Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Tulsa Bicycle Accident Attorney

Riding a bicycle can be a lot of fun and very good for your health, but unfortunately, sharing the road with cars can also be very dangerous. If you have injured by a negligent driver while riding your bike, you know how much of an impact an incident like that can have on your life. If you are in the Tulsa area and find yourself in this situation, enlist the help of an experienced Tulsa bicycle accident lawyer.

At Fulmer Sill, we are dedicated to serving and empowering our clients. As a premier Tulsa personal injury lawyer, we focus on personal injury claims, and it is a point of pride for us to advocate for injury victims to receive the compensation and justice they deserve. Navigating the legal system can be overwhelming and frustrating, but you do not have to do it alone. We are ready to stand beside you every step of the way.

How Common Are Bicycle Accidents?

Bicycling is a part of life for a significant portion of the American public. In 2024, over 112 million Americans reported riding a bicycle. In Tulsa, many people ride bicycles everywhere they need to go, including work, school, and social activities. In fact, over 14,000 Tulsa households do not own a car.

While riding a bicycle is great exercise, eco-friendly, and affordable, the juxtaposition of bicycles and cars is an inevitable one. Cyclists frequently share the road with motorists, which, unfortunately, leads to some run-ins during travel. In 2024 alone, a total of 1,166 cyclists were killed when they were hit by cars while riding.

What Compensation Can You Receive if You Are Injured in Tulsa?

If you sustained an injury from being hit by a motorist while riding your bicycle, you are likely entitled to significant compensation. The motorist’s insurance should include some coverage for such situations, but any compensation you would receive from insurance is unlikely to cover the total of your damages.

Insurance companies generally like to pay as little as they can to protect their bottom lines. In real terms, this often looks like denying claims they should accept or underpaying claims for which they should fully compensate. An insurance company may even try to shift blame to the victim as well, calling into question their client’s liability for the accident and therefore the injury.

In this situation, the next step is to file a personal injury claim. Compensation for personal injury claims is usually comprehensive. The goal with any settlement is to return your life, as much as possible, to the way it was before the accident and offset any financial burden the accident has caused. The general categories of personal injury compensation, which all apply to personal injury claims related to bicycle accidents in Tulsa, are described below. 

Medical Bills

The cost of medical care following a bicycle accident injury can be exorbitant. From initial medical bills, such as an ambulance ride, emergency surgery, or other immediate interventions, to ongoing expenses like physical therapy or adaptive equipment, the financial burden can become very heavy.

In a settlement for a personal injury, compensation for medical bills should cover all costs associated with medical treatment for the injury. This means every bill from the moment of the accident to the point of maximum recovery, and possibly beyond if the injury is catastrophic or significantly life-altering, should be taken care of by the settlement.

Lost Wages

Most people cannot afford to miss a single paycheck, or even a single day of work. If you are injured in an accident, there is a good chance you’ll be out of work, at least for a little while. Any compensation you receive from your personal injury claim should offset any wages you lose while you are injured and recovering.

In some cases, injuries are so severe that a victim permanently loses the ability to do the job they were doing before the accident. In these cases, compensation for lost wages may include actualized lost wages as well as potential lost wages. Depending on the victim’s line of work and work history, potential lost wages can be estimated based on the victim’s level of education, previous career success, and likely career trajectory.

Pain and Suffering

It may seem strange to quantify pain and suffering, but this is a standard component of settlements for personal injury cases. When people are injured, they experience the physical pain of the injury as well as psychological pain, fear, and trauma resulting from the accident and the injury. Pain and suffering compensation are meant to acknowledge and offset these hardships as much as is realistic.

What to Do if You Are Hit While Riding a Bicycle in Tulsa

If you are hit by a car while riding a bicycle in Tulsa, the first thing to do is seek any medical attention you need. Your health is the most important thing, and everything else can wait. If you are able, you should call the police to report the incident. Hopefully, an officer can quickly respond to the scene and take statements from everyone involved.

If you are in a position to do so, the next thing you should do is get the driver’s insurance information. Oklahoma is an at-fault state when it comes to car accidents. This means that the person who is found to be liable for an accident is ultimately legally responsible for any damages that result from it. Because of this structure, insurance companies generally do not pay out any claims until they receive official reports from law enforcement regarding fault for a crash.

Often, at the scene of an accident, there are other people around who may have witnessed the crash. If this is the case, it is also a good idea to get the names and contact information of anyone who may be able to provide a witness statement to corroborate your version of events.

Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Tulsa, OK

The next step is to hire a bicycle accident lawyer. The sooner you seek legal counsel, the sooner you can receive the advice you need to navigate your next steps with confidence. Your attorney may advise you on how and when to communicate with the motorist’s insurance company, how to document expenses, and when to file a personal injury claim.

The vast majority of personal injury claims never reach the inside of a courtroom. If the case is legitimate, it is usually easier and simpler for the defendant to settle out of court rather than going through the trial process, paying associated fees, and being ordered to pay compensation anyway.

However, if your case does go to trial, your lawyer can present your side and represent you in court. Bicycle accident injury cases are typically heard at the Tulsa County Courthouse, 500 S Denver Ave. in Tulsa.

FAQs About Tulsa, OK Bicycle Accident Laws

How Much Does a Bicycle Accident Lawyer Cost in Tulsa?

The cost to hire a bicycle accident lawyer in Tulsa can vary depending on the complexity of the case and individual attorneys’ rates and fee structures. However, most lawyers who take personal injury cases do so on a contingency basis. They do not require any up-front payment from the client. Instead, they take a percentage of any settlement they secure in the case.

How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?

Pain and suffering are generally calculated using either the multiplier method, the per diem method, or a combination of the two. In the multiplier method, the total financial losses the victim has suffered are multiplied by a number chosen based on the overall impact of the injury on the victim’s life. In the per diem method, the calculation is based on the victim’s typical daily earnings.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case?

There is no simple answer for how long it might take to settle a personal injury case. Personal injury cases usually cannot be completely settled until the victim has reached a point of maximum recovery, or a point at which further progress, from a medical perspective, is not likely. Depending on the severity of the injury, this can take years.

Are Motorists Always Found Liable for Collisions with Bicyclists?

No, motorists are not always found liable for collisions with bicyclists. Sometimes, the person on the bike is the one not following the rules of the road. If someone is driving a car and a bike suddenly swerves in front of them, leaving no time to react, the driver likely would not be found liable for that accident. While a collision with a car is particularly dangerous for someone on a bike, that does not mean that such crashes are always the driver’s fault.

Contact A Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer at Fulmer Sill Today

If you have been injured by a driver while riding your bicycle, you may feel like your life has come to a stop. Between mounting medical bills, lost wages, and psychological trauma, an incident like that can have a profound effect on a person. You deserve the compensation you need to put the pieces back together. Contact Fulmer Sill today and find out how we can empower you.