Lawton is home to the Museum of the Great Plains and many historic sites like the grave of Geronimo. It’s a relatively quiet suburban area not far from Oklahoma City, and many locals in the area enjoy riding motorcycles. While many riders enjoy their outings without issue, it is possible for any rider of any experience level to be seriously hurt in an accident. A Lawton motorcycle accident lawyer can help if this has happened to you.

Legal Counsel for Motorcycle Accident Victims in Lawton, OK

The attorneys at Fulmer Sill have years of experience representing accident victims in Lawton and throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Motorcycle accident cases can be challenging to resolve due to the severity of the injuries they often cause, and the complex questions of liability that victims can face after these accidents. With our help, you can feel more confident about your upcoming legal proceedings.

According to data from the National Safety Council, motorcyclists accounted for nearly 15% of all traffic accident fatalities and 3.5% of all injuries in the United States in 2022. The risk of serious or fatal injuries is much greater in a motorcycle accident than it is in most other vehicle accidents due to the fact that a rider could be hurt from the primary impact of the other vehicle hitting them and the secondary impact of hitting the road surface.

The Oklahoma Office of Highway Safety recorded 1,285 motorcyclists involved in accidents during 2021, the most recent year for available accident data. These accidents resulted in 76 fatalities and many more injuries, and speeding was cited as one of the most common contributing factors, accounting for about 23% of all motorcycle accidents in the state that year. Other common causes include distracted driving, moving violations, and intoxicated driving.

Fulmer Sill can help you build the strongest possible case if you believe another driver is responsible for causing your recent accident. Our team is committed to providing consistent, reliable legal counsel to every client we represent. Our goal is to maximize your recovery and to do this in a reasonable timeframe, reducing how long you must wait to receive compensation for your damages.

Proving Liability for a Motorcycle Accident in Lawton

Oklahoma is an at-fault state for all vehicle accidents, meaning that if you believe another driver caused your recent accident, you will need to prove fault before you can claim any compensation for the damages they caused. This will be more difficult for some accidents than others, but after any motorcycle accident, having an experienced attorney help you build your case can be a tremendous asset to your recovery efforts.

Your attorney can help you gather the evidence needed to prove the exact cause of your motorcycle accident. It’s possible for one party to bear sole fault or for multiple parties to bear liability. Once you determine liability, your attorney can help you accurately calculate the full scope of the damages you are legally eligible to claim. They can also explain the steps you need to complete in order to obtain your compensation.

Recovering Compensation for Your Damages After a Motorcycle Accident

It’s possible for any motorcycle accident to result in life-changing injuries. The victim could suffer severe bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue damage, friction burns from sliding on the road surface, and damage to internal organs, to name just a few possibilities. The highest quality helmets and safety gear can only mitigate injuries, not prevent them entirely. The victim could be left in severe pain and unable to work while they recover.

Your first option for recovering compensation after a vehicle accident in Lawton is filing a claim to the defendant’s auto insurance carrier. Every Oklahoma driver is required to have auto insurance that meets minimum coverage requirements for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. When a driver causes an accident, their policy can pay for the resulting damages.

Unfortunately, dealing with insurance company representatives can be challenging due to the fact that they will almost always attempt to settle claims for as little as possible. Having an experienced attorney helping you file your claim can significantly improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement offer and securing suitable compensation from the defendant’s insurance policy, but you may need to file a personal injury case for maximum compensation.

Success with any personal injury case in Oklahoma requires proving liability; you must identify the party responsible for causing your injury and prove they caused it in order to hold them accountable for your damages. If you succeed, you can recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages the defendant caused. Economic damages include financial losses such as:

• Medical treatment costs. Most motorcycle accident victims suffer severe injuries, some of which may require ongoing care. Your attorney can help you recover compensation for the cost of any immediate medical treatment you need after your accident, as well as the cost of future care you may need to reach maximum medical improvement from your injuries.
• Lost income. You also have the right to claim compensation for the income you are unable to earn while you recover. Additionally, if you suffer any permanent harm that diminishes your ability to work in the future, you may also have grounds to seek compensation for your lost earning capacity. Your attorney can help you calculate these projected losses.
• Property damage, such as vehicle repair or replacement costs, as well as the cost of any other personal property lost in the accident.

Along with these economic damages, a plaintiff also has the right to seek pain and suffering compensation from the defendant who injured them. Generally, the more severe the injury, the more the plaintiff receives in pain and suffering compensation. Plaintiffs who have suffered catastrophic injuries are likely to obtain substantial pain and suffering compensation as long as they have experienced legal counsel representing them.

Fulmer Sill is ready to provide the compassionate legal counsel you need on your side in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident in Lawton. The first steps you take immediately following your accident are crucial to your recovery, so reach out to our team as quickly as possible to learn how we can help you with your case.

FAQs

Q: What Evidence Do You Need to Prove Fault for a Motorcycle Accident in Lawton?

A: The evidence you may need to prove fault for a motorcycle accident in Lawton depends on how and where the accident occurred. Your attorney can obtain a copy of the police report, and they can also help you secure drivers’ cell phone records, vehicle computer data, and traffic camera footage, if available. Witness statements can also be invaluable to your case. If anyone saw your accident happen, your attorney can obtain their statements to prove fault.

Q: What Happens When a Plaintiff Shares Fault With a Defendant in Oklahoma?

A: When a plaintiff shares fault with a defendant in Oklahoma, the state’s modified comparative fault rule comes into effect. Each liable party has a fault percentage assigned, and if the plaintiff’s fault is less than the defendant’s, the plaintiff can still recover compensation. However, their recovery will be reduced by their fault percentage, and if their fault exceeds the defendant’s, they will be barred from recovering compensation.

Q: How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth in Lawton?

A: The potential value of your motorcycle accident case in Lawton depends on the severity of your injuries and whether you have experienced legal counsel on your side. The right attorney can accurately calculate the total economic damages you can seek from the defendant, and they can help to determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation to include in your case. You are more likely to maximize your recovery with an attorney’s help.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Lawton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

A: You need to hire a Lawton motorcycle accident lawyer to have the greatest chance of success with your case. Even if fault for your accident seems clear, the reality is that your case may be more challenging to resolve than you expect. If you tried to handle your case alone, you would risk jeopardizing your case due to procedural errors or unintentionally settling for less compensation than you legally deserve.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Lawton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Lawton motorcycle accident lawyer will be a percentage of your case award or settlement if you choose Fulmer Sill to represent you. We take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not charge our clients upfront or ongoing fees. Instead, we charge a percentage of the total compensation we recover on our client’s behalf as our fee, and only after we have won their case. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.

The attorneys at Fulmer Sill are committed to empowering our injured clients, providing consistent and reliable legal counsel when they need it most after serious accidents. You have a short time to build your case and pursue compensation for your damages after a vehicle accident, so contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced team of Lawton motorcycle accident lawyers who can help you recover.