Oklahoma law allows injured victims to seek compensation for the damages they incur due to a distracted driving accident. The law classifies these damages as economic, non-economic, and punitive. The compensation may depend on several factors, such as the cost of your medical care, the severity of your injuries, and the negligent party's insurance coverage. Below is an overview of each type of damage.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are losses with a calculable monetary value, such as medical bills, lost income, and property damage. Medical bills may include emergency room costs, hospital stays, medications, physical therapy, and doctor visits. Lost income accounts for a loss of income while you recover and your future diminished earning capacity. The law may entitle you to property damage costs for repairing or replacing your vehicle and other damaged personal belongings.
Calculating current economic damages is typically straightforward. Insurance companies, however, may attempt to undervalue your future damages, as these can be more complex to determine. When needed, we partner with economic, vocational, and medical experts to get a clear picture of all your monetary damages. The law generally allows you one opportunity to pursue a settlement. We work hard to ensure that you receive adequate compensation.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages refer to subjective losses without concrete monetary value, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, and a loss of quality of life. Your claim may also include loss of consortium, a type of damage available for spouses of injured victims. This damage compensates spouses for the physical and emotional implications they experience due to the victim's injury.
Non-economic damages are typically more difficult to assess and require a knowledgeable attorney who understands the accident's full scope and how it has affected the victim's life. Our attorneys evaluate these intangible losses and pursue the full and rightful compensation you deserve.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages punish reckless behavior and deter others from similar conduct. In distracted driving cases, these damages may be applicable if the court deems the distracted driver engaged in wanton and willful misconduct. In such cases, the court may award punitive damages to the victim in addition to their economic and non-economic damages.