The value of your personal injury claim in Oklahoma depends on several key factors, including the severity of your injuries, your financial losses, and whether you share any fault for the accident. Most successful claims include both economic damages (such as medical bills and lost wages) and non-economic damages (like pain and suffering).
While no two cases are identical, your compensation should reflect the total impact the accident has had on your life, including both financial and otherwise.
Economic Damages: Your Financial Losses
Economic damages are the measurable financial losses caused by your accident. These are typically supported by things like bills, receipts, and records. Common examples include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages/decreased earning capacity
- Property damage
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Your personal injury attorney in Tulsa will gather documentation to calculate these costs and project future expenses if your injuries have long-term effects.
Non-Economic Damages: Pain and Suffering
Not all losses can be measured in dollars and cents. Oklahoma law also allows recovery for non-economic damages, which compensate for the emotional and physical toll of an injury.
These can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
These damages are more subjective, so insurance companies often try to undervalue them. An experienced personal injury lawyer can use expert testimony and your medical records to show how the injury has affected your quality of life.
Punitive Damages in Oklahoma
In rare cases involving egregious misconduct, such as fatal crashes like head-on collisions, the court may award punitive damages to punish the at-fault party and deter similar behavior. These damages are not meant to compensate you directly but to hold the wrongdoer accountable, and they also generally require that your case go to trial.
How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Claim
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence standard, which means your compensation can be reduced if you share some fault for the accident. Further, if you’re 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages. For example, if your damages total $500,000 but you’re found 20% responsible, your recovery would be reduced to $400,000.
Other Factors That Could Influence Your Case’s Value
Each personal injury claim is unique, and other things can impact how much it’s worth as well, such as:
- The availability of insurance coverage
- The strength of your evidence
- The credibility of witnesses and experts
- Whether your case goes to trial
- The skill and experience of your attorney
In general, cases involving especially severe injuries tend to result in higher personal injury compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Oklahoma Injury Attorney
Ultimately, the only way to know the true value of your claim is to speak with a qualified Oklahoma personal injury lawyer. Your attorney can review the facts and circumstances of your case, and, from there, negotiate for the full compensation you’re entitled to under state law.
Call us today for a free initial consultation. At Gorospe Law Group, we can provide you with some preliminary legal advice and information about your case’s potential worth at that time.