it occurred to, and who caused it. Regardless of your situation, it’s important to contact an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer without delay so you don’t miss your deadline and get as large a head start in pursuing your claim as possible.

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we know Oklahoma injury law, including all exemptions to the state’s standard two-year statute of limitations—including those that are both shorter and longer. Don’t risk losing the compensation you’re owed. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Boating season is upon us. Oklahoma boasts more than 200 lakes, making it a great state for enjoying a day on the water. But whether you’re on a pleasure cruise, towing wakeboarders, or just heading to your favorite fishing spot, it’s important to know how to drive a boat while near other vessels on the water.

Just like on land, right-of-way exists on Oklahoma’s waterways. Although many of the state’s bodies of water seem like wide-open spaces where you have plenty of room to do what and go where you want, it’s important to understand how right-of-way works to avoid a collision.

Whether you’re on a speedboat, a pontoon boat, or even a jet ski, here’s what you need to know about right-of-way on the water. 

Which Watercraft Has Right-of-Way?

In every encounter between two watercrafts, there’s a stand-on vessel and a give-way vessel. The stand-on vessel is the watercraft that has right-of-way and is supposed to maintain its course and speed, while the give-way vessel should stop, slow down, or change course to defer to the stand-on vessel.

 What to Do in Different Types of Encounters

If you’re approaching another vessel head-on, keep these guidelines from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety in mind:

If you’re crossing another vessel, follow these rules:

If you’re overtaking another vessel, remember these rules:

If you’re unsure of what to do, you should:

Injured by a Negligent Boater? We’re Here to Help.

One of the quickest ways to turn a fun-filled day on the water into a tragic event is to ignore right-of-way rules. Following right-of-way guidelines helps ensure that you stay well out of harm’s way when approaching and passing other watercraft, but not all boaters keep these important guidelines in mind.

If you or someone you love is injured by a negligent boater this summer, you may be eligible to get compensation for your accident-related expenses. Boating accidents often cause serious and disabling injuries, and it’s our goal to help the victims get the money they’re owed for their medical bills and lost wages.

Contact the Oklahoma boat accident lawyers at Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. We have helped many injured boaters get full compensation, and we can help you and your loved ones, too.

Many obstacles stand in the way of compensation for motorcycle accident victims. Some of those obstacles are real, and some are imagined. When it comes to the second of the two, being partially at fault is among the most common.

Many motorcyclists are already reluctant to file compensation claims, and if they were cited for a traffic violation or contributing to a crash, they may forgo filing an injury claim altogether that they see as hopeless. But Oklahoma uses a modified contributory negligence system, which means that victims can still pursue compensation for their accident-related expenses if they were partially at fault for their crashes.

Your Compensation Is Proportionate to Your Level of Fault

Although you can still file a compensation claim after an accident that was partially your fault, the amount of money you’re eligible to recover is dependent on the percentage of fault you’re assigned. Here’s what you need to know about this system:

Your level of fault is typically initially decided by the police officer who is dispatched to the scene. However, this percentage can be later disputed, as the level isn’t always decided with extreme precision or with all of the facts in hand and mind.

The Insurance Company Will Argue That You Were More than 50% at Fault

Motorcyclists already face uphill battles when it comes to getting compensation, as insurance companies are notoriously biased against them. They’re reluctant to pay fair settlements even when victims are 0% at fault and did nothing to contribute to or cause their accidents.

So when there’s any indication of fault on the part of motorcyclists, whether it’s in the accident reports, in dashcam footage, or even in witness statements, they are quick to deny their claims altogether, often by arguing that their level of fault exceeds 50%.

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer is vital in helping prove your liability was less than 50%.

What Constitutes Fault in a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

Even if you were hit by a driver who wasn’t paying attention to the road, you can still be considered partially at fault for any of the following reasons:

These are just a few of the common reasons that insurers conjure up to paint motorcyclists as being fully or at least more than 50% at fault for their crashes. There’s no limit to their imaginations, especially when they believe they can get away with twisting facts.

Our Lawyers Can Protect You from a Stubborn Insurance Company

Insurance companies aren’t the only institutions that are biased against motorcyclists. It’s also common for law enforcement agencies to believe motorcyclists are partially at fault for their crashes, too. Thankfully, you can still get compensation even if you’re partially at fault, but that just gives even more incentive to the insurance company to try to deny your claim.

When you contact our Oklahoma City motorcycle accident attorneys, we’ll review all the facts to ensure that your level of fault, if any exists, is accurate and fair. Then, we’ll fight to ensure the insurance company will pay you a fair settlement based on your injuries and lost wages—even if you are still considered partially at fault.

Contact Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers today. We know what you’re going through, and we want to help.

Whether you were hurt in an auto accident, a motorcycle accident, by a defective product or medical device, or due to a doctor’s mistake, you need and deserve compensation for your injuries. You’re facing expensive medical bills and a potentially long absence from work. You may even have suffered disabling injuries that mean you’ll never be able to work again.

Hiring an attorney can help you get the money you need to recoup your lost wages, pay for your medical bills, and stay on top of your family’s daily living expenses. Our Oklahoma personal injury lawyers fight hard for victims like you, but we also know that many accident victims have another major concern on their minds even after winning their settlements: taxes. How much do they owe, and when do they owe it?

Good News: You Likely Won’t Owe Taxes on Your Compensation Check

Whether you’ve already received a personal injury settlement, or you’re wanting to pursue a claim, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Neither the IRS nor the state of Oklahoma will come after your damages, provided they’re considered compensation for a physical injury. U.S. tax code specifically excludes settlements related to personal injury lawsuits from taxation.

The definition of physical injury is broad and includes a significant number of personal injury claims, including both actual injuries and even illnesses caused by another person’s or party’s negligence. Victims can also sue for damages in addition to their medical bills, when these damages are a direct result of their injuries, including:

Whether we convince the insurance company to settle right away, or they fail to play ball and we take them to trial, the money is yours, free and clear, if we win your claim.

There Are Always Exceptions to the Rule

Unfortunately, the IRS isn’t completely exempt from pursuing some of the money that injured victims can get from settlements. There are four primary ways that the federal government may be entitled to some of your compensation check:

If you’re unsure of whether you’ll have to pay taxes on a settlement that you’re thinking about pursuing, it’s important to get in touch with an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer right away. At Parrish DeVaughn, we can help you know what to expect and how to best prepare your claim in anticipation of a potential taxable award.

Language Matters in Settlements—And Our Lawyers Can Protect Yours.

In addition to doing everything in our power to maximize your settlement, our lawyers will also work hard to ensure that every bit of your damages is properly classified and labeled during the negotiation and communication process with the insurance company.

That will leave no doubt about what’s taxable and what isn’t if and when your check arrives. When you desperately need money for your accident-related expenses, the last thing you want is to be hesitant to spend it because you’re worried the IRS will come calling.

Don’t take any chances with your claim or you’ll risk owing money unnecessarily to the IRS. Get in touch with our legal team to find out how we can help. We know what it takes to build claims that not only maximize our clients’ chances of winning, but also put the most money in their pockets with no strings attached. Call today.

Dogs are often referred to as “man’s best friend,” but it’s important to remember that even friendly dogs with no history of aggression can be unpredictable. All dogs have the potential to lash out or bite, even without provocation. Unfortunately for victims, a dog bite can be traumatic, painful, and even life-threatening.

The risk of dog bites is reduced when dog owners keep their pets enclosed or on a leash, which is one reason why the state of Oklahoma requires dogs be leashed when on certain public properties. When dog owners allow their pets to run freely in public parks or on sidewalks, dogs may become aggressive and territorial.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a dog bite, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation, and because of Oklahoma’s strict liability law, dog owners can typically be held responsible for their pet’s actions.

Strict Liability Holds Dog Owners Responsible

Even if a dog was properly leashed or enclosed when the bite occurred, Oklahoma’s strict liability rule states that a dog’s owner can be held liable as long as the victim was not illegally on the property when and where the attack occurred. Oklahoma Statute § 4-42.1 states:

 “The owner or owners of any dog shall be liable for damages to the full amount of any damages sustained when his dog, without provocation, bites or injures any person while such person is in or on a place where he has a lawful right to be.”

If you’re looking to file a claim after a dog bite in Oklahoma, don’t hesitate to contact the attorneys at Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers. We’re ready to help you get the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. The statute of limitations to file a dog bite claim is two years after the date of injury, so it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us anytime, 24/7 to get started.

Serving Oklahoma Dog Bite Victims

At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, we understand the financial and emotional repercussions of an animal attack, and we believe you should be compensated for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. If you suffered injuries resulting from a dog bite, contact us—we’re ready to get to work for you today.

Google Rating
4.5
Based on 901 reviews
×
js_loader