Like most successful business owners in Oklahoma and across the country, you may have worked for years to build your company from the ground up. You’ve no doubt encountered challenges along the way and have probably endured some tough financial times, as well. Some issues, however, can threaten the very livelihood of your business, such as if someone sues you for damages in a personal injury claim.
Such claims stem from numerous types of situations, such as motor vehicle accidents, product-related injuries or medical malpractice. The plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit has the task of proving that certain elements existed at the time of the incident. If you’re listed as a defendant in such a case, you’ll want to seek legal support to determine whether the plaintiff has legitimate grounds for filing a lawsuit against you.
What are the necessary elements of a personal injury claim?
When a judge or jury is listening to testimony and reviewing evidence in a personal injury claim, they are determining whether the plaintiff is proving that the following elements exist:
- Defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff
- Defendant did not fulfill the duty
- Defendant’s negligence caused the incident in question
- Plaintiff suffered damages because of the incident
In the past, there have been many cases where experienced personal injury defense attorneys were able to dismantle the plaintiff’s case by demonstrating that one or more of the necessary elements did not exist.
Protecting your interests is a top priority
If you’re a business owner, product manufacturer or medical professional whose reputation and career are on the line in a personal injury lawsuit, you’ll want to do all you can to protect your rights and interests. Many accidents have serious, even tragic results, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you or your company are responsible for the damage that occurred.
Learning as much as you can about Oklahoma personal injury laws is key to achieving positive results as a defendant in a lawsuit. A compensatory judgment against you can cause financial ruin. You should not have to pay for damage you did not cause. For example, if your employee was driving a work truck and ran a red light, then crashed, you are not necessarily responsible for damages that occurred. Securing experienced legal support from the start is the best means of ensuring a fair trial and a positive outcome.