Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident Attorney

There are hundreds of motorcyclists involved in crashes throughout the state of Oklahoma every year, with many of these accidents causing serious injuries and consequences. Indeed, there is no doubt that a severe motorcycle crash has the potential to result in severe injuries, some of which may be life threatening.

At the Owens Law Office, PC, our Oklahoma City motorcycle accident lawyers have seen the effects that a motorcycle crash can have on motorcyclists and their families, and know how devastating the losses typically are. Further, we know that the majority of motorcycle crashes are caused by negligence, and would never happen but for a failure–typically of a driver–to exercise enough care.

If you have been in a motorcycle crash, our team is here to guide you through your options and help you to understand how you can recover compensation for your losses. Contact our law firm to schedule your free, confidential consultation today.

Top Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

As stated above, the majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of one of the parties involved, often the driver of the passenger vehicle. Acts of negligence that may lead to a motorcycle crash include, but are not limited to:

• Driving/operating while intoxicated, impaired, or fatigued;
• Distracted driving;
• Use of a cellphone or other handheld device;
• Speeding;
• Failure to yield;
• Driving aggressively; and
• Failure to adhere to posted traffic signs and traffic laws.

In some cases, motorcycle accidents may also be caused by things like lane-splitting, road defects like potholes, loose gravel, improperly marked turns and construction zones, or debris in the road.

Damages from a Motorcycle Crash

When a crash between a motorcyclist and the operator of a passenger car occurs, it is almost always the motorcyclist who suffers the most severe of damages. A motorcyclist struck by a car may be pinned between the car and another object, thrown off of their motorcycle, or literally be run over. As such, a crash may cause injuries such as:

• Severe road rash/road burn;
• Facial and scalp injuries;
• Head and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), the risk of which is increased if the motorcyclist is not wearing a helmet;
• Bone fracture injuries;
• Limb or extremity amputation;
• Internal injuries, including injuries to internal organs and serious bleeding; and
• Back, neck, spine, and spinal cord injuries.

The above injury types lead to two types of “damages,” which is the term that is used to refer to a victim’s losses when they suffer a personal injury. Damages available in a motorcycle claim include economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages that a motorcyclist may incur are medical expenses, future medical expenses and costs of therapy, property damage, and lost wages. Noneconomic damages that are common are disability, disfigurement, pain, suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of quality of life. Our law firm is prepared to help you obtain the full value of both your economic and noneconomic losses if you have been injured in a motorcycle crash.

Proving Fault for a Motorcycle Accident

The steps to take after a motorcycle accident are the same as those for a car accident: an injured party should seek medical care, ensure that the accident is reported to the police, gather evidence, and notify the insurance company as soon as possible. The party who caused the accident is responsible for paying for damages to the other party (see laws about comparative fault in Oklahoma Code Section 23-13). This means that if you have been in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver, you can bring a claim against that driver’s liability insurance, or file a lawsuit directly against the other driver for compensation.

In order to recover your full compensation award, you will need to prove that your accident (and therefore, your damages) would not have happened but for the actions of the other driver. In order to prove this, our attorneys work hard to gather all relevant evidence, such as photos of the accident scene including skid marks and traffic signs, police reports, any video footage that exists, the vehicle’s electronic control module data, witnesses’ testimonies, and more. We can also hire accident reconstruction experts who know how to piece together exactly what happened and prove it.

Our Experienced Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Are Here for You

If you have been harmed in a motorcycle accident in Oklahoma City, please contact our compassionate Oklahoma City motorcycle accident lawyers for a free consultation. When you have lost hundreds or thousands’ of dollars worth of medical expenses and lost wages, and when you have suffered noneconomic losses and are facing long-term disability, you deserve to be compensated. Our aggressive legal team has trial experience, and knows what it takes to get our clients the settlements they need. Reach us today online or by phone to schedule your first meeting with our law firm today.