Oklahoma City Injury Law Blog

Rear-end crashes aren't always the rear drivers' faults

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in rear-end collisions on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

While people often claim that a rear-end collision is always the fault of the rear vehicle, that simply is not the case. Did you know that the first driver in a line, someone who merges into a line or others could be at fault as well? It's the reality that every situation is different, so the rear driver can't always be blamed.

Normally, it is the rear driver's fault when a collision happens. Why? They should have had the space and time to stop. It's their responsibility to keep several car lengths between them and the driver ahead of them. It's their job to slow to a stop if they approach a traffic signal or stop sign.

Is PTSD covered under workers’ comp?

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm on Friday, November 23, 2018.

Most people understand that if you deserve to have your employer cover the cost of your on-the-job physical injuries. Often there is not nearly as much focus on how jobs can cause emotional damage to employees.

If the nature of the job is particularly distressing, an employee could develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from their line of work. It happens all the time to our servicemen and servicewomen.

Five parking lot safety tips for drivers for Black Friday

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in auto accident injuries on Friday, November 16, 2018.

Here in Oklahoma City and throughout the U.S., Black Friday sees shoppers flocking to stores to find the best deals.

It is important to note that there are some safety concerns that arise in connection to this big shopping day. This includes traffic safety concerns regarding parking lots.

Receiving noneconomic damages for your loved one's death

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm on Monday, October 29, 2018.

Your family suffers a devastating loss after your loved one dies due to a drunk driver in Oklahoma City. You know that no amount of economic or noneconomic damages could ever remedy your grief, but you feel that you deserve some compensation for your loved one's death. Assuming a court finds the driver negligent, which may not prove difficult if the driver was under the influence of alcohol, your family can receive maximum damages.

When trying to obtain significant compensation for the expenses related to your family member's death, you want to contact an experienced wrongful death attorney. Wrongful death attorneys can significantly increase your chances of receiving the most generous damages related to your devastating loss. Further, when you need noneconomic, emotional loss damages from the individual that ended your family member's life, you may wish to seek the advice of an attorney to better determine your rights to exact benefits. Do not attempt to retrieve compensation from insurance companies or individuals alone.

How to file a workers' compensation claim

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in Workers' Compensation on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

Oklahoma residents who have suffered injuries while on the job may not know what they need to do to seek medical and financial care from their employers. Workers' compensation benefits are offered to most employed individuals and filing claims is actually fairly easy. The problem comes with achieving insurance approval and full benefits for losses suffered.

How does one go about filing a workers' compensation claim? It starts with reporting the injury to one's employer and filling out the proper workers' comp forms. When reporting the injury, one's employer and workers' comp provider will want all the details, including:

Date of injury
Witnesses names
Parties involved
How the injury occurred
Medical treatment information

Oklahoma car accidents: 2 severely injured in crash

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, October 5, 2018.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office was called to investigate the cause of a two-vehicle collision in Harrah back in September. At least two people suffered injuries in the wreck. An update to the news story suggests that someone died as a result of the event. In severe or fatal car accidents, victims or their surviving family members may be entitled to seek compensation for their losses.

According to a news report, on Sept. 20, a pickup truck and a van collided near East Britton Road and North Peebly Road. The driver of the truck is said to have ignored a stop sign and T-boned the van. A passenger in the truck and the driver of the van were severely injured and transported to a hospital by air for treatment. It is unclear if the driver of the truck or any of the other passengers suffered injuries in the wreck.

How desk job workers can improve their health

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm on Friday, September 28, 2018.

Many people start out having active jobs that require plenty of standing and constant movement. Depending on your circumstances, you might find yourself working a desk job at some point in your life. It can be jarring whenever you transition into a full-time sitting job where you are primarily stagnant the entire workday.

Not everyone adjusts well to this type of change. However, good health is always a possibility in any type of work environment. Sitting jobs have been shown to increase the risk of weight gain, high blood pressure, and other factors linked to cancer and premature death.

Do victims of car accidents need an attorney?

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Friday, September 28, 2018.

If you were recently injured in an auto accident or lost a loved one in such an incident, you may be thinking that insurance will have your back. That would be nice if that were the case, but many Oklahoma residents find that they are left far from whole with the settlements offered them after car accidents. What can you and they do when dealing with insurance providers who are being less than fair?

Many people in the state are not what you would call sue-happy people. Most people want to avoid having to get an attorney and go to court. They want to believe that they can achieve fair settlements on their own. Unfortunately, it does not always work out as well as they would like.

Road rage-related car accidents are a state and national problem

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

It is hard to go a day without seeing overly aggressive drivers on Oklahoma roads. Sadly, numerous car accidents occur in the state and across the country because drivers fail to control their emotions when behind the wheel. Road rage is a real thing and a real problem.

How many accidents happen as a result of road rage? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that approximately 94 percent of all auto accidents occur because of human error. Road rage is said to contribute to around one-third of these collisions every year.

Obtaining compensation from an uninsured driver

On behalf of Dawkins & Gowens Law Firm posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

Driving through Oklahoma City, another driver struck your vehicle and injured you. You exchanged information, but you discovered that the driver does not hold car insurance. You worry as to how you will pay for your medical costs, your car damage and how you will sustain yourself if you cannot work.

Although it is illegal to not hold motor vehicle insurance in Oklahoma, millions of uninsured motorists across the United States travel every day, risking the lives of law-abiding drivers. If you face injury due to the negligence of an uninsured driver, seek medical attention immediately. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney to help you obtain the proper compensation. Know that in Oklahoma, if you face injury or property damage due to an underinsured or uninsured motorist, you may have the ability to obtain compensation from another driver through alternative means.