Concussions in Car Accidents in Oklahoma

Our attorneys can handle your head injury settlement or lawsuit

Car accident injuries in Oklahoma can cover a wide range. But some of the most serious injuries you can sustain in a car wreck are concussions and other types of head injuries.

In an instant, you can severely injure your head and need extensive medical care. You might be in pain or dealing with long-term medical issues due to a concussion or another type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). And if you don’t act fast, you could end up having to pay for your accident expenses out of your own pocket.

This is why it’s critical that you understand how the legal system works in Oklahoma when it comes to concussions, TBIs and other types of head injuries caused by car accidents. This is why our Oklahoma car accident concussion lawyers at Lawter & Associates, PLLC want to help. Our law firm has years of experience and can make sure your head injury claim gets the attention you deserve.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a serious type of traumatic brain injury that occurs due to the brain coming into contact with the skull. In the case of car accidents, a concussion often occurs due to a direct blow to the head or the brain being shaken violently by the force of impact.

What are other types of traumatic brain injuries?

Concussions are just one type of traumatic brain injury. Other types include:

Brain hemorrhage – A type of TBI that involves bleeding in the brain or on the surface of the brain.
Contusion – A brain bruise, which can also sometimes involve bleeding in the brain.
Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury – A brain injury that involves the front and back of the brain hitting the inside of the skull in quick succession due to violent movement of the head.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) – A severe brain injury in which the brain fibers connecting brain tissue are torn, often due to the brain being twisted or shaken during a car crash. The more severe the DAI tear, the more severe the brain injury.
Intracranial Hematoma – Blood collecting in the brain, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
Penetrating Brain Injury – Injuries that involve an object penetrating the skull and the brain. Penetrating injuries are rare, but they can happen when metal shards or debris become airborne during a crash.

What are other types of head injuries?

Along with traumatic brain injuries, other common head injuries associated with car accidents include:

Skull fractures
Deep cuts or lacerations to the head
Facial injuries, including cuts to the face and broken facial bones
Soft tissue injuries
Open facial wounds
Eye injuries, including eye socket injuries

Often, an injury to the head or face is a warning sign of an underlying brain injury.

Common symptoms of a concussion or TBI

If you suspect that you sustained a concussion or another type of head injury, see a doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Fatigue
Memory loss
Poor balance
Difficulty speaking

You know your body best. If something doesn’t feel right, see a doctor right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room if necessary. Concussions can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications if they are not promptly diagnosed and treated.

Who’s responsible for paying for my car accident head injury?

First, it’s important to understand how Oklahoma’s car insurance system works. Oklahoma has an at-fault car insurance system. That means the at-fault party is legally responsible for paying injury victims for their accident-related expenses.

As a result, if you sustain a serious head injury in a car crash caused by another driver in Oklahoma, the at-fault driver’s car insurance company should pay for your accident in most cases. That’s how the system should work. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. That’s why you need an Oklahoma car accident lawyer on your side, fighting for your rights.

How do I prove I got a concussion in a car accident?

Evidence builds strong legal cases. And that’s especially true when it comes to injury claims involving concussions or other types of head injuries caused by car accidents. So what types of evidence can make your injury claim stronger? Such evidence can include:

Medical records documenting your head injury.
Official Oklahoma car accident report for your collision.
Eyewitness testimony from anyone who saw your accident.
Video footage of your accident, including traffic camera footage and dash cam footage.

And in each case, your lawyer can help obtain such evidence by conducting an in-depth investigation into your Oklahoma car accident.

How much money is my head injury claim worth?

There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to concussions or other types of head injuries sustained in a car crash. Your settlement claim might be worth a few thousand dollars or a lot more money.

The bottom line is you should be financially compensated for all your injury-related expenses. What you might not realize is just how many expenses this includes:

Cost of all medical care for your head injury, including future anticipated medical treatments.
Medical care for chronic pain, which is common with many head injuries.
Physical therapy, especially if you have long-term mobility issues due to your head injury.
Repairing damage to your vehicle or the cost of buying a new one if it’s a total loss.
Replacement income if you need time off from work to recover from your head injury.
Lost future income if you have a permanent disability.

Can I file a lawsuit for my car accident head injury in Oklahoma?

Yes. You have the right to take legal action seeking financial compensation for your head injury. However, you need to act fast. In Oklahoma, you only have two years from the date of your car accident to file a lawsuit – this deadline is called the statute of limitations.

Two years might seem like a long time. But the longer you wait to take legal action, the harder it often is to find the evidence you need to build a strong legal case. This is why you should talk to an Oklahoma car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Why should I hire an Oklahoma car accident lawyer if I have a concussion?

Car accident injury claims involving concussions and other types of head injuries in Oklahoma often quickly turn into complicated legal cases. This is because there’s often a lot of money at stake. And rather than simply paying you the money you deserve, insurance companies do everything they can to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all.

They don’t intimidate us. That’s why our Oklahoma car accident concussion lawyers want to meet with you right away. We can answer your questions, explain your options and get right to work on your legal case. Contact us to learn more about your rights. Call (866) 584-1027 for our Oklahoma City office or (866) 584-1028 for our Tulsa office and schedule a free case evaluation.