A pedestrian accident can cause severe injuries or even wrongful death. Even when pedestrians have the right of way, drivers often fail to exercise appropriate care as they operate their vehicles. The results can be devastating. If you’re hurt in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Let Abel Law Firm help you get that compensation.
When an accident occurs because of the negligent, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing of a motor vehicle driver, you have the right to demand monetary compensation through the Oklahoma legal system. To exercise your rights and receive a financial recovery, you must file a legal claim. Abel Law Firm understands how devastating it can be when you’re hurt in a pedestrian accident. Our OKC accident attorneys have collected millions of dollars on behalf of accident victims. Your case represents an innocent victim who has been injured because of someone else’s negligence, and we are prepared to fight for your rights. To learn more about what our Oklahoma City pedestrian accident lawyers can do for you, contact us today using our instant messaging app or calling (405) 239-7046.
Do I Need an Oklahoma City Pedestrian Accident Attorney?
When an accident occurs, your life may change instantly. A pedestrian accident can result in significant physical injuries. Even accidents at low speeds can cause devastating injuries to a pedestrian. Oklahoma law allows you to collect compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses after an accident caused by another party.
There are many types of compensation for your losses that you could pursue after another person causes your injuries. If you try to make a claim yourself, you may miss out on the maximum compensation you deserve. Rehabilitation costs, mobility aids, and mental health treatment are all valid monetary losses that may be included in your claim. In addition to financial costs, you may claim additional amounts for the pain and suffering that comes with being the victim of a pedestrian accident. Only a trained and experienced attorney knows how to maximize the value of someone’s case successfully.
When you work with experienced counsel, you can rest easy knowing that you can get full value for your losses. When you pursue your case on your own, you won’t know the state laws and procedures you must follow. Furthermore, a lawyer can ensure that you don’t get taken advantage of by a greedy insurance company whose main goal is to save money instead of helping a claimant. Ultimately, victims who hire lawyers receive more money than those who try to handle their claims alone.
How We Can Help
If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, the Oklahoma City pedestrian accident lawyers of Abel Law Firm may be able to help. We have over 150 years of combined legal experience. Our attorneys are dedicated community partners. We believe that by representing pedestrian accident victims, we are holding bad drivers accountable for their actions. When we help you get fair compensation for your claim, we’re helping the entire community become a safer place. Our mission is to assist good people who need help navigating the Oklahoma legal system when a pedestrian accident occurs.
Our founding attorney, Ed Abel, served previously as the President and Chairman of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, our attorneys volunteer in the community because of our dedication to lending a hand to our fellow community members. When you hire our legal team, you’re working with determined, dedicated professionals who believe they do important work for accident victims. Our team doesn’t stop until you have what you need and deserve after a pedestrian accident. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients over the years, and we are ready to do the same for you.
Types of Cases We Handle
Pedestrian accidents happen for a variety of reasons. At Abel Law Firm, we can handle pedestrian accident cases relating to:
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Distracted driving
- Failing to observe a stop sign, stoplight, or crosswalk
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Vehicle malfunction
- Issues with the roadway
Every pedestrian accident has its own unique set of circumstances. Our attorneys help you determine the facts and build your case using admissible legal evidence. When you need skilled, aggressive attorneys sorting through the legal issues and building your case, we’re prepared to use our training to develop your case and see it through.
Pedestrian accidents can result in many injuries, ranging widely in severity. We may be able to help if you or someone you love has sustained injuries such as:
- Concussions
- Fractured bones
- Brain damage
- Spinal damage
- Crushed lungs
- Soft tissue injuries
- Paralysis
- Physical or mental disability
You may be entitled to financial compensation if you have sustained any of these injuries because a motorist was careless. You and your family should not have to pay for the costs associated with your injury and medical treatment.
Should I File An Insurance Claim or Lawsuit?
Whether you file a claim or lawsuit will depend on the factors of your case. Abel Law Firm can review the details to determine which would be the better legal option. Sometimes, settling someone’s case with the insurance company for an adequate amount of money is entirely possible. However, if they unfairly deny your claim or refuse to provide a fair settlement offer, we could pursue a lawsuit.
Whichever option we choose, the goal is to win a monetary award that compensates for your total losses. These losses can be financial, emotional, or physical in nature. They include:
- Medical bills
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement
The fault system in Oklahoma allows accident victims to seek compensation through the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company. It requires the person who causes an accident to become financially responsible for the injured party’s losses. State law requires all vehicle owners and operators to carry liability insurance with minimum limits. These limits are supposed to cover past and future losses in an insurance claim.
However, you could also file a lawsuit if the driver doesn’t have liability coverage or the policy limits aren’t high enough. A strict deadline is a statute of limitations that you must follow to sue someone for compensation. The statute of limitations for pedestrian accident cases is two years in Oklahoma. That means you have two years from the crash date to file a lawsuit, or you will lose your right to sue for compensation.
Seeking Compensation In A Wrongful Death Case
If you lost someone in a pedestrian accident, you might be entitled to compensation by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Oklahoma statute 17-1053 defines wrongful death as the death of one person caused by the omission or wrongful act of another.
The only person allowed to pursue a wrongful death case is the personal representative of the deceased’s estate. It is typically a family member, such as a spouse or child. Just because you are a blood relative to the accident victim does not mean you have the right to file a lawsuit. If your loved one did not designate a personal representative, the court would appoint one, and it will most likely be a surviving spouse, children, siblings, or parents.
Oklahoma uses a two-year statute of limitations for all wrongful death lawsuits being pursued. The timeframe would begin on the date your family member died. You must comply with this deadline. If you try to sue the at-fault driver after the statute passes, the court will dismiss your case.
The compensation you could receive will depend on the monetary, physical, and emotional losses you, your loved one, and your family suffer. They include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering endured by the deceased due to the accident
- Lost wages and benefits the deceased would have earned if they survived
- Loss of consortium by a surviving spouse
- Grief and loss of companionship by surviving parents and children
The driver was negligent in causing your loved one’s death, and they should suffer the consequences of their actions. Abel Law Firm will thoroughly investigate and gather relevant evidence proving the compensation you deserve for your devastating loss.
OKC Pedestrian Accident FAQs
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you likely have many questions about your case. Read below for answers to common questions, or contact us at Abel Law Firm for a free consultation about your case.
What if I was partially responsible for my accident?
Oklahoma uses the doctrine of comparative fault. This means that even people who contribute to their own injuries may be able to recover financial compensation. You can recover compensation if you were less than 51% at fault for your injuries. However, your award will be reduced by the percentage you are found to be at fault. For example, if you were texting while crossing the street when you were hit, you may be 20% to blame. If you incurred $100,000 in expenses, your award would be reduced by 20%, and you would ultimately receive only $80,000 in compensation.
What can I recover if I’m hurt in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma?
If you’re hurt in a pedestrian accident in Oklahoma City, you may claim your economic and non-economic losses. Oklahoma is an at-fault state, so that you may claim compensation through the other party’s insurance company or directly from your insurance company. You may also recover directly from the other driver.
An experienced attorney can help you evaluate your case for all compensation you may deserve. You could claim the cost of lost wages, property damages, medical losses, rehabilitative costs, help with personal care, and emotional suffering. If your family member passes away in a pedestrian accident, you may also recover funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of emotional support. You may be surprised to hear how much you receive if you bring a claim.
What must I do to win my case after a pedestrian accident?
How you bring your claim after a pedestrian accident depends on the facts of your case. You may negotiate your claim directly with the insurance company. You may bring your claim directly to the court. How to win your claim depends on the case facts, the insurance companies involved, and your losses.
If you cannot negotiate a settlement with the insurance company, you could file a lawsuit with the appropriate Oklahoma court. You must prove that the driver was negligent in a way that injured you, the pedestrian. Negligence means failing to drive carefully enough to prevent harm to others. You build your case using evidence like your medical injuries, witness testimony, damage on the roads, and statements from the responsible party. Our attorneys can help you take all of the necessary steps to build a successful claim after a pedestrian accident.
Contact Us
At Abel Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping the victims of pedestrian accidents and their families get the financial compensation they deserve. We believe justice means getting these people the money they need and are willing to fight for that belief.
You will not be alone in your fight for justice. Our legal team will be there to provide support, guidance, and advice until the very end of your case. We are available 24/7 to take your call so you can reach us when you need us the most. You can depend on us to keep your interests in mind and work hard to achieve your legal goals.
To learn more about what we can do to protect your rights, contact our OKC pedestrian accident attorneys at (405) 239-7046 or click on the messaging app to send an instant message. We’re standing by to talk to you. Call’s free to call; your consultation with our team is confidential. Let’s talk about how we can help you after a pedestrian accident.
