If you suffered a whiplash injury in a car accident in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Abel Law Firm stands ready to help. Whiplash injuries are often underestimated by insurance companies. Our experienced legal team understands the serious impact these injuries have on your life. We work to help you recover fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Why Choose Abel Law Firm for Your Whiplash Case
Our Track Record of Results
Abel Law Firm brings extensive experience handling whiplash and other car accident injury claims. Our attorneys understand the tactics insurance companies use to minimize whiplash settlements. We counter these tactics with thorough investigation, strong medical evidence, and aggressive negotiation.
We operate on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. This arrangement aligns our interests with yours. We succeed only when you receive fair compensation. We offer free consultations to discuss your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.
Our firm maintains 24/7 availability because accidents happen at any time. We respond quickly to client inquiries and keep you informed throughout your case. As a local Tulsa law firm, we understand Oklahoma’s legal system. We maintain relationships with medical experts, investigators, and other professionals who support your case.
Our Lawyers
Our legal team includes multiple Super Lawyers. These attorneys receive recognition in the top 5% of their field by peer evaluation. Our firm has been voted Oklahoma’s Best Personal Injury Law Firm by The Journal Record readers for multiple consecutive years. Our lead attorneys hold prestigious national recognitions. These include selections as Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association and Lawyer of the Year designations from Best Lawyers in America.
Our attorneys maintain the highest professional standards. We hold Preeminent AV ratings from Martindale-Hubbell—the highest rating available in the peer review system. These credentials reflect our commitment to professional excellence and ethical integrity in representing our clients.
What Is Whiplash and How Does It Occur?
Whiplash occurs when the head and neck experience sudden, forceful back-and-forth motion. This rapid acceleration-deceleration movement stretches and tears soft tissues in the neck. These tissues include muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Rear-end collisions cause the majority of whiplash injuries. Whiplash can also result from side-impact crashes, multi-vehicle accidents, and other high-impact collisions.
The injury happens in milliseconds, often before you realize the accident occurred. Even low-speed collisions can cause significant whiplash injuries. Your vehicle may sustain minimal damage while your body experiences substantial trauma. This disconnect between vehicle damage and injury severity is one reason insurance companies frequently undervalue whiplash claims.
Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of Whiplash
Whiplash symptoms may appear immediately after an accident or develop over hours and days. Common symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches (often at the base of the skull)
- Shoulder and upper back pain
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
For most people, whiplash symptoms resolve within weeks or months with proper treatment. However, some individuals develop chronic whiplash syndrome. They experience persistent pain and dysfunction for months or years after the accident. Chronic whiplash can significantly impact your quality of life. It limits your ability to work, exercise, and enjoy daily activities.
The severity of your whiplash injury depends on multiple factors. These include the force of impact, your age, pre-existing neck conditions, and how quickly you receive medical treatment. Younger individuals often recover faster. Older adults may experience prolonged symptoms. Early active medical treatment (such as guided mobilization and exercise) improves outcomes. Early medical documentation of your injuries is important for your claim.
Why You Need a Whiplash Injury Lawyer
How Insurance Companies Handle Whiplash Claims
How Insurance Companies Handle Whiplash ClaimsInsurance companies often minimize whiplash claims because soft tissue injuries lack visible damage. Broken bones or lacerations show obvious injury. Soft tissue injuries do not. Adjusters may argue that your symptoms are exaggerated. They may suggest you should have recovered by now. They employ tactics designed to reduce settlement amounts, including:
- Questioning the severity of your injury
- Suggesting your symptoms stem from pre-existing conditions
- Offering quick, low settlements before you understand your injury’s full impact
- Requesting unnecessary medical records
- Delaying claim processing
An experienced Tulsa whiplash injury attorney protects your rights. We work to help insurance companies take your claim seriously. We handle all communications with adjusters. Our lawyers also gather medical evidence supporting your injury claim. We negotiate aggressively for fair compensation. In Oklahoma, you have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. Acting quickly strengthens your case.
How Abel Law Firm Handles Whiplash Cases
Abel Law Firm approaches each whiplash case with thorough investigation and strategic planning. We begin with a comprehensive case evaluation. We review accident details, medical records, and insurance information. Our team coordinates with medical experts. These experts document your injuries and explain their impact to insurance adjusters or juries.
Our lawyers investigate the accident thoroughly. We gather police reports, witness statements, and accident scene photographs. We obtain your complete medical records. Also, we work with your healthcare providers to establish the connection between the accident and your whiplash injury. This documentation forms the foundation of your claim.
Our attorneys negotiate with insurance companies from a position of strength. We back our negotiations with solid evidence and medical support. We calculate your damages accurately by accounting for current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. When insurance companies refuse fair offers, we prepare your case for trial. We demonstrate our willingness to fight in court. This trial readiness often motivates insurers to settle at reasonable amounts.
Compensation Available for Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash settlements vary based on injury severity, treatment duration, and long-term effects. Compensation, under Oklahoma law, typically includes:
- Medical Expenses: All costs and bills related to treating your whiplash injury. This includes emergency room visits, doctor appointments, physical therapy, imaging studies, and ongoing treatment.
- Lost Wages: Income you lost while recovering from your injury and attending medical appointments. If your whiplash causes long-term disability affecting your earning capacity, we pursue compensation for future lost income.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Oklahoma law allows recovery for both past and future pain and suffering.
- Future Medical Care: If your whiplash injury requires ongoing treatment, we calculate the cost of future medical expenses and include this in your settlement demand.
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence system (Section 23-13). If you bear partial responsibility for the accident, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. However, you can still recover damages if you are less than 50% at fault. Our attorneys work to minimize any fault assigned to you while maximizing your compensation.
Steps to Take After a Car Accident
Immediately following a car accident, prioritize your safety and health. Move to a safe location if possible. Call emergency services if anyone is injured. Contact the police to report the accident. Even if you feel fine, seek medical evaluation promptly. Some whiplash symptoms develop over hours or days. Medical records created immediately after the accident strengthen your injury claim.
Document the accident scene by taking photographs. Capture vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and the surrounding area. Gather contact information from witnesses and the other driver. Avoid discussing fault or accepting blame at the scene. Report the accident to your insurance company. Limit your statement to basic facts.
Preserve all evidence related to the accident and your injury. Keep medical records, receipts for medical expenses, documentation of lost wages, and records of how the injury affects your daily life. Avoid posting about the accident on social media. Insurance companies monitor social media for statements that might undermine your claim.
Contact an experienced whiplash injury lawyer as soon as possible. Early legal representation protects your rights. It helps with the proper handling of your claim from the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Whiplash Injuries
How long does a whiplash case take?
Whiplash cases typically resolve within 6 to 12 months. Complex cases may take longer. We work efficiently to resolve your case while helping you receive fair compensation.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Oklahoma’s comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages even if you bear partial responsibility. You must be less than 50% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How much is my whiplash case worth?
Settlement amounts vary based on injury severity, treatment duration, medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term effects. We evaluate your specific circumstances to calculate fair compensation.
Do I need to go to trial for my whiplash claim?
Most whiplash cases settle without trial. However, we prepare every case for trial. This preparation often motivates insurance companies to offer fair settlements.
What should I do immediately after a car accident?
Prioritize safety. Seek medical evaluation. Call the police. Document the scene with photographs. Gather witness information. Contact an attorney promptly.
Can I still file a claim if I didn't seek medical care immediately?
Delayed medical treatment weakens your claim. It suggests your injuries were not serious. Seek medical evaluation as soon as possible after an accident.
How do I know if I have whiplash or just a minor neck strain?
A healthcare provider can diagnose whiplash through physical examination and imaging studies. Whiplash causes specific symptoms and may show structural changes on imaging. Seek medical evaluation to determine your injury type.
Contact Abel Law Firm Today
If you suffered a whiplash injury in a Tulsa car accident, contact Abel Law Firm for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys evaluate your case. We explain your legal options. We fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our firm today or complete our online contact form to schedule your free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis—no fee unless we win your case.
