Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer

Oklahoma City Truck Accident Attorney

Trucking companies, shipping companies, and the drivers that operate commercial vehicles provide an essential daily service. Commercial trucks like semi-trucks are necessary, but they can also be very dangerous. When you have been injured in a truck accident because of someone’s negligence, you’ll find yourself in a vulnerable financial situation. An Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer can stand up to an insurance provider and protect your interests.

If drivers around commercial trucks do not operate their cars with reasonable care, or if a truck driver is negligent, they can cause trucking accidents. Truck accidents can also be caused by improper maintenance, poorly scheduled drivers, and improperly loaded truck trailers.

A truck accident often causes significantly more damage than other forms of motor vehicle accidents. Commercial vehicles are heavier, larger, and cannot slow down as quickly as passenger cars. 18-wheelers are also more likely to be in a rollover accident, causing serious damage. Truck accidents can result in catastrophic, disabling, and fatal injuries.

When you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a truck accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death or personal injury claim if another party’s negligence caused the accident. When that is the case, you are entitled to full compensation for medical costs, lost income, loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Unfortunately, filing an auto insurance claim or a civil claim in Oklahoma City can be much harder in a trucking accident. Truck drivers are represented by their employers, who typically have the resources and protection to limit the success of your claim and claim another party was responsible.

Effective Legal Support After an Oklahoma City Truck Accident

Truck accidents can cause brain and head trauma, amputation and crushing injuries, disfigurement, and long-term disability. When you or a loved one has suffered from these injuries, and the accident was the fault of another party, you should be awarded full compensation to recover financially from those damages.

If you believe you have a claim after a truck accident, contact 222 Injury Lawyers. We fight for you against insurance companies that would bully you to limit their company’s liability. When you are recovering from catastrophic injuries, the last thing you want to do is negotiate a fair settlement with a trucking company’s insurance provider. Unfortunately, a personal injury claim and an insurance claim need to be filed very soon after a collision to have the greatest chance of success.

When you work with 222 Injury Lawyers, we review your potential claim and let you know honestly its likelihood of success. We are the legal professionals that you want on your side. Even when your claim should be straightforward, and the at-fault party is clear, the company that should be held liable may do whatever it can to undermine your claim or claim you were at fault.

Our attorneys are highly experienced in personal injury claims, complicated catastrophic injuries, and truck accident claims. We can defend you against bad-faith insurance companies and negotiate for a settlement that fits your needs. If the company refuses to provide the payout you rightfully deserve, our team has the trial experience necessary to advocate for your interests in court.

Who May Be Liable in a Truck Accident?

One complicated aspect of a truck accident claim is that it is more likely multiple parties are liable for the accident. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, these parties may include:

• The truck driver. They may have been driving negligently or recklessly or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If these actions led to the accident, they may be liable.
• The trucking company. These companies are responsible for the actions of the drivers they hire. They are also responsible for hiring, training, and reviewing the drivers to ensure they are operating vehicles safely and do not have any history of driving under the influence.
• The freight or shipping company. These companies may be responsible for deadlines that are unrealistic, forcing truck drivers to work late hours or speed, which increases the chances of an accident. These companies could have been responsible for loading the trailer of a semi-truck. If the trailer is loaded improperly, it is more likely to jackknife, rollover, or otherwise result in an accident.
• The owner of the truck cab or trailer. If the owner of the commercial truck knew it needed maintenance or failed to take proper care of it and then allowed it back on the road, they could be held liable.
• The maintenance company. Trucking companies may employ a third-party company to complete maintenance and inspection of trucks. If there was a system failure or malfunction that should have been seen and corrected by the maintenance company or if an unsafe truck was cleared, the claim could be filed against the maintenance company.
• A truck manufacturer. If the accident was caused by a defective or malfunctioning truck component, the fault may be on the manufacturer, designer, or distributor for selling and creating a faulty product.
• Another driver or party on the road. Other parties on the road could be at fault or partially at fault for the accident for any negligent or reckless behavior.
• A private or governmental entity. If the accident was caused by unsafe roads, the entity responsible for its upkeep could be liable.

It can be very difficult to determine the liable party in a truck accident claim. This is why you want to find attorneys who have experience in these cases and know what to look for. At 222 Injury Lawyers, we can investigate the cause of your accident and determine which party or parties were responsible for your injuries.

Trucking Companies and Insurance Providers

When you are injured in a truck accident, the trucking company’s insurance provider is not on your side. Their sole interest is in preserving the company’s resources and limiting the compensation and liability of the accident. This means denying fault, pointing at other parties to blame, and sometimes using underhanded techniques to prevent your claim from succeeding,

As an injured individual, you do not have the same resources as a profitable trucking company that hires its own insurance provider and legal protection. By working with an experienced attorney, you are providing your claim with its greatest chance of success.

An attorney understands the tactics that an insurance provider uses and knows how to combat them effectively. Because an attorney will calculate the value of your claim, they know not to accept settlements that do not meet your needs.

What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents can be caused by negligent drivers, careless companies, or poor weather conditions. Investigating an accident and its cause is necessary to determine what parties are at fault. Some of the most common reasons truck accidents happen include:

• Driver fatigue. Driving while fatigued is incredibly dangerous, as it lowers the ability of a driver to make rational decisions and lowers reaction speed. Although any driver can be guilty of driving fatigued, it is common for truck drivers to work long or late hours, making fatigued driving more likely. Although federal law requires certain breaks, drivers or trucking companies may ignore these regulations, which can cause an accident.
• Inexperienced or untrained drivers. Driving commercial vehicles takes skill, knowledge, and practice. If a trucking company fails to provide the right training or drivers are simply inexperienced, bad decisions can result in collisions.
• Distracted driving. Truck drivers and passenger vehicle drivers can drive distracted by talking on the phone, eating, drinking, managing a GPS system, changing the radio or music, or simply taking mental focus off the road. These actions increase the chances that drivers are unable to react to road changes in time and cause an accident.
• Speeding and reckless driving. Truck drivers may speed in an attempt to meet a deadline. When any driver speeds, it increases the chances of an accident and the damage of a collision. Other reckless driving actions include tailgating, failing to check blind spots, running stop signs, and failing to follow traffic signals.
• Improperly loaded trucks. Flatbed and trailer trucks have certain weight requirements, and shipped items must be loaded properly and secured. If the weight requirements are exceeded, there are more likely to be system failures in the truck’s brakes and tires.If the items are loaded unevenly or shift during the trip, the truck may roll over. If items are not secured, especially on flatbeds, the items can fall off. They can hit other cars, block the roadway, and lead to accidents.
• Inadequate truck maintenance. Accidents can be caused by the sudden failure of a truck or passenger car’s steering, brakes, headlights, and other important systems. These accidents are more likely when vehicles are not given proper maintenance. Commercial vehicles see significant use and need maintenance and inspection more often.
• Bad roads and weather conditions. Low visibility due to fog, rain, or snow increases the chances of an accident. Rain, snow, and ice can also cause slippery roads. Road conditions can also be dangerous because of uneven surfaces, debris, or potholes. Drivers are responsible for lowering their speed to drive safely in these conditions.

An experienced attorney can thoroughly investigate the accident and the conditions before the accident, reviewing information like truck logs, black box information, traffic camera footage, and witness statements. This can help determine what caused the accident and who is liable for it.

Why Do I Need an Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer?

An attorney is equipped with the resources and experience to hold a trucking company or other large company liable for their negligence. An attorney can negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance provider and knows the true value of your claim. If the insurance provider does not provide the compensation you deserve, your attorney can take the claim to court to help you receive it. When facing these companies, it is essential to have strong legal support on your side.

What Damages Are Awarded in a Truck Accident Claim?

Depending on the at-fault party in your specific accident, you may first file an auto insurance claim with the insurance provider of the at-fault party. For some accidents, an insurance claim is enough to recover damages. However, because the injuries and property damage in trucking accidents are so severe, an insurance claim is typically not enough. A civil personal injury claim can be filed for the remainder of the damages.

If no auto insurance claim is necessary, you may simply file a personal injury or product liability claim against the at-fault party, depending on the circumstances. In a civil claim, you could recover the full amount of any damages you suffered as a direct result of the accident. These damages include:

• Economic damages. These include the cost of all medical bills, past and future, and any rehabilitative or long-term care. If surgeries or injuries have expected medical complications, you could receive compensation for those costs.Economic damages also cover lost income from the time you were unable to work due to your injury or the time you took off for related doctor’s appointments. If you were permanently injured, you could receive compensation for your lost earning potential.
• Noneconomic damages. Noneconomic damages are damages that do not have set financial amounts. They include damages like mental suffering, lasting trauma, physical pain, loss of enjoyment of life, and the emotional impact of scarring or disfigurement due to your injuries.
• Punitive damages. In rare cases, punitive damages are awarded. These do not cover any specific damage you suffered but are meant to punish the at-fault party for especially egregious misconduct. If the at-fault party acted maliciously or grossly negligently, the court may assign punitive damages.

When an individual does not survive their injuries or is killed instantly during the accident, their loved ones can file for wrongful death. This can cover any medical costs for their loved one, funeral costs, burial costs, loss of income, and the loss of companionship or consortium.

The settlement amounts from trucking accidents are often significant, as they reflect the severity of damages. When you face years of recovery and long-term disability, you deserve some financial stability during that time.

FAQs About Oklahoma City Truck Accident Laws

What Happens When You Get Hit by a Truck?

When you are in a passenger car or small vehicle in a collision with a large commercial vehicle, your injuries may be severe or catastrophic. Common injuries from truck accidents include traumatic brain injuries, crushing injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, and other trauma to the head, back, neck, and spinal cord. After a truck accident, it is essential that you receive medical care.

Emergency medical attention is important for your own physical health, but it is also useful information if you are able to file an insurance claim or personal injury claim after the accident.

Can Truck Drivers Get Sued for Hitting Other People on the Road?

Commercial truck drivers, if they are found responsible for an accident, can be held liable for the damages to other parties in the accident. A truck driver may be liable if they are distracted, driving recklessly, driving while fatigued, or failing to check their blind spots.

However, because truck drivers typically drive as part of their job, their actions are the responsibility of the trucking company that employs them. This means that an insurance claim is filed against the trucking company’s auto insurance, and a civil personal injury claim is usually filed against the company.

How Do Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents?

There are several differences between truck accidents and car accidents, including:

• Commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers need significantly more time to slow and stop their vehicles, which means that collisions are often at higher speeds. The size and weight difference between vehicles combined with these higher speeds mean that the damages and injuries in truck accidents are much more severe. Truck accidents are more likely to cause catastrophic and fatal injuries, resulting in wrongful death claims.
• Trucking accidents are more likely to be caused by multiple parties, such as the trucking company, the truck driver, the repair or maintenance company for the truck, truck manufacturers, other drivers on the road, and more. This can make claims more complicated.
• There are more complex laws and regulations involved in truck accidents, as well as the involvement of big companies with significant resources.

What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?

Some of the most common types of motor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks include:

• Truck rollovers, which often impact multiple cars on the road
• Read-end collisions and rear underride accidents, both frequently caused by distracted drivers, aggressive drivers, or drivers who fail to slow down in time
• Head-on collisions, which are often fatal to those in passenger cars
• Jackknife accidents, which occur when the trailer of the truck swings to the side of or in front of the cab
• T-bone accidents, which can be incredibly serious depending on the speed of both vehicles
• Sideswipe accidents and side underride accidents, often the result of failure to check blind spots

Stand Up for Your Rights

At 222 Injury Lawyers, we know that a trucking accident can leave you physically, financially, and mentally vulnerable. We want to give you the empathetic legal care you need to fight for the compensation that will help you heal. Contact 222 Injury Lawyers today to see if we can help you.