Motorcycle accident cases are different. The injuries are usually worse. The medical bills are higher. And juries often blame the rider—even when the other driver was clearly at fault.

That bias is real. Insurance adjusters know it exists, and they use it to lowball settlements. A Broken Arrow motorcycle accident lawyer who understands these dynamics can push back effectively.

At Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve recovered $2.1 million in a single motorcycle crash case. We’ve handled motorcycle accident claims throughout Tulsa County and across Oklahoma for years. We know how to build cases that overcome the assumptions adjusters and juries bring to these claims.

Contact us for a free case evaluation. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Why Hire Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Motorcycle Case?

Proven Results in Motorcycle Cases

We’ve recovered $2.1 million in a single motorcycle accident case. That claim required aggressive investigation, thorough documentation of injuries, and a willingness to take the case to trial if necessary. We approach every motorcycle case the same way.

Additional case results include $1.2 million and $950,000 in truck accident cases, $900,000 in a car accident, and numerous six-figure settlements across practice areas.

Exposed to Multi-Jurisdictional Practice

Houston Smith has practiced personal injury law for 35 years across three states. He’s licensed in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas and earned his J.D. from Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. That breadth of experience means he’s seen how different courts handle motorcycle cases—and what strategies work. Ryan Polchinski (11 years) and Andrew Polchinski (8 years) round out the team, bringing courtroom experience including jury trials and appellate-level work.

We Fight the Bias Against Riders

Motorcycle riders face unfair assumptions. Adjusters argue riders were speeding, weaving through traffic, or “asking for it” by choosing to ride. Juries sometimes believe these narratives even without evidence. We know how to counter bias against motorcyclists by documenting the facts: witness statements, accident reconstruction, traffic camera footage, and the other driver’s clear negligence.

What Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Andrew and Ryan are exceptional attorneys. There is no one else I would recommend above these two. They are kind, sincere and very skilled as Personal Injury Attorneys. It is hard to find an attorney who actually really cares about their clients. These two do and it shows in every conversation you have with them and how well they settle cases.” – SA Hoffpauir

Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle in Broken Arrow

Motorcycle crashes happen in predictable ways, but each type requires different evidence and legal strategies. Our Broken Arrow personal injury lawyers handle all of them.

• Left-turn accidents. A driver turns left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. This is one of the most common crash types we see—and one of the most dangerous. The car driver often claims they “didn’t see” the rider, but that’s not a defense. Failure to yield is negligence.

• Lane-change collisions. Drivers merge into motorcyclists they failed to check for. Blind spot accidents cause riders to be sideswiped or forced off the road entirely. These crashes often result in road rash, broken bones, and head injuries.

• Rear-end crashes. A distracted or following-too-close driver hits a stopped or slowing motorcycle. Without the protection of a vehicle frame, riders absorb the full impact. Spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries are common. Distracted and drowsy drivers cause many of these crashes.

• Intersection accidents. Red-light runners and drivers who fail to yield at stop signs cause severe T-bone collisions. Intersection crashes often involve disputes about who had the right of way—witness testimony and signal timing become critical. Understanding what makes a case worth pursuing helps you evaluate your options early.

• Road hazard crashes. Potholes, gravel, debris, and poorly maintained roads cause single-vehicle motorcycle accidents. These cases may involve claims against municipalities or property owners responsible for road conditions. Proving liability requires different evidence than driver-negligence cases.

• Defective motorcycle or parts. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and throttle malfunctions can cause crashes even when the rider does everything right. Defective auto parts cause deaths every year, and manufacturers can be held liable.

Motorcycle Injuries Are Often Catastrophic

Riders don’t have crumple zones, airbags, or steel frames protecting them. When a crash happens, the injuries reflect that reality.

We’ve represented motorcycle accident victims with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, severe road rash requiring skin grafts, and amputations. Many clients face months or years of treatment. Some never fully recover. The damages recoverable in injury cases extend beyond medical bills to lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering.

In fatal crashes, surviving family members may have wrongful death claims. Oklahoma law allows spouses, children, and parents to seek compensation when negligence causes a rider’s death.

Oklahoma Motorcycle Laws and Your Claim

Oklahoma doesn’t require adult riders to wear helmets. That’s a personal choice. But insurance companies will use helmet non-use against you, arguing your injuries would have been less severe with a helmet—even in crashes where a helmet wouldn’t have mattered.

The statute of limitations under Oklahoma Statutes Title 12, Section 95 gives motorcycle accident victims two years to file a lawsuit. Two years passes quickly when you’re focused on surgeries, physical therapy, and recovery. Starting your claim early preserves evidence and witness memories.

Oklahoma’s comparative negligence rules under Title 23 reduce your recovery by your share of fault. Insurance companies exploit this aggressively in motorcycle cases—they’ll argue you were speeding, not wearing proper gear, or riding recklessly. If they convince a jury you were more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. That’s why documentation and witness evidence matter so much from day one. Avoiding mistakes that hurt settlements is critical in these cases.

According to NHTSA motorcycle safety data, motorcyclists are significantly overrepresented in traffic fatalities relative to their share of vehicles on the road. The Oklahoma Legislature and Oklahoma courts have addressed motorcycle-specific issues in various statutes and rulings.

Contact Polchinski & Smith Personal Injury Lawyers

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Broken Arrow, OK, contact us for a free consultation. We’ll review the facts of your crash, assess the strength of your claim, and explain your options honestly.

There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you. We work on contingency. Our Broken Arrow motorcycle accident attorneys can meet by phone, video, or in person—whatever works for your situation.