Oklahoma Truck Accident Lawyers

It can be terrifying to experience a collision with a vehicle as large as 30 tons traveling at highway speeds. The results can be devastating, even fatal. With so much at stake, it’s important to learn about your rights from an experienced Oklahoma City personal injury lawyer. At the Law Offices of Dan David, we help victims of truck and tractor-trailer accidents recover the full compensation they are owed.

Our Oklahoma City accident attorneys are prepared to fight for the rights of those injured or even killed in serious truck accidents. As part of a typical 18-wheeler accident case, we will examine the cause of the accident so we can hold all the responsible negligent parties accountable for their actions. Such a case may involve a number of insurance companies. In some instances, there are separate insurance policies for the cab and the trailer.

Seeking Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries

Those who have suffered injuries in a truck or tractor-trailer accident have a lot to cope with. In addition to the pain and suffering and lost wages, there may be extensive physical rehabilitation or other ongoing treatment because of the horrible injuries that these accidents can cause. The sheer size of an 18-wheeler means that a victim’s injury is likely going to be much more severe than a similar accident involving two passenger cars.

Accident-related injuries can change a victim’s life forever in cases of:

  • Paralysis
  • Amputation
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Burn Injury

An experienced attorney knows how to incorporate factors such as the cost of physical and occupational therapy or assistive technology into a personal injury claim involving accident-related injuries. In many cases, a semi-truck accident proves to be fatal. If negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company contributed to the semi-truck accident, it may be grounds for a claim with the help of one of our Oklahoma City wrongful death attorneys.

Truck Accident Statistics in Oklahoma

Trucking and the freight industry are important in Oklahoma, employing around 60,000 people. While we all rely heavily on the goods and services delivered by trucks, the state’s thriving freight industry adds to traffic congestion and serious accidents. Recent statistics show the following:

  • There were 5,575 traffic accidents involving large commercial trucks in Oklahoma in 2021
  • Oklahoma County saw the highest number of truck accidents at 1,300
  • 1,816 Oklahoma truck accidents occurred on major highways
  • 377 truck accidents occurred on rural roads in Oklahoma
  • 1,109 accidents involving commercial trucks occurred in city streets in Oklahoma, including in Oklahoma City

Fortunately, the civil courts allow accident victims to seek compensation against the party at fault in accidents, including those involving commercial trucks. In most cases, an insurance company will settle out of court without requiring a lawsuit, especially when the injury victims have experienced legal representation like the attorneys at Dan Davis Law.

Types of Commercial Vehicle Accidents

Our experience shows us that commercial vehicle accidents often lead to more catastrophic injuries and losses than an accident between two passenger cars. When a commercial vehicle such as a semi-truck is in a crash, the truck is typically heavier and larger than the other vehicle involved. This may lead to serious injury or even death. The following are a few examples of commercial vehicles:

  • Commercial 18-Wheelers
  • Major retailer vehicles such as Target or Walmart
  • FedEx, UPS, DHL, and other delivery vehicles
  • Oil Tanker Trucks
  • Full-size Pickups with Trailers
  • Dump Trucks
  • Tow Trucks
  • Utility Vehicles
  • Semi Tractor Trailers
  • Cement Trucks

In some cases, a commercial vehicle accident will involve the hauling of a dangerous or flammable material, which can result in burn injuries for accident victims. Most commercial vehicle accident cases involve multiple insurance companies in the claim process, which can make it difficult to understand where to pursue compensation for your injuries. Turn to the Law Offices of Dan Davis for help.

What to Do After a Truck Accident in Oklahoma 

The aftermath of a truck accident can be chaotic and traumatic. If you’ve suffered serious injuries in the crash, you may be able to do little except wait in place for help to arrive; however, if you are able to move around safely and use your phone—or hand it to someone else to use for you—taking a few steps immediately after the accident can help you later:

  • First, call 911 to report the accident and offer reasonable aid and comfort to any other injury victims if you’re able
  • Use your phone’s camera to snap photos of the truck, your car, and any other involved vehicles
  • Take photos of the accident scene, including anything relevant to the crash like traffic signs or signals
  • Take photos of any visible injuries
  • Add the contact information of the truck driver and the trucking company
  • Add the contact information of any other involved drivers or eyewitnesses
  • Record your own statement about the accident while the details are fresh in your mind
  • Accept emergency transport to a hospital and tell the doctor about all of your injuries and symptoms, even if they seem mild
  • Ask for a detailed medical report highlighting all of your injuries and your prognosis
  • Follow all of your doctor’s orders 
  • Avoid posting on social media
  • Obtain a copy of the police report about your accident
  • Gather your medical report, the police report, and any medical bills or invoices and call the Oklahoma truck accident attorneys at Dan Davis Law before communicating with any insurance companies

By taking steps to protect your physical and financial safety after an accident, you can maximize your recovery later by gaining the compensation you need as well as a sense of justice.

Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Oklahoma City

Trucks are a common sight on Oklahoma City’s roads and highways. But with so many 18-wheelers sharing the roads with drivers on Interstate 44, Interstate 35, Northeast 23rd Street, and other busy roads, truck accidents can – and do – happen with alarming frequency across the city. In 2013, there were 5,182 reported crashes involving large trucks. That’s 7.5 percent of all accidents statewide.

While each case is different, some of the factors that lead to trucking accidents are more common than others. Stop-and-go traffic may lead to a rear-end crash caused by a distracted driver. A trucker under the influence of alcohol or drugs may fail to yield while merging onto the highway. A trucking company may cut corners and put others in danger, failing to inspect important safety components.

Commercial vehicle drivers are required to drive thousands of miles each week to keep up with shipping and receiving demands, but this is no excuse. No matter the cause of your accident, you deserve justice. If you were injured through no fault of your own or lost a loved one, you shouldn’t have to foot the bill for someone else’s grossly negligent behavior; the Law Offices of Dan Davis is here to help.

Proving Liability in Commercial Truck Accidents in Oklahoma

It often takes a diligent investigation into every aspect of a truck accident in order to determine liability. Many different entities could be at fault, including:

  • The driver 
  • A trucking company
  • A freight-loading company
  • A truck manufacturer
  • A truck parts/equipment manufacturer
  • A truck maintenance company

Whether or not a driver is an independent contractor or works for a trucking company and depending on which party’s negligence caused the accident, your Oklahoma truck accident attorney must gather the evidence of liability to demonstrate the following legal points:

  • That the at-fault party had a duty of care to others on the road to take reasonable measures to prevent injury, such as a truck driver’s duty to follow traffic laws or a trucking company’s duty to limit an employee’s driving hours
  • That the party at fault breached this duty by acting with negligence
  • That the negligence directly caused an accident with injuries
  • That the injury victim suffered significant damages including economic and non-economic damages

It’s important to carefully gather evidence of liability before claiming damages to ensure the claim is filed against the appropriate insurance company. According to Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence laws, the party at fault for the accident bears liability for damages. 

Dealing with the Insurance Companies After an Accident

Typically, the insurance companies involved in commercial truck accident cases do not make obtaining a fair settlement easy. Because multiple parties are involved in any single commercial truck shipment, a truck accident victim may have to deal with multiple and overlapping insurance companies.

Separate insurance companies may represent the following parties:

  • Truck Driver
  • Logistics Company
  • Owner of the Shipment
  • Trucking Company
  • Owner of the Trailer

This process may make it difficult for the average person to establish liability in an 18-wheeler accident. That’s why we urge you to take action right now by getting in touch with our Oklahoma City injury attorneys. Your consultation is free. You pay no upfront costs. We get paid a fee only if you win.

Common Insurance Company Tactics In Oklahoma Truck Accidents

Insurance companies exist to make profits. Powerful insurance companies representing trucking companies hire adjusters whose job it is to find reasons to deny a claim or seriously undervalue it. A seasoned truck accident attorney anticipates these common tactics and knows how to present evidence to counteract an insurance company’s avoidance methods. Be wary of insurance company bad faith practices such as:

  • Calling very soon after an accident with a low settlement offer in exchange for signing away your right to a lawsuit—often before you could possibly know the true extent of your damages
  • Obtaining medical authority to review your injury report and then scouring your medical history to look for pre-existing conditions to claim as the cause of your symptoms
  • Trying to assign you a high percentage of blame for the accident to minimize their payout under the state’s comparative negligence insurance law
  • Claiming your doctor’s recommended treatment for your injuries isn’t necessary
  • Claiming that you’ve exaggerated your injuries due to minimal damage to your vehicle
  • Calling on a recorded line and then using your innocent remarks out of context against you
  • Examining your social media accounts to “prove” you aren’t as injured as you claim

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Oklahoma, it’s best to hire an experienced attorney from Dan Davis Law to represent your rights and best interests and then direct all communications with insurance companies to your lawyer.

Damages Available In Oklahoma Truck Accident Cases

The injuries in truck accidents tend to be very serious and even life-altering. Many involve fatalities, in which cases surviving family members may file for compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. Even relatively minor injuries may require expensive medical treatment and time away from work during recovery. With a successful truck accident claim, an accident victim could recover compensation for damage such as the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Future medical expenses for ongoing treatment, surgeries, or physical therapy
  • Lost income
  • Future lost wages or diminished earning capacity if you’ve become disabled due to the truck accident
  • Pain and suffering
  • Other appropriate non-economic damages such as those sometimes associated with truck accidents like disfigurement, loss of limb, PTSD, depression, or diminished quality of life

Though financial compensation cannot undo your injuries or erase the pain, it can help you gain access to the best medical care and relieve financial burdens for your family.

You Don’t Have to Face This Difficult Time Alone. Call (405) 930-4210 Now to Speak to an Attorney

Drivers in Oklahoma understand how to safely share the road with tractor-trailer trucks and big rigs as well as the operators who are trained to drive them, but it’s astonishing to find out that some of them either aren’t actually trained properly or take careless risks while driving. The consequences can be grave. We know that these accidents in Oklahoma can happen anywhere and anytime.

The Law Offices of Dan Davis is ready to help you uncover the true cause of your accident and fight for the compensation you deserve. Our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers pore over accident reports and medical records. We reach out to top experts and conduct comprehensive investigations into trucking companies. When your future is at stake, we leave no stone unturned in proving the long-term cost of your personal injuries.