Eufaula, OK Personal Injury Lawyer

Have you recently sustained injuries in Oklahoma? Was the cause of your injuries another party’s actions or negligence? If so, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim with the liable party’s insurance. Doing so allows you to seek compensation for medical bills and other accident-related losses.

However, it’s important to understand that the insurance company may try to avoid paying you the money you deserve. At Edwards & Patterson Law, we understand how insurance companies handle cases like yours, and we can offer representation to level the playing field. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Eufaula personal injury lawyer.

What Is a Personal Injury?

A personal injury case is one in which the actions or inaction of another party injured someone. That party owed the injured person a duty of care but violated that duty, causing harm. The American Bar Association (ABA) notes that a car crash case is a strong example of a typical personal injury case.

Motorists on the road have a duty of care to one another. They may violate that duty when they act without regard for other road users, such as when they speed or drive under the influence of alcohol. If a motorist harms someone else while violating their duty of care, the injured party may be eligible for compensation.

The ABA also points out negligence isn’t the only potential basis for a personal injury case. In some cases, strict liability or intentional wrongs may serve as the basis for claims. For example, in Oklahoma, dog owners are strictly liable in dog bite cases. That means injured parties don’t have to prove the dog owner was negligent when filing a claim after a dog bites them. The owner is liable simply because they own the dog.

What Are Common Types of Personal Injuries in Eufaula?

Personal injury law is a broad category of law encompassing many different types of cases. Common types of personal injury cases our law firm handles include:

Car wrecks
Truck wrecks
Motorcycle wrecks
Slip and falls
Toxic torts
Oilfield accidents
Product defects
Birth injuries
Medical malpractice
Mesothelioma/asbestos cases
Nursing home abuse
Brain injuries
Dog bites
Burn injuries
Wrongful death

Contact Edwards & Patterson Law today to learn more about how we can provide the types of legal services you need.

What Can Cause Personal Injuries?

Injuries can arise from a variety of circumstances, including:

Careless driving behaviors
Hazards on someone’s property
Work accidents
Medical malpractice
Overloaded truck trailers
Product malfunctions
Aggressive pets
Assaults
Hit-and-run accidents
Fires
Explosions
Poisoning

Nearly any situation can result in an accident. If someone else’s wrongdoing caused you to be injured, call a Eufaula personal injury attorney from Edwards & Patterson Law about whether you have a claim for compensation.

What Is Needed to Prove Liability for My Injuries?

The first step in pursuing compensation involves identifying the liable party. You must know who is responsible to know whose insurance you should file a claim with.

You will need to submit evidence to prove the at-fault party is liable for your losses. Such evidence may include the following:

The liable party’s statements
Witness statements
Footage of the accident, if available
A police report or similar official accident report
Photos of the scene of the accident
Documentation of your injuries

It’s sometimes necessary to hire professionals to help generate evidence of liability. For example, a crash reconstruction professional might need to recreate the conditions of a motor vehicle wreck to show how a particular motorist caused the crash.

What Compensation Can I Receive for My Eufaula Personal Injury Claim?

The compensation you may be eligible to receive depends on the severity of your injury and your other accident-related losses. In a typical Oklahoma personal injury case, you may seek compensation for two types of losses resulting from your injuries:

Economic losses, like your medical bills and lost wages
Non-economic losses, like your pain and suffering

Legal professionals use specialized formulas to assign dollar values to pain and suffering and similar non-economic losses. They may also apply formulas to estimate future economic losses when applicable.

For example, your injuries may leave you in need of lifelong medical treatment. A personal injury lawyer in Eufaula can acquire a medical professional’s assessment of what your treatment will cost and include it in your settlement demand.

What Can Affect the Amount of Compensation I May Receive?

Factors affecting final settlement amounts in personal injury cases are:

- Injury severity

Whether there is any loss of income and/or earning potential
The degree to which an injured party’s injuries affect their quality of life
The degree to which an injured party’s injuries affect their loved ones and others who may rely on them

Generally, the more severe the injury and the longer the recovery period, the greater the compensation will be.

How Long Might It Take for My Personal Injury Case to Settle?

It’s impossible to guess the potential timeline of your personal injury case without knowing the details of your case. Factors that may affect how long it takes to settle a personal injury case include:

The severity and number of your injuries
The extent of your medical care needs
The number of at-fault parties
How long it takes to prove liability
How much compensation you’re eligible for

Don’t make the mistake of accepting a low settlement offer because you’re eager to receive compensation. You may be eligible to receive more if you’re patient. A personal injury law attorney can evaluate settlement offers and help you determine whether you should accept them.

Does Oklahoma Set a Time Limit for Filing My Injury Lawsuit?

Yes. Under Oklahoma Law, you have two years from the time you sustained injuries to take legal action. Under the law, you may only extend the filing deadline in rare circumstances, such as if you’re disabled. It’s best to talk to your lawyer to learn which deadline applies in your case.

Contact a Eufaula, OK, Personal Injury Lawyer

The personal injury claims process is complicated. If you take a single wrong step, you could jeopardize your case. It’s important to understand the value of legal representation in these circumstances.

At Edwards & Patterson Law, a Eufaula personal injury attorney can handle your claim, ensuring you have someone on your side when facing off against the insurance company. Learn more about how we can help you get the money you need to get your life back on track. Contact us online or call us today for a free, no-obligation case review.