Edmond Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Many motorcyclists in Edmond prefer their motorcycles over their other vehicles. However, there are risks for motorcyclists each time they ride. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you might be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages.
Contact McGuire Law Firm at (405) 513-5658 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Edmond motorcycle accident attorneys. We can help you get the compensation you deserve after a motorcycle crash.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident in Edmond?
In addition to protecting you from being wrongly accused of causing the motorcycle accident, your attorney protects you from other insurance tactics used to lower or deny your injury claim. Your lawyer also provides guidance to help you avoid making mistakes that could hurt your motorcycle injury claim.
Some common mistakes that result in an insurance company undervaluing or denying a motorcycle accident claim include:
- Delays in seeking medical care after a motorcycle accident.
- Failing to follow through with your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Providing written or recorded statements to the insurance company.
- Signing a medical records release or HIPAA release for the insurance company.
- Failing to document your injuries, expenses, and losses.
- Posting information online, including using social media accounts.
- Failing to hire an experienced Edmond motorcycle accident attorney to handle your case.
Contact our law firm to find out how we might be able to help you after a motorcycle wreck in Edmond or Oklahoma City, OK. We offer a free case evaluation, so call now.
Get Help From Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Edmond
At McGuire Law Firm, our Edmond personal injury lawyers handle all aspects of your motorcycle accident injury claim. Our lawyers handle all communications with the insurance company and other parties. Our legal team works with you to carefully document your injuries and damages to increase the value of your motorcycle injury claim.
Throughout the entire process, we take steps to reduce your stress while protecting your legal right to fair compensation for your accident claim.
Some common steps we take while working on your case include:
- Investigate the motorcycle crash and gather evidence from eyewitnesses, police reports, videos, accident reports, and other sources.
- Identify the party or parties responsible for the crash and all insurance coverage that may apply in your case.
- File insurance claims with the various companies that have policies that cover your claim.
- Gather evidence regarding damages and injuries.
- Research applicable statutes and case laws.
- Prepare a detailed settlement demand package.
- Negotiate an acceptable settlement with the insurance company and other parties.
- If negotiations fail, prepare and file a motorcycle accident claim seeking full compensation of all damages caused by the motorcycle accident.
Our Edmond motorcycle vehicle accident attorneys treat each case as if they are preparing for court. By doing so, we are always ready and able to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit, if necessary.
We are committed to settling your motorcycle accident claim as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, our skilled and experienced trial attorneys understand that sometimes the only way to protect a client is to proceed with a court action.
How Common are Motorcycle Accidents in Edmond?
Even though the number of motorcycle fatalities decreased by five percent in 2018, riders continue to be “overrepresented in traffic fatalities,” according to the NTHSA. In addition to fatalities, thousands of people are injured in motorcycle crashes each year in the United States.
Motorcycle accidents are common throughout Oklahoma County, including in Edmond. During 2018, 89 people died in Oklahoma motorcycle accidents. Eighteen of the state’s motorcycle fatalities occurred in Oklahoma County.
After a substantial drop in motorcycle fatalities in the state in 2014, motorcycle deaths have remained between 88 to 89 fatalities between 2015 through 2018. May and June tend to have the highest numbers of motorcycle crashes compared to other months of the year. Friday and Saturday had the highest number of crashes each week.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Edmond
Numerous factors can contribute to the cause of a motorcycle accident. Some factors are not within the control of the rider.
For instance, weather and road conditions could be a factor in the cause of a motorcycle crash. However, a motorist driving too fast for conditions could also be to blame for the accident. Determining the cause of the accident is often the key to identifying the parties liable for your injuries and damages.
Common factors that contribute to the cause of Edmond motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted Driving
- Following Too Closely
- Texting While Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Drowsy Driving
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
- Inexperienced Riders and Drivers, and
- Dangerous Road Conditions.
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, do not admit fault. Until our Edmond motorcycle accident lawyer completes an investigation, you cannot be sure whether your actions contributed to the cause of the crash. You may still be entitled to compensation even if you were partially to blame for the cause of the accident.
Can I Recover Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident That is My Fault?
You can recover compensation for a motorcycle accident that is your fault in some cases. Oklahoma’s contributory negligence law states that a victim has to be less than 51 percent responsible for the crash to recover compensation. As long as the other person is more than 51 percent at fault, you can receive money for your claim.
However, the court decreases the amount of compensation you receive for your claim by the percentage of fault assigned to you for the crash. For example, if a jury finds that your negligence contributed to the cause of the crash by 30 percent, the value of your claim decreases by 30 percent.
If the insurance company tries to blame you for your motorcycle accident, contact an Edmond motorcycle accident lawyer immediately. Protecting you from unfair insurance tactics is just one reason why you need a personal injury lawyer for your motorcycle accident claim.
What Damages are Available From a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Each accident claim is unique. It is based on the facts and circumstances of the accident. However, some damages are common in most motorcycle accident cases.
Common damages included in motorcycle accident claims:
- Loss of Income
- Hospital and Physician Bills
- Medications and Medical Equipment
- Physical, Occupational, and Vocational Therapy
- Counseling
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Mental Anguish and Emotional Distress
- Loss of Quality of Life
- Scarring and Disfigurement
- Permanent Impairments and Disabilities
- A Decrease in Enjoyment of Life
Our Edmond motorcycle accident lawyers carefully analyze each of your damages to maximize the value of your claim. In cases involving permanent impairments, you may also be entitled to future loss of income and the cost of ongoing medical and personal care.
You can help us maximize the value of your pain and suffering damages. Begin a journal after your motorcycle accident. Keep notes about your daily pain levels, your emotional struggles, how your injuries impact your relationships, and the limitations caused by your injuries.
We can use information from your journal to help support our claim that the motorcycle accident caused you substantial physical, emotional, and mental suffering in addition to the financial losses you incurred because of the accident.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle injuries tend to be severe. A motorcycle does not have the same level of protection a passenger vehicle provides for occupants. Riders do not have airbags, seatbelts, and other safety features to protect them in the event of a motorcycle crash.
Wearing motorcycle helmets and other protective gear can help reduce the risk of motorcycle injuries. However, they do not always prevent traumatic injuries. Oklahoma only requires riders under 18 years of age to wear motorcycle helmets.
The extent of your injuries directly impacts the value of an injury claim. Therefore, documenting injuries is an essential step in the claims process.
Taking photographs of your injuries after the accident and throughout your recovery can be very helpful in recovering maximum value for your motorcycle accident claim.
Common motorcycle injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Lacerations and Abrasions (Road Rash)
- Neck Injuries
- Concussions and Skull Fractures
- Multiple Fractures and Broken Bones
- Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis
- Internal Organ Damage
- Scarring and Disfigurement
- Broken Vertebrae and Ruptured Discs
- Amputations
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait beyond that time, the Statute of Limitations expires. A defendant can use the Statute of Limitations as a defense to have your lawsuit dismissed.
It is best to consult an Edmond motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after a crash. Waiting too long could result in losing your legal right to hold the person responsible for your motorcycle accident accountable for your injuries. Furthermore, there could be circumstances in your case, which could shorten the time to file a claim, like cases involving government entities.
However, check with an attorney even if it has been more than two years. There could be an exception to the rule, such as in the case of minors injured in motorcycle accidents. Talking to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer is always a wise choice.
Call Our Edmond Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Motorcyclists cannot control the actions of other motorists, the weather, or road conditions. Any number of factors could lead to a debilitating motorcycle accident.
If you are injured in a motorcycle crash, you need an experienced Edmond motorcycle accident attorney to protect your legal right to fair compensation for your injuries. Do not let the insurance company or the other driver prevent you from receiving full compensation for your motorcycle injuries.
Our legal team is ready to help you. Contact McGuire Law Firm to schedule your free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney in Edmond.