Because of their build and low visibility, motorcycles can leave riders exposed to catastrophic injuries during accidents. A motorcycle accident lawyer could help you get the care and compensation you need if a negligent driver or party caused your accident. At Chiaf Law Offices, P.C. in Oklahoma City, our motorcycle accident lawyers can guide you through what to do next.
Seek medical care immediately. Do not refuse recommended medical care, as this can affect your accident case later on. The diagnoses made by physicians, surgeons, and mental health professionals can establish that the motorcycle accident caused severe injuries and emotional trauma. Be sure to save all bills and receipts related to medical care, including transportation and gas costs, to support your complete claim for compensation.
Take photos of the scene of the accident as soon as possible. This includes property damage to your motorcycle and the crash site. You can also note the weather and road conditions since these factors can contribute to accidents. In addition, take photos of the victim's injuries, starting immediately after the accident and throughout recovery. Images serve as solid evidence when negotiating with insurance company attorneys or litigating cases in court.
Only a motorcycle accident attorney can properly assess the potential of a motorcyclist's case. The sooner you reach out to Chiaf Law Offices, the better our chances are of preserving all of the evidence surrounding the car accident or other incident that impacted you. We can handle all legal aspects so you can focus on recovery.
To obtain a police report following a motorcycle crash, you must contact the local police department. In many cases, our attorneys can assist you with obtaining a copy of the police report, which often contains essential information such as the details of the crash, the other driver and witnesses.
If other vehicles were involved and another driver is clearly at fault, some motorcycle riders might hesitate to hire an attorney. Do you find yourself asking, "Isn't that what insurance is for?" The truth is, large insurance companies are never on your side.
While insurance companies often offer victims the lowest compensation possible, a lawyer is personally invested in helping you reach a full, fair settlement or verdict. Motorcycles leave riders vulnerable to serious injuries. In severe cases, family members might need to file a wrongful death suit. Before settling anything with an insurance company, contact a lawyer.
If other vehicles were involved and another driver is clearly at fault, some motorcycle riders might hesitate to hire an attorney. Do you find yourself asking, "Isn't that what insurance is for?" The truth is, large insurance companies are never on your side.
While insurance companies often offer victims the lowest compensation possible, a lawyer is personally invested in helping you reach a full, fair settlement or verdict. Motorcycles leave riders vulnerable to serious injuries. In severe cases, family members might need to file a wrongful death suit. Before settling anything with an insurance company, contact a lawyer.
Suppose you believe that the negligence or recklessness of another party led to your accident. In that case, we can help you recover compensation for your wrongful death or motorcycle accident case. Attorney Joey Chiaf has been practicing personal injury law for 35 years and is a member of The Oklahoma Bar Association and Lawyers for Working Oklahomans.
At Chiaf Law in Oklahoma City, we understand that motorcycle accident victims and their families face mounting expenses. You might be out of work, have unpaid medical bills and face an uncertain future. The last thing you should have to be worried about is the cost of hiring a lawyer.
Our attorneys offer free consultations and will provide an honest review of your case at no cost. If we fail to achieve a successful recovery, you pay nothing. We only collect fees from the compensation our clients receive from their claims. This means that you can go through the entire legal process with no financial risk to you.
At Chiaf Law in Oklahoma City, we understand that motorcycle accident victims and their families face mounting expenses. You might be out of work, have unpaid medical bills and face an uncertain future. The last thing you should have to be worried about is the cost of hiring a lawyer.
Our attorneys offer free consultations and will provide an honest review of your case at no cost. If we fail to achieve a successful recovery, you pay nothing. We only collect fees from the compensation our clients receive from their claims. This means that you can go through the entire legal process with no financial risk to you.
The state of Oklahoma uses the modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury cases. Under this statute, each driver is assigned a share of fault in the accident. If the other driver is found to be 100 percent at fault for the accident, you are entitled to recover the total amount of damages awarded.
Under the modified comparative negligence rule, any driver that is found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident is not eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if you do not share most liability in causing the accident, you can pursue a personal injury case and seek damages from the other party.
f you are assigned any share of fault in causing the accident, the number of damages you are awarded will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident, and the settlement offer or jury award is $100,000, you would only be eligible to receive $80,000 of the award.
OKLAHOMA IS AN AT-FAULT STATE
Oklahoma is an at-fault state, which means that each driver's motorcycle insurance policy covers damages according to the percentage of fault assigned to each party. But state laws can be complex and dealing with insurance companies can be difficult. That is why we recommend that motorcycle accident victims or their family members contact our Oklahoma City firm as soon as possible to discuss the case during a free consultation.
STATUTES OF LIMITATION
Similar to a car accident, motorcycle accidents fall within the field of personal injury. According to Oklahoma state law, the injury lawyers at our Oklahoma City firm will need to file a claim within two years following the accident. This restriction is known as the statute of limitations.
While two years might sound like a generous time frame, you must begin communicating with a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. Then, we have a better chance of thoroughly investigating all case circumstances and preserving evidence when we get to work on your claim in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
The state of Oklahoma uses the modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury cases. Under this statute, each driver is assigned a share of fault in the accident. If the other driver is found to be 100 percent at fault for the accident, you are entitled to recover the total amount of damages awarded.
Under the modified comparative negligence rule, any driver that is found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident is not eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, if you do not share most liability in causing the accident, you can pursue a personal injury case and seek damages from the other party.
f you are assigned any share of fault in causing the accident, the number of damages you are awarded will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if you are found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident, and the settlement offer or jury award is $100,000, you would only be eligible to receive $80,000 of the award.
OKLAHOMA IS AN AT-FAULT STATE
Oklahoma is an at-fault state, which means that each driver's motorcycle insurance policy covers damages according to the percentage of fault assigned to each party. But state laws can be complex and dealing with insurance companies can be difficult. That is why we recommend that motorcycle accident victims or their family members contact our Oklahoma City firm as soon as possible to discuss the case during a free consultation.
STATUTES OF LIMITATION
Similar to a car accident, motorcycle accidents fall within the field of personal injury. According to Oklahoma state law, the injury lawyers at our Oklahoma City firm will need to file a claim within two years following the accident. This restriction is known as the statute of limitations.
While two years might sound like a generous time frame, you must begin communicating with a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. Then, we have a better chance of thoroughly investigating all case circumstances and preserving evidence when we get to work on your claim in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys have helped people across the state of Oklahoma obtain fair compensation from the other driver, insurance companies, or any other liable parties. Contact us online to ask a question or request a consultation. You can also reach our Oklahoma City office by phone:
Following a motorcycle accident, our law firm knows you and your family are not only facing tangible bills but also invisible effects. The future might feel uncertain, but we can precisely outline what types of compensation you can expect during a free consultation at our Oklahoma City practice.
This category might include ambulance transportation, the cost of surgical procedures, anesthesia, and post-operative medications. In addition, some victims will require costly rehabilitation programs to overcome the motorcycle accident effects fully.
Victims might require compensation for modifications that need to be made to their homes or vehicles. For example, if you have become paralyzed, your home might require a ramp to accommodate a wheelchair.
Following a serious motorcycle accident, certain types of workers might not be able to return to work full time, or you might be unable to work at all. In other cases, you might need to transfer to another department or even another industry.
Crashes of this nature have an undeniable emotional impact. Your relationships might suffer, or you might be diagnosed with depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. These effects are often referred to collectively as "pain and suffering."
If you have lost a loved one following a catastrophic motorcycle accident, no amount of money can provide a sense of normalcy. However, you deserve to be compensated for costs like funeral expenses. If your loved one was the primary earner for your family, this will also be taken into consideration.
Following a motorcycle accident, our law firm knows you and your family are not only facing tangible bills but also invisible effects. The future might feel uncertain, but we can precisely outline what types of compensation you can expect during a free consultation at our Oklahoma City practice.
This category might include ambulance transportation, the cost of surgical procedures, anesthesia, and post-operative medications. In addition, some victims will require costly rehabilitation programs to overcome the motorcycle accident effects fully.
Victims might require compensation for modifications that need to be made to their homes or vehicles. For example, if you have become paralyzed, your home might require a ramp to accommodate a wheelchair.
Following a serious motorcycle accident, certain types of workers might not be able to return to work full time, or you might be unable to work at all. In other cases, you might need to transfer to another department or even another industry.
Crashes of this nature have an undeniable emotional impact. Your relationships might suffer, or you might be diagnosed with depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. These effects are often referred to collectively as "pain and suffering."
If you have lost a loved one following a catastrophic motorcycle accident, no amount of money can provide a sense of normalcy. However, you deserve to be compensated for costs like funeral expenses. If your loved one was the primary earner for your family, this will also be taken into consideration.
Motorcyclists are not only more vulnerable to suffering more serious effects than parties involved in car accidents. Time and time again, our clients have experienced the unfortunate fact that many drivers are biased against motorcycle riders. Some people who hear about motorcycle crashes immediately assume the rider must have behaved recklessly, speeding or weaving between traffic. This bias can color multiple facets of your case, from eyewitness accounts to insurance adjusters' responses.
When you choose our law firm in Oklahoma City, know that our injury lawyers will always be in your corner. We have seen the catastrophic effects of poorly handled motorcycle accident cases and do everything to achieve a fair settlement following an accident.
In 2019, 1278 motorcyclists were involved in crashes in Oklahoma. Of these, 66 people died, and 266 people suffered serious injuries. In all crashes, 41.4 percent of motorcycle drivers were found not at fault for the accident, and 34.3 percent of motorcycle drivers were not found at fault in fatal crashes.
Motorcyclists are not only more vulnerable to suffering more serious effects than parties involved in car accidents. Time and time again, our clients have experienced the unfortunate fact that many drivers are biased against motorcycle riders. Some people who hear about motorcycle crashes immediately assume the rider must have behaved recklessly, speeding or weaving between traffic. This bias can color multiple facets of your case, from eyewitness accounts to insurance adjusters' responses.
When you choose our law firm in Oklahoma City, know that our injury lawyers will always be in your corner. We have seen the catastrophic effects of poorly handled motorcycle accident cases and do everything to achieve a fair settlement following an accident.
In 2019, 1278 motorcyclists were involved in crashes in Oklahoma. Of these, 66 people died, and 266 people suffered serious injuries. In all crashes, 41.4 percent of motorcycle drivers were found not at fault for the accident, and 34.3 percent of motorcycle drivers were not found at fault in fatal crashes.
From work accidents to personal injury cases, the aftermath of an injury can be incredibly frightening and stressful. You and your family may find yourselves wondering who to turn to as medical bills mount, pain and suffering take an overwhelming toll, and uncertainty rises about your ability to resume the life you once knew takes center stage.
The good news is that the personal injury lawyers at Chiaf Law Offices in Oklahoma City are prepared to fight for the restitution you deserve. We will handle every detail of our personal injury case, from dealing with the insurance company to helping you coordinate your medical care. To schedule your free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers, you can reach us in one of two easy ways:
