Stillwater Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Personal Injury Representation Throughout Payne County, Guthrie, Pawnee, Perry, Ponca City, and all of Oklahoma State.
If you were injured by a vehicle while riding your bike, you may have a claim. Let our experienced Stillwater bicycle accident lawyer fight the insurance companies to earn you the rightful compensation.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you may be feeling immense pain and stress. It is not good to have a lot of stress about medical bills and lost wages while you are trying to heal; stress slows down the healing process. That is why we want you to call our Stillwater bicycle accident lawyer today so we can take the stress of dealing with the insurance company off of your shoulders. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there’s no cost to you unless we win. We want to be a champion for your bicycle accident claim and get you compensation that you deserve.
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Oklahoma Personal Injury Guide
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Important First Steps
The first thing you need to know after a bicycle accident is the importance of getting to a doctor and receiving medical care. There are a couple reasons why you need to do this. The most important reason is your own health. You do not want to go on with an undetected injury. There are certain injuries that you might not notice right away, or you do notice but you try to brush them off. They can turn into really awful conditions that affect you permanently.
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Some injuries you may take some time to notice include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, including concussion
- Damage to internal organs
- Neck and back injuries
You might think that it is impossible for you to have one of these injuries and not notice it, but it happens more often than you would think. For instance, if you had damage to your internal organs, you might first think it was a sore muscle from getting whipped around, but that pain progresses a day or so later and you’re in immense pain. The same thing goes with neck injuries. What you declare as whiplash might turn up as a ruptured disc in your spine later on. For these reasons, it is so very important to get yourself looked at.
Injuries that you might notice immediately are:
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Sprains and strains
Getting to the doctor to get a complete check out is not only of benefit to your health, it is a benefit for your case when you file it. Telling the doctor all of your symptoms is a way of officially recording your injuries so that later on, we can show the insurance company all of your injuries and the severity of them and that you have gotten or have been getting medical treatment for them. This will make your case stronger against the insurance companies who want to keep you from getting the compensation you deserve.
Avoiding Making Case-Ruining Mistakes
Your biggest adversary is going to be the insurance company. They are not interested in your well being or getting you back to fighting shape. They are most concerned with their bottom line. Because of that, they will take any opportunity they can get to either make you seem at fault for your accident, or claim that you aren’t as injured as you say you are. Not going to see the doctor in a timely manner will only help the insurance company when they say you’re not really hurt. They’ll say, “If you could wait to see the doctor, you couldn’t have been in that much pain.”
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Another thing to be aware of with insurance companies doing all they can to throw out your claim is when they try to call you after the accident and get a statement from you. They are trained to ask you loaded questions. They will lead you into saying something that you might think is innocuous but ends up being detrimental to your case. In order to avoid saying something that will end your claim, don’t say anything to them at all. Don’t answer their questions or willingly give them a statement without having an attorney present. An experienced attorney should give them a statement on your behalf. We know what to say to avoid putting you in a position to lose a claim.
A big mistake happens when people find out about the statute of limitations. In Oklahoma, you have two years after your bicycle accident to file a claim. We have had clients call us a week before this two year limitation runs out and we are unable to help them. While you technically have two years, you do not want to wait. Calling an attorney as soon as possible will only help you to build a stronger case against the insurance company.
Getting Compensation for Your Bicycle Accident
You can get compensation for a multitude of things including your medical bills (past and future), your property damage, pain and suffering (past and future), lost wages, and loss of normal life. What you should know about Oklahoma is that we do not have No Fault coverage. If we did, your medical bills would be covered regardless of who caused the accident. That means you need to be concerned with where the money is going to come from, so trying not to make mistakes in your case will be vital. Your Stillwater bicycle accident lawyer will help you through this. They will fight to keep your liability down. You don’t want to get pinned for this.
Oklahoma is a shared fault state meaning you can receive compensation if you are at fault, but if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you will be barred from receiving any compensation — at 50% or less, you can still recover. Your medical bills will not be covered, your pain and suffering will not be covered, and you will be responsible for those costs if your fault exceeds that threshold. With the help of an experienced Stillwater bicycle accident lawyer, you can get the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Bicycle Accident Questions
What’s the difference between a bicycle accident claim and a car accident claim?
While both types of cases involve the same categories of damages, bicycle riders have no physical protection compared to someone in a vehicle, so injuries in a bicycle accident tend to be more severe. Determining fault can also be more complex, often involving factors like road conditions, bicycle laws, and a driver’s duty of care toward cyclists. Because of this added severity and complexity, it’s important to hire an attorney sooner rather than later — someone who will investigate your case personally, connect you with the right medical providers, and answer your questions directly rather than handing your case off to a junior associate.
What mistakes should I avoid after a bicycle accident?
The most common mistake is not seeking medical treatment early enough, or not following a doctor’s recommendations once treatment begins — this can make it look like your injuries weren’t as serious as you claim. The second mistake is waiting too long to hire an attorney. An experienced attorney handles all communication with the insurance company for you and makes sure you understand your case fully, so you’re not left guessing or missing important calls while dealing with work, family, or recovery.
How do I choose the best attorney for my bicycle accident claim?
Look for an attorney with specific experience handling bicycle accident cases, who will connect you with the right medical care and specialists, and who understands how difficult it is to be injured while trying to maintain your normal life. Just as importantly, find someone you feel comfortable with and confident in — not an attorney who will hand your case off to a junior associate you never hear from again.
What damages are available in a bicycle accident claim?
You may be entitled to past and future medical bills, past and future pain and suffering, and compensation for any permanent disability or impairment. If you can no longer do the things you enjoyed before the accident, or spend time with family the way you used to, you can be compensated for that loss as well. You can also recover lost wages for time missed from work, including time off for medical appointments. An attorney can walk you through everything you may be entitled to before you consider any early settlement.
Does my auto insurance protect me in case of a bike accident?
Yes — and even if you believe you may share some responsibility for the accident, you can still recover compensation as long as you’re found 50% or less at fault. In these situations, a focus group can be a valuable tool to help evaluate the facts and circumstances and provide insight into how a jury might view the allocation of fault.
Do I have a claim if I’m injured on a bike due to a pothole?
Yes — if a defective road was wholly or partially responsible for your accident, you may have a claim against the city or county. An attorney will need to investigate whether that section of road has caused other wrecks, and whether the city, county, or state had prior notice of the hazard. If there’s a pattern of prior incidents at the same location that were never addressed, the government entity responsible for maintaining that road can be held accountable.
Who can I sue for my injuries in a bicycle accident?
If you were hit by a vehicle while cycling, you generally have a claim against the driver. However, cyclists are held to the same rules of the road as drivers — signaling, stopping at signs, yielding at yield signs, and riding with traffic — so an investigation is needed to determine whether local rules (such as riding on sidewalks or against traffic) affect your case. An attorney can help determine the specific rules that apply in your area and how they impact your claim.
How do I determine the value of my bicycle accident case?
Case value can’t be determined right away — it depends on the severity of your injuries, your recovery, whether you have any permanent impairment, and the specific circumstances of the accident. An experienced attorney can walk you through all the factors that go into a fair valuation and work to maximize your settlement once those factors are known.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma gives you a two-year statute of limitations to file a bicycle accident claim, but you shouldn’t wait anywhere near that long to make a decision. Hiring an attorney early gives them time to properly investigate your case, negotiate with the insurance company, preserve evidence, and connect you with the right doctors — waiting until close to the deadline leaves little room for any of that to happen effectively.
Contact Our Office Today
If you are looking for a skilled Stillwater bicycle accident lawyer, please call our office today to schedule your free consultation with James Murray. You do not have to go at this alone. Avoid making any errors and call our office today. We will make sure we get you the compensation you deserve — there’s no fee unless we win.