In an Oklahoma City motorcycle accident, anyone who contributed to causing the crash should bear responsibility for repairing or replacing a damaged motorcycle.
Careless drivers can certainly be held liable for the cost of getting your bike back on the road if they cause a crash. In Oklahoma, they can be held responsible even if they don’t strike you, but make a move that causes you to wreck trying to avoid their mistake.
Seeking Compensation After An Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident
Motorcyclists can be enjoying a ride on I-40 or down a busy Classen Boulevard when another motorist suddenly sends them into an accident.
Defenseless victims can suffer major injuries. They may also lose the rides they love because they’ve got a wrecked motorcycle in need of repairs. They may need a whole new bike if it’s totaled.
Getting that repair estimate or a price on a new bike can stress out a victim who’s already been through plenty, trying to heal from a collision. There’s extra worry when a reckless driver caused an accident or contributed to the reason it happened, but hasn’t stepped forward to accept liability for medical bills or the cost of fixing a motorcycle.
Victims will want to return to the road again as soon as possible, but disputes over who should pay for motorcycle repairs can delay this important step towards a full recovery. Car insurance companies can dispute the repairs needed, and they may want you to return to the road with an unsafe bike. They may even refuse to “total” a bike, so they don’t have to pay for a brand new one.
These are just a few of the repairs that might be needed to get a wrecked motorcycle back on the road:
- Brake damage and repairs
- Body repairs
- Frame damage
- Replacement of missing lights and blinkers
- Replacement of clutch and brake levers
- Replacement of foot pegs,
- Handlebar damage repair and repairs to the controls and wiring found there
- Suspension damage fixes
- Wheel and tire replacement
- Safety inspections to make sure a motorcycle is safe for the road again
A negligent driver who switched lanes into a motorcyclist or rear-ended a rider from behind in a traffic slowdown would be responsible for these fixes. Those fixes would also have to be certified as safe.
A car insurance company for the at-fault driver would need to take care of the bill at the repair shop or send the victim to the motorcycle showroom with enough settlement money to pick out a new bike. Car insurance adjusters will usually fight to avoid this outcome, though. They also like to blame motorcyclists in collisions, even if all evidence points to the driver’s mistake.
They’ll battle to provide the victim with the cheapest repairs possible, or with less than the value of the motorcycle. Having a skilled Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident Lawyer on your side can help protect your innocence in an accident and help you secure the most compensation possible.
Can I Ask for Help Fixing My Motorcycle If I Was Partly to Blame for My Accident?
Yes, in some cases. Oklahoma applies “comparative negligence” to vehicle accidents. It means that the blame in a collision can be divided between the riders and drivers involved. As long as the motorcyclist’s blame is 50% or less, the victim can seek compensation equal to the driver’s assigned percentage of fault.
For example, a motorcyclist may be assigned 20% of the liability in a crash for going over the speed limit. The driver who struck the rider may face 80% of the liability for carelessly pulling out in front of the approaching motorcyclist.
In this case, the rider could seek a settlement amount for motorcycle repairs and hospital bills. However, under comparative negligence, the settlement check would be reduced by 20%, equal to the rider’s share of the blame.
This comparative negligence can also apply to accidents where the driver doesn’t strike the victim, but makes a move that forces the motorcyclist to wreck. As long as the driver can be found, the driver faces all or some of the blame and can be sued for damages.
A skilled attorney would also work to reduce the percentage of blame the rider was assigned. And if the rider didn’t contribute to the collision in any way, a lawyer would be fighting to get the blame reduced to zero for the client.
Contact an Oklahoma City Motorcycle Accident Attorney If You’ve Been Hurt in a Traffic Accident
If your motorcycle accident only involves motorcycle damage and/or only very minor scrapes and bruises, you may not need a lawyer for your case. But you may need a lawyer’s help if you are being blamed for a collision that you didn’t cause.
If your accident involves more serious injuries, like a broken bone or a head injury, you may also do better turning your case over to a lawyer. An Oklahoma City motorcycle accident lawyer can help you avoid insurance tactics meant to rob you of compensation.
Reach out to Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law for a free case consultation to find out what your case is worth.
