Wrongful Death Attorney in Oklahoma CIty, Oklahoma
Can you tell us about a memorable wrongful death case you handled?
Can you tell us about a memorable wrongful death case you handled?
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It’s really hard to just talk about wine. This is anecdotal, but I think our firm handles more wrongful death cases on the plaintiff side than any firm in the state. I’ve had a lot of insurance companies tell me that we represented the family of an 18-year-old who was just going home. He knew the route very well, it was like midnight, and he was a volunteer firefighter. He knew how to drive that road, but inexplicably, he lost control and hit a tree, dying instantly. Nobody could figure out what happened. His mother hired us to investigate.
After a lot of digging, we found that a powerline pole had been downed in a storm. Someone had cut the pole off, but left six feet of it in the roadway. That night, it had been raining, and the pavement was dark, so it was impossible to see. After further investigation, we learned that the co-op had a young man out there, and he was the one who had cut the pole off. The company did everything they could to hide the fact that this had happened. We eventually found the guy, took his deposition, and he admitted it.
The young man’s pickup truck hit that pole, and the right front wheel twisted the vehicle around. The truck rotated and crashed into the tree. It never would have happened if the company had done things right. What’s worse, the young man never even knew about the accident. Nobody from the company ever told him. Once we uncovered all this, we secured a settlement—though I can’t disclose the amount as it’s confidential—but it was a significant amount, much more than the family ever thought they’d receive. It all came from dogged determination and detective work, and I’m really proud of that. I’m still in touch with the mother on Facebook.
Both my law partner Mike and I are deeply in tune with death. I’ve lost two sons to different brain diseases, and Mike lost his niece to addiction. That personal experience gives us a leg up because our job is to explain to the jury how it feels when you’ve lost a loved one. We know that pain intimately, and that passion helps us connect in ways other lawyers might not.
Oklahoma City, OK personal injury attorney Reggie Whitten tells the story of a memorable wrongful death case he handled. He remarks that discussing wine alone is challenging, but he emphasizes that his firm handles more wrongful death cases on the plaintiff’s side than any other firm in the state—a fact acknowledged by numerous insurance companies. One case involves an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter driving home at midnight. Familiar with the route, he inexplicably loses control, crashes into a tree, and dies. The circumstances remain a mystery until his mother hires the firm to investigate.
Through detailed investigation, they discover a powerline pole had been downed in a storm, and a portion—about six feet—was left in the roadway. On the night of the accident, rain and dark pavement obscure the hazard. Their inquiry reveals that a young employee of the electric cooperative had cut the pole and left it there, unaware of the potential danger. The victim’s pickup truck strikes the remaining segment of the pole, causing the vehicle to spin and collide with the tree.
The cooperative had gone to significant lengths to conceal the incident. Through persistent detective work and multiple depositions, they locate the responsible individual, who admits under oath to his actions, having been unaware of the accident until that point. The case results in a substantial confidential settlement, exceeding the family’s expectations. He attributes this outcome to meticulous investigation and relentless determination.
He expresses pride in their work, particularly their ability to empathize with clients experiencing the loss of a loved one. Both he and his law partner, Mike, have endured personal tragedies—he has lost two sons to brain diseases, and Mike has lost a niece to addiction. These experiences give them a unique perspective and a deep understanding of grief, allowing them to communicate the emotional impact of loss effectively to juries and setting them apart from other attorneys.
