Walking should be one of the safest ways to get around Tulsa, whether you’re crossing Peoria Avenue, heading to a Driller’s game at ONEOK Field, or enjoying the Gathering Place with your family.
When a driver fails to pay attention or ignores the rules of the road, the consequences for people on foot are often devastating. Our Tulsa pedestrian accident lawyers at DM Injury Law are here to help you hold careless drivers accountable and pursue the full compensation you deserve after a serious injury.
We know how quickly life can change after a pedestrian crash. One moment you’re walking to your car, and the next you’re in an ambulance, wondering how you’ll pay your bills or support your family.
We see you, we hear you, and we’re ready to stand in your corner from day one. Call DM Injury Law at (918) 398-0934 for your free case evaluation.
Why Choose a Tulsa Pedestrian Accident Lawyer from DM Injury Law
When you’ve been hit by a vehicle, the insurance company on the other side already has a team working to minimize what you recover. You deserve a firm with the size, skill, and resources to match them head-on. That’s what we bring to every case we take on.
- A Team Built for Serious Cases: Our firm includes roughly 70 attorneys and 250 support staff, with each team member focused on a specific part of your claim so nothing falls through the cracks.
- More Than $1 Billion Recovered: We’ve secured significant results for injured clients and grieving families across the Midwest, and we fight just as hard whether your case is worth thousands or millions.
- Local Knowledge of Tulsa Roads: We know the intersections, neighborhoods, and traffic patterns that put pedestrians at risk, from downtown Tulsa to Brookside and beyond.
- No Fee Unless We Win: You pay nothing upfront and owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
- Available Whenever You Need Us: Our team is reachable 24/7 because serious injuries don’t wait for business hours.
If you or a loved one has been hurt while walking in Tulsa, don’t try to take on the insurance companies alone. Call (918) 398-0934 today for your free consultation, and let us start building your case.
How Our Tulsa Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Help You
Pedestrian injury claims are often more complex than people expect. Drivers and insurance adjusters frequently try to shift blame onto the person who was hit, and Oklahoma’s fault laws can make or break a case. We handle every step so you can focus on healing.
Here’s what our team does for you from the moment you call:
- Investigate the crash: We visit the scene, obtain traffic and surveillance video, pull the police report, and identify witnesses before evidence disappears.
- Work with crash reconstruction experts: When liability is disputed, we bring in specialists who can show exactly how and why the driver caused the collision.
- Handle every insurance call: Adjusters often call injured people hoping to get recorded statements they can use against them, and we shut that down immediately.
- Calculate the full value of your damages: We account for medical bills, future care, lost income, diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering rather than accepting a lowball offer.
- Prepare every case for trial: Insurance companies pay more when they know your lawyer is willing and ready to go to court.
Our job as your pedestrian accident attorneys is to build a case so strong that the insurance company has no choice but to pay what you’re owed. When they refuse, we’re prepared to let a jury decide.
Common Causes of Tulsa Pedestrian Accidents
Most pedestrian crashes in Tulsa are preventable. They happen because a driver chose convenience or distraction over the safety of people sharing the road. Understanding what caused your crash is essential to proving who should pay for your injuries.
Some of the most frequent causes we see in Tulsa pedestrian cases include:
- Distracted driving, including texting and phone use
- Failure to yield at crosswalks and intersections
- Speeding through residential and school zones
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Making turns without checking for people on foot
- Backing out of driveways and parking spots without looking
- Poor visibility caused by weather or inadequate street lighting
Pinpointing the cause of your crash helps us prove fault and maximize your recovery. We work with investigators, engineers, and medical professionals to tell the full story of what happened to you.
Oklahoma Pedestrian Laws Drivers and Walkers Should Know
Oklahoma law gives pedestrians important protections, especially at marked and unmarked crosswalks. Drivers are required to exercise due care to avoid striking people on foot, and they must give the right of way in many common situations.
When a driver breaks these rules and causes a crash, that violation is powerful evidence of negligence. Key rules that often come into play in pedestrian cases include:
- Right of way at crosswalks: Drivers generally must yield to pedestrians crossing within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
- No passing stopped vehicles: A driver cannot pass another vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk to let someone cross.
- Due care at all times: Even when a pedestrian is not in a crosswalk, drivers must remain alert and take reasonable steps to avoid hitting them.
- Special care around children: Drivers must use extra caution when they see, or should see, children near the roadway.
- School zones and buses: Lower speed limits and stopping requirements around school buses and school zones exist specifically to protect kids on foot.
Our team uses these rules to build strong liability arguments. When an insurance company tries to claim the pedestrian was at fault, we use the law and the evidence to push back.
Statute of Limitations for Tulsa Pedestrian Accident Claims
Every pedestrian accident claim has a deadline, and missing it usually means losing your right to compensation forever. In Oklahoma, most personal injury cases, including pedestrian crashes, must be filed within two years of the date of the injury under 12 O.S. § 95.
Certain situations can shorten or extend this deadline. For example, claims against government entities in Oklahoma generally have much shorter notice requirements under the Governmental Tort Claims Act, and special rules may apply if the injured person is a minor.
Because the deadline depends on the specific facts of your case, it’s critical to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so your claim is protected.
Even if you think you have plenty of time, evidence disappears quickly. Surveillance video is often overwritten within days, witnesses move or forget what they saw, and skid marks wash away. The sooner we get involved, the stronger your case will be.
How Oklahoma’s Comparative Negligence Law Affects Your Case
Insurance companies know that blaming the pedestrian is one of the fastest ways to reduce what they pay out. Oklahoma’s fault rules make this argument especially important to understand.
Under Title 23, Section 13 of the Oklahoma Statutes, an injured person’s recovery is barred if their own negligence is of a greater degree than the combined negligence of the other parties, which is commonly known as the modified comparative negligence or “51% rule.”
Here’s what this means in plain English:
- If you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover compensation, though it will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
- If you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover anything from the other driver.
- Your share of fault can be argued and negotiated, not just accepted at face value.
Because a small shift in the fault percentage can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, having a lawyer who knows how to fight these arguments is essential. We work hard to present evidence that puts the blame where it belongs — on the driver who caused your injuries.
Compensation Available After a Tulsa Pedestrian Accident
No amount of money can undo what happened to you, but the right compensation can give you stability, quality medical care, and the ability to move forward with your life. Oklahoma law allows injured pedestrians to pursue both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault driver and their insurance company.
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover:
- Medical Expenses: This includes emergency room care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and future medical treatment.
- Lost Wages: If your injuries kept you from working, you can pursue the income you lost while recovering.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: When injuries permanently affect your ability to do your job, you may be entitled to compensation for reduced future earnings.
- Pain and Suffering: This covers the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the crash and your injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If you can no longer participate in activities and hobbies you once loved, that loss has real value.
- Property Damage: Personal items damaged in the crash, such as a phone, laptop, or clothing, can be included in your claim.
In cases involving drunk drivers or other reckless behavior, punitive damages may also be available. We take the time to understand every way this crash has affected your life so nothing is left off the table.
What to Do If You’ve Lost a Loved One in a Tulsa Pedestrian Accident
Some pedestrian crashes are so severe that families are left grieving instead of celebrating a recovery. If you’ve lost a spouse, parent, or child because a driver wasn’t paying attention, Oklahoma’s wrongful death laws allow you to pursue justice on their behalf.
These claims can help families recover funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and compensation for the loss of love, companionship, and guidance.
The pedestrian accident lawyers at DM Injury Law approach every wrongful death case with the care and respect these families deserve. You won’t be pushed into quick decisions or treated like a file number. We listen, we explain your options in plain language, and we move forward only when you’re ready.
Holding a negligent driver accountable won’t bring your loved one back, but it can provide financial security and a sense of justice that helps your family heal.
FAQs for Our Tulsa Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from pedestrians and their families after a serious crash in Tulsa.
How much does it cost to hire a Tulsa pedestrian accident lawyer?
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your first consultation is always free.
What should I do if the driver who hit me didn’t have insurance?
You may still have options through your own auto insurance policy, particularly if you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. We can review your policy and identify every possible source of recovery.
Can I still recover money if I was jaywalking when I was hit?
Possibly. Oklahoma’s comparative negligence rule allows recovery as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Even if you weren’t in a crosswalk, the driver may still bear significant responsibility for the crash.
What if the police report blames me for the accident?
A police report is not the final word on fault. Our team can investigate the crash independently, gather additional evidence, and challenge inaccurate conclusions in the report.
How long will my pedestrian accident case take?
Every case is different, and timelines depend on the severity of your injuries, the cooperation of the insurance company, and whether the case goes to trial. Some cases resolve in months, while others take longer to reach a fair result.
Do I have to go to court to win my case?
Most pedestrian accident cases settle without a trial. However, we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury, because that preparation is often what drives insurance companies to offer fair pedestrian accident settlements.
What if the driver who hit me left the scene?
Hit-and-run cases are more complex, but recovery is still possible in many situations. We can help pursue unknown-driver coverage under your own policy and work with law enforcement to identify the responsible party.
Call DM Injury Law Today to Talk with a Tulsa Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you’ve suffered a pedestrian accident injury in Tulsa, get the aggressive advocacy you need. Contact DM Injury Law today at (918) 398-0934 for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7 and don’t get paid unless we win.
You don’t have to figure out your next step alone. Let our team review your case, answer your questions, and show you how we can help you move forward with confidence.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.