Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law is an advocate for all Tulsa bicyclists. We represent cycling accident victims of all ages and make sure they receive support to pay for the best medical care available after a scary collision. We want to see all injured riders make a full recovery and get back on their bikes again. Our skilled Tulsa attorneys provide free case consultations to all victims. Contact us today to find out what your case is worth.
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Bicycle Accident?
If your cycling accident is caused by a careless driver and leaves you with a serious injury, you could probably benefit from having a lawyer handle your case.
Car insurance companies would rather not take financial responsibility for a major injury, like a broken bone, or head trauma. They can rely on tactics like trying to transfer blame to the cyclist or downplaying the severity of an injury. This doubt sometimes allows them to get away with providing an inadequate settlement check to victims or no settlement at all.
Your lawyer would investigate your case and the driver involved. The evidence uncovered would be used to hold an insurer fully responsible. Your lawyer then fights, through aggressive negotiation, to maximize the support you receive for your physical and financial recovery.
Bicycling Dangers on Tulsa Streets
Oklahoma laws grant Tulsa cyclists as much right to use local lanes as any motorist. Unfortunately, reckless drivers aren’t always looking out for the safety of others. They can try to pass bicyclists when there isn’t enough room and send a rider off a bike. They can travel too fast through Tulsa’s residential neighborhoods and miss spotting a small child on a bike and cause a devastating accident.
Riders on busy Tulsa routes like Mingo Road enjoy some stretches of bike lanes, but even those precautions aren’t enough to prevent all encounters with careless motorists.
Cyclists forced to travel alongside cars will probably see motorists switching lanes to make a right turn without checking mirrors and blind spots to see if a bicyclist is nearby. A distracted driver may not see the smaller profile of an oncoming rider as they make a rushed left turn.
A skilled Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer fully investigates the circumstances of each cycling accident and the drivers involved. All evidence is collected in case a car insurance adjuster attempts to reject a cyclist’s claim to leave the victim with zero support during a difficult and expensive recovery.
Common Cycling Injuries
Cyclists travel defenseless. They may have a helmet on and some thin clothing, but otherwise there’s no buffer between a fragile human body and the metal of a car or truck. Victims often suffer major injuries like fractured arms and legs, facial injuries, and chest injuries. They may receive permanent facial disfigurement if they land face first.
They might also be rushed to the emergency room with head trauma, including a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). A TBI might include a severe concussion. Victims may suddenly be sensitive to light and nauseous. In severe cases, victims can lose memories and find they can’t control bodily functions.
A lawyer with Ylla|Gosney would be fighting to get a bicycle accident victim’s current medical bills paid by a car insurance company. It’s also critical to make sure victims secure the compensation they need to pay for care that could be needed in the years to come. That could include physical therapy and additional surgeries.
Compensation Available for Tulsa Bicycle Accident Victims
Bicycle collision victims must make sure they receive compensation for each and every hardship they face in recovery. And that should be support for as long as recovery takes. Whether that’s a week, a month, or years. In some cases, victims are never able to return to the rides they love, and any bicycle accident settlement offer must take this into consideration.
Your lawyer ensures that a car insurance company can’t ignore any of the damages a careless driver caused. Your attorney will be asking for compensation for these and other factors:
- Compensation for all medical bills and physical therapy costs and estimates on care that could be necessary in the years ahead.
- Long-term compensation for victims who suffer permanent physical disabilities or disfigurements.
- Support for the physical pain victims are forced to endure.
- Support for the emotional trauma victims are forced to cope with. This might include a loss of enjoyment of life if badly injured riders can’t get back on their bikes again.
- Money to pay for transportation costs to get to doctor’s appointments and to see out-of-state specialists.
- Compensation for the lost income victims suffer while out of work.
- Money to replace a bike and other property that’s been damaged.
- In the case of wrongful death, money so that families can pay for a funeral and pay off remaining medical bills. Close relatives should also get help in replacing the income the deceased can no longer provide the family. They could also ask for support for the care and guidance that will no longer be available to a spouse and children in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long can I wait to file a bicycle accident claim?
Two years. Tulsa bicycle accident victims have up to two years to file injury claims. Victims shouldn’t wait years though. They should allow lawyers the chance to collect fresh evidence before it disappears.
What if my child is riding a bike and is struck by a Tulsa driver?
Children can require additional support after a major bicycling accident injury. A skilled lawyer would seek support to protect the child’s future. A childhood injury can flare up years in the future during teen growth spurts. Old injuries can cause issues with bone and tissue development. Additional surgery and physical therapy may be needed to ensure a teenager’s body can develop normally.
Can I ask for compensation after an accident if I wasn’t wearing a bicycle helmet?
Yes. Oklahoma has no bicycle helmet mandate. The driver would still be held at fault even if you weren’t wearing a helmet. Keep in mind, that a helmet can help reduce the severity of injuries and even be life-saving in some cases.
Contact a Tulsa Bicycle Accident Attorney
We have an extensive background in safeguarding bicycle accident victims. At Ylla | Gosney Attorneys At Law, we want safe bicycle rides for every rider. We also want to fully safeguard victims if they are forced into a serious accident by a dangerous driver. We offer a free, no-obligation case review with a real Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer.
There’s no pressure to file a lawsuit suit or even use our services if you decide to file. We just want to inform you of everything you need to know before you decide.
Keep in mind that you won’t need any upfront money if you do need our services. We don’t accept payment unless we win your bicycle accident injury case. Then our fee comes out of the settlement you receive. We also adjust our fees to make sure you keep what you need to rebuild your life and return to the bike rides you love.
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