Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyer

A personal injury case arises when one party’s negligent or wrongful actions cause harm to another individual. Filing a claim against the at-fault party allows you to recover compensation to become “whole” again – at least financially.

The following scenarios may give rise to a valid personal injury claim:

• A distracted driver rear-ends your vehicle, causing severe injuries
• Another person’s dog attacks you on public property, leading to soft tissue damage
• You slip and fall at a store due to an unmarked wet floor
• A distracted driver hits your loved one while bicycling, causing their wrongful death
• A physician misdiagnoses your medical condition
• You sustain injuries in a car accident when you’re on the clock at work

These are just a few examples. The best way to evaluate the validity of a claim is to seek guidance from a personal injury attorney.

Personal injury victims can file a claim to pursue compensation for their economic and non-economic losses.

Economic damages – or the financial costs you incur due to your accident and injuries – might include:

• Your medical bills, such as the cost of treatment, surgery, and follow-ups
• Future medical expenses if you require ongoing care or physical therapy
• Lost wages and benefits after missing time from work
• Reduced earning potential
• Property damage to vehicles, personal belongings, etc.
• Out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages – or the personal, intangible losses you suffer – could include:

• Pain and suffering
• PTSD
• Loss of companionship and assistance
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Mental anguish
• Permanent disability
• Reduced quality of life

In some cases, an Oklahoma court may award the plaintiff punitive damages for the sake of punishing the defendant. The plaintiff must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s conduct was intentional or represented a reckless disregard for others’ safety.

The value of your personal injury claim will depend on many things. Each case is different, and every victim has a unique story.

When we’re evaluating your case and calculating your economic and non-economic damages, we’ll need to know:

• The severity of your injuries and how they affect your life and enjoyment
• Whether you share any fault for the accident or injury
• The value of your lost earnings, medical costs, and other expenses
• Whether your injury impacts your ability to earn a living
• Whether you’re expected to make a recovery or suffer a permanent impairment
• The level of pain, suffering, and emotional trauma you’ve endured
• The strength of your case and the parties involved

People who sustain catastrophic injuries – such as amputations, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord damage – typically have higher case values. However, various factors must be assessed. Let us determine what your case’s value is and help you recover every penny.

Oklahoma law provides a time limit – known as the statute of limitations – to file a personal injury lawsuit. You generally have to file your case within two years of the accident date (or date of death in the event of wrongful death).

Note that there may be exceptions to this two-year deadline. Even if you have a strong case, a court will dismiss it if you don’t file it in time. To prevent that from happening, it’s best to consult an Oklahoma personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Negligence is the legal basis of most personal injury claims. When an individual is negligent, it means they’ve failed to act with a reasonable level of care. In other words, a reasonable person would have behaved differently under similar circumstances.

As the injured party, you have the burden of proving the following elements of negligence:

• The at-fault party owed you a certain duty of care. For example, they had an obligation to abide by Oklahoma traffic laws when driving on state roads.
• They breached their duty in some way. Speeding, distracted driving, or failing to yield the right of way would all qualify as a breach of duty in a car accident case.
• The breach of duty directly caused the accident and injury.
• You sustained losses, such as medical costs, pain, and lost wages.

The evidence required to prove negligence will depend on the type of case you file but may include:

• Surveillance footage of the accident
• Medical records
• Eyewitness statements
• Photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries
• Accident reports
• Expert witness testimony and opinions
• Wage statements

We can help you build a solid case by gathering persuasive evidence.