Oklahoma Motorcycle Accident Injury Law Library - Self & Associates

Motorcycles are popular modes of transportation, and have become even more so during recent years with the rising price of gasoline making efficient motorcycles more popular choices for people. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are very dangerous, resulting in serious accidents, including brain injury, spine injury, serious abrasion, and amputation injury.

About three-quarters of motorcycle accidents are related to another vehicle (more than 80% are passenger cars). In 78% of fatal motorcycle accidents, the point of impact is at the front of the motorcycle. Most often, the vehicle turns into the path of the oncoming motorcycle. This is more likely when the car is making a left-hand turn in front of the motorcycle.

While only about a quarter of motorcycle accidents do not involve another vehicle, these accidents are serious, and preventable. Most single-bike accidents are due to rider inexperience on their bike. Most motorcycle accident victims reportedly had less than five months on this particular bike. However, a recent study suggests that motorcycle training may not reduce motorcycle accident risk. Perhaps the only way to gain experience is to be out on the road on your bike. It is important to be careful during your learning period to avoid suffering serious injury as a result of a motorcycle accident.

If you suffered a motorcycle accident injury due to the fault of another driver, an injury lawyer may be able to help you get compensation.

To learn more about your legal rights and options from a lawyer, please contact Self & Associates in Oklahoma City today for a free initial consultation.

There are over seven million motorcycles in operation in the U.S., making it more important than ever for drivers of cars and trucks to be aware and share the road. While there is no question as to whether motorcyclists have the right to the same access as all other licensed drivers, motorcycles need special consideration from riders and drivers alike.

Motorcycle riders are not as protected by their vehicles, and may suffer much more serious injury when motorcycle accidents do happen. They are also far more likely to have serious problems due to road hazards. Riding takes far more physical ability and skill than driving, and the consequences for small mistakes are often much greater. Minor mechanical problems may be overlooked in many cars and trucks, but when a motorcycle has brake or alignment problems, the results can be catastrophic.

As a rider, it is imperative that you keep your motorcycle in tip-top condition, always wear a helmet, and follow all traffic safety laws, but the actions of other drivers and manufacturers will always have an effect on your safety. A motorcycle accident can have a serious and lengthy impact on your quality of life. Motorcycle accident fatalities are on the rise, and even the most conscientious rider may run into serious trouble due to a careless car or truck driver.

If you or a family member has suffered a serious injury or fatality in a motorcycle accident, a personal injury attorney may be able to help you. If you are in the Oklahoma City area, please contact Self & Associates for a free initial consultation.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office reports that over 1,300 people were injured in motorcycle accidents in 2011 and 95 people were killed. With this many motorcycle accidents on our roadways every year, you should be prepared for the insurance issues that can arise. You will want a motorcycle accident lawyer to help you navigate the insurance system and fight for your legal rights.

Under Oklahoma law all drivers are required to carry insurance coverage, and motorcyclists must either carry insurance or keep a deposit of the correct amount with the Department of Public Safety or an Oklahoma bank. nDespite these laws, some people drive on our roadways without isurance. When you're involved in a motorcycle accident, you will probably have serious or catastrophic injuries and shouldn't be left to pay your medical expenses on your own just because the other driver neglected to obey the law.

At Self & Associates, our motorcycle accident lawyers are experienced with negotiating with insurance adjusters and pursuing your legal case as far as it needs to go to get you the compensation you need for recovery.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact Self & Associates for your free consultation with an Oklahoma City motorcycle accident lawyer.

Due to riders’ lack of protection, motorcycle accidents have a higher risk for resulting in severe injuries or death than traffic accidents involving passenger vehicles.

In addition to their general vulnerability, motorcyclists often do not see the approach of other vehicles that lead to motorcycle accidents. Most motorcycle accidents are caused by the failure of another driver to notice a motorcycle, which can catch the rider unaware and unable to prepare for impact.

Riders are often ejected in motorcycle accidents, and these collisions can result in multiple, severe injuries to motorcyclists. In addition to cuts and lacerations, motorcycle accidents frequently result in severe injuries including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken or fractured bones
• Paralysis
• Loss of limb

A number of studies, including those by insurance agencies and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), indicate that more than 75 percent of accidents involving motorcycles cause serious injury or death to the motorcycle operator. According to an NHTSA study, motorcyclists have a fatality rate approximately 20 times higher than those in passenger vehicles.

If you were injured or a family member suffered wrongful death in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver, it’s important to contact a personal injury attorney well-versed in motorcycle accidents as soon as possible.

Oklahoma personal injury attorney James Self has more than 30 years of experience helping motorcycle accident victims get the financial compensation they need to recover. If you live in the Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Midwest City or Tulsa areas and were injured in a motorcycle accident that was the result of another driver’s negligence, please visit the website of the Oklahoma personal injury attorneys at Self & Associates.

How important is insurance in a motorcycle accident?

The state of Oklahoma requires bikers to carry minimum liability insurance for their motorcycle. Failure to carry the minimum insurance can result in fines and penalties. Additionally, if you do not carry maximum coverage, you may have a difficult time collecting damages from a motorcycle accident.

If I don’t have insurance on my motorcycle, can I still sue the driver who hit me?

Your lack of insurance does not prohibit you from filing a claim against the driver responsible for your injuries. It may, however, result in fines and even a license suspension. Even though insurance seldom offers a settlement worth taking, you are legally required to carry it.

If the driver who hit me doesn’t have insurance, can I still collect damages?

Collecting money from an uninsured or under-insured motorist can be complex. It is in your best interest to carry uninsured and under-insured motorcycle insurance. With this coverage, along with an aggressive motorcycle accident attorney like James Self on your side, you are much more likely to receive full compensation for your injuries.

Is an attorney necessary when I’ve been in a motorcycle accident?

You should always consult with an attorney when dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident. Insurance companies are infamous for trying to prevent claimants from collecting adequate compensation. James Self has decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies to help his clients obtain the full amount of compensation they deserve.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in the state of Oklahoma, please contact the experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Self & Associates today for a free initial consultation.

Motorcyclists do not have the same protection as drivers of other vehicles. If a motorcycle accident occurs, a motorcyclist does not have four metal walls surrounding him to add protection and take the brunt of the impact. Motorcyclists have the same rights to drive on the road as any other driver and deserve to have adequate room for driving in order to avoid a motorcycle accident.

There are many causes of motorcycle accidents. Inadequate roads with uneven lanes, potholes, or shallow shoulders can cause a motorcyclist to lose control of the motorcycle and swerve. An inexperienced motorcyclist can overcorrect or drive off the road. While a motorcyclist can become a distracted driver and easily cause an accident, the most common cause of motorcycle accidents are drivers of other vehicles.

Drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs may tailgate or drive too close when passing a motorcycle and cause a very serious accident. Even an accident that would cause minor fender damage to another vehicle has the potential to cause severe personal injury, such as a brain injury or spinal cord injury, to a motorcyclist.

Many motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers of other vehicles not looking before chaning lanes or turning. Motorcycles are more difficult to see because of their slim profile so drivers of other vehicles often over look them and run them over or turn in to them.

If you live in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area and have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the motorcycle accident lawyers at the law firm of Self & Associates today to schedule your free case evaluation.

Motorcycles are popular modes of transportation, and have become even more so during recent years with the rising price of gasoline making efficient motorcycles more popular choices for people. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are very dangerous, resulting in serious accidents, including brain injury, spine injury, serious abrasion, and amputation injury.

About three-quarters of motorcycle accidents are related to another vehicle (more than 80% are passenger cars). In 78% of fatal motorcycle accidents, the point of impact is at the front of the motorcycle. Most often, the vehicle turns into the path of the oncoming motorcycle. This is more likely when the car is making a left-hand turn in front of the motorcycle.

While only about a quarter of motorcycle accidents do not involve another vehicle, these accidents are serious, and preventable. Most single-bike accidents are due to rider inexperience on their bike. Most motorcycle accident victims reportedly had less than five months on this particular bike. However, a recent study suggests that motorcycle training may not reduce motorcycle accident risk. Perhaps the only way to gain experience is to be out on the road on your bike. It is important to be careful during your learning period to avoid suffering serious injury as a result of a motorcycle accident.

If you suffered a motorcycle accident injury due to the fault of another driver, an injury lawyer may be able to help you get compensation.

To learn more about your legal rights and options from a lawyer, please contact Self & Associates in Oklahoma City today for a free initial consultation.

Like the operators of cars and trucks, motorcyclists have an obligation to ensure their vehicles are safe for use on public roadways. When negligent maintenance is a factor in a motorcycle accident or other motor vehicle accident, the owner or operator may be held accountable for damages.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident caused by a careless driver or improperly maintained vehicle, Oklahoma City injury attorney James Self may be able to help you and your family recover the financial compensation you need for medical costs, lost income, and other expenses.

The team at Self & Associates has extensive success in motorcycle accident and motor vehicle accident cases. We have detailed knowledge of accident investigation, including the assessment of contributing factors such as inadequate maintenance or defective parts.

We also understand that motorcycle accidents result in a higher rate of catastrophic injuries. Motorcycle accidents often cause life-altering injuries that require extensive medical treatment, and we will fight for fair compensation when settlement offers are not sufficient for your unique needs.

If you were hurt or a family member was killed in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, please contact Self & Associates for your free case consultation. Oklahoma City injury lawyer James Self and the team at Self & Associates welcome clients from throughout Oklahoma.

The incredible impact, and the torturous head and neck trauma from any Oklahoma Motorcycle Accident can cause severe, permanent injury to the spinal cord, resulting in paraplegia, quadriplegia or even death.

Motorcylists have only their helmet to protect them in the event they are struck by a car, truck or even another motorcyclist.  But, often the additional weight of the helmet, combined with the immense twisting forces from the impact can do irrepairable damage to anyone's back and spinal cord.

James Self and Self & Associates have been representing Oklahoma spinal cord injury victims for over 35 years, and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements for their clients, all across Oklahoma. If you've been involved in an accident that has resulted in a serious spinal injury, please contact Self and Associates anytime 24/7 for a free consultation.

There’s nothing like the freedom of the open road, and no way to experience it like a motorcycle. The visceral, immediate thrill of the road, the experience of being so powerfully present in your environment, complete control over your course, and the youthful sensation of escape from almost everything.

Unfortunately, with the freedom, power, and exhilaration of riding a motorcycle comes danger. Motorcycle riders are at a greater risk per mile of riding for serious injury than any other class of motor vehicle passenger. Motorcycle accidents are more common and tend to be more serious than other types of motor vehicle accidents.

To ensure you are doing everything possible to protect yourself on the road, follow these motorcycle safety tips:

• Be visible: Wear bright colors and reflective strips on your gear and bike–make sure your lights are working day and night
• Wear protective gear: A DOT-approved helmet and leather or other thick protective gear, long sleeves and pants, boots, and gloves
• Be aware: Keep on the lookout for cars, anticipate their movements, and ride only when you’re alert and drug and alcohol free
• Know your bike: Get training, practice often, and refresh your training regularly

If you do these things, you can be confident that you have done your part to minimize your risk of motorcycle accidents and serious injury.

Unfortunately, everything you do to keep safe is sometimes not enough. If you were in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another driver, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries.

To learn more about your legal rights and options, please contact Self & Associates in Oklahoma City.