When you are injured because of the negligent or deliberate actions of someone else, you may wish to file a lawsuit to win compensation for the losses you have incurred. If your side and the defendant cannot reach a settlement agreement, your case may go to trial, where a jury decides your compensation. This compensation can cover economic losses and non-economic damages.
Economic damages refer to the actual amount of money you lost or were forced to pay due to the accident. Examples of economic damages include lost wages, medical expenses related to the accident, expected cost of future medical expenses, physical therapy, re-training for a new job and other clear-cut financial hardships.
The second type of compensation in a personal injury case is non-economic damages. This amount is far more challenging for a jury to determine. Under Oklahoma state law, a jury in a personal injury lawsuit must consider all of the following factors:
- Your current level of pain and suffering and what is expected in the future
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to the accident
- Your current age
- Your physical condition before and after the accident
- The severity of your injuries and whether they are expected to be permanent
- Whether you suffered disfigurement
- How the accident affects your capacity to earn a living
In order to receive the best possible settlement, you need an experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer to represent you both in and out of court. At the law firm of Stipe Law Firm, our attorneys have been fighting for the rights of injured people for the past 50 years. We have a strong reputation for being compassionate with our clients while aggressively pursuing the financial compensation they are entitled to. Our personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation session to learn more about your case. If you retain our services, you pay no legal fee until we successfully settle your lawsuit.