Tulsa Wrongful Death Lawyer

A sudden tragedy demands strong legal action, and a Tulsa wrongful death attorney provides the guidance your family needs right now. DM Injury Law will stand beside you and hold the negligent parties accountable while you focus on healing together. 

You have the power to protect your household’s future and seek justice for your loved one. Our team channels that power into fierce legal representation.

We’ll manage the insurance calls and legal paperwork so you can honor the memory of the deceased without distraction.

Call 918-900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Why Choose DM Injury Law for Your Tulsa Wrongful Death Claim

Choosing a law firm requires careful consideration, especially when the stakes involve your family’s future. DM Injury Law combines local experience with a relentless drive for justice. We know the Tulsa legal landscape and how Oklahoma courts handle fatal accident claims. 

A Deep Connection to Tulsa

We know the streets where accidents happen and the juries who decide the outcomes. A crash on the winding bends of the Gilcrease Expressway presents different challenges than a pedestrian accident in the Arts District. 

Our investigators know the intersections along Memorial Drive where traffic lights frequently cause confusion. We examine accident scenes near the Arkansas River and industrial sites in West Tulsa. 

Our local familiarity allows us to spot details that out-of-town lawyers miss. We use this knowledge to counter defense arguments and prove liability.

Accurate Valuation of Lifetime Losses

The financial impact of a death extends decades into the future. We look beyond immediate funeral costs to calculate the full scope of your lost income, benefits, and retirement security. Our team works with economists to project what your loved one would have provided over a lifetime. 

We present a data-driven demand that secures the long-term resources your family needs to address the reality of your loss, not just the number the insurance company wants to pay.

No Upfront Costs

Starting a lawsuit scares many people because of the cost. DM Injury Law removes that barrier and operates on a contingency fee basis. You pay no legal fees unless we recover money for you. Our firm covers the upfront costs of investigation, expert witnesses, and court filings. 

A History of Results

We have a history of securing justice for families who have lost loved ones. Here are some of our successful case results:

• $11,000,000: Our client’s son was in a truck when another driver fell asleep and swerved into the company truck, killing our client’s son. 
• $4,200,000: Our client’s loved one’s truck broke down as he was pulling off to the side of the road. He was hit by another car and killed. 
• $3,500,000: Our client’s son was in a car traveling to football practice when another driver crossed into the center lane and hit them. 

Understanding Oklahoma Wrongful Death Laws

Oklahoma law defines wrongful death as a death caused by the wrongful act or omission of another. Families can seek the compensation the deceased person could have claimed if they had lived. 

However, these laws include specific rules about who acts for the estate and how the state distributes the money.

Most families assume anyone related to the victim can file the lawsuit. The law limits this power to the personal representative of the estate. If the deceased person left a will, that document usually names who should serve, but the court still appoints the personal representative.

If no will exists, the court appoints someone, usually a spouse or close relative. An experienced Tulsa wrongful death attorney guides you through probate court to establish this authority.

Establishing Negligence

Winning a wrongful death claim in Oklahoma requires proving negligence, and we must show the defendant owed a duty of care to your loved one. Every driver owes a duty to others on the road. Property owners owe a duty to guests, and doctors owe a duty to patients. 

We then prove the defendant breached that duty through negligent actions. Finally, we connect that breach directly to the fatal injury. Proving this chain of events forms the core of our strategy.

The Statute of Limitations

Time limits restrict your ability to sue. Oklahoma typically grants two years from the date of death to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, the court will dismiss your case. Claims against government entities, such as a city bus or a state vehicle, have much shorter deadlines. 

The Role of the Personal Representative

The personal representative holds the legal keys to the case. This person makes decisions about the lawsuit for all the heirs. They choose the lawyer and decide whether to accept a settlement or go to trial.

Here are other duties:

• Filing the Petition: The representative signs the initial legal complaint, which starts the court process.
• Communicating With Counsel: Our team speaks primarily with this individual, and we’ll keep them informed of every development.
• Listing the Heirs: The representative must identify all people entitled to damages. This includes the spouse and children, but potentially parents too.
• Distributing the Award: Once we win, the court approves how to distribute the money under Oklahoma law, and the representative ensures the funds go to the right people.

Selecting the right person for this role matters, so we help families navigate disputes when multiple people want to take on the responsibility.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Tulsa

Negligence appears in many forms, and DM Injury Law handles a broad spectrum of cases. Each type of accident requires a specific investigative approach.

Car Accidents

Tulsa drivers face high speeds on I-44 and traffic congestion on US 75. Distracted drivers look at their phones instead of the road, and drunk drivers drift across lanes on late nights near Brookside. When a speeding car strikes a family vehicle, the impact sometimes causes fatal internal injuries. 

Trucking Collisions

Commercial trucks dominate I-244 and the local industrial routes. These massive vehicles weigh 80,000 pounds, and a collision with a passenger car often destroys the smaller vehicle. Trucking companies often push drivers to ignore sleep regulations, and fatigued truckers react slowly to traffic changes. 

We pull the electronic logs from the truck to uncover evidence of federal safety violations.

Motorcycle Crashes

Other drivers often fail to see motorcyclists, and it’s all too common for a driver turning left at an intersection to claim the biker “came out of nowhere.” This bias kills riders in Tulsa. DM Injury Law fights this prejudice and holds drivers responsible for their failure to look twice.

Pedestrian Fatalities

Walking in areas like Cherry Street or the Pearl District shouldn’t carry a death sentence. Yet, drivers ignore crosswalks and speed through residential zones in Maple Ridge. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the victim has no protection. 

We examine security camera footage from nearby businesses and interview witnesses who saw the driver looking down at their phone or speeding before the impact.

Workplace Accidents

Tulsa relies on energy and manufacturing industries, and many work sites contain heavy machinery, volatile chemicals, and heights. An explosion at a refinery or a fall at a construction site can end a life instantly. 

While workers’ compensation laws cover many of these incidents, third-party claims exist, too. If a defective machine kills a worker, we’ll investigate the manufacturer. We look for every source of liability outside the employer to increase the compensation.

Recoverable Damages in Wrongful Death Cases

The law divides damages into distinct categories, and your Tulsa wrongful death attorney builds a comprehensive list of what the defendant took from your family. We work with economists and other financial professionals to calculate these numbers precisely.

Financial and Economic Losses

The loss of a primary wage earner can devastate a household’s budget. You lose the monthly paycheck that pays the mortgage and even future retirement contributions.

DM Injury Law can help you recover damages for:

• Lost Wages: We project the income your loved one would have earned until retirement, factoring in raises and promotions.
• Loss of Benefits: Health insurance, 401(k) matches, and pensions can end after a death. We demand compensation for the value of lost benefits.
• Medical and Burial Expenses: The final days often involve expensive hospital stays at Saint Francis or Ascension St. John, and funeral costs run high. The claim can include these direct expenses.

Grief and Loss of Consortium

Money cannot replace a person, but it acknowledges the emotional hole they left behind.

Our team can help you secure compensation for:

• Loss of Companionship: We demonstrate the profound nature of this loss to the jury by thoroughly describing the absence felt by the surviving family: a life partner lost to a spouse, and a guide and mentor taken from the children.
• Mental Anguish: The grief of losing a loved one defies word, and the law allows payment for this intense suffering.
• Loss of Services: Your loved one may have mowed the lawn, cooked meals, or managed the finances, and now hiring someone to do these tasks costs money. We include these replacement costs in the claim.

Survival Action Damages: The Victim’s Suffering 

If your loved one survived for even a brief time after the accident, the estate can recover for their pain. We demand compensation for the conscious pain and suffering they endured from the moment of impact until their death. We also recover the allowed medical bills incurred during this fight for life.

How a Tulsa Wrongful Death Attorney Proves Liability Against Corporate Defendants

Many wrongful death cases involve corporate bad actors. Trucking companies, nursing homes, and manufacturers hire teams of lawyers to deny responsibility. They treat your loss as a business expense. We level the playing field. 

Our Tulsa wrongful death attorneys know how to find the corporate paper trail. Companies often prioritize profit over safety. A delivery company might refuse to fix a broken van brake light, or a property management company might ignore a rotting staircase in an apartment complex. 

We subpoena their internal emails and seek the memos where they discussed the risk and chose to do nothing. Proving they knew about the danger and ignored it strengthens your claim.

The Importance of Early Investigation

Evidence disappears quickly: Rain washes away skid marks, surveillance systems overwrite footage after 72 hours, and witnesses forget details or move away. Delaying the investigation hurts the case.

DM Injury Law acts immediately:

• Spoliation Letters: We send legal notices to the potential defendants, demanding that they preserve all evidence. If they destroy it after receiving the letter, the court may impose penalties.
• Scene Preservation: We send investigators to the location to collect evidence and map the area before the city changes the signage or road markings.
• Vehicle Inspection: We arrange to preserve and inspect the wrecked car if necessary. Keeping the vehicle allows us to test the brakes and airbags. 

FAQ for Tulsa Wrongful Death Attorney

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Suit in Oklahoma?

Only the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate may file the wrongful death lawsuit in Oklahoma. If the deceased left a will, they may have nominated this person. If no will exists, the court appoints a representative, usually the surviving spouse or a parent. 

Other family members benefit from the suit, but they don’t file the legal paperwork themselves. A Tulsa wrongful death attorney assists in setting up this estate representation immediately.

How Does the State Divide a Wrongful Death Settlement?

A judge determines how to distribute the money among the surviving family members following Oklahoma’s laws of descent and distribution. Typically, the surviving spouse and children receive the majority of the funds. 

Parents may also receive a share, especially if no children or spouse exists. We ensure the court has accurate information so your family receives the proper share of the settlement.

Can I Sue if a Criminal Case Is Pending?

Yes, you can proceed with a civil lawsuit even if the state charged the defendant with a crime like vehicular manslaughter. The civil case operates separately from the criminal case. The burden of proof is lower in civil court. 

You might win the civil lawsuit even if the jury acquits the defendant in the criminal trial. We monitor the criminal case to gather evidence that supports your civil claim.

Why Does My Family Need a Tulsa Wrongful Death Attorney?

You need a Tulsa wrongful death lawyer because insurance companies prioritize their profits over your family. They often calculate settlement offers that fail to cover long-term losses like future income or loss of consortium, hoping you’ll accept a quick check before realizing the true cost of your loss. 

DM Injury Law stands between you and these adjusters to demand the full value of the claim. We also handle the complex procedural requirements, such as appointing a personal representative, which prevents technical errors from destroying your case. 

Will Our Wrongful Death Settlement Be Taxed?

Generally, the IRS doesn’t tax proceeds from a wrongful death settlement that compensate for physical sickness or injury and emotional distress tied to a physical injury. Punitive damages are usually taxable. 

We work with financial planners to structure the settlement in a way that preserves as much of the money as possible for your use. 

Fighting for Your Family’s Future

You have the power to demand justice. You have the right to seek financial security. DM Injury Law provides the strength you need to exercise these rights. We’ll stand with you against the negligence that caused this pain and fight to build a foundation for your family’s future.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.