Bicycle AccidentsOklahoma City Bike Accident Lawyer
Bicycling provides a great form of exercise and a great way to save money on gas. There’s a downside, of course—bicycling can be extremely dangerous, particularly on busy roads. Cars and trucks weighing upwards of 2,000 pounds have a devastating effect when they collide with exposed and highly vulnerable bicyclists. To make matters worse, in Oklahoma bicycle lanes are sorely lacking. Little wonder, then, that 11 bicyclists were killed and thousands more injured in 2009 alone in the state of Oklahoma.
What factors contribute to crashes between cars and/or trucks and bicycles? Driver error is often responsible. Such mistakes include:
- Failure to yield right of way
- Failure to provide adequate space when passing a bicycle
- Failure to see a cyclist at an intersection
- Making a right turn in front of a bicyclist who is traveling in the identical direction
- Turning left into an approaching bicyclist
In some cases, driver "error" may constitute driver negligence. Injuries to bicyclists can be quite severe, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Head trauma
- Spinal trauma
- Broken and/or fractured bones
- Severe lacerations
- Disfigurement
- Concussion
- Paralysis
Many of these injuries require ongoing and complex medical care, which can be extraordinarily expensive. So much so that the cost of such care can prove financially devastating for the injured cyclist as well has his or her family members.
Ready for some good news? Bicyclists can obtain compensation to cover medical expenses, necessary medications, future medical care, lost wages, and diminished quality of life. Claims for compensation can be made against the vehicle’s driver, the driver’s insurance company, and third parties whose negligence may have been a contributing factor in the accident.
If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident in Oklahoma, there are certain steps you should take to maximize your chances of receiving compensation. Some of these include:
- Contact the police as soon as possible
- Insist the responding officer file an accident report. If the officer won’t file a report, do so yourself as soon as possible
- Get medical attention for your injuries immediately
- Try to get as much information as possible about the driver who injured you You’ll want the driver’s name, telephone number, address, vehicle information and insurance company
- If there are any witnesses to the crash, try to obtain their names and contact information
- If you have a cell phone with you, use it to take pictures of your injuries, the scene of the accident, and damage to your bike and the vehicle that hit you
Finally, you should contact the Oklahoma bicycle accident lawyers at Hasbrook & Hasbrook as soon as possible. We have years of experience helping bicyclists in Oklahoma receive every penny of compensation they deserve. For a free evaluation of your case, contact us today.
