How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth? A Guide for Oklahoma Victims
Getting hurt in an accident can turn your world upside down. You’re missing work, medical bills are piling up, and your regular expenses like rent or groceries don’t just pause while you recover. The financial stress can feel just as overwhelming as the injury itself. That’s why many people start by asking one key question: how much is my personal injury claim worth?
If you’ve suffered a personal injury in Oklahoma, you may be entitled to compensation. Whether it was a car crash, a slip and fall, apartment complex accident, or even medical malpractice, our laws allow injured people to recover for their losses. Determining how much you are owed can be tricky, but professional help is available. At Aizenman Law Group, our personal injury lawyers fight to get every dollar our clients deserve, and it starts with calculating exactly what you’re owed.
What Kinds of Compensation Are Available in Oklahoma?
Personal injury compensation falls into two broad categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Both are important, and both require careful calculation.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are straightforward in some ways, they include costs you can measure and prove with documentation. Medical bills are a major piece, especially for injuries requiring emergency care, surgery, or long-term physical therapy. These costs can quickly spiral into tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lost wages are another essential component. If your injury keeps you from working, even temporarily, you may be entitled to recover for that lost income. And if your injuries permanently affect your ability to earn a living, whether you can no longer perform your job or have to reduce your hours, then loss of future earnings must be calculated as well.
You can also seek compensation for property damage, such as damage to your car in an accident. In tragic cases involving a fatal injury, wrongful death damages may include funeral and burial expenses, as well as the financial support the victim would have provided.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages capture the personal, often life-changing effects of your injury. Pain and suffering isn’t just a phrase, it covers the physical discomfort, emotional trauma, and disruption to your lifestyle that follows a serious accident.
For example, an injury might prevent you from picking up your child, playing sports, or sleeping comfortably. It can impact your relationships, your ability to drive, or even your self-confidence. Oklahoma law recognizes that these losses matter, even though they’re not measured in receipts.
Loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and the strain an injury places on your marriage or family life (called loss of consortium) are all compensable in personal injury cases. In a wrongful death claim, surviving loved ones may also be able to recover for the emotional impact of their loss.
Punitive Damages
Although not awarded in every case, punitive damages are available under Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 9.1 when a defendant’s behavior is especially reckless or intentional. These damages are not about making the victim whole – they are about punishing bad behavior and deterring others from doing the same.
Our Step-by-Step Process for Calculating Personal Injury Damages
At Aizenman Law Group, we use a deliberate and detailed process to ensure no type of damage is overlooked. We are guided by evidence and Oklahoma law, including Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3), which establishes a two-year statute of limitations for filing claims. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Step 1: Gather and Review All Documentation
We start by collecting every available piece of evidence. That includes emergency room records, hospital bills, diagnostic reports, surgery and rehab costs, and long-term care estimates. We also gather employment records like pay stubs and tax returns to document lost income.
When the case involves a car accident or apartment complex injury, we include repair estimates, property loss documentation, and safety inspection failures. In wrongful death cases, we also document the victim’s earning capacity and the financial impact on their family.
Step 2: Project Future Losses and Ongoing Costs
Many injuries require extended or lifelong treatment. We consult medical professionals and financial experts to estimate ongoing expenses like physical therapy, medications, in-home care, and necessary medical devices. When someone’s ability to work is permanently impaired, we calculate their future loss of earning capacity, including expected raises or career progression.
Step 3: Evaluate the Human Cost of the Injury
Pain and suffering is deeply personal. We take time to understand how the injury has affected your day-to-day life. Have your hobbies changed? Are you dealing with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress? Has your injury affected your relationship with your spouse or children? These are real losses that deserve fair compensation.
To quantify this, we often use a multiplier method – multiplying the total economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity and impact of the injury. It’s not perfect, but it provides a framework to make a strong argument on your behalf.
Step 4: Address Shared Fault and Liability
Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 13. If you are found to be partially responsible for your own injury, your compensation may be reduced by that percentage. But if your share of fault is 50 percent or less, you can still recover damages.
This is where investigation becomes crucial. Our team reviews police reports, surveillance footage, eyewitness testimony, and expert analysis to build a clear picture of what happened and ensure your share of fault isn’t exaggerated by an insurance company looking to minimize their payout.
Step 5: Navigate the Insurance Process With Confidence
Dealing with insurance companies can be one of the most frustrating parts of a personal injury case. Their goal is to settle quickly and pay as little as possible. This often means undervaluing your claim, dragging their feet, or even issuing a wrongful denial.
We’ve seen it all – and we know how to fight back. Aizenman Law Group’s personal injury attorneys are former insurance defense lawyers, so we know the strategies insurers use. We craft detailed demand letters, push back on lowball offers, and don’t hesitate to move toward mediation or trial if negotiations stall.
Why It Pays to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Some injury victims hesitate to hire a lawyer because they’re afraid it will be expensive or complicated. But the reality is that experienced legal help almost always results in better outcomes. In fact, according to a study by the Insurance Research Council, injured people who hire an attorney recover settlements that are, on average, 3.5 times higher than those who handle a claim on their own
At Aizenman Law Group, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay us unless we win your case. No up-front fees, no hourly rates, and no risk of walking away empty-handed. It’s our way of making high-quality legal help accessible to everyone.
Whether your case involves a car accident, apartment complex injurie, slip and fall, or a traumatic brain injury, our team is ready to help. We’ve also successfully handled many wrongful death cases where a family is left grieving and financially uncertain. Let us handle the legal side so you can focus on healing.
Contact Aizenman Law Group Today
When you’re dealing with an injury, stress is the last thing you need. Aizenman Law Group is here to take the burden off your shoulders. We’ll investigate your case, calculate your damages, deal with the insurance company, and stand by your side every step of the way.
Whether your case involves wrongful denial, wrongful death, or a complex injury claim, our Tulsa personal injury lawyers are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call us at 918-215-8856 any time, day or night for a free consultation. Don’t wait until the bills pile up or your window to act closes. Let us help you take the next step toward the compensation and peace of mind you deserve.
