Oklahoma City Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Bicycle-Vehicle Accidents in Oklahoma

Every year, hundreds of bicyclists in Oklahoma are involved in collisions with motor vehicles. Statistics show that the vast majority of these collisions occur on city streets and in urban areas—yet bicycle-vehicle accidents in rural areas, including on highways and country roads, are not unheard of.

If you or your loved one was involved in a bicycle accident, regardless of where the crash occurred, you could be entitled to financial compensation. If the motorist (or another party) was at fault for the collision, our team at Fulmer Sill can help you hold them accountable for the immense physical, emotional, and financial hardships they have caused you to endure. Our Oklahoma City bicycle accident attorneys have extensive experience representing injured cyclists and the families of those involved in fatal accidents throughout the state. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients, and we are ready to fight tirelessly for the full, fair compensation you are owed.

Contact us online using our secure submission form, or call (405) 433-7414 to schedule a complimentary consultation with a member of our team.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in OKC

The steps that you take after a bicycle accident are very important. Based on your decisions, you could help preserve your health and the validity of any injury claim you decide to file against the liable party later.

If you’re ever in a bicycle accident in Oklahoma City, you should:

1. Check on everyone: Your immediate priority should be your safety. Move to a safe location away from traffic if possible. See if anyone needs help, but don’t do anything that puts you in more danger.
2. Contact the authorities: Call the police and report the accident or dial 911 if anyone is seriously injured. An official police report will document the incident and provide valuable evidence for any future claims.
3. Gather information: Collect as much information as possible at the scene, such as contact details like the names and insurance information of all parties involved. Record the details of any witnesses, including their contact information, too. Don’t forget to photograph the accident scene, your bicycle, any other vehicles involved, and any visible injuries.
4. See a medical professional: Even if you think you’re okay, go to a medical center for an evaluation as soon as possible after the crash. You could have underlying injuries that need medical attention. Also, your claim will be stronger if it shows in your medical record that you suffered certain injuries due to a bicycle accident, as noted by a doctor’s conclusion.
5. Preserve evidence: Keep your damaged bicycle and gear as they were after the accident. Don’t repair or alter anything before consulting with a legal professional.
6. Talk with an attorney: Contact an experienced bicycle accident lawyer at Fulmer Sill. We can guide you through the process of filing a claim, starting with notifying your insurance company about the accident, if any such notifications are required. Don’t talk to the driver’s insurance company without talking to us first, too.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

Negligence is, by far, the most common cause of bicycle accidents. This negligence takes many forms, and both bicyclists and motorists can be negligent, leading to a crash. However, motorists more often bear a larger share of the blame, as they have a greater responsibility to drive carefully and avoid any actions that could cause a collision with a bicyclist. This is because bicyclists are far less protected than the occupants of passenger vehicles and, therefore, are at a much greater risk of being catastrophically injured or killed when involved in an accident with a car, motorcycle, truck, or another vehicle.

Some examples of negligent driving behaviors that frequently lead to bicycle accidents include:

• Driving while distracted
• Using a cellphone or texting while driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to keep a proper lookout for bicyclists
• Speeding
• Aggressive or reckless driving
• Tailgating, or following too closely
• Failing to yield the right of way to a bicyclist
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Driving in a designated bike lane
• Failing to properly share the road with bicyclists
• Driving while fatigued or drowsy
• Failing to leave adequate space when overtaking a bicyclist
• Engaging in road rage

Sometimes, outside factors other than motorist negligence contribute to—or even cause—bicycle accidents. These include poorly maintained roadways, potholes, cracks in the asphalt, defective road construction or design, blind curves, unsafe speed limits, and poor visibility.

Dangerous Intersections for Bicycle Accidents in OKC

Oklahoma City is not a “Vision Zero Action Plan” city yet; it was only recently awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve its roadway safety with a focus on pedestrians and bicyclists. As such, the city does not keep clear records of where bicycle accidents occur. However, an analysis of traffic collision reports from law enforcement and first responders working in OKC reveals which streets and intersections see the most accidents, injuries, and fatalities in an average year—and most point at one problem road.

The most dangerous intersections in Oklahoma City are where Northwest Expressway meets these streets:

• Belle Isle Boulevard
• Rockwell
• Portland
• Northwest 63^rd Street
• Lake Hefner Parkway (east and west)
• Pennsylvania Avenue

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries

Bicycle accidents often result in severe or life-changing injuries suffered by the bicyclist. A helmet and protective gear can only do so much to protect from the impact of a vehicle, after all.

Common types of injuries suffered by bicyclists include:

• Head injuries: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may be suffered in a bicycle accident, even if the bicyclist was wearing a properly fitted helmet.
• Fractures: Broken bones suffered in a bicycle accident may result in lifelong complications or pain. Arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones are the most commonly broken in bicycle accidents.
• Soft tissue injuries: A bicyclist may suffer serious soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and contusions affecting muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
• Road rash: Road rash is a severe injury caused by skidding on pavement. It can be fatal if not treated immediately, and severe infections may develop even if treatments are given promptly.
• Spinal injuries: Damage to the spinal cord or vertebrae, potentially leading to paralysis or long-term disability, may occur if a bicyclist is struck by a heavy vehicle and thrown onto the asphalt.
• Internal injuries: Damage to internal organs may not be immediately apparent, so anyone who has been hurt in a bicycle accident should seek medical attention right away.

Who Is Liable for a Bicycle Accident?

As with most personal injury claims, determining who is liable for your bicycle accident is a critical element of your case. This allows you to pursue compensation from the liable party, either by filing a claim with their insurance company or suing the liable party directly for damages.

The facts of your case—including how the accident occurred, whether any additional factors contributed to the crash, and even your degree of fault (if any) in causing the accident—all determine who is liable for your resulting damages. Often, the motorist involved is responsible, as motorists have a strict duty of care to bicyclists. However, if you are found partially at fault for the crash, you may be unable to file a personal injury claim. Under Oklahoma’s rule of modified comparative negligence, you are unable to recover compensation if you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault for the accident.

For example, if a bicyclist was hit by a speeding motorist, but the bicyclist failed to stop completely at a stop sign, the insurance adjuster may assign the bicyclist 40 percent of the blame. If the bicyclist suffered severe injuries and damages amounting to $100,000, they would only be able to recover up to 60 percent of this amount, or $60,000. In other words, their total recoverable damages would be reduced by 40 percent.

What Compensation Is Available for Victims of Bicycle Accidents?

Sadly, bicyclists tend to suffer catastrophic, life-changing injuries when they are involved in collisions with large, heavy, fast-moving vehicles. Victims are often left facing enormous medical bills, and many are out of work for weeks, months, or even years as a result of their injuries.

At Fulmer Sill, we understand the immense hardships you and your family are facing. Our Oklahoma City bicycle accident lawyers are here to help you fight for every penny you are owed. Our collaborative and aggressive approach has helped us recover millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, including numerous million- and multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts.

Depending on the specific details of your case, we can help you seek compensation for the following damages:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Past, current, and future lost earnings
• Past, current, and future pain and suffering
• Lost earning capacity and future income
• Diminished enjoyment/quality of life
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket costs associated with your injuries

If your loved one passed away due to a fatal bicycle accident, we can assist you in filing a wrongful death claim and seeking the justice you and your family deserve.

Why You Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Technically and legally speaking, you don’t need to hire a bicycle accident lawyer. You have the right to represent yourself in civil court and all relevant processes like dealing with the liable party’s insurance provider and defense counsel. However, most people who are hurt in bicycle accidents decide that a bicycle accident attorney’s services and representation are a necessity because they simply don’t have the time, energy, or resources to handle a claim properly on their own.

What an Oklahoma City Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Do for You

If you hire a bicycle accident lawyer from Fulmer Sill, we can help with:

• Case investigation: We can begin by conducting a thorough investigation of the bicycle accident, and gathering evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and medical records.
• Compensation calculation: Let us accurately determine the value of your claim, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
• Liability determination: Identifying all parties responsible for the accident, including motorists, municipalities, or manufacturers of faulty equipment, allows us to file against the right defendants.
• Insurance conversations: Save yourself a lot of stress by letting us handle communications with insurance companies, including making any initial reports.
• Medical coordination: In some cases, we may be able to help you get follow-up medical care with experts that we trust, such as physical therapy from local professionals.
• Settlement negotiations: We can attempt to negotiate a favorable settlement without the need for litigation but prepare to take the case to court if necessary.
• Courtroom representation: If your case goes to court, we’ll be ready to provide representation during the trial.
• Client support: Of course, throughout the legal process, you can depend on us for support that balances genuine compassion with trusted professionalism. You’re not just our client, you’re a local friend in need.

How to Choose a Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Choosing a bicycle accident lawyer to get your case moving is important, but choosing the right one for you and your case is crucial. You should find a lawyer you feel you can trust because they will be handling sensitive information and representing you before the court and opposing counsel. If you don’t trust them to do that how you prefer, then your case is going to be more stressful than it has to be. At Fulmer Sill, we always enjoy hearing from new clients, sitting down with them, hearing their stories, and really taking the time necessary to build trust, so they can feel confident in choosing us for their cases.

When choosing a bicycle accident attorney, you should consider their:

• Experience: Look for a lawyer who has specific experience with bicycle accident cases and who has been practicing for years. In an injury claim, real-world experience matters.
• Track record of success: Review the lawyer’s or law firm’s history of case results, including settlements and verdicts specifically for bicycle accident cases. Past results can’t guarantee future wins, but they do show what the attorney is capable of achieving in cases similar to yours.
• Client testimonials and reviews: Consider feedback from previous clients through testimonials and online reviews. Positive reviews and high client satisfaction are good indicators of the lawyer’s reliability and effectiveness in putting together a compelling case. See if there are any reviews specifically from bicycle accident clients.
• Communication and availability: Your lawyer should be approachable. The importance of clear communication cannot be overstated.

Reach out to the team at Fulmer Sill today for a free, no-obligation consultation: (405) 433-7414. Hablamos español.

Oklahoma City Bicycle Accident Resources

Important local resources and locations for those injured in a bicycle accident:

• Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City*:
  • Location: 4300 W Memorial Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73120
  • Phone: 405-755-1515
  • More information: https://www.mercy.net/practice/mercy-hospital-oklahoma-city/
• INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center*:
  • Location: 3300 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
  • Phone: 405-949-3011
  • More information: https://baptist.integrishealth.org/
• Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office:
  • Location: 2101 NE 36^th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111
  • Phone: 405-713-1000
  • More information: https://www.oklahomacounty.org/elected-offices/sheriff
• Oklahoma County Courthouse:
  • Location: 320 Robert S Kerr Ave STE 203, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
  • Phone: 405-270-0082
  • More information: https://www.oklahomacounty.org/

*Fulmer Sill is not sponsored or endorsed by or affiliated or partnered with any of the medical centers on this list. We care about our community, so we are providing this information as a potential resource that may help our neighbors who have been injured in an accident.