If you have been injured in an accident in Oklahoma City, you may be wondering how much your personal injury case is worth. Navigating the complexities of personal injury law requires the expertise of an experienced attorney.
Your Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer should be prepared to provide resources to help you feel informed and empowered. Understanding how much your personal injury case could be worth in OKC can help you know what to expect.
How an Experienced Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyer Can Maximize the Value of Your Case
When it comes to personal injury cases, having the right legal representation can significantly impact the outcome.
Here’s how an experienced Oklahoma City injury lawyer can help you:
- Expertise and guidance: An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain the process of bringing a personal injury claim and guide you throughout your case.
- Investigating the incident: Lawyers will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and reconstruct the events to establish liability.
- Calculating damages: A skilled lawyer can make a case to include both economic and non-economic damages so that you are compensated for your losses to the greatest extent possible.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: Experienced lawyers can skillfully engage with insurers to secure a fair settlement that reflects the true value of your case.
- Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, an experienced attorney will be prepared to take your case to court.
Dealing with an injury can be difficult. An experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyer can make the process easier and increase your chance of obtaining compensation.
Types of Damages Available in a Personal Injury Case
Damages are intended to compensate a plaintiff for his or her losses. Understanding the different types of damages available can help you evaluate the amount of your claim.
There are two primary types of damages available in personal injury cases: economic damages and non-economic damages. A skilled lawyer can make a case for you to obtain both kinds of damages.
Economic damages compensate plaintiffs for the tangible losses that can be easily measured. Medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages often fall in this category because they are easily quantified. It is important to keep documentation of all tangible losses due to the accident, including photos of the accident scene and injury and receipts of all costs incurred.
Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses that are more challenging to quantify. These may include pain and suffering damages, which is compensation for physical and emotional distress caused by the injury. Plaintiffs can also claim damages related to the loss of quality of life. These damages include loss of enjoyment of daily activities and loss of consortium or companionship for the injured party’s spouse or family members.
It is important to note that you should claim future expenses as part of your damages. The statute of limitations requires plaintiffs to file their cases before a deadline. For personal injury cases in Oklahoma, this deadline is two years.
Since plaintiffs may continue to experience harm from the accident after the deadline to file their lawsuits, they must include future expenses. These expenses include ongoing medical treatment and continued emotional distress.
Factors Affecting Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Case
Several factors affect the amount of economic damages in a personal injury case, including:
- The severity of the injury
- The duration of treatment
- Costs of medical bills
- The disruption to daily activities
- The impact on economic activities (e.g. lost wages)
- The value of the property that was damaged (e.g. car, bike, wheelchair)
- Loss of ability to work and earn
Any measurable damages that result from the accident or injury can be factored into a claim for economic damages. Ask your attorney what kinds of economic damages may exist in your case.
Evaluating Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Case
Non-economic damages are more challenging to quantify.
Factors affecting non-economic damages include:
- How the injury happened and the emotional distress that the accident caused
- The psychological toll of the injury itself including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress
- The impact of the injury upon a plaintiff’s relationships
- The impact of the injury upon a plaintiff’s ability to do the things that they enjoy
- The social impact of the appearance of an injury
- The overall disruption the injury has caused to the plaintiff’s life
A skilled personal injury lawyer can contact the right expert witnesses and make a case for you to be compensated for the emotional harm that the injury has caused.
What if the Accident Was Partly My Fault?
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative fault system. This allows you to seek compensation even if you were partly at fault for the accident. However, your recovery may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. Since the state has adopted a 51% bar, you cannot recover for your injuries if you were 51% or more at fault for the accident.
An experienced attorney can advocate for an allocation of liability that allows you to recover fair compensation.
Contact the Oklahoma City Personal Injury Law Firm of Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. Our law office is located in Oklahoma City.
We proudly serve Oklahoma County, OK and its surrounding areas:
Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers – OKC
1332 SW 89th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
(405) 497-0480