The injuries that our clients suffer from crashes involving tractor-trailers or other large 18-wheeler trucks often haunt them for years to come. Apart from the initial medical bills and time off work, truck accident victims may suffer from lingering pain and be unable to do the job they did before the crash. To add to the stress of the situation, the truck’s driver often denies fault in the accident, making the victim feel hopeless.
Semi Truck Accident Lawyers in Oklahoma
The dedicated Oklahoma City semi truck accident attorneys at Cain Law are committed to guiding you through your health recovery and focusing on recovering maximum financial compensation for you after being injured by a negligent trucking company or driver. We can discuss your legal rights and options during a free consultation. Give us a call or contact us online to get started on the path to recovery.
Top-Rated Truck Accident Lawyer in Oklahoma
At Cain Law, our highly educated, trained, and respected Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers have more than 100 combined years of experience successfully handling these difficult cases. Founder Monty Cain has secured millions of dollars for crash victims and their families, earning state and national recognition from his peers, being named as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Association of Trial Lawyers, Top 10 Trucking Lawyer, Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyer, and Top 25 Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer, and in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. All of our attorneys are members of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), a national organization dedicated to educating and sharing information about trucking litigation. Additionally, our legal team has helped change the law so that victims injured in commercial motor vehicle crashes can pursue commercial motor carriers individually for negligent hiring of a commercial driver and a poor safety record and culture.
About Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Oklahoma City, OK
Clients trust our talented legal team because:
- We have extensive knowledge of the strict regulations that govern the trucking industry.
- Cain Law is a leader in Oklahoma trucking law, securing a victory at the Oklahoma Supreme Court holding trucking companies accountable for hiring unqualified truck drivers in the Fox v. Mize case, 428 P.3rd
- We receive many referrals from other Oklahoma lawyers who have confidence in our track record of success holding truck drivers and truck companies accountable for injuries and damages they cause because of their negligence and poor safety culture.
- Our rapid response team of local and national experts works quickly to determine who should be held liable and to preserve evidence against the at-fault party.
- Your health recovery is of paramount importance, and we help you find a medical provider if you are having a hard time finding one.
- We work with an extensive network of experts who can evaluate your injuries and determine how they will affect you in the future.
- We fight fiercely and relentlessly for the full and fair compensation you deserve.
- From the first time you meet with our compassionate Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer, you will find that we are genuinely concerned about you and your family. Our team will get to work on your truck accident case immediately. We will stay in regular contact with you to discuss the progress of your claim.
Schedule a free consultation now with an experienced truck accident attorney from Cain Law, and let us take some of the stress off you.
How We Investigate Truck Accident Claims in Oklahoma City, OK
Commercial truck accident claims are often much more complicated than crashes involving two passenger cars. That’s because the injuries are generally more severe, and the companies involved have deep pockets to dispute claims. It is crucial to have a personal injury lawyer on your side who has extensive experience investigating commercial truck accident cases and assessing the full amount of damages you deserve.
When our team takes your case, here’s what you can expect:
- We start by collecting all the evidence related to your crash. This includes law enforcement accident reports, witness statements, photos and notes from the scene, trucker logs, black box data, cellphone records for the driver, commercial motor carriers’ and truck drivers’ violations of rules regulating trucks under the FMCSA, and safety records for all the parties involved. Our rapid response team of local and national experts acts quickly to preserve evidence at the scene, damage to the vehicles, downloads of the black box, and dash cams. Our attorneys immediately request vehicle inspections and send letters to preserve document evidence of drivers’ qualifications, drivers’ logs of hours driven, truck maintenance, and inspections because trucking companies are only required to maintain the information we will need for a short amount of time.
- We identify and go after the party that is responsible for compensating you. In trucking accident cases, many parties could be liable for your accident. We may pursue compensation from the truck’s driver or owner, the trucking company, the owner or loader of the cargo, the company responsible for the truck’s repair or maintenance, or the manufacturer or distributor of defective truck parts. These parties and the insurance companies involved may try to play the blame game to avoid responsibility, but our experienced and dedicated semi truck accident attorneys fiercely and relentlessly pursue maximum compensation for you.
- We track your medical treatment and ensure you are getting the proper medical care. You may have found that your regular doctor does not want to be involved in litigation. If that is the case, we can help you find a doctor to treat you. We also make sure your serious injuries are thoroughly documented. We help you start a journal to keep track of the physical and emotional effects of the crash.
- We hire medical and financial experts to evaluate how much your injury will truly cost you. Accidents involving large vehicles often result in life-altering injuries. Our team of experts can calculate the cost of future treatment you may need, medications, alterations to your home, and long-term care needs. They can also factor in how much income you will lose over the course of your lifetime due to your severe injuries.
- We aggressively fight for a maximum truck accident settlement or a jury verdict. Although the trucking company may try to drag out the process, our firm has the resources and the stamina to see your claim through all the way to a jury verdict if that’s what it takes. Our big truck accident lawyers are tough negotiators and fierce litigators. Our main focus is always on doing what’s best for you. Our team has secured over $100 million for Oklahoma clients.
We recommend that you do not give any statements or sign anything with the insurance company after your crash. Let our dedicated Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers manage all those communications to ensure your rights are protected. Schedule a free consultation with our team now to discuss your claim and learn how we can help you and your family.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Oklahoma
To win a truck accident lawsuit, you must be able to show how the truck driver or other responsible party caused the accident. This requires an in-depth investigation into the semi-truck collision. Some of the most common causes of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City truck accidents include:
Driver Error
Most truck accident cases are based on driver error. Driving a commercial vehicle that can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds can be difficult. Truck drivers may swerve into other lanes, overcorrect, follow too closely, fail to yield, or commit other driver errors that cause serious trucking accidents.
Distracted Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 3,308 people were killed in traffic accidents during a recent year because of distracted driving. Truck driving involves hours of traveling long distances, often with little entertainment. Truck drivers may turn to cell phones, radios, or other devices to pass the time. However, this decision can lead to fatal injuries.
Driver Fatigue
Truck drivers and companies are expected to adhere to hours of service rules, which were implemented to protect the public from fatigued drivers and large truck crashes. However, some of them choose to ignore these safety measures to prioritize profit.
Drunk or Drugged Driving
Semi truck drivers may use drugs to stay awake or may have problems with drugs or alcohol. Impaired drivers pose a risk to all other motorists because it is harder for them to control the vehicle in a safe manner while in an impaired state.
Mechanical Defects
Defective brakes, faulty engines, or other failing auto parts can cause serious tractor-trailer accidents if they occur at high speeds or if the driver loses control of the large truck. If your truck accident was caused by mechanical defects, you may have a claim against the truck or parts manufacturer.
Problems With Cargo
Some truckers transport up to 48,000 pounds of cargo. If the cargo unexpectedly shifts during transport, the truck may roll over or jackknife. Additionally, trucks carrying fuel or other hazardous substances may spill them onto the roadway, posing an additional hazard.
Speeding
On average, it takes commercial trucks 40 percent more time to come to a complete stop than average passenger vehicles. If the truck driver is speeding, stopping will take even longer. Because so many trucking companies prioritize profits over safety, many large truck accidents occur every year due to speeding or driving too fast for conditions.
Traffic Congestion
Drivers who are speeding may not be able to stop in time if they suddenly run into a traffic jam. Other times, they might act aggressively and cause other vehicles to run off the road or hit other vehicles when they swerve away from the intimidating truck.
Road Conditions
Dangerous road conditions, construction zones, and poorly maintained roads are sometimes to blame for semi truck accidents. If these factors contributed to your accident, we can explore all options for pursuing compensation.
If you were seriously injured in a truck accident, reach out to Cain Law for immediate legal representation and guidance.
Compensation Available in Oklahoma Trucking Accidents
When you hire Cain Law, our legal team fights tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve. If your case goes to trial, we will reference the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions, which allows you to be compensated for losses such as:
- Medical expenses, past, present, and future
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Impairment of earning capacity for minor children
- Loss of services
- Costs to repair or replace your vehicle
- Permanent disabilities
- Physical impairments
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental suffering
- Aggravations of pre-existing conditions
- Loss of spousal consortium
- Loss of parental consortium
- Punitive damages
We can work to build a strong case for maximum compensation.
Types of Truck Accidents
Some of the most common types of truck accidents in Oklahoma City include:
Truck drivers who are not paying attention, fall asleep at the wheel, or are impaired by drugs or alcohol may cause fatal head-on collisions. These accidents are particularly dangerous because they often occur at high speeds and the driver in the passenger vehicle has no way of anticipating them. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a head-on collision with a careless truck driver, we can help.
Some truck drivers follow too closely or try to intimidate drivers of smaller cars. This can put motorists at additional risk of a rear-end collision since trucks require more distance to safely stop.
Truck drivers may fail to check blind spots or yield the right of way to other motorists, causing collisions with them.
Underride crashes occur when a smaller vehicle gets trapped underneath a trailer. This can happen when commercial truck drivers make illegal turns. The resulting crashes can be devastating as the truck can shear off the top of the passenger vehicle underneath it.
Large trucks have a wider turning radius than passenger vehicles. Truck drivers may swing too wide at intersections and collide with motorists in adjoining lanes. Other wide-turn accidents occur when drivers overcorrect after turning too wide.
Commercial truck drivers may get tired behind the wheel or have to make stops, leading them sometimes to park illegally on the side of the road. This can be a danger for unsuspecting motorists, especially at night.
With 18 wheels traveling thousands of miles every week, tire blowouts are more common on semi-trailers. However, tire blowouts can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and devastating collisions.
Semi truck drivers travel thousands of miles every year, transporting various types of goods. These items can shift during the commute, which can increase the likelihood of an accident. Cargo that shifts during transport can cause rollover or jackknife accidents because the weight is not properly distributed. Cargo that comes loose can fall out of the truck and into the path of an unsuspecting motorist. Federal and state regulations exist to protect motorists. They dictate such things as how much weight a truck can carry and how cargo must be secured. Our team can investigate whether the trucking company violated these rules and help hold them responsible for their carelessness.
Truck Accident Liability
Trucking operations often involve many parties, all of which may share some liability for the damages you sustained. An experienced attorney from our law firm can explore options for pursuing compensation against all responsible parties, which may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- The owner of the truck
- The broker of the load
- The maintenance company
- The cargo/shipper company
- Brokers
- Parts or vehicle manufacturers
Our truck accident attorneys can conduct an in-depth investigation to determine which parties contributed to your accident. We then build an aggressive case against them. We are ready to start on your case immediately.
our top priority
What to Do After a Truck Accident
If you are ever involved in a truck crash in Oklahoma City, it is important that you try to stay calm. Ask for medical assistance if you or your passengers are injured. Then, take the following steps to protect your claim:
- Check for injuries. Check yourself and others for injury, if you’re able.
- Call 911. Call 911 to report the accident and request an ambulance.
- Seek medical attention. Seek medical attention and treatment for any injuries you sustained.
- Take pictures. Take photographs of all vehicles involved, debris on the roadway, and skid marks, if you’re able to do so.
- Get contact information. Ask the driver for their contact, employment, and insurance information. Ask any witnesses for their names and contact information.
- Preserve evidence. Keep any photos or videos you made of the accident in a safe place.
- Follow doctor’s orders. Follow all of your doctor’s orders for your care, including any work and leisure activity restrictions.
- Contact an experienced big rig accident lawyer. You should not have to go through this alone. Contact an attorney who is experienced in pursuing truck accident claims and who will guide you through the process.
- Maintain records. During the course of your truck accident claim, you may begin to accumulate many records, including medical records, medical bills, pay stubs that indicate your lost wages, repair estimates, and benefits statements. Maintain all documentation and evidence of your injuries and the financial costs associated with them.
- Keep a pain journal. You have the right to pursue compensation for the pain and suffering you endure in a personal injury accident. However, proving these damages after the fact can sometimes be difficult. By keeping a contemporaneous pain journal, you can document how your injuries affect your life.
