Abel Law Firm Can Help You Recover For the Loss of a Loved One
A major accident can have long-lasting and tragic consequences for innocent victims. In the worst cases, they can even be fatal. When they are, surviving family members are met with overwhelming grief, shock, and anxiety about the future. Sadly, instead of taking time to grieve and care for one another, they are often met with a long line of financial, practical, and legal challenges.
If you have lost a loved one to another party’s reckless actions, the OKC personal injury attorneys of Abel Law Firm understand your complex issues. We want to take on the fight for fair compensation from the party responsible so that you can focus on caring for yourself and your family. Call an Oklahoma City wrongful death attorney today at (405) 239-7046 for a free consultation.
Why Choose Abel Law Firm?
The death of a loved one is a devastating, life-changing event for the surviving family members. Families need time to mourn, but sometimes the mourning process may take longer than expected. Unfortunately, a wrongful death action must be commenced within two years of the victim’s death. Moreover, wrongful death actions can be complicated, which adds to the stress for the families involved.
Additionally, on the other side of a wrongful death suit is an insurance company equipped with an experienced team of attorneys with one goal: saving the company money. Fortunately, choosing the correct attorney to fight for you can make a big difference. The experienced attorneys at Abel Law Firm will work compassionately to get you the recovery you deserve for the tragic loss of your loved one.
Our six practicing attorneys at Abel Law Firm have over 130 years of combined legal experience. We use our knowledge and skill to reach the best possible outcome for our clients in all cases. In one wrongful death automobile accident case, our client received a $500,000.00 reward.
Ed Abel, the senior partner of Abel Law Firm, was once named the Oklahoma City Personal Injury Litigator of the Year by Best Lawyers. He has also been selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers every year from 2007 to 2020. The other five practicing attorneys at Abel Law Firm are also backed with telling credentials that show their experience and compassion in representing our clients. We will use this experience and compassion to secure the best possible outcome in your wrongful death lawsuit.
At Abel Law Firm, we understand that wrongful death actions are about more compensation and justice. We are here to help you in your time of need. We are your friends and neighbors in this Oklahoma City community. Our clients will attest to our compassion and understanding in helping those who have been wronged. We focus on helping improve the community through our legal efforts and volunteer work.
We provide pro-bono legal representation for children through the Oklahoma Lawyers for Children non-profit organization. Additionally, some of our attorneys actively contribute to Living Hope Ministries, Living Faith Ministries, and Variety Care. In our volunteer representation, we provide the same care and compassion that we provide to every one of our clients.
Recovering Compensation from the Wrongful Death Of A Loved One
You can pursue compensation when your family member dies due to someone else’s misconduct. However, you must know the steps you need to take to hold the at-fault party liable. First, you should hire a qualified, experienced Oklahoma City wrongful death lawyer from Abel Law Firm.
Cases like this are complex and might confuse someone unfamiliar with the process. If you don’t know how to resolve any obstacles or issues that arise, your insurance claim could be denied or your lawsuit dismissed.
Abel Law Firm has a team of aggressive and dedicated Oklahoma City wrongful death lawyers that will utilize all available resources to investigate your loved one’s death and determine the party’s identity at fault. We can locate documentation and evidence that proves what happened and supports our estimated value of your case.
For example, law enforcement might investigate a motor vehicle accident scene. If the officer wrote a crash report stating a drunk driver led to the accident, we could use that as proof that they were responsible for your relative’s death.
During an ongoing case, you should maintain all records you receive. Forward them to Abel Law Firm so we can review them for vital information about your family member’s fatal injury or death. We can also gather other evidence that could strengthen your case, such as:
- Eyewitness statements
- Police reports
- Your loved one’s medical records and medical bills
- Pictures from the accident scene
- Video surveillance footage of the incident
- The estimated value of damaged personal property
Some situations might require your Oklahoma City wrongful death attorney to determine whether the at-fault party has liability insurance coverage. For example, if your relative died because of a malfunctioning elevator on someone’s commercial property, we could request a copy of the business owner’s liability insurance policy to review. If the amount of coverage is sufficient to compensate for your family’s losses, we could file an insurance claim. However, if there isn’t enough coverage or if the at-fault party doesn’t have liability insurance, we might have to move forward with a lawsuit.
Compensation Available In A Wrongful Death Case
There is no way to compensate for the loss of a family member. However, a successful wrongful death claim can at least ease some of the complications your family is facing during this difficult time. The monetary award you receive is twofold: losses suffered by your family due to your loved one’s death and losses the deceased person would have been able to seek compensation for if they survived.
Our OKC wrongful death claim attorneys can help you pursue repayment for losses, such as:
- The deceased person’s financial contributions to the household
- Companionship, guidance, and support provided by the victim
- Your relative’s lost benefits (pension, health insurance, etc.)
- Any medical expenses related to the deceased person’s injuries
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost wages the deceased could have earned if they were still alive
- Pain and suffering the victim endured before dying
- Punitive damages
You may have grounds for a wrongful death claim if you are a parent, spouse, or child of the deceased person. However, the personal representative of your loved one’s estate must be the one to file the lawsuit on your behalf. If there are no surviving relatives or next of kin, your ability to file a claim will depend on several factors. Our experienced legal staff can provide detailed information and efficient legal representation.
Wrongful Death Cases Abel Law Firm Can Handle
Wrongful death can happen under various circumstances resulting from another person or entity’s careless or negligent actions. As the surviving relative, you can seek compensation from the liable party for the losses you and your family suffered.
Common wrongful death cases we take include:
Collisions involving cars happen often in Oklahoma City. Speeding, disobeying traffic laws, and driver distractions typically lead to accidents between multiple vehicles. If your loved one died due to the actions of another motorist, you might be able to file a claim with their auto insurance company or sue the driver directly for compensation.
Commercial trucks typically cause devastating destruction in an accident. The occupants of smaller vehicles end up suffering the most during the collision because of the significant weight and size difference between a large truck and a passenger car. Fatal injuries can result from the actions of an inexperienced truck driver or errors they make behind the wheel. You might be able to hold them or the trucking company liable for your family member’s death.
Motorcyclists are at higher risk of death during a collision with a motor vehicle due to their lack of safety equipment. A helmet is the only thing protecting them during an accident, increasing the likelihood of suffering fatal injuries if a car or truck driver crosses their path.
Someone crossing the street could get hit or run over by a vehicle if the driver isn’t paying attention to what they’re doing. Many pedestrians die at the scene, while others sustain injuries too severe to repair. Unfortunately, pedestrian fatalities have increased significantly since 2009, resulting in 6,205 deaths in 2019.
Staff members at nursing homes are responsible for providing medical care and assistance to patients. If a nurse administers the incorrect medication or physically abuses a resident, it could lead to their death. You may have a case against the specific employee and the facility for their negligence.
Construction workers operate heavy machinery, handle complicated equipment, and expose themselves to hazards during their shifts. The dangers they face could lead to a fatal injury or illness. Death benefits might be available through your loved one’s workers’ compensation policy. Under particular circumstances, you may have grounds for a third-party lawsuit directly against the employer.
Fatalities can happen on another person’s property if there’s a fire, lack of security, or defective escalator, to name a few examples. The property owner could be to blame for failing to provide their guests with a safe environment free of hazards.
An error during the manufacturing process, defective design, or inadequate warning labels could lead to a consumer’s death. Dangerous products, such as children's toys and pharmaceutical drugs, can cause the death of the user.
Many people underestimate the dangers of a dog bite. A dog’s teeth could tear through the skin, damaging tendons, muscles, and nerves underneath. Untreated injuries can lead to deadly infections. Under Oklahoma’s strict liability statute, you could pursue compensation from the owner if their dog caused your loved one’s death.
The OKC wrongful death lawyers of Abel Law Firm have the experience, knowledge, and resources to represent you and your family if any of the above or another situation caused your relative’s death. You shouldn’t suffer the consequences of someone else’s poor decisions or dangerous actions.
Abel Law Firm Will Take Your Case On Contingency
Losing someone close to you causes extreme emotional pain and suffering. While grieving and attempting to settle their estate, you could also encounter economic struggles. Paying for their medical and funeral expenses can become a significant burden you might not be able to afford.
At Abel Law Firm, we know you’re already facing various challenges. We don’t want to be the cause of additional stress in your life. That’s why we don’t charge upfront fees or costs to provide our clients with legal representation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t have to pay us for our services unless we secure financial compensation. If we lose your case, you won’t owe us anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Losing someone close to you in a tragic accident is always unexpected and unthinkable. You weren’t prepared for this, nor are you prepared to move on with your life without them in it. You may have questions about your rights, how you’ll pay the medical bills or funeral costs, and how you can exist without their emotional and financial support. The attorneys of Abel Law Firm are here to provide the answers to these questions and help you take action to protect your future and your family’s future. Contact us at (405) 239-7046, fill out a contact form, or chat live 24/7.
Oklahoma law defines wrongful death as the death of an individual caused by a wrongful act or omission of another. Unfortunately, negligent conduct can take a wide variety of forms that lead to your loved one’s wrongful death, including medical negligence, automobile accidents, and construction accidents. Your lawyer will be ready to help you determine exactly what happened, who is at fault, and what action you can take to get a measure of justice for the person you lost.
Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years of the death of your loved one. Unfortunately, this law does not give much time for families to mourn properly. The last thing families want is to rush a lawsuit while still in the grieving process. Fortunately, at Abel Law Firm, we understand the tragedy you have been forced to endure, and we will fight for you to get you the compensation and justice you deserve while giving you the time you need to grieve.
In Oklahoma, the personal representative of the individual whose death was caused by the wrongful act or omission of another may bring a cause of action against the negligent party. The damages recoverable include medical and burial expenses to whoever paid these expenses, which is often the estate of the individual whose wrongful death was caused by another’s negligence.
A surviving spouse is entitled to recover damages for loss of consortium and the grief suffered because of the wrongful death of a loved one. Recovery also includes damages for the mental pain and suffering by the individual whose death was caused by the negligence of another, financial loss that considers the decedent’s occupation and earning capacity, and damages for the grief and loss of companionship of the children and the parents of the decedent.
Also, the law recognizes that families of deceased loved ones are sometimes entitled to punitive and exemplary damages. A judge will determine how certain damages are to be distributed, if applicable. The law recognizes the tremendous hardship the wrongful death of a loved one can have on the family, so it provides proper and fair compensation to suffering families.
