Request A Free Consultation

Will I Have to Go to Court After a Car Accident?

Will I Have to Go to Court After a Car Accident?

If you are involved in an Oklahoma car accident, you may suffer injuries, property damage, and other losses. Under state laws, you may be eligible for damages from the at-fault driver. 

But you may also wish to avoid a long fight in the courtroom. Luckily, an Oklahoma City car accident lawyer. They have the tools to help you negotiate a fair settlement from the liable driver’s insurance company, and they can help you get compensated in the courtroom without pain and difficulty on your part. 

Filing a Claim with the Insurance Company

Many car crash claims are settled outside of court by insurance companies. According to one estimate, only 3 to 5 percent of claims make it to a court of law. These include claims which are not settled by the insurer, forcing the plaintiff to file a lawsuit.

This is your first option after you suffer damages in a crash due to the negligence of another party. You can file a claim with the insurance company of the negligent driver. It’s the responsibility of the company to investigate the claim, review your evidence, respect your legal rights, and make a fair offer.

You should get legal representation for your car crash claim. A lawyer can more effectively negotiate with the insurance company and ensure that they don’t make any unnecessary delays.

However, there are some situations when an insurance claim fails to provide you with a fair settlement. This is when you may consider going to court and taking your case to trial.

Going to a Court

You may have to go to court after a car crash if the liable party’s insurer doesn’t offer a fair settlement. The insurer may be acting in bad faith, in which case you can file a bad faith insurance lawsuit. Alternatively, the insurer may refuse to offer a fair settlement, forcing you to file a lawsuit.

In other cases, the at-fault driver may have no insurance. It is illegal to operate a vehicle without insurance in Oklahoma, but sadly, some drivers do anyway. After a crash with an uninsured driver, your options may be a lawsuit or, if you have the right coverage, your own insurance company. Even this is viable only if the at-fault party has assets valuable enough to cover your losses.

While many car accident victims dread the idea of their claim going to court, your lawyer can make this process easier. Your lawyer has experience and resources you may not have access to otherwise, and they can take the pressure of a lawsuit off you. 

How Can an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer Help?

If you have been hit by a negligent driver in Oklahoma City, we can help you. The lawyers at AMA Law work with car accident victims to secure a fair settlement for their crash-related losses. We can also help you build your case if you have to take your claim to a court and file a lawsuit.

Call us today at 405-708-7789 to discuss your Oklahoma car accident claim with our lawyers. You can also fill out the following online contact form.