Fatal Car Accidents In Oklahoma City

A car accident happens in an instant, but the repercussions of a deadly car accident changes a family forever. The loss of a loved one is always tragic, but when it occurs due to another driver’s careless, reckless, or wrongful actions behind the wheel, it’s even more devastating to those left behind. Dealing with the anguish of a loved one’s sudden death is distressing enough, but sadly, sometimes new financial concerns caused by the death increase the anxiety, especially for close family members who relied on the decedent’s income.

Many grieving family members want to know: “What are my family’s options after a fatal car accident in Oklahoma City?” In these heartbreaking situations, a wrongful death lawyer in Oklahoma City can provide guidance, helping families seek justice and financial compensation for their loss.

What Are the Common Causes of Fatal Car Accidents In Oklahoma City?

The crash force of an accident is far more powerful than most people realize, transforming a 150-pound person into an 8,250-pound force in an accident at 55 miles per hour. Motorists suffer serious bodily trauma as this force propels them forward in a collision. Sadly, some vehicle occupants suffer fatal injuries in car crashes, leaving loved ones behind. Common causes of fatal car accidents in Oklahoma include:

When someone else’s error or wrongful actions behind the wheel cause a fatality, they are liable for the damages under Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence system. Less commonly, the liable party in a fatal car accident in Oklahoma could be someone other than a driver; for example, a negligent road maintenance agency or the manufacturer of a defective auto part.

Filing an Oklahoma Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Car Accident

When someone else causes a fatal car accident, Oklahoma’s accident laws allow close family members to recover compensation for their loss through a wrongful death claim with a personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma City. The decedent’s personal representative (the person named as executor in their will or estate plan) files the claim on behalf of the family. The settlement or jury award goes to the closest surviving family member, such as a spouse, parent, or adult child. In many cases, the closest surviving family member and the decedent’s personal representative are one and the same. If the decedent doesn’t have a will, the court names a personal representative to file on behalf of the family.

What Can My Family Recover After a Fatal Car Accident In Oklahoma City?

A car accident death can cause financial hardship for a family as well as emotional grief and loss. A successful wrongful death claim in Oklahoma City results in recovering damages such as the following:

  • Reimbursement for any medical expenses if the decedent received care before their death
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Lost earnings for family members who took time away from work
  • Loss of the decedent’s income for the number of working years they had left to them had they not died
  • Loss of benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions
  • Loss of household services
  • Loss of consortium and companionship
  • Loss of a parent’s guidance and support
  • Compensation for emotional grief and anguish

In some cases, Oklahoma allows grieving family members to gain punitive damages, which is an additional sum of money that serves as a punishment to the wrongdoer. In a fatal car accident claim, punitive damages would only be awarded in cases of egregious conduct, such as drunk driving or road rage accidents.

How Can an Oklahoma City Fatal Car Accident Lawyer Help?

After suffering the sudden loss of a loved one, you may feel overwhelmed by a complex legal process, especially when so much is at stake and you are still dealing with your grief. Instead of risking a negative outcome or failing to recover the full compensation your family deserves, call the Oklahoma City car accident lawyers at Dan Davis Law for experienced representation in your claim.