The roads of Oklahoma City are filled with commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers, cargo vans, and buses. If you find yourself involved in an accident with one of these large vehicles, it can result in serious injury—and sometimes even death. Insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible for your injuries.
An Oklahoma City truck accident attorney at Parrish DeVaughn knows the tricks and tactics insurance and trucking companies use, and we will fight to get you the true value of your accident claim. By having an experienced lawyer represent you after you’ve been hit by a big truck, you can be sure your rights are protected and your best interests are served.
Reach out today to schedule a free consultation.
What Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Do For You
You’ll never pay us a dime unless we win you money. That’s our No Fee Guarantee! Our consultations are also free, so you can rest assured that you can talk to our truck accident attorneys without paying anything.
Parrish DeVaughn makes excellent service a core part of our firm’s mission. We know that you want to be updated about the progress of your case. You want questions answered whenever you call our team. That’s why we make sure you’re never left in the dark. We’ll be attentive to your needs, responsive to your requests, and proactive on every aspect of your claim. At Parrish DeVaughn, we’ll treat you like family.
We’ve recovered millions for our clients, and we know what it takes to win cases against big trucking companies and insurers. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. Contact the experienced Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers at Parrish DeVaughn to learn more about your options.
What You Should Know Before Hiring a Truck Accident Attorney
In accidents involving commercial vehicles, several parties have a vested interest in making sure you don’t get the full payment you deserve. Trucking companies that employ truck drivers have systems in place to deal with the aftermath of crashes. Meanwhile, insurance companies have several strategies they use to deny claims or offer lowball settlements.
In short, truck accident cases are different than cases involving non-commercial vehicles. When you’re looking for legal representation, you should make sure the attorney you’re considering knows how to deal with trucking and insurance companies in these types of cases. And they should have the track record to prove it.
Take advantage of free consultations with the lawyers you’re considering, and don’t be afraid to ask them about their backgrounds in these case types.
Common Commercial Vehicles:
- 18-wheelers (semi/tractor-trailer trucks)
- Box trucks
- Vans
- Buses
- Taxi cabs
- Large freight carriers
Did You Know…
The average weight of a semi-truck is 80,000 lbs. The average weight of a standard car is 5,000 lbs. It’s not hard to see how these massive trucks can create so much damage. Even worse, truck accident injuries and deaths are on the rise across the nation—fatalities have increased by 49% in the last 10 years.
Common injuries suffered in commercial vehicle accidents:
- Spinal cord injuries resulting in quadriplegia or paraplegia
- Severe injuries to the neck and back
- Amputation of a limb
- Extensive burns resulting from an explosion and/or vehicle fire
- Traumatic brain injury
- Permanent disfigurement and disabilities
Such injuries can severely limit your ability to lead a normal life and may require extensive rehabilitation and medical treatment.
Don’t delay seeking legal assistance! There are strict time limits on filing a claim for compensation after a commercial vehicle accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allows companies to destroy all of their trucking records after 6 months. That means that information relevant to your case could be gone forever if you wait too long to file a claim.
A personal injury lawyer with experience in 18-wheeler accidents, construction truck accidents, and cargo van accidents knows that they must act quickly to ensure that all the documentation regarding your case is obtained.
Causes of Truck Accidents
There are a whole range of potential causes from truck accidents, and this can further complicate your efforts to get compensated for the injuries you’ve suffered. Of course, the driver often bears some blame for the accident. If they are inexperienced, this can lead to them making a bad decision. Distracted driving from eating, using a mobile device, or fiddling with a radio is a major problem. Exhaustion is also common among truckers—and there’s also the dreaded DUI accidents.
However, did you know that the trucking company is also responsible for the conduct of any driver in a truck bearing their name, either on the vehicle itself, or on its operations placard? Many companies will try to avoid blame because truckers are independent contractors, but the law says that they are responsible.
What about other parties, though? If the brakes go bad because they’re faulty, the brake manufacturer might be accountable. If it’s poor maintenance, the maintenance crew could be responsible. If the cargo shifts because it was badly loaded, the cargo or loading company could be at fault.
Types of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents come in many forms, each presenting dangerous and unique challenges for truckers and others who share the road. Here are a few common injury-causing accidents:
- Jackknife Accidents: The cab of a truck skids and the trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab
- Rollover Accidents: A truck tips over onto its side or roof, often due to sharp turns, excessive speed, or unbalanced cargo
- Rear-End Collisions: A truck fails to stop in time, striking the vehicle in front of it
- Side-Impact Crashes: Also known as T-bone accidents, where the side of the truck impacts the side of another vehicle, often at intersections
- Underride Crashes: A smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a truck’s trailer, often leading to severe or fatal injuries due to the difference in vehicle height
- Blind Spot Accidents: A truck driver fails to see a vehicle in their blind spot and changes lanes or makes a turn, colliding with the unseen vehicle
Steps to Take Immediately After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, it’s not unusual to go into shock. The overwhelming experience of such a traumatic event can leave you rattled and confused. But it’s essential to take the following steps if you’re able:
- Ensure Safety: Move to a safe location if possible and turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.
- Seek Medical Attention: Check yourself and others for injuries and call emergency services if needed.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions.
- Exchange Information: Obtain contact and insurance details from all parties involved, including witnesses.
- Contact Law Enforcement: Report the accident to the police and obtain a copy of the accident report.
- Avoid Discussing Fault: Refrain from admitting fault or discussing the accident with other parties.
- Notify Your Insurance Company: Inform your insurance provider about the accident without providing detailed statements.
- Seek Legal Counsel: Consult with an Oklahoma truck accident attorney to understand your rights and options for pursuing compensation.
Following these steps can help protect your well-being and preserve crucial evidence for your claim. When dealing with a big trucking company and their insurer, injury victims need all the evidence and support possible.
Common Defense Tactics Used by Trucking Companies
Trucking companies and their insurers are known to use aggressive tactics to minimize their liability and financial responsibility following a truck accident. One common strategy involves playing the blame game, where they may vigorously contest fault or even attempt to shift blame onto the victim, or other parties involved.
Insurers often seek to minimize injury claims by downplaying how badly a victim is hurt. They’ll even argue that pre-existing conditions contributed to the damages.
Another dirty tactic is when they deliberately delay settlements, with insurers prolonging negotiations or legal proceedings to pressure victims into accepting inadequate offers. They will try to wear you down. But that’s where our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers can help. We won’t let that happen.
A few more tactics truck accident victims should be aware of are:
- Attempts to suppress or withhold crucial evidence, such as maintenance records or driver logs, to weaken the claimant’s case.
- All of those who may be held responsible will go out of their way to shift blame. They’ll blame each other, and as we mentioned, they’ll blame you—doing anything they can to punch holes in your story.
Reach Out to Our Oklahoma Truck Accident Lawyers
Considering these common manipulative tactics associated with big truck accidents, you need someone who can cut through the strong-arm strategies and protect your rights as the victim. You need a truck accident attorney who can fight for you— and who can get you the compensation you deserve for the injuries you’ve suffered.
Parrish DeVaughn has years of experience fighting insurance companies and getting our clients the best chance at collecting on their injuries, and we’re ready to stand up for your rights as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oklahoma Truck Accidents
When should I contact a truck accident lawyer?
The sooner the better. Though the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years from the time of your injury, a lot can happen immediately after a crash. It’s not uncommon for trucking companies to send representatives to the scene of an accident to try to mitigate their liability for the wreck. Once you have a lawyer on your side, you’ll be protected from those types of tactics.
How much are truck accident cases worth?
Every case is different. Truck accident cases usually carry the potential to result in serious damages, so their values, on average, tend to be higher than other types of collisions. However, you’ll need to consult a truck accident lawyer to discuss the specifics of your case to get a better idea of what you’re owed.
Will my truck accident case go to trial?
Most accident cases settle before a trial is needed. Our philosophy is to always prepare every single case as it’s going to trial. That way the insurance company knows we’re serious. This preparation tends to yield higher settlement offers, but know that the ultimate decision on whether to proceed to trial is completely up to you.
Do You Need an Experienced Oklahoma City Truck Accident Attorney?
Following a truck or commercial vehicle wreck, most victims are unaware of their rights. During a free consultation, we can evaluate your case and discuss the probability for your compensation. There’s never an attorney’s fee unless we win your case. We have offices in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Tulsa, and we’re available, so contact us today and let an experienced Oklahoma City truck accident attorney help you get back on the road to recovery.
