HomeLaws by stateOklahoma
Oklahoma car accident laws
Is Oklahoma a no-fault state? No. Oklahoma is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Oklahoma gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Oklahoma is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (25/50/25).
Your award is reduced by your share of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the other party's (more than 50%).
Quoted from Oklahoma statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Oklahoma | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years for an injury to the rights of another not arising on contract | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Two years for taking, detaining or injuring personal property | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years; the statute says the action 'must be commenced within two (2) years' without naming the starting event (Oklahoma courts run it from the date of death) | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1053(A) |
| Claims against a government body | A claim against the state or a political subdivision is forever barred unless written notice is presented within one year after the loss occurs. | Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 156(B) |
| Insurance system | at-fault | Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 7-601(A) |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (51% bar). Your award is reduced by your share of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the other party's (more than 50%). | Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 13 |
| Minimum liability coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash / $25,000 property | Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 7-324(2) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. A dog's owner is liable for the full amount of damages when the dog, without provocation, bites or injures a person who is in a place where the person has a lawful right to be. | Okla. Stat. tit. 4, § 42.1 |
| Cap on pain-and-suffering damages | $500,000 cap on noneconomic damages for injuries occurring on or after September 1, 2025 (up to $1,000,000 for a permanent mental injury); no limit for permanent and severe physical injury, or where the defendant acted with reckless disregard, gross negligence, fraud, or intent/malice (clear and convincing evidence). The earlier $350,000 cap (23 O.S. 61.2) was struck down in Beason v. I.E. Miller Services (2019). | Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 61.3(C)-(E), (H) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Oklahoma can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after an Oklahoma crash
How to get an Oklahoma crash report ($7.00 per collision report; $10.00 for a certified copy ($3.00 certification fee)).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Oklahoma. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Oklahoma?
Two years for an injury claim (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3)) and two years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Oklahoma a no-fault state?
No. Oklahoma is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma follows modified comparative (51% bar). Your award is reduced by your share of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the other party's (more than 50%).
What is the minimum car insurance in Oklahoma?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Oklahoma is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (25/50/25).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-12/section-12-95/
3. Within two (2) years: An action for trespass upon real property; an action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property; an action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated;
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-12/section-12-95/
3. Within two (2) years: An action for trespass upon real property; [...] an action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property;
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1053(A)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-12/section-12-1053/
A. When the death of one is caused by the wrongful act or omission of another, the personal representative of the former may maintain an action therefor against the latter, or his or her personal representative if he or she is also deceased, if the former might have maintained an action, had he or she lived, against the latter, or his or her representative, for an injury for the same act or omission. The action must be commenced within two (2) years.
- Claims against a government body (Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 156(B)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-51/section-51-156/
claims against the state or a political subdivision are to be presented within one (1) year of the date the loss occurs. A claim against the state or a political subdivision shall be forever barred unless notice thereof is presented within one (1) year after the loss occurs.
- Insurance system (Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 7-601(A)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-47/section-47-7-601/
A. Every owner of a motor vehicle registered in this state, other than a licensed used motor vehicle dealer, shall, at all times, maintain in force with respect to such vehicle security for the payment of loss resulting from the liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death and property damage sustained by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation or use of the vehicle.
- If you were partly at fault (Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 13): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-23/section-23-13/
In all actions hereafter brought, whether arising before or after the effective date of this act, for negligence resulting in personal injuries or wrongful death, or injury to property, contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery, unless any negligence of the person so injured, damaged or killed, is of greater degree than any negligence of the person, firm or corporation causing such damage, or unless any negligence of the person so injured, damaged or killed, is of greater degree than the combined negligence of any persons, firms or corporations causing such damage.
- Minimum liability coverage (Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 7-324(2)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-47/section-47-7-324/
as follows: Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
- Dog bites (Okla. Stat. tit. 4, § 42.1): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-4/section-4-42-1/
The owner or owners of any dog shall be liable for damages to the full amount of any damages sustained when his dog, without provocation, bites or injures any person while such person is in or on a place where he has a lawful right to be.
- Cap on pain-and-suffering damages (Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 61.3(C)-(E), (H)): law.justia.com/codes/oklahoma/title-23/section-23-61-3/
C. 1. Except as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection, in any civil action arising from a claimed bodily injury, the amount of compensation which a trier of fact may award a plaintiff for noneconomic loss shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), regardless of the number of parties against whom the action is brought or the number of actions brought. 2. If the trier of fact finds that a plaintiff has suffered permanent and severe physical injury, including a substantial physical abnormality or disfigurement, loss of use of a limb, or loss of or substantial impairment to…
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.