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Last Modified on Apr 07, 2026
Car accidents are a leading cause of accidental injuries and deaths in Oklahoma each year, and accidents are more common in busy metropolitan areas like Oklahoma City. The aftermath of any accident can be traumatic and confusing, but everyone should know how fault is determined in Oklahoma City car accidents. The driver responsible for causing your accident is liable for the resulting damages.
How Fault Is Determined in Oklahoma City Car Accidents
The first steps you take after any accident in Oklahoma City are crucial. If another driver caused the accident, you need to know how to prove fault and how you can recover compensation for the damages they caused. In 2021, the most recent year with available crash data from Oklahoma Public Safety, there were 30,195 injuries and 762 deaths from vehicle crashes statewide. In Oklahoma, all accidents involving multiple parties are resolved on a fault basis.
Proving fault for an accident is essential if you intend to claim compensation from the driver you believe to be responsible for causing the accident. Some of the evidence you may need could include:
- Photos of the crash scene: If you are able to do so safely while you wait for first responders to arrive, take photos of your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, and the positions of vehicles in the road.
- Police reports: An Oklahoma City car accident attorney can secure a copy of the police report for your accident. This will include the responding officers’ findings from the scene and statements made by those involved.
- Eyewitness statements: Your attorney can obtain statements from anyone who witnessed the accident firsthand.
- Traffic camera footage: If there were any traffic cameras recording the area around where your accident happened, footage may show exactly how the accident happened.
- Cell phone records: Your attorney may be able to obtain the at-fault driver’s cell phone records, which may show that they were distracted by their phone in the moments before the accident happened.
- Expert witness testimony: Some accident cases raise complex technical questions that require input from specific experts. Your attorney may arrange for expert witness testimony from accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and medical professionals to support your case.
These are just a few examples of evidence that could be crucial to your case. Some of this evidence won’t be obtainable for very long, and some will be very difficult to obtain without an attorney’s help.
Another issue you may encounter when it comes to determining fault is disputed liability. Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule, so multiple parties may be found to share liability for an accident, and each is assigned a percentage of fault. If this applies to your case, you may still recover partial compensation, but only if the defendant is assigned a greater percentage of fault. Your attorney can explain what to expect if this applies to your case.
Ultimately, every driver should understand how fault is determined in Oklahoma City car accidents. If you or a family member was recently injured in a collision caused by another driver, the team at Fulmer Sill can help you pursue compensation for your damages. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team.
