Tulsa cyclists injured after rolling over a pothole can seek support for their medical bills and bike damage. In many cases, a government agency like the Tulsa Public Works Department is responsible for fixing these hazards. If the city knew of the dangerous pothole and failed to repair it in a reasonable amount of time, riders may be able to secure financial compensation if they get hurt.
Filing an injury claim or a lawsuit against the city can be complex and challenging. If you’ve suffered a serious injury, it’s a good idea to trust your case to a legal professional. Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law offers a free consultation to all bicycle accident victims to determine the best way to seek help and get them back on their bikes.
Tulsa Pothole Dangers for Cyclists
Tulsa’s extreme hot and cold weather and its heavy traffic lead to potholes on many roads. These craters can be dangerous to motorists, but they are especially hazardous for defenseless bicyclists.
Riders who are traveling alongside fast-moving traffic on roads like Riverside Drive can encounter giant potholes that make steering and staying upright much harder.
Potholes on bike lanes, like those along 11th Street, where cyclists are supposed to be the safest, can send a rider off course and into traffic. They can also bump riders and send them to the road surface.
Bicyclists generally travel with no protection, and even with a helmet on, victims can hit the pavement hard and suffer broken bones and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs).
Proving The City of Tulsa Is Liable for Your Bicycle Pothole Accident
Government departments are responsible for the upkeep of roads in Oklahoma. That may be the Oklahoma Department of Transportation if you’re biking on a state highway. It may be county commissioners if you are on a Tulsa County road. Tulsa’s Public Works Department should be responsible if you are hurt by the condition of its streets.
To prove a government agency is responsible for your injuries, you may need legal assistance in gathering information to prove a few factors were involved:
- The governmental department knew the pothole existed or should have known. Your case may involve showing that the pothole had been reported before. The pothole may have even been featured in news reports. Witnesses and other victims may be helpful.
- The department didn’t repair the hazard in a reasonable amount of time. You may have to show that the department delayed repairs, leaving bicyclists at risk.
- The pothole caused your crash and injury. Cyclists traveling along busy lanes can’t always dodge major potholes. They often have a curb on one side and a speeding vehicle on the other. It’s also easy to show how riders can be hurt when their front wheels are stopped by a hole, but the bicyclist keeps flying forward.
A skilled Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer fully investigates your case and the city, county, or state’s role and reaction to a scary pothole. Your lawyer collects strong evidence to make it much harder for city officials to deny blame. Your Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law representative can often secure much more in compensation for you than you could by filing a claim yourself.
Things to Beware of When Holding the City of Tulsa Responsible After a Bicycle Crash
Filing a claim against a government department can prove much more difficult than if an individual or regular business were to blame for your bicycle crash.
Government officials enjoy more legal protections from litigation than normal residents. There are a few ways that injury claims and lawsuits filed against a city are more difficult to win.
- Quicker Deadlines: If a careless driver or a private property owner was responsible for your accident, you’d be granted up to two years to file a claim. However, it’s different when seeking recovery support from government officials. In Oklahoma, you may have just months to file a lawsuit. Miss the time allotted, and you’ve given up your right to seek any help with your medical bills. A skilled attorney makes sure you don’t miss these important deadlines.
- Seeking Permission: Governments have it set up where you basically have to ask their permission to seek help after a bicycle accident. You have to alert them by filing a notice of claim. You describe what happened, why the city is at fault, and how much you’ll need to pay your bills and make up your lost income while missing work.
- Delayed Assistance After a Bicycle Accident: Government departments then have up to three months to respond to your accident claim. They may decide to pay you what you’ve asked for, or they could reject your claim. If the city tosses out your claim or doesn’t pay you enough to cover everything you’ve been through, you can file a lawsuit, but you have to keep in mind those deadlines that come sooner than in normal cases.
The city will also have government lawyers at its disposal to fight back against your claims. They’ll try to show that the city isn’t to blame. They may claim that you are just a clumsy cyclist. They may also seek to cast doubt on the severity of your crash injuries. You’ll want an aggressive lawyer on your side, ready to take on these lawyers and protect your rights.
What to Do After a Pothole Causes a Bicycle Accident
There are several steps you can take to build your case right on the scene of the accident if you are left strong enough.
Take these actions:
- Get to safety if you are in danger of being hit by a car
- Contact 911 if you are injured
- Get checked out by paramedics and go to the emergency room if necessary
- If the scene is secure, start taking pictures of the pothole, the surroundings, and any warning signs or lack of warning signs
- Take photos of your injuries, clothing damage, and your helmet if you were wearing one
- Get contact information from any witnesses
- Report the pothole to the city
You can dial 311 to report a pothole in Tulsa. You can find out more about the city’s response to potholes here.
Contact a Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer If You’ve Been Hurt by a Pothole
We have an extensive background in safeguarding bicycle accident victims. At Ylla | Gosney Attorneys At Law, we want safe bicycle rides for every rider. We also want to fully protect victims if they are forced into a serious accident by a city’s negligence in repairing potholes. We offer a free, no-obligation case review with a real Tulsa Bicycle Accident Lawyer.
If you need our help, you don’t have to worry about finding the money to pay a bicycle accident lawyer. We don’t get paid unless we win your case against the city for you. Then our fee comes out of the support the city is forced to pay you.
