Ylla Gosney helps injury victims in Tulsa. When you’re in any type of accident, you can expect some type of injury. But the reality is that some injuries are more impactful and traumatic than others. If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic injury in a Tulsa accident, we can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
While you technically don’t need a lawyer to file an injury claim after a traumatic accident, these types of injuries often lead to significant physical and financial challenges that can last long after the actual incident. If you’re dealing with such difficulties, you probably need legal help from our team of Tulsa personal injury lawyers.
We investigate the accident to determine fault, help you gather evidence and organize medical records, communicate with insurance companies on your behalf, and collaborate with authorities and witnesses to understand the details of the incident. Handling any accident or injury can be overwhelming, but we’re here to make the process easier for you and your family.
Who’s Liable For a Traumatic Injury in Tulsa?
For as serious as traumatic injuries are, they aren’t viewed any differently in terms of Oklahoma law. Thus, figuring out liability follows the same process as any other type of injury claim. This means that the person or party that’s responsible for paying for your damages is going to be determined by establishing negligence.
While it depends heavily on the circumstances of what actually led up to your accident, it’s ultimately going to come down to whoever:
- Breached their duty of care to keep you safe.
In real-world terms, this means any of the following can be liable for your traumatic injuries:
- Drivers – If you were hurt in a car crash, the responsible driver could be at fault, especially if they were drunk, speeding, or driving recklessly.
- Property owners – Owners must keep their property safe for visitors. This can apply to everything from a private home to a store or restaurant. If you were injured due to a hazard they knew about, they might be responsible.
- Product manufacturers – If a defective product caused your injury and the manufacturer knew of the defect or failed to provide adequate warnings, they can be held responsible.
- Employers – Your employer has to make sure your workplace is safe and warn about potential dangers. If they don’t do this and you get hurt, they could be liable.
- City or state government – If your injury is due to neglected public spaces or infrastructure, the city or state government in charge of maintaining it may be held accountable.
Again, liability for your injuries is going to be dependent on the circumstances of your accident. That said, being hurt because of someone else’s negligence gives you the legal right to file a claim for damages. And when your injuries are traumatic, these damages are going to be very important to your overall recovery.
What Are Your Damages in a Traumatic Injury Claim?
After a traumatic injury, your damages are typically far more extensive than those from a regular accident. For your part, you have to think about both the short-term and long-term complications, including physical injuries, emotional, and psychological impacts. Oklahoma law recognizes these broader effects and provides you with options to recover “damages.”
To get these damages, you must file an injury claim through either an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If successful, you may receive financial support for:
- Past and future medical costs – This covers all medical expenses incurred from the injury, including hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatments.
- Lost income – These damages cover the wages you lost due to being unable to work after the accident.
- Decreased earning potential – If a permanent disability from the injury affects your ability to earn as much as you did before, you can be compensated for this loss.
- Value of damaged or lost property – You can also recover repair or replacement costs for any personal property that was damaged or lost due to the accident.
- Loss of companionship and enjoyment of life – These cover the negative impact on your relationships and your ability to enjoy daily activities and hobbies.
- Physical pain and suffering – These damages cover the physical pain and suffering you go through as a result of the injury.
- Emotional distress and diminished quality of life – Similarly, these damages are related to the psychological impact and the reduced quality of life resulting from the trauma.
- Wrongful death expenses – If the injuries are fatal, compensation for funeral and burial expenses, as well as the emotional and financial support lost by surviving family members.
Again, it’s worth repeating that traumatic injuries often have devastating effects, impacting not just you, but your entire family. They frequently mean dealing with ongoing medical care, permanent disabilities, and significant financial and emotional strain. Thus, recovering your damages is crucial for rebuilding your life.
Also, you must file your injury claim within Oklahoma’s statute of limitations, which is two years from the date of the accident.
How Can You Strengthen Your Traumatic Injury Claim?
Another important part of your traumatic injury claim is doing things to protect and strengthen it. Unfortunately, even with a traumatic injury, you don’t have an automatic ticket to your damages–you have to prove your claim and show these damages. This means taking a few steps after the accident itself to strengthen your claim:
- Get help and report the accident – Call 911 for the local police and ambulance immediately. If the incident occurred at a specific location, such as a store or workplace, tell the owner or manager as well.
- Get immediate medical help – When an ambulance arrives, receive care from the EMS workers to take care of your injuries. For traumatic injuries, they will likely take you to an emergency room for further treatment.
- Gather information – Get statements from witnesses and gather any other evidence related to the accident.
- Go through your insurance company – After reporting the accident to the authorities, inform your insurance company so they can go through their process to help you in the short-term.
- Track your expenses – Maintain a record of all costs, including medical bills, property damage, and other related expenses, to make sure everything is documented.
Remember, traumatic injuries are usually so severe that all you can focus on is getting immediate medical help. That means you might not be able to take these steps on your own. They still need to be done, though. You can rely on our team to help you gather this information, but it’s also a good idea to have a trusted friend or family member help you at the scene.
What Makes an Injury Traumatic?
It’s difficult to think about any injury situation. Personally, it’s a scary time, full of uncertainty. But there’s levels of injury in any accident. So, defining a traumatic injury involves one that:
Causes severe harm and requires immediate and ongoing medical attention.
Unfortunately, these injuries can happen suddenly and unexpectedly. In Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma, common causes range from:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Semi-truck accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Slip and fall accidents
- Fire or burn accidents
- Drownings or near-drownings
- Medical errors or malpractice
- Criminal assaults
Usually, these accidents result in a similar vein of serious injuries, like:
- Fractures or broken bones from excessive force or impact, especially to your skull or neck
- Spinal cord or neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries or concussions
- Joint dislocations
- Deep lacerations or abrasions
- Bone or organ bruises
- Crush injuries, where bones are crushed from force
- Penetrating injuries, where an object goes through and damages organs
- Burns or fire injuries
- Injuries to your face or eyes
- Amputations
Experiencing a traumatic injury can change your life instantly, causing long-term physical and emotional effects that don’t impact just you, but your entire network of family and friends. That makes the legal process very important, and our team will be there to support you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more time to file a traumatic injury claim?
Unfortunately not. The statute of limitations doesn’t change for a traumatic injury. You still have two years from the date of the injury to file your claim.
Is a traumatic injury worth more?
Usually yes. Because a traumatic injury requires more extensive medical care, you’ll build up more expenses from the damage and other effects.
Why is a traumatic injury more severe?
Traumatic injuries are more severe because they cause extensive physical harm and can also lead to long-term disabilities and serious emotional effects.
Contact Ylla Gosney After a Tulsa Traumatic Injury
You never want to be injured in an accident in Tulsa, let alone one as severe and damaging as a traumatic injury. Unfortunately, these can happen to you at any time. When they do, our Tulsa traumatic injury lawyers at Ylla Gosney will be there to guide you through the legal process. You can go through the legal process with confidence with our team on your side. If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic injury in Tulsa, contact us today for a free consultation.
