Oklahoma Personal Injury Legal Blog
Dealing with Medical Expenses after an Oklahoma Car Accident
In the year 2011, there were approximately 189 traffic accidents every single day in Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma Crash Facts Report, 36,294 people were injured in Oklahoma traffic accidents during that same year. It is important for anyone who has been injured in an Oklahoma car accident to take the necessary steps to protect his or her rights.
Oklahoma car crash injury attorneys advise that immediately following the crash, it is imperative that you contact the authorities, exchange information, take photos of the crash site, and seek medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for a speedy and complete recovery. Furthermore, symptoms can get much worse if you are not treated right away. Failing to see a doctor right away can even be used against you if the at-fault driver’s insurance company decides to fight the claim.
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BMW Issues Massive Recall for Stalling Issues
BMW has issued an auto defect recall because of electrical issues that can cause the vehicles to unexpectedly stall. According to a Reuters news report, approximately 750,000 vehicles that were built between March 2007 and July 2011 are included in the recall. Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) say a battery cable connection with a fuse box on the vehicles can degrade, causing the engine to stall. This can increase the risk of a crash because it can happen while the vehicle is moving.
Included in this recall are 3-Series sedans, coupes, convertibles, and sports wagons. Other vehicles that are being recalled include 1-Series coupes and convertibles, Z4 two-seat roadsters, and some X1 crossover vehicles. There have been no reported crashes or injuries in the United States as a result of these defective vehicles.
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Teenager Awarded $63 Million after Losing Skin from Taking Motrin
Nearly a decade ago, a seven-year-old girl suffered a rare side effect of Children’s Motrin that left her blind and without 90 percent of her skin. Fox News reports that the victim, who is now a teenager, and her family have been awarded $63 million by a Massachusetts jury in their product liability case against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, McNeil-PPC Inc.
Officials say she suffered from toxic epidermal necrolysis after taking Motrin for fever. She lost most of her skin, was blinded, suffered short-term memory loss, and her respiratory system was seared. She was awarded $50 million in compensatory damages and her parents were awarded $6.5 million each.
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Taxi Driver and Passenger Injured in Oklahoma City Head-On Collision
A taxi driver is fighting for his life after a wrong way driver struck his vehicle head-on, News9 reports. Officials say the head-on collision occurred on Interstate 235 near Interstate 44 in Oklahoma City. According to police, a 29-year-old man was driving a white van north in the southbound lanes of traffic when it crashed into the Yellow Cab taxi.
The 37-year-old taxi driver has been listed in critical condition. The backseat passenger in the taxi was extremely sore and suffered a number of cuts and bruises. The driver of the van was hospitalized with unknown injuries. It is unclear why he was traveling the wrong way or if alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.
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Woman Injured in Oklahoma City DUI Crash
A man and a woman had to be extricated from their vehicles after being involved in an Oklahoma City car accident that may have involved a drunk driver. According to a News9.com report, the DUI (driving under the influence) crash occurred at Hefner Road and Council Road in Oklahoma City. Officials say a 49-year-old man was under the influence when he crashed his Red Camaro into a second vehicle.
He suffered internal bleeding and had to undergo surgery. The woman in the other vehicle was taken to the hospital in unknown condition. The man who officials said caused the Oklahoma City car crash was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol with great bodily injury, DUI, speeding, reckless driving, and disregarding a signal light.
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Oklahoma Car Crashes and the Likelihood of Spinal Cord Injuries
There are many types of serious back injuries that can result from Oklahoma car accidents. It is common for victims of devastating collisions to suffer back injuries including herniated discs, which can result in shooting pain and numbness. In the most severe cases, however, someone may actually suffer spinal cord injuries. When this occurs, the resulting symptoms can be long term and life changing.
The spinal cord is the link between the body and the brain. A healthy spinal cord carries messages involving sensory functions and motor control. When a high-speed collision occurs, it is possible to damage the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord and even for the fragile bundle of nerves in the surrounding areas to suffer trauma.
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Finding Justice after an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
An Oklahoma car crash injury attorney knows that pursuing financial compensation following a crash can be difficult and stressful. This is especially true when the at-fault driver is uninsured. If you have been involved in a collision with an uninsured motorist, or with a driver who left the scene of the crash, it is in your best interest to call a skilled attorney right away who can help you understand your legal rights and options.
Ideally, the driver responsible for the crash will have enough insurance to cover all of your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other related losses. When the other driver does not have any coverage, you may have to work with your own insurance provider to receive support for your losses.
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Oklahoma City Intersection Crash Proves Fatal
One person was killed in a recent Oklahoma City car accident involving two vehicles. According to a news report in The Oklahoman, the fatal crash occurred at South Lincoln Boulevard and East Sheridan Avenue in Oklahoma City. It is not clear from the report why the two vehicles collided or how the crash could have been prevented.
Intersections are where many of Oklahoma’s most devastating car accidents occur. It is all too common for motorists to carelessly run through stop signs or red lights. According to Oklahoma Statute 47-11-201, “The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this act.”
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The Danger of Jackknife Truck Crashes in Oklahoma
When a tractor trailer jackknifes, the trailer will fold into the vehicle, forming an acute angle with the tractor. Jackknife accidents are extremely dangerous to the driver and to anyone who happens to be near the out-of-control vehicle. These types of accidents can result in a rollover, an underride collision with another vehicle, or even a runaway trailer situation. It is tragically common for these types of dangerous truck crashes to result in serious injuries and death.
When a tractor begins to skid, the trailer may begin to push the tractor from behind. A jackknife accident occurs if the trailer then swings out and forward while pulling the tractor backward and to the side. This is extremely dangerous for any vehicles that are around the truck as it skids. Once stopped, the jackknifed tractor trailer can still pose a crash risk to other vehicles on the roadway. Vehicles that cannot stop in time may crash into the jackknifed truck, resulting in a devastating collision.
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How are Amputation Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents?
Victims of Oklahoma car accidents often suffer devastating injuries that require extensive treatment and time away from work. Most injuries, such as lacerations and bone fractures, can heal over time if treated properly. There are a number of injuries, however, that could last a lifetime. In some of the most devastating Oklahoma accidents, victims may lose one or more limbs.
The Oklahoma City amputation injury lawyers at the Maples Law Firm understand that these types of trauma are not common, but they can occur any time there is a high-speed collision. The force of an accident can be so severe that the victims are crushed inside or trapped by the bent metal and broken glass. In these types of crashes, it is possible for someone to lose a leg, arm, foot, hand, toe, or finger.
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