Oklahoma Wrongful Death Lawyers
100+ Years of Combined Experience Fighting for You
The skilled Oklahoma wrongful death attorneys at
Martin, Jean & Jackson takes care to guard the rights of those lost wrongfully in a fatal accident.
When we accept wrongful death cases, we do so to honor the memory of the
lost loved one, to protect his or her rights and those of their loved
ones, and to prevent similar tragedies from befalling others in the future.
Our legal team can dedicate ourselves to achieving these maximum results for our clients
because our attorneys have the seasoned legal judgment that comes with
more than 100 years of combined experience. In fact, our Oklahoma wrongful death lawyers enjoy a wide range of
professional recognition for their work.
Schedule your
free consultation today.
Honoring Lost Loved Ones Through Legal Action
Our firm's lawyers serve clients who have suffered the untimely loss of
a loved one in a comprehensive variety of situations, including:
Through lawsuits from the above situations and similar cases, we have recovered
more than $500 million for more than 15,000 clients. Clients use these
funds to meet the heavy expenses that often arise out of fatal tragedies
as well as other pressing burdens.
Get started today with a free consultation
If your loved one has been killed in an accident, let us help you understand
what legal recourse may be available. Our offices are conveniently located
in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Ponca City, and Stillwater. This is a tragic
experience, and the families suffering deserve to have a dedicated, attentive
Oklahoma wrongful death lawyer helping them through it.
Wrongful Death FAQ
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What qualifies as wrongful death?
The generalized terminology for wrongful death is a death that has been
caused by someone else’s negligent actions that could have been
prevented or avoided. Essentially, if someone made a mistake or intentionally
attempted to cause harm, and another person died from those actions, then
a wrongful death has occurred, which should allow surviving family members
of the deceased to take legal action.
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What are the most common causes of a wrongful death?
Violent accidents are the most common cause of wrongful deaths in Oklahoma.
Specifically, auto accidents are notorious for causing hundreds of wrongful
deaths every year. On average, more than 500 drivers in Oklahoma die in
auto accidents each year, which means more than one person per day will
lose their life to reckless or negligent decisions while driving.
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What damages are available to victims of a wrongful death?
Oklahoma law allows a variety of damages to be pursued and recovered in
a wrongful death claim, including but not limited to medical expenses
related to the deceased’s final treatments, wages and benefits the
deceased would have earned had the fatal incident never occurred, and
pain and suffering experienced by the deceased from the time of their
injury to their death. Additional damages can be awarded for the grievances
of surviving family members, too, such as the loss of companionship, loss
of day-to-day support, and so on.
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Who can file a wrongful death claim in Oklahoma?
Only the person who has been named as the personal representative or executor
of the deceased’s estate can file a wrongful death claim in Oklahoma.
The executor might be named in the deceased’s estate plan. If they
are not, then the court will appoint someone to be the executor for the
purposes of managing the estate and a wrongful death claim if possible.
It is important to note that the executor is not the only person who can
benefit from a successful wrongful death claim.
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What happens if the deceased contributed to their own fatal accident?
A 50% modified comparative negligence rule is used to decide liability
in Oklahoma. If someone is more than 50% liable for their fatal injuries,
then their surviving family members cannot sue other parties for damages
in a wrongful death claim. The amount of recoverable compensation will
also be reduced based on the plaintiff’s liability if it is above
0% but under 51%. For example, if your loved one was 30% liable for their
fatal accident, then a wrongful death claim could be filed for 70% of
the owed damages.
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How much time do you have to file a wrongful death claim in Oklahoma?
You have two years from the date of the deceased’s death to file
a wrongful death claim, not the date of their final injury or illness.
A court will more than likely toss out any claim that is filed after this
two-year statute of limitations ends.
Contact us online today to
schedule a free consultation and to start fighting for justice on the deceased’s behalf.