Injured in accident - do I need a lawyer?
personal injury attorney Oklahoma Jul 26, 2026
Location: Oklahoma ETA: I have already contacted both my insurance and the other drivers insurance. I know that much. Please stop telling me to just contact insurance. Two days ago I was injured in a car accident that also totaled my vehicle. The other driver was 100% at fault and has admitted fault. We were each the only ones in our cars, no one else was injured, and we were both insured. My injuries are not life threatening and did not require hospitalization but I was transported to the hospital via ambulance and evaluated because I had significant seatbelt bruising so there was concern for internal injuries. I was cleared for that but I have whiplash and a lot of bruising, and a large burn and hematoma on my leg that is extremely painful. I had to go back to the ER this morning for the pain. I am so overwhelmed about what to do next. I have never been in an accident before. I did a brief free consultation with a personal injury firm and decided to just go it on my own unless I am not happy with the insurance settlement offer since they would take 33%. Then this morning an “accident investigator” called me with info on my accident saying a legal firm would be contacting me to represent me and that it would be free because I was an injured victim in an accident that wasn’t my fault. The firm called me and it’s not free - that one wants 25%. In hindsight the ”accident investigator” was sketchy because I explicitly asked him “are you with [city] police or with [other drivers insurance]?” and he laughed and said “I’m with the accident department, save my number because I will be calling you a lot”. I have no idea what organization he was with and I now feel like it was really sketchy that he wouldn’t confirm that he was with the police department and I’m wondering if he was with that legal firm. The whole thing feels really predatory and I was also loopy at that time as when I went to the ER this morning they gave me a sedative for the pain. I did not agree to anything and told them I can’t decide right now and need to talk to them Monday. What do I do? Do I need representation? My concern is with the legal team’s cut - I have no idea what an injury payout is like and I’m worried that after someone takes 25-33% I will not have enough left to cover my medical bills. My car was paid off and I am not looking for a payday, I literally just want to come out of this in the same shape I was in before - no car payment and no medical bills. Advice? I’m so overwhelmed, I’m in a lot of pain and I don’t have a car and the other driver’s insurance was supposed to call me this morning for a recorded statement and they didn’t. I don’t know what to do next.
