If a driver injured you while you were on your bicycle in Tulsa, you have specific rights under Oklahoma law. The most important one is the right to pursue financial payment for every bit of harm caused by a driver’s carelessness.
But how does that work?
After a crash, you are thrown into a world you didn’t ask for. You’re probably dealing with physical pain, a stack of medical bills that grows by the day, and the deep stress of a life turned upside down. Suddenly, you have to deal with a legal system that has its own rules, its own language, and its own deadlines—all while you’re just trying to heal.
Our Tulsa bicycle accident lawyer at Carr & Carr Injury Attorneys is here to take that weight off your shoulders. We focus our practice on building strong cases for injured cyclists. This means we manage the evidence, we handle the insurance companies, and we meet the legal requirements so you can put your energy where it belongs: on your recovery.
If you’ve been injured and have questions, call us for a free consultation at (918) 747-1000 to understand what your options are.
Why Carr & Carr Is the Right Choice for Your Case
When you’re recovering from an injury, the last thing you need is more stress. We work on a contingency fee basis, which is simple: you pay us absolutely no fees unless we win your case. Your first consultation is always free, giving you a chance to get answers and understand your legal path without any financial risk.
You are not a case file to us. We believe that real communication and a personal understanding of your situation are the bedrock of representing you effectively. Our team is built to give you personalized attention. We will:
- Listen to your story: We take the time to understand every detail of how the accident has rewritten your life.
- Keep you informed: You will get regular updates on your case’s progress, and we make ourselves available to answer your questions.
- Be your shield: We immediately take over all communications with insurance companies and other parties so you can focus on your health.
- Maximum Compensation: We know every avenue of compensation you are entitled to pursue under the law, and we know how to justify it with evidence.
- Easily Accessible: Our Tulsa office is located at 4416 S Harvard Ave, right off the I-44.
Our decades of experience becomes your advantage—we know the legal landscape, the courts, and the insurance companies handling your case.
How Much Is My Tulsa Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
The honest answer is that it’s different for everyone. No two crashes, and no two recoveries, are the same. The goal of compensation is to provide financial stability and cover every single loss the accident forced upon you.
In Oklahoma, these losses, or “damages,” are broken into three main types.
Economic Damages: The Black-and-White Costs
This is the most concrete part of a claim. Think of it as a dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for everything the accident has cost you—and will cost you—out of pocket.
- Medical Bills: This covers everything from the first ambulance ride and emergency room visit to future surgeries, physical therapy, and ongoing medical care.
- Lost Wages: Payment for the time you were unable to work because of your injuries.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries are severe enough to prevent you from returning to your old job or limit your ability to earn a living down the road.
- Property Damage: The cost to repair or, more likely, replace your bicycle, helmet, and any other gear destroyed in the crash.
Non-Economic Damages: The Human Cost
This category is just as real but addresses the harm that doesn’t come with a receipt. It acknowledges the personal, human toll of the collision.
- Pain and Suffering: For the physical pain and emotional distress your injuries have caused.
- Mental Anguish: Compensation for the fear, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that often follows a violent crash.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries stop you from participating in hobbies, activities, or the simple daily routines you once valued.
Punitive Damages: A Tool for Accountability
Sometimes, a driver’s behavior is so reckless or malicious—like in many drunk driving cases—that the court may award punitive damages. This money isn’t for your losses. It’s a legal tool used to punish the wrongdoer and send a clear message to the community that such behavior will not be tolerated. Oklahoma law allows for punitive damages when a defendant’s actions show a reckless disregard for the rights of others or were intentionally malicious.
Where Do Bicycle Accidents Happen in Tulsa?
While a bicycle crash can happen on any street, certain areas in Tulsa pose a higher risk for cyclists.
Tulsa’s Accident Hotspots
Based on our experience and local reports, several corridors and intersections consistently emerge as hazardous for cyclists. We see a significant number of crashes occur at:
- The Broken Arrow Expressway (The “BA”): Intersections crossing this major artery, particularly at Memorial Drive, Sheridan Road, and Lewis Avenue, are frequent sites of serious collisions due to high traffic speeds and volume.
- Memorial Drive: The intersections at 61st and 81st streets are hubs of commercial activity, and the constant flow of traffic in and out of shopping centers increases the risk for cyclists.
- 71st Street: Especially near Mingo Road and U.S. 169, this area is a perfect storm of commercial centers, a hospital, and a high school, generating constant and often congested traffic.
- U.S. Highway 169: The on-ramps and off-ramps at major cross-streets like 21st, 51st, and 71st Streets are points of conflict where drivers may not be looking for cyclists.
What Factors Contribute to These Crashes?
- Time of Day: A large number of bicycle accidents occur during peak commute times when the roads are most crowded.
- Driver Behavior: Distracted driving is a plague on our roads and a primary cause of bicycle accidents in Tulsa. Other common failures include speeding, aggressive driving, and not yielding the right-of-way.
- Infrastructure Gaps: A lack of protected, dedicated bicycle lanes forces cyclists to share space with multi-ton vehicles, a mismatch that dramatically increases the risk of a collision.
You Have More Rights on the Road Than You Think
After a crash, it’s natural to second-guess yourself. But it’s important to understand the laws that protect you. In Oklahoma, a bicycle is legally considered a vehicle, granting you the same rights and responsibilities as any motorist.
Key Legal Protections for Cyclists
- The Right to the Road: You have a right to be on the road. A car cannot legally force you off of it. You can even take the full lane when it’s necessary for your safety, such as when a lane is too narrow to share or you need to avoid road debris.
- Three-Foot Passing Law: A motor vehicle must give you a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing. They are even permitted to cross the center line in a no-passing zone to do so, provided it is safe.
- Right-of-Way in Bike Lanes: Where bike lanes exist, drivers must yield the right-of-way to you.
- Rules at Intersections: In specific situations, like a broken traffic light that won’t detect your bike, you are allowed to proceed cautiously through the intersection after a full stop.
Local Tulsa Ordinances to Know
- Bike Lane Usage: Unlike some other cities, Tulsa does not have a mandatory bike lane law. This means you are permitted to use regular traffic lanes even if a bike lane is available.
- Sidewalk Riding: Riding on the sidewalk is generally forbidden in business districts. In most other areas, it’s safer to ride on the street, as sidewalk riding increases the risk of collisions with cars pulling out of driveways and with pedestrians.
- Night Riding Equipment: For riding at night, your bicycle must be equipped with a white front light and a red rear light or reflector.
Common Causes and Life-Altering Injuries in Bicycle Accidents
Why Do These Collisions Happen?
Most bicycle crashes are not “accidents” in the true sense of the word; they are the predictable result of a driver’s choice. We consistently see crashes caused by:
- Distracted Driving: A driver who is texting, on the phone, or otherwise not paying full attention to the road.
- “Right Hook” and “Left Cross” Turns: This happens when a driver turns right directly in front of a cyclist traveling in the same direction, or turns left into the path of an oncoming cyclist.
- “Dooring”: A person in a parked car swinging their door open into the path of an approaching cyclist.
- Failure to Yield: Drivers who roll through stop signs or fail to yield the right-of-way at intersections as required.
The Physical Toll: More Than Just Broken Bones
A cyclist has no steel cage for protection, and thus the injuries from a crash are usually severe:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Even with a helmet, a TBI can occur, leading to long-term cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or total paralysis, changing a person’s life in an instant.
- Broken Bones and Fractures: Collarbones, arms, legs, and pelvic fractures are common as the body absorbs the force of the impact.
- Road Rash and Soft Tissue Damage: Severe abrasions can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement, and carry a high risk of infection.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs can be life-threatening and may not be immediately obvious after the crash.
How Insurance Companies Approach Your Claim
The at-fault driver’s insurance company has a legal duty to pay for your damages. But their business model puts them in direct conflict with you. Their primary goal is to protect their profits, which means paying as little as possible on every claim.
Tactics to Anticipate From the Adjuster
From the moment they learn about the crash, the insurance adjuster begins looking for ways to reduce or deny your claim. We build your case from day one to counter these predictable moves.
- The Recorded Statement Trap: They will push for a recorded statement, hoping you’ll say something they can use against you. A simple, polite “I’m doing okay” can be twisted to argue you weren’t seriously hurt.
- The Quick, Lowball Offer: An early settlement offer is almost never a fair one. It’s a mirage in the desert. It’s a calculated bet that you don’t yet know the full extent of your injuries or the total cost of your future medical care.
- Shifting the Blame: The insurer will seize any chance to argue that you were partly at fault. Under Oklahoma’s comparative negligence rule, this could reduce the money you can recover.
- Questioning Your Medical Care: They may dispute the necessity or cost of your treatment, arguing your injuries aren’t as severe as your doctors say or that you received “too much” care.
What Should I Do Now to Protect My Case?
While we handle the legal work, there are steps you should take to strengthen your claim and protect your right to fair compensation.
A Practical Checklist for Your Protection
- Follow Your Doctor’s Orders: Go to every appointment. Do your physical therapy. Fill every prescription. Gaps in treatment are a gift to the insurance company, which will use them to argue your injuries weren’t that serious.
- Keep a Pain Journal: Each day, jot down your pain levels, the daily activities you struggle with, and your emotional state.
- Create a “Crash File”: Keep every piece of paper related to the accident in one place. This includes medical bills, receipts, and any letters or emails from insurance companies.
- Go Dark on Social Media: Do not post anything about the accident, your injuries, or your activities. Adjusters will scour your profiles for photos or comments they can use to claim you’re not as injured as you say.
- Do Not Give a Statement: You are not required to give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster. Let them talk to us instead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tulsa Bicycle Accidents
What if the driver who hit me was uninsured or fled the scene?
You may still be able to recover compensation through your own auto insurance policy. The Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your policy is designed for this exact scenario. Oklahoma law requires insurers to offer you this coverage, though you can reject it in writing. We can review your policy to see what protection you have.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in Oklahoma?
For most personal injury claims in Oklahoma, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. However, if a government entity is involved, the deadline can be much shorter. It’s important to act quickly to preserve your rights.
The insurance company says I’m partially at fault. Can I still get compensation?
Yes. Oklahoma uses a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as you are found to be 50% or less at fault. Your final compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 10% at fault, your final award would be reduced by 10%.
My bicycle was destroyed. Is that part of my claim?
Yes. The at-fault party is responsible for your property damage. This includes the cost to repair or replace your bicycle, as well as any other personal items that were damaged, such as your helmet, cycling computer, clothing, or phone.
Let Us Handle the Legal Work
Your energy should be spent on healing, not on deciphering legal documents or arguing with an insurance adjuster.
Let our Tulsa personal injury lawyer team at Carr & Carr Injury Attorneys take that burden for you. We know how to build a case designed to secure the maximum compensation the law allows.
Call us today at (918) 747-1000 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation case review.
Carr & Carr Injury Attorneys – Tulsa Office
Address: 4416 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74135
Contact No: 866-510-0580