If you or someone you care about gets hurt in a Tulsa motorcycle accident, you might feel lost about what to do. At Ylla | Gosney, we have a team of experienced and committed Tulsa personal injury lawyers ready to help.
We know that motorcycle accidents can be challenging, and we’re here to give you individualized legal support and fight for your rightful compensation. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation.
Damages in a Tulsa Motorcycle Accident
What sets a motorcycle accident apart from other vehicle accidents are the severity of injuries and damages that you–the rider–suffer. The truth is, even a small motorcycle accident can lead to major injuries for riders. In fact, there’s a wide spectrum of potential injuries, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to very serious, life-threatening ones. That makes everything that surrounds the accident, from your medical care to the legal process, very important for your overall recovery.
Generally speaking, the claims process in a Tulsa motorcycle accident allows you to recover the following:
- Medical costs
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages
The process of claiming these damages can be intricate and time-consuming. That’s why it’s crucial to partner with our experienced team. We can assist you every step of the way to ensure you receive the financial support you’re owed. Still, depending on the circumstances, the claims process could include:
- Insurance claim – An insurance claim is usually the first step in the process, where the accident will be investigated and assessed by the insurance company. Then, they will offer you a settlement. At that point, you can either accept or, if the offer is too low, you can move forward with filing a lawsuit.
- Personal injury lawsuit – The next phase of your claim is filing a personal injury lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit allows you to pursue certain compensation for your damages in civil court against the person or party that’s responsible for causing the accident.
Understanding Liability in a Tulsa Motorcycle Accident
Before you can get to the claims process, you first have to figure out who is liable–or legally responsible–for the accident. Like any other accident in Oklahoma, liability is determined by establishing negligence, which has four elements:
- Duty of care – The responsible party had an obligation to act safely and reasonably.
- Breach of duty – They failed in this duty by acting negligently.
- Causation – The breach of duty directly led to the accident, which caused your injuries.
- Damages – You must show a clear connection between the accident and your injuries or other losses.
Depending on your accident’s specifics, various parties may be found liable for your damages, including:
- Other drivers – Drivers of cars, trucks, or other vehicles involved in the accident.
- Manufacturers – If a defect in the motorcycle or its parts played a role in the accident.
- Road maintenance – If the accident was caused by poorly maintained roads or lack of proper signage.
- Third parties – Outside entities or individuals whose actions, like a construction company working on the road, contributed to the accident.
- City of Tulsa – In cases of inadequate traffic management or safety measures.
- Passengers – If a passenger’s actions or negligence contributed to the accident.
It’s important to note that you yourself could also share some liability in the accident, especially if you were speeding or doing things like lane splitting.
Overall, determining liability in a motorcycle accident is an extremely important part of any claim because it decides who you’ll file a claim against. Thus, it may involve a detailed investigation and legal assessment to identify the responsible party or parties. Our team is experienced at both and can help you in this regard. On your end though, there’s certain things you can do to reduce chances you’ll be in a motorcycle accident.
Reducing the Chances of a Tulsa Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents happen every day in Tulsa, and unfortunately, it’s impossible to totally avoid them. While it’s exciting, riding a motorcycle is inherently risky. That said, if you ride a motorcycle, there are ways that you can at least reduce the chances that you’ll be in an accident:
- Wear proper safety gear – Always wear a DOT-approved helmet, along with protective clothing like leather jackets, pants, gloves, and boots.
- Increase your visibility – Enhance your visibility to other drivers by wearing bright or reflective clothing and using your headlights and turn signals.
- Follow the law – Follow traffic laws, including speed limits and signaling for turns. Maintain your lane and stay aware of your surroundings.
- Stay alert – Anticipate potential hazards and be ready to react quickly. Watch out for left-turning vehicles and exercise caution when passing or being overtaken.
- Take care of your bike – Regularly inspect your motorcycle, including tires, brakes, lights, and fluids, to ensure it’s in good working condition.
- Safety course – Consider taking a motorcycle safety course to enhance your skills and learn defensive riding techniques.
- Avoid riding while impaired – Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Riding Hazards
By following the above tips, you and other riders can decrease the likelihood of accidents and enjoy a safe and enjoyable riding experience. Nonetheless, it’s essential to remember that the risk of an accident is always present, particularly in Tulsa’s more crowded areas. So, it’s equally important to know what to watch out for.
- Weather conditions – Tulsa experiences a wide range of weather conditions, including thunderstorms, high winds, and icy roads in winter, which can make riding challenging and dangerous.
- Distracted drivers – As in many areas, distracted drivers who text, talk on the phone, or engage in other distractions can pose a significant threat to motorcycle riders.
- Road conditions – Potholes, uneven road surfaces, and poorly maintained roads can be particularly hazardous for motorcyclists.
- Construction zones – Roadwork and construction zones can have uneven surfaces, reduced lane space, and changing traffic patterns, which can be risky for riders.
- Intersection accidents – Motorcycle riders are at a higher risk of accidents at intersections, especially when other drivers fail to yield the right of way.
- Left-turning vehicles – Left-turning cars and trucks are a common cause of motorcycle accidents, as they may not see or misjudge the speed of an oncoming motorcycle.
- Inexperienced riders – Inexperienced or untrained motorcycle riders can be hazardous to themselves and others on the road.
- Intoxicated drivers – Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs pose a significant danger to motorcyclists.
- Wildlife – More rural areas around Tulsa may have wildlife crossings, increasing the risk of collisions with animals.
As you can see, any number of factors could play into causing you to be in a motorcycle accident. Thus, it’s good to take every precaution you can. However, it’s also important to know what to do if you happen to be involved in a motorcycle accident.
Next Steps After a Tulsa Motorcycle Accident
The moments right after a motorcycle accident are extremely important, both to your health and any potential legal claim you have. Being aware of what you need to do in these circumstances is vital:
- Get medical care – If you’re injured, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. Even if you feel fine, it’s still a good idea to get a medical checkup as some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
- Report the accident to police – When you’re in a safe place, call the police and report the accident. Their report can be crucial for insurance claims and legal proceedings.
- Gather information – Exchange information with the other party involved, including names, contact details, insurance information, and vehicle details. Additionally, collect contact information from any witnesses.
- Document the scene – Take pictures of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, and your injuries. This evidence can be valuable in the claims process.
- Call your insurance – Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Provide them with accurate information about the accident.
- Preserve any evidence – Keep all evidence related to the accident, such as medical records, repair estimates, and correspondence with insurance companies. These documents will be vital to showing your losses.
- Don’t make statements – Avoid discussing the accident with the at-fault party’s insurance company without first consulting with our lawyers.
- Rehabilitation and treatment – Follow your medical treatment plan and attend rehabilitation as necessary for your recovery.
Remember that the specific steps you take can vary depending on the circumstances of the accident. In order to help, consider contacting our team of personal injury lawyers. We have experience with all different types of motorcycle accidents, and can help protect your rights and guide you through the legal process.
Get Help From Experienced Tulsa Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
At Ylla | Gosney, we know a motorcycle accident can affect your physical and emotional well-being. Our team of motorcycle accident lawyers in Tulsa will be there to help you gather evidence and present your claim to make sure you get the financial support and care you deserve.
If you or someone you know has experienced injuries in a motorcycle accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
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