MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and have sustained bodily injuries or extensive property damage, you may benefit from the help of a qualified personal injury attorney. In Oklahoma, although the number of fatal motorcycle crashes has decreased over the last ten years, there were still over 1,200 individuals involved in a motorcycle-related crash in 2019. At Wilson Law Firm PLLC in Shawnee, Oklahoma, I can guide you toward the financial compensation you and your family deserve after a motorcycle accident throws your life upside down.

Steps to Take If You Were In a Motorcycle Accident

Being involved in an accident is traumatic, even if the injuries sustained are minor. Regardless, it’s important to take the following steps to ensure your well-being and that any damage to your property is fairly compensated.

• Seek Medical Help. The most important thing to do is make sure everyone involved is okay. Even if you don’t feel you’ve been injured, you should still see a doctor for an evaluation since crash-related injuries can show up days or even weeks down the road.

• Document and Obtain Documents of Everything. If the police were present, it’s likely they’ll want a written record of the incident from both parties. In addition to this, keep documentation of any other drivers who were involved in the accident as well as medical records or repair costs to your motorcycle.

• Contact Insurance. All parties involved in an accident should report it to their insurance company within a few days.

• Hire a Personal Injury Attorney. Insurance claims can only do so much to reimburse your costs and see to it that your long-term well-being isn’t negatively affected. If you’re in the Chandler, Norman, Okemah, Ada, or Shawnee, Oklahoma area, I can assist you in filing your claim.
  
  
  

Oklahoma Motorcycle Laws

Motorcycles must follow the rules of the road just like cars, but there are additional laws they must obey as well. Make sure you’re in compliance with the below laws to eliminate potential complications with your case.

• Lane Splitting: Lane splitting (riding in between two lanes of traffic) is illegal in Oklahoma.

• Helmet laws: If you’re over the age of 18, you can decide whether or not you wear a helmet. If you choose not to, you must wear some kind of eye protection like goggles, and your motorcycle must have a windscreen.

• Passengers: Passengers are allowed for riders over the age of 16, on motorbikes with two seats and two sets of footrests, and with wheels with a 12 inch or larger diameter.

• Liability Coverage: Every driver must carry the following in liability insurance:

$25,000 for death or injury to a single person

$50,000 for death or injury to multiple people

$25,000 to cover property damage

Determining Fault

Oklahoma is an at-fault state, which means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying all medical costs or property damage. There are, however, circumstances when a jury determines the fault should be shared between the drivers. This is referred to as modified comparative negligence. When this happens, the settlement amount owed to you will be amended to reflect your portion of the liability. For example, if the settlement paid out $100,000 but you were responsible for 25%, you’d only receive $75,000. If your proportion of the fault exceeds that of the other driver, you won’t be able to receive any settlement.

Filing a Claim for a Loved One

Under Oklahoma law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim against the other driver. A family member can also file a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim on your behalf if the accident left you incapacitated or resulted in death. If this is the case, they have two years from the date of death to file suit. Regardless of who files, you will need to prove negligence of the other party in a court of law.