May 17th, 2012
There are a number of personal injuries that can result from a range of accidents, due to another person’s negligence. Even a seemingly-minor accident can result in a serious injury or life-altering condition if it is not appropriately treated.
Even more devastating is that some victims who were injured because of another party’s carelessness or wrongdoing do not realize they may be eligible for compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
Some of the most common personal injuries that can entitle Oklahoma City residents to compensation from the at-fault party include:
- Injuries resulting from slip-and-fall accidents: these injuries can range from broken bones to head injuries when a person slips and falls because of an individual’s or company’s negligence. A slip at a swimming pool, on an icy sidewalk or on a slick grocery store floor can result in a fractured leg, broken wrist or brain injury.
- Cuts, bruises, lacerations: These injuries commonly result from job-related accidents (especially at construction sites) or a trip-and-fall accident caused by factors such as cracked sidewalks, poor parking lot lighting, or the absence of construction signage.
- Broken bones: Fractures and broken bones are common injuries in car, truck and SUV accidents.
If you have suffered an injury due to another person’s negligence in Oklahoma City, please contact Self & Associates today and schedule a free consultation.
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May 10th, 2012
Although there are fewer drivers on the road at night, more than 40 percent of all fatal car accidents occur after the sun goes down. While our eyes adjust to lower levels of light, it can become tricky to see when adjusting from bright lights to darkness. This can happen quite a bit when looking into the headlights of oncoming traffic.
Some hazards that are characteristic of night-time driving include:
- Limited visibility
- Driver fatigue
- Lighting irregularities
In addition, driving just before sunrise or right after sunset can be dangerous when the sky is well-lit and the roadway becomes dark. This difference between light and darkness can make it difficult to see road hazards, signs, and other vehicles (especially if their lights are not on yet).
Night-time driving also means a greater chance of intoxicated drivers on the road. In fact, the majority of DUI accidents (under the influence of alcohol or drugs) occur in the late night hours or early morning between midnight and 3 a.m. For Okalahoma City motorists who work late hours, it may be impossible to avoid driving during this time, putting them at greater risk from intoxicated drivers.
If you have been injured in a car wreck in the Oklahoma City area, please contact Self & Associates today for free advice about your personal injury claim.
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May 3rd, 2012
Car accidents can cause various injuries, ranging from minor to severe and affecting practically any body part. Some of the most common injuries resulting from car accidents include:
- Back injuries: the impact from a motor vehicle accident can result in back injuries that range from back sprain and disc injury to fracture and even paralysis.
- Brain injuries: one of the most common injuries resulting from a motor vehicle crash is a head injury that can cause brain damage. Even when there is no physical indication of trauma (such as bleeding or bruising), a severe injury can result just from the brain being jostled inside the skull during impact.
- Facial injuries: unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents can cause severe injuries to the face from colliding with the dashboard, steering wheel, airbag or windshield. Facial injuries can range from cuts and bruises to severe lacerations and jaw disorders.
- Neck injuries: whiplash and spinal cord injuries are other types of injuries that commonly result from a motor vehicle accident.
Insurance adjusters will sometimes point to the damage to your car as evidence that you could not have suffered serious injury, but flesh and bone injuries do not always compare to plastic and steel damage. We know this and know how to prove it.
Do you live in the Oklahoma City are? Have you suffered a personal injury due to another party’s negligence? If so, please contact Self & Associates today to schedule a free consultation.
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April 24th, 2012
Tire blowouts are responsible for an estimated 10,000 car accidents each year in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these accidents are severe, and some of them are caused by defective tires and could have been prevented. In recent years there have been a handful of high-profile tire recalls, which reiterate the dangers of a tire defect. In fact, since the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was passed in 1966, more than 24 million tires have been recalled due to safety issues.
Oklahoma City drivers rely on their tires to safely grip the road and help them maintain control of their vehicle. This is especially important if you are driving on slick, icy or otherwise dangerous roads. A defective tire can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, which may result in catastrophic and life-changing injuries.
Common reasons for a tire failure include:
- Tire tread separation
- Defective tire valve stems
- Bolt problems
- Tire bead failure
- Zipper failure
- Joint problems
- Multi-piece wheel explosions
- Belt adhesion
Just because your tires were manufactured by a well-known company such as Cooper, Goodyear, or Firestone, it does not mean they are safe. All of these companies have recently issued recalls for defective tires.
If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, please contact Self & Associates in Oklahoma City today to arrange a no-cost consultation.
Posted in Car Accidents, Defective Products | Comments Off
April 23rd, 2012
Rear-end car accidents are the most common type of accident in Oklahoma City and throughout the United States. These accidents are the result of one car’s front end crashing into the back of another car. Some people assume these are minor accidents, but rear-end collisions can range in severity from minor to deadly. A low-speed, rear-end collision can leave victims sore and stiff; whereas a high-speed rear-end crash can leave victims permanently paralyzed.
During these types of car accidents, all of the energy from the rear of the vehicle car is transferred to the front end of the vehicle with a powerful jolt. Oftentimes the torso and the head are thrust forward, and then the head snaps backward, resulting in whiplash or serious injuries to the spinal cord. Often, the severity of these accidents cannot be determined from the damage to the vehicle.
Causes of Rear-End Accidents
The most common causes of rear-end accidents include drivers who are:
- Careless
- Inattentive
- Distracted
Even if an Oklahoma City driver takes his or her eyes off the road for two seconds, another driver’s sudden stop can catch them off-guard and lead to a rear-end accident. The United States Department of Transportation cites texting, talking on cell phones, eating and drinking, personal grooming, and changing CDs or the radio station as some of the most distracting behaviors that lead to accidents.
If you have been injured in a car accident, please contact Self & Associates in Oklahoma City and schedule a free consultation today.
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April 19th, 2012
After being injured in a car accident, you will have a number of accident lawyers from which to choose. When you meet with potential lawyers, you should ask about their credentials as well as the management of your case. Possible questions to ask include:
- Why should I choose you as my accident lawyer?
- How much experience do you have with car accident claims?
- Who will be handling my case and communicating with me?
- Should I pursue a car accident claim?
- What kind of settlement can I reasonably expect to recover?
- How long do you expect it will take to resolve my case?
Your choice of attorney is important, because this individual will be fighting for compensation for your injuries. The right attorney will be dedicated to getting the compensation you deserve, and treating your case with personalized attention.
If you have been in an accident in Oklahoma, please contact the experienced car accident lawyer in Oklahoma City, attorney James Self, to schedule a free consultation at Self & Associates.
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April 17th, 2012
If you become involved in an Oklahoma City car accident, it is important to know what to do and what not to do, in order to protect your rights.
Here are some things you should do:
- First and foremost, call an ambulance if anyone is injured
- If you are not hurt, move your vehicle to the side of the road, so it is safely out of the way of other vehicles.
- If your vehicle cannot be moved, turn on your hazards or set up flares to warn others about your damaged vehicle.
- Exchange information with everyone else involved in the car accident. Be sure to record their name, address, insurance company and policy number, driver’s license number, license place and a description of all other vehicles.
- Photograph the accident scene, and take notes about what happened while it is vivid in your mind. Be sure to include any inclement weather, road conditions, signage, or anything else that may have played a role in your accident.
- File an accident report, even if there are no injuries. This documentation will help expedite the claims process, and can work to your advantage.
You should never:
- Admit fault
- Leave the scene of the accident
- Sign any documentation from the other party’s insurance company
- Make a statement to anyone but the police without consulting an Oklahoma City car accident attorney
If you have been injured in a car wreck in Oklahoma City, please contact Self & Associates today to arrange your complimentary consultation.
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April 16th, 2012
If you have been seriously injured following a car accident, you should contact an attorney to pursue compensation for your injury-related expenses. On the other hand, very minor accidents resulting in little or no car damage, and no bodily injuries, may not require an accident attorney to resolve.
An attorney is a valuable component of your claim. Your attorney will:
- Communicate with the insurance company.
- Determine if a settlement is fair.
- Help you collect necessary documentation.
If you have been injured, it is important to contact an attorney because of the possible effects of the injury. Your injury may require expensive treatment, and severe injuries, like those of the head and brain, may require ongoing or lifelong treatment. You may be disabled and unable to work, which will reduce your income. The physical pain may be excruciating, and you may experience depression and emotional pain as a result. If the accident was not your fault, you should not have to suffer these consequences while the careless driver pays nothing.
If you have been injured in an accident and are searching for a car accident attorney in the Oklahoma City area, please contact experienced Oklahoma attorney James Self to schedule a free consultation at Self & Associates.
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April 12th, 2012
You should report an on-the-job accident to your employer immediately. Typically, you will be denied workers’ compensation benefits if you do not report your injury to your employer or seek medical attention within 60 days of the accident.
By reporting your accident right away, you have the best chance of receiving all the benefits to which you are entitled. In some cases, employers or their insurance companies will deny benefits to the employee if the injury is not well documented. Workers’ compensation benefits cover:
- Medical treatments
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Death benefits
By contacting an accident lawyer, you can be sure that all the appropriate steps are taken following your workplace accident. Your lawyer will pursue the benefits you have been promised, so that you can focus on treatment and recovery from your injury.
If you have been injured on the job in Oklahoma and are searching for an accident lawyer in the Oklahoma City area, please contact experienced attorney James Self to schedule a free consultation at Self & Associates.
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April 10th, 2012
Forbes Magazine compiled a list of the safest vehicles of 2012, based on crash test results and spec sheets to see which vehicles ranked highest for protecting occupants in the event of a car accident.
Testing Criteria
The 2012 safest vehicles were chosen based on their frontal crash tests (at 40 mph), side-impact tests, rear-end collisions (at 20 mph) and rollover protection ratings based on roof crush tests. All vehicles in Forbes Magazine’s list include blind-spot warning systems that employ sensors or cameras to detect vehicles in the blind spot, lane departure warning systems to alert inattentive drivers they are veering into another lane, and collision warning systems to help keep drivers at a safe distance and speed from the nearest vehicle in its path.
Safest Vehicles
The safest vehicles of 2012 are:
- Audi A6
- BMW 5 Series
- Infiniti EX 35
- Infiniti M37/M56
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S80
- Volvo XC60
You will notice that only a few manufacturers are represented in this list, which is prejudiced by the mandatory inclusion of certain pricey safety features, some of which have yet to be proven effective.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 32,885 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2010, which is actually the lowest number of deaths since the record keeping started in 1949. Still, every 16 minutes an American is killed in a motor vehicle crash.
Unfortunately, even the safest car cannot always protect you from the negligence of another driver. If you suffered a car accident injury in Oklahoma City, please contact Self & Associates to schedule your free consultation without delay.
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