What If You Injure Your Spinal Cord In a Car Accident?

If you injure your spinal cord in a car or truck accident in Oklahoma there are things to be careful of. Spinal cord injuries sustained in car accidents can drastically change the lives of injury victims. They often lead to lifelong disabilities and significant economic impacts. These damages may be recoverable by filing a personal injury lawsuit. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of a car or a truck accident or any other circumstances caused by another’s actions or inactions, it’s crucial to understand your rights and the legal avenues available to you for seeking personal injury compensation.

Injure Your Spinal Cord: The Physical And Emotional Toll

If you injure your spinal cord these kind of injuries vary significantly in their severity. They can result in symptoms ranging from minor discomfort and temporary mobility loss to paralysis, quadriplegia, and life-threatening complications. Beyond the physical effects, the emotional toll of a spinal cord injury can be overwhelming, often leading to mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What Damages Can I Recover In An Oklahoma Personal Injury Lawsuit?

In Oklahoma, if you suffer from a spinal cord injury due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. The value of your injury case depends on several factors. Medical expenses, future medical costs, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity are classified as economic damages. By contrast, non-economic damages are meant to compensate for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. In some instances the court can award punitive damages. This kind of damage is limited to severe intentional torts.

Proving Negligence: Key To An Injury Case

Negligence plays a central role in personal injury lawsuits, including those involving spinal cord injuries. Under Oklahoma law, to establish negligence for personal injury claims, you must prove that the other party involved had a duty of care to act reasonably safe, they breached that duty, their breach caused your accident, and you suffered damages as a result, regardless of whether you also contributed to the cause of your harm or not.

Oklahoma Law: Determining Liability In Car Accidents

Oklahoma operates under a ‘modified comparative negligence’ system for car accidents, as per Oklahoma Statute §23-13. In essence, this means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident, you could still be eligible for compensation, provided you were less at fault than the other party involved. The court will assign a percentage of fault to each party, and reduces your potential compensation proportionately by your percentage of fault.

Collecting Evidence: Your Pathway To Justice

Strong evidence is the backbone of a successful personal injury case. This could include witness testimonies, photographs of the accident scene, police reports, medical reports documenting your injury, and any other documentation that helps establish the negligent party’s liability.

The Role Of Medical Professionals: Documenting Your Injury

Seeking immediate and continuous medical attention is crucial after a spinal cord injury. Not only for your health but also for your potential personal injury claim. Your medical records will serve as vital evidence, documenting the extent of your injury. This includes the necessary treatments, and the projected costs associated with your recovery.

Additionally, under Oklahoma Statute §23-9.1, punitive damages may be awarded in certain cases where the defendant’s conduct was particularly reckless or malicious. These damages are to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.

Statute Of Limitations: Timing Matters In Your Claim

As per Oklahoma Statute §12-95, you typically have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, there are exceptions and nuances to this rule.

Protect Your Rights With The Help Of An Experienced Oklahoma Personal Injury Attorney

Navigating the aftermath of a car or truck accident when you injure your spinal cord is overwhelming. But remember, you’re not alone. As experienced Oklahoma personal injury attorneys, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Our team of spinal cord injury lawyers is committed to ensuring you receive the compensation you’re entitled to. We help you focus on the crucial task of recovery. If you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident, contact Kania Law Office. Call us at (918) 743-2233 or contact us online today for a free consultation. We look forward to speaking with you.