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Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyer
Experienced trucking accident attorneys in Oklahoma seeking compensation for you
There is a lot of truck traffic that runs continuously through Oklahoma City. Some of the main truck routes include Interstates 35, 40, 44, and 235; the Broadway Extension, the Southwest Expressway, Lake Hefner Parkway, Airport Road, and Kilpatrick Turnpike. Experienced truck accident lawyers understand why truck accidents happen, who is responsible, why they’re responsible, and what injuries truck accidents cause.
At Cunningham & Mears, our Oklahoma City attorneys are dedicated to helping people injured in truck accidents caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of someone else. Using 105 years of combined legal experience, we strive to help you find the right medical care and obtain compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other harm. Our goal is always to put you in a better position than when you first sought our assistance.
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How can we help?
- What types of trucks are involved in Oklahoma City truck accidents?
- How dangerous are truck accidents?
- What are the most common types of truck accidents in Oklahoma City?
- What are the most common causes of truck accidents?
- What laws govern commercial trucks in Oklahoma?
- What types of injuries do Oklahoma City accidents cause?
- How do you prove liability in truck accidents?
- Who is liable for an Oklahoma City truck accident?
- Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
What types of trucks are involved in Oklahoma City truck accidents?
Large trucks have limited visibility and are difficult to maneuver, making it hard for them to safely share the road with smaller vehicles. Our attorneys assist clients injured in truck accidents involving almost all types of trucks and other large vehicles:
- Tractor-trailers
- Big rigs
- Semis
- Commercial trucks
- 18-wheelers
- Delivery trucks
- Fire trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Dump trucks
- Back-hoes
How dangerous are truck accidents?
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, in 2020, 199 people died in large truck accidents in Oklahoma, and 1672 people were injured. There were nearly 3,000 crashes.
What are the most common types of truck accidents in Oklahoma City?
Trucks are generally larger, wider, and longer than cars. They’re also heavier and more difficult to drive. The large dimensions and sizes make trucks harder to control than cars. Drivers need a special commercial driver’s license to operate a commercial truck such as a tractor-trailer.
At Cunningham & Mears, we represent victims and families when the following types of truck accidents happen:
- Jackknife. The tractor and trailer end up perpendicular to each other causing the combination (tractor/trailer) to spread across the highway.
- Truck rollovers. Rollovers are often caused because trucks have different centers of gravity than cars making them more prone to rollovers – especially if the truck is tall and the driver is speeding.
- Blind spot accidents. These crashes are often caused because trucks have no rear or side windows, making it difficult to see other vehicles. Drivers and trucking companies should consider some of the latest blind-spot technology.
- Wide-turn accidents. Many trucks need to shift into other lanes to turn at intersections. Cars near the truck can be easily crushed if the driver isn’t careful.
- Underride accidents. Small cars can slide under some large trucks crushing the occupants of the cars. Underride accidents can involve the side of the truck or the rear of the truck.
- Cargo spills and shifts. Truck loads must be properly secured so the cargo does not shift or spill while the truck is driving down the road. Spills can create havoc for everyone near the spill. Shifts can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Trucks, like cars, may also be involved in head-on collisions, sideswipes, rear-end crashes, single-vehicle accidents, and multiple-vehicle accidents.
What are the most common causes of truck accidents?
All drivers on the road have a duty to drive with care. When they fail to do so, this is considered negligence, and they can be held liable for any resulting accidents and injuries their negligence causes. At Cunningham & Mears, our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers help the injured in recovering compensation for truck accidents caused by all types of negligence and wrongdoing:
- Driver negligence
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding, sudden lane changes, or other reckless driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Employer negligence
- Negligent hiring of truck drivers
- Negligent training by employers
- Improperly loaded or oversized vehicles
- Failure to properly maintain truck
- Dangerous or defective truck parts or truck design
- Negligent road design
- Debris spills and cargo shifts
The vast difference in size between a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle contributes to the immense damage that can happen in a truck crash. When a truck has a full load on board, it can weigh as much as 20 to 30 times the weight of a car. Trucks hauling a heavy load require a much longer braking distance, they have several blind spots which make other cars on the road virtually impossible to see. All of this adds up to a greater hazard that large, commercial trucks create when their driver is distracted or impaired by alcohol, drugs, health conditions, or drowsiness.
What laws govern commercial trucks in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma state and federal laws govern all aspects of the operation of commercial trucks including:
- Size and weight
- Loading of vehicles
- Driver training
- Commercial drivers licensing
- Rest stop and maximum hour requirements
- Truck maintenance
- Vehicle safety
- Transportation of hazardous materials
FMCSA’s trucking regulations include hours of service rules that regulate when truck drivers may stop and rest.
OSHA’s trucking rules regulate many aspects of truck driving, such as how to load and unload trucks safely.
These laws were created to protect truckers and other drivers and to minimize the number of truck accidents. If a truck driver, commercial employer, or other employee fails to follow these regulations and this results in injuries to you or your family, a personal injury lawyer at Cunningham & Mears can help you seek the compensation you need.
What types of injuries do Oklahoma City accidents cause?
Trucks often cause catastrophic or permanent injuries when they strike a car, motorcycle, pedestrian, or another truck. At Cunningham & Mears, we represent anyone who suffers any type of severe truck accident injury, including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage or paralysis
- Traumatic amputation
- Fractures
- Burn injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Vision or hearing loss
- Back, neck, and should pain
- Other severe injuries
We also represent families when a loved one tragically dies in an Oklahoma City truck accident.
How do you prove liability in truck accidents?
When a person suffers a serious injury in a truck crash and they file a lawsuit to recover compensation for their injuries and damages, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff (the injured party) to prove liability on the part of the truck driver, their employer, or in the case of an equipment malfunction, a third-party manufacturer caused the injury. This is where you benefit from the services of a skilled Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer from Cunningham & Mears. We investigate the accident, identify what caused the crash, and hold the responsible party accountable for your damages.
Because an 18-wheeler is a commercial vehicle, a truck accident is far more complex than settling a car accident between two passenger vehicles. You need an experienced truck accident lawyer who knows the law, understands the tactics used by commercial fleet operators and their legal teams, and is prepared to make sure that you get the compensation you need.
Who is liable for an Oklahoma City truck accident?
Our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers file claims against all responsible parties. Defendants may include:
- The truck driver
- The company that employs or hires the driver
- A trucking broker that arranges the shipment
- Shipping companies and receiving companies
- Repair companies
- A vendor that sold alcohol to a truck driver who was visibly intoxicated or a minor
We also file claims against the manufacturers of defective truck parts.
Do you have a truck accident lawyer near me?
Cunningham & Mears has two offices located in Oklahoma City. Our first is located at 5104 N Francis Ave., Suite 102, Oklahoma City, located just 4 mins drive from Penn Square Mall with plenty of car parking and easy access to the office. Our second is located at 9428 Westgate, Suite 102B, in the Brookhaven West part of Oklahoma City, just a short walk from Resurrection Cemetery and off the Northwest Expressway. If you are ill or immobile, our lawyers do make home and hospital visits.
Seek assistance from a skilled truck accident attorney
Unfortunately, due to the size and weight of large trucks, truck accidents often cause significant damages, including serious injuries and temporary or permanent disabilities. At Cunningham & Mears, we work hard to get you full and fair compensation for all your injuries and harm. To learn more about our truck accident representation, contact us or call 405-451-5088 today for a free initial consultation.Related Articles
