Norman Personal Injury Lawyers

There are severe accidents of all kinds across Oklahoma every day. Whether it’s a car crash, truck accident, slip and fall, or medical mistake, you could face overwhelming expenses and discomfort from a scary accident.

If you or someone close to you was injured in an accident by another party in Norman or anywhere in Oklahoma, you shouldn’t have to bear those costs alone. You may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or entity that injured you and receive compensation.

The Norman personal injury attorneys at Nix Patterson are skilled and experienced in maximizing our clients’ compensation in these claims. We build solid, fact-based lawsuits that result in higher settlements and verdict awards.

What Is a Personal Injury Case?

Millions of Americans visit emergency rooms nationwide every year because of unintentional injuries. Of these incidents, a healthy portion were caused by another person’s negligence. So, they are potential personal injury claims. If another person injured you in a car or other type of accident, it could be a personal injury case.

Usually, a person injures another person in an accident because of negligence, or sometimes, an intentional act. If you suspect you have a personal injury case, a Nix Patterson personal injury attorney in Norman can discuss it with you at no charge. Also, if you think you have a valid case, ask yourself the following questions:

• Were you hurt in a car or truck crash caused by another driver?
• Were you hurt in a pedestrian accident caused by a driver?
• Did you slip and fall because of a dangerous condition on someone else’s property?
• Were you hurt during a medical procedure because of a doctor’s mistake or misdiagnosis?
• Were you hurt by a product that you were using as intended?
• Were you hurt in another way because of someone’s negligence?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, a personal injury attorney should review your case immediately.

Types of Personal Injury Cases

Most personal injury claims in Norman can be classified into the following types. There are other kinds of accidents, but these happen most frequently:

Motor Vehicle Crashes

These are the most common motor vehicle accidents in Norman and the surrounding community:

• Automobile crashes: Auto accidents are the most common type of personal injury case in the state and nationally. The Norman community has several areas where auto accidents are common, including the intersection of 48th Ave. NW and East Rock Creek Rd.
• Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycle riders aren’t protected by the vehicle, so accidents are often catastrophic or deadly.
• Commercial truck accidents: Commercial trucks are long, heavy, and take longer to slow down, so resulting accidents and injuries can be catastrophic. If a trucker’s negligence hurts you, you need a tenacious personal injury attorney to go to war for you against the insurance company.
• Pedestrian accidents: Norman drivers may not be watching for pedestrians crossing the street, and accidents are common and severe.

Medical Malpractice

You may have a medical malpractice claim if a healthcare facility or physician injures you through substandard medical care. Common reasons for medical malpractice claims are surgical mistakes, operating on the wrong side or part of the body, misdiagnosis, lack of diagnosis, prescription drug errors, and improper medical treatments.

Premises Liability

A personal home or business owner must ensure that the property is free of hazards for guests and visitors. Most premises liability lawsuits are filed against businesses and rental property owners. If there is an unsafe condition on a property, the owner must fix it quickly or post a warning. Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of premises liability claim.

Work Accidents

Oklahoma has workers’ compensation, and the system covers most job-related injuries. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and partially lost wages through the workers’ compensation system. The advantage of workers’ comp is it is a no-fault system; you don’t need to prove negligence to receive benefits. But workers’ comp doesn’t provide pain and suffering compensation, and suing your employer for damages is difficult.

However, a personal injury lawsuit is possible if a third party injures you at work. A Nix Patterson product liability attorney can review your case and determine your legal options.

Product Liability

Another type of personal injury claim is product liability. This type of claim can be appropriate when a dangerous product injures you or a loved one. Receiving compensation in a product liability claim means proving the product had one or more of the following:

• A manufacturing defect that made the product dangerous to use.
• A design defect that made the product hazardous.
• A failure to warn of potential product dangers.

In some cases, strict liability may apply, which means you don’t need to prove that the manufacturer, retailer, designer, or distributor did anything wrong. They still may be required to provide compensation to you.

Wrongful Death

A personal injury lawsuit can become a wrongful death lawsuit if the injured party dies in or after the accident. The deceased’s personal representative can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the party that caused the person’s death. If successful, the family could receive compensation for funeral and medical expenses, pain and suffering of the deceased, emotional and mental anguish, and much more.

Compensation in Norman Personal Injury Cases

If another person injures you in an accident, Oklahoma’s tort laws state that you can file a compensation claim. The compensation you receive may come via a settlement or personal injury lawsuit. If your case is successful, you could receive some or all of the following damages:

Economic Damages

When someone’s negligence or intentional act injures you, you will likely have financial losses you should be reimbursed for. How much you receive is usually relatively easy to calculate; just add up what your expenses have been for the following:

• Medical costs related to the injury. This might include ER and doctor visits, surgeries and hospital stays, and out-of-pocket costs. Your attorney can work with your doctor to determine your future medical costs, if any.
• Lost wages from the time you missed at work. Your lawyer will work with economists and other financial professionals to determine what you could be entitled to for lost wages if you have a long-term or permanent disability.
• Property losses. These can be any concrete losses that will cost you money, such as a totaled car.

Non-Economic Damages

You also may be eligible for losses that are harder to calculate but still negatively affect your quality of life. For example, a car accident could require you to have back surgery, which requires months of recovery that is extremely painful. You may be entitled to some or all of the following non-economic damages:

• Physical pain and discomfort
• Mental anguish and emotional distress from the pain and injuries
• Loss of companionship or an intimate relationship because of your injuries.
• Disfigurement and scarring.
• Loss of the ability to enjoy life, such as hobbies and pastimes.

Determining a fair figure for non-economic compensation is always more challenging than determining an economic figure. Pain and suffering – both mental and physical – is subjective. The insurance company responsible for paying you could use a variety of methods to determine your pain and suffering compensation. The insurance company will likely try to pay less than you deserve, so your attorney must be your strong advocate for fair pain and suffering compensation.

How Is Fault Determined in Norman Personal Injury Cases?

Receiving compensation in a personal injury lawsuit in Oklahoma requires the plaintiff to prove another party was at fault. For example, in a car accident that injures you, you must prove that another driver or entity caused the accident. Your attorney will rely on various types of proof to show that another party injured you.

For example, in a car accident lawsuit, your lawyer may rely on eyewitness testimony, physical crash evidence such as tire marks, and surveillance video to prove another party caused the accident. If the other driver was drunk and hit you, medical evidence will also be relied on to prove that the person’s intoxication was a factor in the accident. If the police cited the other driver for speeding or another infraction, this evidence also can be used to establish fault.

How Our Norman Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

If you think another person’s negligence injured you, you should have a personal injury attorney review your case. An attorney may be able to help you with the following in a personal injury lawsuit:

• Handle all legal paperwork and filing deadlines
• Review the accident and determine who was at fault
• Determine what the case is worth
• Help you decide if you want to take an insurance settlement or file a lawsuit
• Negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company
• Assist you with getting medical treatment and possibly negotiate with your medical providers to take less compensation

Most personal injury victims obtain more compensation and have better case results by hiring a personal injury attorney. The last thing you want to do when you’re seriously hurt is handle legal paperwork and insurance negotiations. Your attorney knows how to deal with these matters and will usually get you more money than you can alone.

When Should You Hire A Norman Personal Injury Attorney?

Are there accidents where you don’t need to hire a lawyer? Absolutely. For example, hiring an attorney may cost you more than what the case is worth in a fender bender with no injuries. You could have an attorney review a minor accident case, and they’ll be the first to tell you whether hiring an attorney is worth it.

However, in many more severe accidents, it is highly recommended to hire an attorney. Some examples of when to retain a Nix Patterson personal injury lawyer are:

• In an auto accident with serious injuries caused by someone else: Any time another driver hits you and causes significant injuries, hire a lawyer. You may be hurt worse than you think. Even a ‘minor’ neck injury can turn into a slipped disc that requires surgery, so after seeing a doctor, have a lawyer review the case.
• In any accident with several thousand dollars of medical bills: An accident that puts you in the hospital, requires surgery, or otherwise leads to thousands in medical bills should be handled by a lawyer. You may need thousands more in medical care and rehabilitation. If you settle too soon with the insurance company without a lawyer, you could have far too little money for your future care.
• In a complex accident with several parties: If you are involved in a commercial vehicle accident with multiple parties, you’ll always want a lawyer to represent you. Numerous companies and several insurance companies could be at fault, so you need a legal advocate to handle the matter.
• In a business or public place: If you fell and broke your ankle in the supermarket, you should have an attorney talk to the owner and their insurance company.
• In a medical setting: If you were hurt in a medical procedure, many parties could be at fault.
• In a defective product case: Liability claims are very complex in these cases, so you should retain an attorney.

If you have questions about whether you need an attorney, you should call Nix Patterson today. Our attorneys can review your claim at no charge. We’ll quickly know if hiring a personal injury attorney is in your interest.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in OK

If you are injured by another person’s negligence or intentional action in Oklahoma, you only have so long to file a personal injury lawsuit. The law states that the injured party usually has only two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. So, you should always speak to a Norman personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the accident.

Contact An Experienced Norman Personal Injury Attorney Today

Being seriously injured in an accident is frightening. You don’t know how seriously or how long you’ll be hurt, and where you get the money for your care when out of work can be overwhelming to think about.

A Norman personal injury attorney at Nix Patterson can ease your mind when another party’s negligence leads to the accident. Our attorneys know how to hold at-fault parties accountable for their actions.

With our help, you could receive personal injury compensation for your past medical bills, future medical expenses, past and future lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Please contact us for a free personal injury case consultation. And remember, we don’t get paid unless we obtain compensation for you.