Injured In A Bicycle Accident in Oklahoma?
Our attorneys can help hold the at-fault driver accountable
Car accidents involving cyclists often result in serious injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Oklahoma, contact us as soon as possible.
An attorney at our law firm can fight for your rights and the compensation you rightfully deserve for your accident. We know what to do because we’ve been doing this work for more than 40 years. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success.
Your accident matters here. Contact us. Call our Oklahoma City office at (866) 584-1027 or our Tulsa office at (866) 584-1028 and schedule your free case evaluation. We want to help you get your life back on track. Contact Lawter & Associates, PLLC, today. We will not rest until justice is served.
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FAQs About Oklahoma Bicycle Accidents
- What types of bicycle accidents do we handle?
- Why do bicycle accidents happen in Oklahoma?
- What should I do if I’m injured in a bicycle accident?
- What are common bicycle accident injuries?
- Should I file a lawsuit after my accident?
- What is the time limit to file a bicycle accident lawsuit?
- What types of damages can I recover in a bicycle accident?
- Who determines who’s at fault after my bicycle accident?
What types of bicycle accidents do we handle?
There are many different types of bicycle accidents. Some of the most common types include:
- Distracted driving accidents – Many drivers are more focused on their phones than the road around them. As a result, texting drivers and drivers on cellphones often cause serious injuries to cyclists. Other causes of distracted driving accidents include eating while driving, adjusting the car radio, daydreaming and more.
- Speeding accidents – Many people drive too fast in Oklahoma on city or residential streets, resulting in serious speeding accidents involving cyclists. When people drive too fast, they have less time to stop and react to other drivers around them. They may lose control, especially if speeding when the road or weather conditions are bad.
- Hit-and-run accidents – When drivers cause accidents involving cyclists, many of them panic and flee the scene of the accident. Hit-and-run accidents can be extremely complicated. You may wonder how you will get compensated. But injury victims do have legal options. You may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company.
Why do bicycle accidents happen in Oklahoma?
Bicycle accidents in Oklahoma happen for many reasons. Some of the most common causes we deal with at our law firm include:
- Driving too close to cyclists – Many drivers fail to leave enough space between themselves and cyclists. When drivers do not share the road properly with cyclists, accidents can happen. Oklahoma’s roads belong to everyone. Motorists need to share the road with cyclists.
- Speeding drivers – Many drivers ignore posted speed limits and drive too fast. When they do, they don’t have enough time to slow down and stop when they encounter a cyclist. Speeding is no excuse for causing a serious injury to a cyclist.
- Aggressive drivers – Many drivers believe Oklahoma’s roads belong to cars. That’s why they often take an aggressive approach when they encounter cyclists. Motorists and cyclists all have the right to use our roads. If your rights have been violated and you’re a victim of a cycling accident caused by an aggressive driver, contact us.
What should I do if I’m injured in a bicycle accident?
If you’re a victim of a bicycle accident and you are physically able to do so, it’s critical that you take steps to protect your health and your rights. If you are not physically able to do so, ask someone else to perform these tasks on your behalf:
- Contact the police and ask them to respond to your accident.
- Call for emergency medical help.
- Talk to witnesses. Make sure you get:
- Full names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers
- Take photographs of your accident.
- Write down details about your accident, including:
- Exact time of accident
- Exact location of accident
- Weather conditions
- Traffic signals near your accident (were they working?)
- Skid marks on road (are there any?)
- Schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor.
- Contact your insurance company.
- Call a lawyer. An experienced attorney can thoroughly investigate your accident and fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve.
What are common bicycle accident injuries?
Bicycle accidents can lead to serious injuries, especially since cyclists have very little protection compared to people in cars. Some of the most common injuries Oklahoma cyclists experience include:
- Head and brain injuries: Even with a helmet, cyclists are at risk of concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) if they hit their head.
- Broken bones: Collarbones, arms, wrists, ribs, and legs are often fractured during falls or collisions with vehicles.
- Road rash: When a cyclist slides across pavement, it can cause painful skin abrasions that may require medical treatment or leave scars.
- Spinal injuries: Damage to the neck or back can result in long-term pain, limited mobility, or even paralysis in severe cases.
- Internal injuries: Blunt force trauma can lead to internal bleeding or organ damage, which may not be immediately obvious.
- Dental and facial injuries: Impact with the ground or another object can break noses or facial bones.
Even if you feel okay after a bicycle accident, it’s important to get checked by a doctor since some injuries might not show symptoms right away. Medical records also help if you decide to file a legal claim.
Should I file a lawsuit after my accident?
Injured cyclists deserve to be financially compensated for all their injury-related expenses. However, you have several options when it comes to deciding how to obtain this money. In general, you can either:
- Submit a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
- File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver or their insurance company.
Some people decide to file a claim with the driver’s insurance company. If you decide to pursue this path to compensation, don’t be surprised if the at-fault driver’s insurance company denies your claim. That’s what many insurance companies do in order to try to save some money.
That’s not right. That’s why many people choose to file a lawsuit in order to obtain the compensation they rightfully deserve. It’s also important to note that injury victims only have two years from the date of their injury to take legal action in Oklahoma. So, the sooner you act, the sooner you can demand justice.
What is the time limit to file a bicycle accident lawsuit?
In Oklahoma, you generally have two years from the date of your bicycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This legal deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you miss the two-year window, you could lose your right to seek compensation, even if your injuries are serious or the driver was clearly at fault.
What types of damages can I recover in a bicycle accident?
If you were injured in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation, which is known as damages in legal cases involving negligence and financial losses. In Oklahoma, the law allows injured cyclists to recover different types of damages depending on the details of the crash and the impact it had on their life.
Medical expenses: You can be compensated for all accident-related medical costs, including:
- Emergency room visits
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Prescription medication
- Physical therapy
- Follow-up appointments
- Medical equipment (like crutches or a brace)
Lost wages: If your injuries forced you to miss work — or if you can’t return to the same job — you may be able to recover:
- Wages lost while you were out of work
- Lost earning potential (if you can’t work at the same level again)
- Benefits you missed out on during recovery
Pain and suffering: This includes compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress you’ve experienced due to the accident. Pain and suffering damages can vary widely based on:
- The severity of your injuries
- How long your recovery takes
- Whether you’re left with permanent pain or disabilities
Property damage: If your bicycle or any of your gear (helmet, phone, clothing, etc.) was damaged in the accident, you can seek compensation for repair or replacement.
Loss of enjoyment of life: In more serious cases, you may be compensated if your injuries keep you from doing things you used to enjoy – like biking, exercising, working, or spending time with family the way you used to.
Who determines who’s at fault after my bicycle accident?
Assigning blame after a serious accident involving a cyclist can often be a very complex process. Often, it’s the driver who is to blame for causing these collisions. However, multiple parties might also be to blame, especially if more than one driver is at fault.
So, who decides who’s at fault? Many people will likely try to weigh in and offer their opinion after the police have officially investigated your accident. The at-fault driver’s insurance company almost always offers their opinion on who’s liable in these cases.
Why are insurance companies so interested? Because they’re often looking for any excuse to pay injury victims as little as possible. One way they try to do this is through Oklahoma’s comparative negligence laws. Under these rules, if a cyclist is found to be partially at fault, the driver’s insurance company would not have to pay you the full amount if you were partially responsible for your accident. For example, if a jury awarded you a $100,000 verdict for your accident but the jury determined you were 30 percent at fault, you would only receive $70,000.
The stakes are high after a bicycle accident. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced lawyer on your side, standing up for your rights and being your voice for justice. Otherwise, you might not be part of the conversation that takes place when determining who was at fault for your crash.
If you’ve been hurt in a bicycle accident, contact Lawter & Associates
When bicycle accidents happen, many victims and families who have lost loved ones might think their cases will be resolved quickly and they will be fairly compensated. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. In many cases, the injured and families who lost loved ones don’t receive the money they rightfully deserve from insurance companies.
Insurance companies often focus on one thing – paying injury victims as little as possible. We know how to take insurance companies on – and win. We work hard on every bicycle accident case we handle in Oklahoma.
We never take anything for granted. We take the time to find out exactly what happened. We carefully review accident reports. We talk to witnesses whenever possible. We frequently consult with accident reconstruction experts. We leave no stone unturned in pursuit of the truth. Contact us and schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys. Call (866) 584-1027 for our Oklahoma City office or (866) 584-1028 for our Tulsa office.