Car Accidents Involving Semi-Trucks
Many of today’s truck drivers are chronically overworked as they struggle to keep up with demanding schedules and delivery quotas. The likelihood of significant driver errors increases drastically the more time drivers spend behind the wheel. With so many commercial trucks on our roads, it doesn’t take much for a small mistake to lead to a colossal accident.
If you were involved in an Oklahoma truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. The experienced semi truck accident attorneys at Cain Law can help you hold negligent drivers or trucking companies financially responsible for their actions.
Contact us today to get started with your free, confidential case review.
How Cain Law Can Help
Being involved in a semi-truck accident is a shocking ordeal that can leave you feeling blindsided and overwhelmed. Fortunately, you don’t have to face any of the resulting challenges alone. The truck accident attorneys of Cain Law can help you by:
- Completing an initial review of your case with no charge or obligation to you
- Maintaining 24/7 availability to answer all of your questions at any time
- Starting immediately on your case when you retain our services
- Coming directly to your location at home, in the hospital, or wherever you need us
- Conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the semi accident with our dedicated rapid-response team
- Getting you the medical help you need to recover from your injuries and establish an official record of your medical condition
- Handling the paperwork, communication, and negotiations with the insurance company
Common Semi-Truck Accident Injuries
Semi-trucks are much heavier and larger than standard passenger vehicles. For these reasons, semi-truck crashes can cause severe injuries with life-long consequences. Some of the most common semi-truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussions
- Skull, jaw, and dental injuries
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated discs
- Partial or total paralysis
- Bone fractures
- Abdominal injuries
- Burns, cuts, and scarring
- Amputation and disfigurement
- Wrongful death
How Much Compensation Could You Recover from a Semi-Truck Claim?
Every case is different. However, there are three key factors that commonly affect the amount of compensation victims can recover from a semi-truck accident claim, which include:
- Your losses – Since the compensation you could receive is meant to cover your accident-related losses, the extent and nature of your losses have a direct impact on how much you could recover. If you sustained severe injuries that required intensive medical attention and caused you to miss lots of time at work, your claim may be more valuable than if you only suffered minor injuries.
- Truck insurance policy limits – Federal regulations require commercial trucks to maintain higher policy limits than those for other drivers because of the potential catastrophic injuries that can follow a semi crash. In general, interstate truckers must carry minimum of $750,000 and up to $1 5 million in liability coverage depending on the type of cargo or passengers they are transporting. Many of the larger carriers have excess coverage up to 10 million or more.
- Liability – Oklahoma follows a modified comparative fault rule that reduces the amount of compensation you could recover if you are partially at fault for the accident. For example, if you are found to be 10 percent responsible for the accident, you would only be able to recover 90 percent of any money you would otherwise be owed. If you are 51 percent or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation by law.
What Should You Expect After a Truck Accident?
After an Oklahoma semi-truck accident, you should be prepared to be contacted by a representative of the trucking company or their insurance provider. They will most likely reach out to you within a few days of the accident. However, it is important to keep in mind that the insurance company represents the trucking company’s interests. They will try to get you to resolve your claim for as little money as possible by getting you to give a recorded statement they later use against you or having you sign a release.
Any release that you might sign will likely force you to give up your legal right to sue the trucking company in exchange for a lowball settlement. Quick settlement offers like this often come from trucking companies or insurers who want to avoid a lengthy claims process or a possible trial. If you simply walk away with their initial offer, it’s very likely that you will not receive enough money to cover all of your accident-related losses.
An Oklahoma truck accident lawyer can help you review the details of the collision and estimate an acceptable value for a settlement. It’s a good idea to consult with an attorney before you agree to any settlement offers or sign any releases.
Costs Related to Truck and Car Accidents
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the average cost of a commercial truck crash involving a medium- or heavy-weight truck is approximately $148,279. If at least one person is injured in the crash, the average cost jumps to $331,108.
These values reflect several direct and indirect costs associated with semi-truck accidents, including:
- Medical expenses such as hospital bills, costs of surgery, prescriptions, and tests
- Incidental costs such as transportation to medical appointments
- Potential future medical costs, if your injuries require long-term treatment
- Damaged property repair or replacement costs
- Lost income from missed time at work
- Lost future earning potential, if you suffer temporary or permanent disability
Contact Cain Law
Cain Law has won more than $50 million on behalf of our Oklahoma clients. We know what it takes to hold trucking companies accountable for their negligence. When you hire us, we will handle every aspect of your claim. We are ready to start on your case immediately.
Contact us now to learn more in a free, confidential consultation. There is never a charge for an initial consultation, and you owe us nothing unless and until we recover compensation for you.
