Ylla Gosney Attorneys at Law supports children injured in bicycle accidents in Oklahoma City. If your child or a loved one’s child has been injured in a bicycle accident, the Personal Injury Attorneys at Ylla | Gosney are prepared to aggressively pursue damages on their behalf to claim necessary compensation for medical bills, emotional trauma, and future accident-related issues. Contact us today to start your free initial consultation and see what legal options are available.
Who Can File a Claim for Bicycle Accidents Involving Children in OKC?
The potential for trauma is much higher for children involved in bicycle accidents than for adults. Also, children are far more susceptible to serious and long-term injuries as their bodies are not as fully developed. For these reasons, it is critical to receive fair compensation for a child when they’re involved in a bicycle accident in OKC. At Ylla Gosney Attorneys at Law, we can help you take the first steps.
When a child is injured in a bicycle accident, they reserve the same right to compensation as an adult. However, there are key differences between personal injury claims for adults and those for children:
- Minors (individuals under 18 years of age) cannot file their own personal injury claim. Their parent, or legal guardian must file one on their behalf.
- Settlement agreements awarded to children must be reviewed and approved by a judge before they are finalized.
- Children have the right to wait until they are no longer a minors to file their own personal injury claim.
How Ylla Gosney Attorneys at Law Can Help
When a child is injured in a bicycle accident, it is rare that the party responsible will accept full liability. In many cases, liable parties and their insurance carrier will attempt to make the case that children are careless and prone to accidents, forcing your child into a stressful legal situation just to recover compensation.
That’s where Ylla Gosney Attorneys at Law can help. We protect children and their families from liability and ensure they receive the maximum compensation for their damages. If you child’s injuries were caused by the careless actions of another, our firm will:
- Identify all parties responsible for the accident
- Gather all evidence to build a case
- Assess damages to determine the value of your claim
- Provide your family with highly-skilled doctors and experts
- Defend your child against counter-claims or partial liability
- Negotiate with the insurance company until a fair settlement is reached
- Represent you in court (if necessary)
Statute of Limitation in OKC for Bicycle Accidents Involving Children
According to Oklahoma Statute 12-98 children have two years from the day they turn 18 years old to file a personal injury claim. So, if a child is injured in a bicycle accident in OKC when they’re 13 years old, they have until they turn 20 two file their own personal injury claim. If the parents want to file the claim on behalf of their child, then they have two years from the day the accident occurred to file a personal injury claim.
OKC Bicycle Accidents Involving Children Statistics
Bicycle-related injuries most commonly occur among children ages 5-12, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In 2015, three out of ten bicycle accident crashes involved children aged 18 and under, with more than 40% occurring in residential neighborhoods. Head injuries made up 56% of emergency room visits due to children not wearing a helmet while riding.
Among the 5 to 12 age group, males are 40% more likely than females to suffer a bicycle-related injury. Tragically, according to the NHTSA, there were 59 children ages 14 and younger who were killed in bicycle accidents in 2022.
What is a Child Bicycle Accident Injury Worth?
The value of a child bicycle accident claim varies widely from cases to case. The amount of compensation you can receive will be largely dependent on the financial value of your losses. The following factors contribute to the value of your claim:
- The severity of your child’s injury
- The cost of your child’s medical treatment to date
- Any special needs created by the injury
- Whether your child requires ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, or therapy
- The expected long-term impact and recovery time
- Your child’s educational prospects and earnings after the accident
- Changes to your family’s quality of life post-accident
To understand the full value of your case, consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer at Ylla | Gosney. Our attorneys will review your case for free and determine the necessary legal action for your situation.
Contact an OKC Bicycle Accident Lawyer
If your child has been injured in a bicycle accident in OKC, the Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Ylla and Gosney can help. Our firm will aggressively pursue liable parties to recover the maximum amount of damages your child is owed. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action on behalf of your child. Contact Ylla and Gosney today to begin your free initial consultation and put OKC legal experts on your side.
