Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law helps people when they’re hurt in bicycle accidents in Tulsa. Bicycle accidents can happen anywhere, but there’s certain parts of the city where they’re more common–none more than one of the city’s many intersections. Our Tulsa team is here to help you recover. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Should You Get a Lawyer?
Not everyone needs a lawyer after a minor bike accident in Tulsa. But handling things alone might mean missing out on what you need. Serious injuries–which are especially common in bike accidents at intersections–bring big medical bills and financial stress. That’s when legal help becomes crucial. At Ylla Gosney, we can help you by:
- Finding who’s responsible for your accident
- Gathering necessary evidence and information
- Handling all the paperwork
- Talking to insurance companies
- Taking your case to court if needed
You obviously never want to be hurt in any kind of accident, let alone one that happens at an intersection while you’re riding your bike. Our team gets what you’re going through and can guide you through the process of getting better.
What Steps Do I Need to Take After a Bike Accident at a Tulsa Intersection?
No matter how careful you are on your bike–or how familiar you are with the area–you could find yourself in a situation where you’re injured in an accident. Generally speaking, bike accidents in Tulsa are more plentiful around busier areas, and no area of the road is busier than an intersection. Whether you’re riding near Peoria Avenue and 8th Street near The Pearl or along Riverside Drive, you can easily find yourself in a situation where you’re struck by a car. At that point, you need to take certain steps to form the foundation of a potential claim:
- Call 911 – Move out of traffic and call 911 for paramedics, even if you feel okay. See your doctor as well–some injuries only show up days later. This will also tie any injuries to the accident.
- Let the police know what happened – Have the 911 dispatcher send the local police (usually the Tulsa PD) to the scene. They’ll document things and get information you’ll need for your claim.
- Take pictures – If it’s not broken, use your phone to take pictures of your bike, the car, and the intersection. This visual evidence really helps later, especially at more confusing intersections where it might not be obvious who had the right of way. If your phone is broken, ask a witness or the police to take pictures.
- Talk to people who saw what happened – Chances are good that other people witnessed your accident. Get their names and numbers before they leave. Also, many Tulsa stoplights have cameras that might have caught the whole thing.
- Be careful with statements – Be careful when talking to drivers, witnesses, or insurance companies. Any statement you make can be used against you later, even if you were just being polite or weren’t fully aware of your injuries yet. It’s better to just be straightforward and stick to the facts. And don’t admit fault.
- Make mental notes about the scene – Some intersections in the city are known trouble spots with quick light changes or confusing lanes, so take note of where the accident actually happened and what might have caused it. These details matter for your case.
It’s worth noting that while many of these steps might seem obvious, the aftermath of an accident at an intersection can be chaotic–especially if you’re seriously injured. Still, these steps are going to form the foundation of your claim, so you need to do what you can to make sure you’re able to see them through.
Who’s Legally Responsible When There’s a Bicycle Accident at an Intersection?
Legally speaking, a bicycle accident at an intersection in Tulsa isn’t any different than one that happens on some other part of the road. Everything boils down to two questions: who caused the accident, and who’s responsible for covering your damages?
Starting with the first question, bicycle accidents at intersections happen because a driver isn’t paying attention or didn’t follow the rules of the road. That could mean they were:
- Looking at their phone instead of the road
- Blowing through a stop sign or red light
- Speeding or failing to slow down in time
- Driving under the influence
But it’s not always just the driver. Other common issues at intersections include:
- Poor lighting or blocked views
- Failure to yield
- Hazardous road conditions (like potholes or slippery spots)
- Broken signals or missing traffic signs
In the end, figuring out what happened is key to knowing who’s legally responsible. Depending on the situation, that might be:
- The driver who hit you
- A part manufacturer, if a faulty bike part played a role
- The City of Tulsa or another agency if poor maintenance or road design contributed
- A utility or construction company if their work made the area unsafe
- Even a pedestrian, in rare cases, if they entered the road unsafely
While it’s sometimes difficult to pin down, this legal responsibility–known as liability–is extremely important to how your claim plays out. It lets you know who you’ll be filing a claim against and who has to pay for your damages. But in order to get those damages, you have to go through the claims process.
How Can I Get Damages After a Bicycle Accident at an Intersection?
Getting hit while riding through a Tulsa intersection can leave you with more than just a busted bike. It also usually means you’re dealing with injuries, time off work, and a mental toll that sticks around long after the accident. Fortunately, Oklahoma law gives you a way to get financial support for your “damages.” You can either file:
- An insurance claim out of court.
- A personal injury lawsuit in civil court.
An insurance claim is usually quicker and less formal, where you simply file a claim with the at-fault person’s insurance company. Unfortunately, though, the insurance company controls the whole process. They decide how much they offer you in settlement–if they offer you one at all. The vast majority of the time, they’re not going to offer you the full value of your claim because they want to save money. If that happens, you can move forward with a lawsuit.
A lawsuit takes more time and effort, but it’s a fairer process because it’s in front of a judge. We handle the entire process, from filing your Complaint to making hearings and putting together all the evidence for a strong claim. With either option, you can potential recover damages for your:
- Medical bills, including ER visits, follow-ups, surgery, physical therapy and anything else you need to recover.
- Lost income for any missed work, including future income if your ability to work has changed.
- Physical and mental pain you’re dealing with and how your injuries are affecting your daily life.
- Emotional distress–anxiety, depression, PTSD—if the accident is impacting your emotional and mental well-being.
- Reduced quality of life, where you can no longer enjoy daily activities or relationships the way you could prior to the accident.
- If your injuries are fatal, your family may be able to recover funeral costs, lost support, and more through a wrongful death claim.
How much you can recover depends on the details–how badly you were hurt, how the accident happened, and whether anyone thinks you were partly at fault. Oklahoma’s comparative negligence rules mean your damages could be reduced if you were partially to blame–plus you can’t file a claim at all if you’re deemed to be more than 50% at-fault (which is incredibly rare in these types of accidents.) Finally, don’t wait too long–Oklahoma typically gives you just two years from the accident date to file your claim.
Talk to Ylla Gosney After a Bicycle Accident at a Tulsa Intersection
A bicycle accident in a Tulsa intersection can leave you dealing with a lot–physical injuries, stress, and confusing conversations with insurance companies. You don’t have to take all of that on by yourself. At Ylla Gosney, we make things easier for you by handling the legal legwork and standing up for the financial support you’re owed.
Contact us today for a free, no-pressure consultation. We’re here to help you get things back on track.
