Oklahoma City Personal Injury Lawyers

If you've suffered serious injuries, or if your case is contested at all, you should contact an attorney without delay. In the meantime, here's a general look at some key legal concepts that could affect a personal injury case in Oklahoma City.

Most often, someone pursuing a personal injury lawsuit will try to show that the defendant (the person or entity they're suing) was negligent. This essentially means that they were careless. In most ordinary situations, such as driving a vehicle, people are supposed to use reasonable care to avoid putting others at risk. They may be liable for injuries that result from failing to use the proper amount of care. However, certain personal injury cases like medical malpractice lawsuits may involve a more complex standard of care. You might need to hire an expert to explain what the standard was and why the defendant didn't meet it.

If you were injured by someone who was doing their job at the time, you might be able to hold their employer liable as well. This is a concept called vicarious liability. It makes an employer responsible for negligence by an employee in the scope of employment, regardless of whether the employer was negligent. There might also be situations when an employer directly contributed to a victim's injuries, such as when they were negligent in their hiring practices.

Certain personal injury cases, such as some involving defective products, may rely on a concept called strict liability. This means that the injured person doesn't need to show negligence. It's enough to prove that the defendant was responsible for a certain event or situation that resulted in the injuries. Strict liability can make it easier to win a case.

In other situations, a victim of a violent crime like an assault might have a claim for compensation against the perpetrator. These cases are often called "intentional torts" because the defendant acted intentionally rather than negligently. You don't need to worry about whether the prosecutor will get a conviction in a criminal case based on the same events. Your standard of proof in the civil case is much lower, so you might succeed even if the prosecutor doesn't.

One of the most important rules to keep in mind if you're thinking about bringing a personal injury lawsuit in Oklahoma is the statute of limitations. If you don't meet this deadline, the defendant probably can get your case dismissed. This can seem like a harsh result because it doesn't matter how strong a case you have or how badly you're injured.

The main personal injury statute of limitations in Oklahoma is two years, although there are some exceptions and nuances. For example, you have only one year to file a case based on an intentional tort. In medical malpractice cases, the two-year deadline runs from when you knew or should have known about the injury caused by the malpractice.

Sometimes an injured person bore some of the blame for their own injuries. States take a wide range of approaches to this situation. Oklahoma uses a rule called modified comparative negligence. You can still get compensation if you were partly at fault, unless you were 51 percent or more at fault. However, any compensation that you receive will be reduced by your percentage of fault. In other words, if you were 25 percent at fault for a crash, you could recover up to 75 percent of your damages. If you were 60 percent at fault, you couldn't recover anything.

Certain states have imposed caps on the damages that an injured person can recover. Oklahoma has a law on the books that limits the amount that you can get for non-economic damages like pain and suffering. In 2019, though, the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down this law for violating the state constitution. This means that non-economic damages currently aren't capped in Oklahoma. However, the state still has a cap on punitive damages. These are awarded not to compensate a victim but instead to punish a defendant who acted in a particularly egregious way. The size of the cap depends on how blameworthy the conduct was.

If you're planning to file a personal injury claim against the government, you'll need to meet the distinctive requirements under the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act. You must file a notice of claim with the government entity within one year, providing information such as when the injury occurred and how much compensation you're seeking. If the claim is denied, or the government entity doesn't respond within 90 days, you have 180 days to file a lawsuit. These deadlines override the ordinary statute of limitations in personal injury cases.

Pursuing a personal injury claim can be lengthy and cumbersome, with no guaranteed outcome. Even cases that seem fairly straightforward can have unexpected results. Consequently, many individuals choose to settle with the responsible party or their insurer. In doing so, the injured person agrees not to keep moving forward with their lawsuit in return for a specific payment, avoiding the unpredictability of letting a jury decide.

Settling offers practical advantages. It generally concludes sooner than a trial, reducing stress and expense. You get faster access to compensation for things like medical bills and lost earnings, letting you recover with less stress than if you were consumed by financial worries. However, it's important to be cautious when presented with the initial offer; insurance companies often start low, so ensure the sum accounts for all of your needs.

Finalizing a settlement too hastily can cause an injured person to miss out on future damages. If you have serious injuries, it may be wiser to wait and fully gauge any ongoing physical limitations or how they might affect your work and everyday activities. After a settlement is signed, you typically cannot pursue additional compensation.

Consulting an attorney is typically a smart move, but it's crucial if an insurance company is pushing back or if you're pursuing a large amount of compensation due to a serious injury. Companies, insurers, and other opposing parties generally have skilled lawyers focused on reducing payouts, so hiring your own counsel helps ensure that your interests are protected.

Your lawyer will gather evidence of liability and outline both the tangible and intangible effects of your injuries. Evidence can involve photos, witness statements, medical records, and proof of medical bills and lost income. Experts might address projected healthcare demands or show how your condition affects work and daily life. Testimonies from family and friends can further highlight the broader impact on your well-being.

As settlement talks start, your attorney's insight will be key in evaluating whether an offer is fair. They'll go over the potential upsides and downsides, but it's ultimately your decision to accept a settlement or proceed with litigation.

If the case goes to trial, your lawyer's support remains essential. They'll navigate jury selection, introduce evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and craft persuasive arguments to support your position. Entrusting these responsibilities to an experienced professional lowers the risk of oversights and allows you to concentrate on recuperating.

Looking for a personal injury attorney in the Oklahoma City area can feel overwhelming due to the many options available. Online directories, like the Justia Lawyer Directory, can be useful for pinpointing lawyers who match your needs.

It's important to choose someone experienced in the specific type of claim you're pursuing. For instance, if you slipped and fell on spilled liquid in a store, look for an attorney knowledgeable about premises liability. If your child got injured by a defective toy, focus on attorneys who have handled cases involving dangerous products.

Firms often highlight their most impressive settlements and verdicts, but these figures are only part of the picture. Reviews from former clients can help you get a sense of an attorney's communication style and empathy for injured people. Endorsements from other lawyers can reflect a high level of skill and respect within the profession.

As a precaution, you might want to check for any past disciplinary actions through the Oklahoma Bar Association. A minor infraction might not be a big deal, but repeated or serious issues could suggest that you should look elsewhere. It's important not to take chances when a lot is at stake.

Most personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations. This meeting allows them to decide whether they want to take your case and helps you determine if you can work together comfortably. Trust, openness, and positive rapport set the tone for a productive legal partnership.

There's almost an infinite range of situations in which someone could bring a personal injury lawsuit based on harm caused by someone else. Here are some common examples:

• Motor vehicle collision cases involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, or pedestrians
• Medical malpractice lawsuits resulting from a failure by a healthcare provider to meet the professional standard of care
• Premises liability claims involving slip and falls or other accidents on someone else's property
• Products liability lawsuits based on problems such as defects in design or manufacturing, or a failure to adequately warn about risks
• Nursing home lawsuits involving claims of negligence or abuse
• Cases involving dog bites or other animal attacks

Some injuries occur while the victim was doing their work. When this happens, they probably can get benefits through the Oklahoma workers' compensation system. You don't need to show that your employer caused your injury to get benefits. However, workers' comp doesn't provide the full scope of damages that you could get in a personal injury claim. For example, you can't get non-economic damages like pain and suffering. You can't sue your employer for these damages, but you could sue a third party like a careless driver or a manufacturer of defective equipment if they bore some fault for your injuries. This could allow you to get more compensation overall.

A study by Jury Verdict Research explored trends in personal injury cases that went to trial in Oklahoma. The study reported that injured people prevailed in 43 percent of the cases in the study, and the median award was about $6,800. (The median is the number smaller than half the verdicts and larger than the other half.) These numbers are on the low end of national statistics. However, 10 percent of verdicts in the cases analyzed by the study resulted in awards of $500,000 or more.

Here are some notable verdicts and settlements in recent Oklahoma cases:

• $5.75 million for a leg amputation after complications from an allegedly deficient ACL reconstruction surgery
• $3.75 million for the death of a nursing home resident after the staff allegedly failed to prevent her fall or properly supervise her
• $1.5 million for a sideswipe truck accident, causing brain trauma and other injuries
• $700,000 in a birth injury case involving a brachial plexus injury to a macrosomic baby
• $350,000 for a wrongful death allegedly caused by a failure to promptly repair a perforated bowel
• $260,000 when a pickup truck struck a five-year-old girl

While it's interesting to explore the trends, you should keep in mind that each case is unique. You won't necessarily get the same amount as someone else who seems to have gone through a similar situation. It's best to talk to your attorney about the damages that you might be able to get in your case.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office compiles data on car crashes in cities across the state. As of 2025, the most recent year for which data are available is 2021. That year saw 1,700 total crashes in Oklahoma City, including 95 fatal crashes and 293 serious crashes. These resulted in 99 fatalities and 2,096 injuries. There were 100 crashes related to alcohol, which resulted in 16 deaths and 123 injuries. There were 60 crashes related to drugs, which resulted in 36 deaths and 65 injuries. Speeding was a factor in 203 crashes, which led to 27 deaths and 250 injuries. Distracted driving was a factor in 180 crashes, leading to nine deaths and 237 injuries.

Oklahoma City recently launched a Vision Zero Action Plan. It has identified certain corridors of roads in the city that pose especially high dangers to drivers and pedestrians. These include:

• NE 23rd Street from I-35 to N Bartell Road
• NW 23rd Street from N Ann Arbor Avenue to N I-44
• Mustang Road from Reno Avenue to SW 59th Street
• SW 44th Street from I-44 to Johnston Drive
• S Pennsylvania Avenue from SW Grand Boulevard to SW 59th Street
• NW 10th Street from County Line Road to N Rockwell Avenue
• NW Expressway from N Council Road to N Wilshire Boulevard

The plan describes many potential safety improvements for these corridors. However, the Oklahoma City Planning Department also is reviewing roadways across the city more generally, considering issues like enforcement strategies and infrastructure.

If you were involved in a car crash in the Oklahoma City area, you'll probably want to get a copy of the police report on the incident. This can help support your claim or lawsuit. You can get the report from the Records Unit of the Oklahoma City Police Department by completing a Records Request Form online. This involves providing your address and contact information, as well as information like when and where the accident happened.

A patient who feels that their doctor didn't meet the professional standard of care might want to file a complaint with the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. Certain types of healthcare providers, such as dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, and psychologists, have their own professional boards. Complaints involving medical facilities can go to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. However, this isn't the same as filing a lawsuit and won't result in getting compensation for your harm.

If you've experienced a crime, you may want to explore the resources provided by the Victim Services Program at the Oklahoma City Police Department. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office also manages a Victim Advocacy and Services Unit. Certain costs related to violent crimes may be reimbursed through the Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation Program. These may include medical costs, counseling and rehabilitation, and work loss and replacement of services.

After an injury on the job, you can explore the resources provided by the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission. These include a guide for injured workers that covers issues such as eligibility, available types of benefits, and the process for filing a claim.

1. What will it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?

   The cost will depend on how much compensation your lawyer gets for you. If they don't get anything, you likely won't need to pay them anything. Otherwise, they'll take a certain percentage of the settlement or verdict as their fee. The percentage is usually between 25 and 40 percent. A representation agreement may provide that the percentage is higher in a case that goes to trial than in a case that concludes in a settlement.

2. Who can bring a wrongful death lawsuit in Oklahoma?

   After a fatal accident, the personal representative of the deceased person can file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is the person responsible for managing their estate. They have a two-year deadline for bringing the case, similar to ordinary personal injury cases.

3. Does Oklahoma have strict liability for dog bites?

   Oklahoma generally has strict liability for dog bites, as long as the victim was in a place where they were legally allowed to be and didn't provoke the dog. However, the strict liability law doesn't apply to rural areas or to cities or towns that don't have city or village U.S. mail delivery service.

4. Should I see the doctor even if I don't feel too bad?

   Yes, even if your injuries don't seem severe, it's a good idea to get checked out. Not every injury is immediately obvious, and a delay could make your condition worse. Going to see a doctor also creates a medical record that can be useful for bringing a claim or lawsuit later.

5. Will I need to go to court for my personal injury case?

   It's likely that you won't need to go to court. These cases generally tend to end in settlements rather than going before a judge or jury. It's good to be ready for the possibility of going to court, though, in case you don't get a settlement offer that meets your needs.