Putnam Law Office – Oklahoma City Personal Injury Attorney
Have you or has you love been injured in an accident that was not your fault? If so, call the Putnam Law Office today for help.
Personal Injury Accidents in Oklahoma City, OK
Dangerous personal injury accidents happen every day in Oklahoma City. These types of accidents often take place in the blink of an eye and leave the injured victims and their families feeling confused, helpless, and unsure about what to do next.
It is important to note that not every accident that occurs is considered a personal injury accident. If the accident that caused your injuries was caused by another person’s or entity’s careless, negligent, or deliberate actions, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for your injuries and losses. The insurance companies will do everything they can to stop you from getting the compensation that you are entitled to receive.
By reaching out to speak with our Oklahoma City personal injury attorney at the Putnam Law Office, you can be assured that all of your questions will be answered. We make sure to treat all of our clients with integrity and respect from the very first meeting.
How is Personal Injury Defined in Oklahoma?
The state of Oklahoma has laws in place that allow an injured victim (the plaintiff) to receive compensation in a personal injury claim if the victim is able to show that the one who caused the accident (the defendant) was at fault. The following are reasons to file a personal injury lawsuit in Oklahoma:
- The defendant had a duty of care or safety to the plaintiff
- The defendant acted in a careless, reckless, negligent, or deliberate manner that breached that duty.
- The breach of duty resulted in the accident that caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- The injuries that the plaintiff sustained resulted in financial losses (such as lost wages, medical bills, and property damage.)
It is also important to note that manufacturers and businesses have higher standards put in place with regard to the safety of their products and property. This is because these types of businesses solicit customers to come into their establishments or to use their products.
It is so important for the injured person or their acting family members to reach out to a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the accident that caused the injuries to see if you have the right to pursue compensation.
Can I Afford to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
Although we do charge a $50.00 fee for the initial consultation, personal injury cases in Oklahoma are taken on a contingency basis. What that means is that Putnam Law Office will only be paid if and when we win or settle your case. Our firm will only be paid when your settlement or jury verdict has been secured. We take all the risks and there are no out-of-pocket expenses that you will have to worry about as we work on your case.
Why Should I Seek Compensation Following My Injury Accident?
Most people who are injured in an accident assume that filing a personal injury lawsuit will be very costly and take up too much time. This can even be true even when the injured person has clear and solid evidence that proves someone else is liable. This can happen because the injured victim doesn’t feel comfortable speaking to an attorney, or they are afraid of hidden costs or fees.
When this happens, the victim loses out on being able to recover financial compensation for the injuries they incurred as a result of someone else’s negligence. Oftentimes, an injury that seemed minor when the accident initially happened ends up causing the injured victim more problems and pain down the line. It is in your best interest to speak to a lawyer about your Oklahoma City, OK injury accident as soon as possible following your accident.
Should I Talk to the Insurance Company Before Talking to a Lawyer After My Accident?
The short answer is…no. The insurance company adjusters know exactly what they paid others who have had similar claims to yours and they want to make sure that they pay you as little as possible for your claim. They are concerned with their bottom line – not with you or your well-being.
Insurance companies rarely (if ever) make full and fair payouts on their own. They are often willing to do what is right by the victims only after a skilled Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer has provided rock-solid evidence and never-ending effort that proves that their client is responsible and liable for the injuries and damages caused by their actions or inactions.
You really should speak with a qualified Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer from Putnam Law Office before you consider any injury settlement or sign a statement that is being offered by the insurance company adjuster.
The Most Common Types of Personal Injury Accidents in Oklahoma City
Personal injury accidents can happen anywhere and at any time in Oklahoma City. The most commonly filed personal injury accident lawsuits are as follows:
- Car Accidents
- Semi-Truck Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Bike Accidents
- Scooter Accidents
- Premise Liability Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Construction Site Accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Commercial Vehicle Accidents
These are just the most common accidents that result in personal injuries. If you have sustained serious injuries in an Oklahoma City accident, it is crucial that you talk to a qualified serious injury lawyer as soon as possible.
Motor Vehicle Accidents in Oklahoma City
Motor vehicle accidents are the most commonly filed personal injury claims. Some of these accidents result in minor vehicle damages and no injuries. They are often referred to as fender benders.
Other accidents are more serious and result in extensive damages to the vehicles involved and often result in more serious injuries and sometimes, even death.
There are many factors that come into play with these types of accidents such as:
- Speed
- Inclement weather
- Driver intoxication
- Texting and Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Dangerous Roadways
- Roadway Construction Areas
The most common types of motor vehicle accidents are:
- Head-On Collisions
- T-Bone or Side Impact Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Merging Collisions
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents
- Low-Speed Accidents
- High-Speed Accidents
- Single Vehicle Accidents
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an Oklahoma City car accident that was not your fault, you may have the right to compensation. The best way to determine if you have a claim is to speak with a qualified car accident lawyer at Putnam Law Office about the specifics surrounding your injury accident. You have nothing to lose.
The Most Common Injuries Resulting from Oklahoma City Personal Injury Accidents
Personal injury accidents can result in a wide variety of injuries that range from minor bruises, cuts, and abrasions to more catastrophic injuries that can be fatal.
Here are some of the most common injuries related to Oklahoma personal injury accidents:
Broken Bones and Compound Fractures: The adult human body has anywhere from 206 bones to 213 bones. With that many bones in the body, it is easy to see how an accident could cause one or more of them to fracture or break.
A fractured bone can range from a hairline fracture, meaning that there is a minor crack or bruise or can be more serious, like a compound fracture, meaning that the broken bone is penetrating through the skin. The most serious type of fracture is called a comminuted fracture, meaning that the bone has shattered into three or more different pieces. These are the different types of bone fractures:
- Open Fracture
- Closed Fracture
- Stable Fracture
- Displaced Fracture
- Partial Fracture
- Complete Fracture
Some of the more serious fractures may require one or more surgeries and will probably require you to be in a cast for an extended period of time as well. Broken bones take months or longer to heal, depending on the type of fracture you have. You may also need to undergo months of physical therapy as you continue to heal.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): The Center for Disease Control says that a TBI is caused when there is a sudden blow, jolt, or bump to the head. A TBI can also occur when an injury penetrates the head and alters the brain’s normal function. Some TBI’s are mild in nature and some are much more severe. When a person suffers from a serious TBI, there are many brain functions that are affected.
- Motor Function- This part of the brain controls how the body moves, how you balance, and your coordination.
- Cognitive Function- This part of the brain affects your memory and your ability to concentrate.
- Sensation- This part of the brain controls taste, touch, eyesight, and hearing.
- Emotions and Behavior- This part of the brain controls depression, mood swings, and anger.
Brain injuries can require extensive hospital stays as well as years of physical and occupational therapy. Some victims with TBI’s will never fully recover from their injuries and will suffer lifelong problems associated with their brain injury. They may never be able to care for themselves and require 24-hour care or have to reside in a personal care facility or nursing home.
Head and Neck Injuries- Injuries to the neck can limit your ability to move or turn your head. This can have a terrible effect on your ability to do your normal daily activities and cause severe pain. Whiplash is a very common cause of neck injuries in motor vehicle accidents. This type of injury can cause great pain and limit your ability to move. Ruptured discs or herniated discs in the spine near the neck can sometimes need to be operated on to relieve the pressure. You may be required to wear a brace to support the weight of your head as you heal.
Spinal Cord Injuries- Spinal cord injuries are very serious in nature. That is because the spinal cord and the brain are in constant communication as they send messages back and forth through the body. If the spinal cord is damaged in an accident, the brain and the body lose the ability to communicate with each other. The messages that tell the body to move are not able to be delivered resulting in paralysis.
There are two kinds of spinal cord injuries- complete or incomplete. When someone has a complete injury, it means that they no longer have the ability to move or feel sensation below the area of injury. When someone has an incomplete injury, it means that the person has some limited movement and sensation.
Victims of spinal cord injury usually have at least some form of paralysis and will probably require a power wheelchair to help them get around. These pieces of equipment do not come cheap. They cost anywhere between $7500 to more than $35,000. The injured person will probably require some sort of assistance with daily care and activities for the rest of their life.
Internal Injuries and Organ Damage- Internal injuries are some of the most dangerous types of injuries that are related to car accidents. If an injury to an internal organ is not treated right away, the results can cause major medical complications and sometimes even result in death. The most common types of internal injuries are as follows:
- Pneumothorax -This occurs when a broken rib punctures the lung, causing it to deflate, collapse, and release air into the chest cavity.
- Brain Bleed- This injury prevents the brain from getting oxygen resulting in brain damage that can be permanent. This type of injury puts immense pressure on the brain.
- Broken Ribs-Broken ribs can occur because of a sudden impact from an accident. They can damage other organs in the body as well as blood vessels that feed the body resulting in serious injury.
- Internal Bleeding- Blood vessels are often damaged in accidents that prevent clotting, thus they are unable to repair themselves. This leads to internal bleeding.
- Ruptured Spleen- This type of injury causes massive internal bleeding. Surgery is usually required.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm- If the stomach is smashed in an accident, a ruptured aortic aneurysm can result. Victims usually do not survive this type of injury.
Burn Injuries – This type of injury is excruciatingly painful for the victim and will require them to undergo treatment in a burn treatment facility. The burn victim may have to have painful skin grafts and multiple operations as well as plastic surgery. The risks are extremely high for infections to occur and victims often require medical assistance to keep the burn injuries clean. Burns can cause major emotional and psychological issues for the victims.
How Much is my Personal Injury Claim Worth?
Personal injury claims are all very different. How much money you will receive in your personal injury lawsuit will depend on the severity of your injuries and how the accident took place. There are personal injury laws in Oklahoma that exist so that injured victims and their families will not have to pay out of pocket for injuries that were caused by another party’s negligence. You may be able to recover the money that you did have to spend on expenses related to your injuries.
These are the most common expenses that you could be reimbursed for after your personal injury accident:
- Past hospital bills
- Future medical treatment and care
- Physician and Medical Specialist Services
- Prescriptions
- Physical Therapy Treatment
- Psychological and Emotional Counseling
- Your physical pain
- Your emotional suffering
- Lost wages
- Sick days or vacation time used for your recovery
- Changes to your lifestyle
- Lost ability to work
These are just some of the things that you may be able to recover financially after your Oklahoma City personal injury accident with the help of a skilled and knowledgeable serious injury attorney from the Putnam Law Office. Call us today to discuss your accident and see if you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Why Choose the Putnam Law Office?
Attorney Brian Putnam was born and raised in Oklahoma. He brings more than 20 years of leadership skills, negotiation skills, conflict resolution skills, and geopolitical experience to the table to help and guide his clients.
Putnam Law Office has experienced Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys who have years of personal injury experience. We make a point to always be honest with our clients, even if it’s not good news. We always give objective advice, excellent service and put forth all of our effort to ensure that you have a positive outcome in your injury accident claim. Call Putnam Law Office today to schedule a consultation with one of our skilled Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers today at 405-724-7701.
