March 12, 2025 | Truck Accidents
If you or a loved one were injured in a trucking accident/collision in Oklahoma, you may be able to recover compensation for injuries sustained in that accident. To do so, however, you will be required to show that
(a) you were not at least 50.01% at fault;
(b) that another person (e.g., the truck driver) was at least fifty percent (50%) at fault.
These two requirements are two sides of the same coin; in either case, you must show you are not to blame—rather, someone else’s negligent conduct is to blame. To prove fault, various documents and other items of evidence will be critical, and it is itself critical that you gather and keep such evidence as soon as you recover the same.
1. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AFTER A TRUCKING ACCIDENT
Your medical needs are always the absolute top priority after a trucking accident. So if you were hurt in a crash, it is imperative that you see a doctor right away—do not go home first, do not wait a week, just seek medical attention immediately. This is so important because many common truck accident injuries—from back pain to whiplash to concussions to organ damage—are not always immediately apparent after a collision. Indeed, just the shock of an accident alone may sometimes mask serious injuries, pain, or otherwise. The sooner you get care from a qualified medical provider (doctor, nurse, hospital, etc.), the better position you will be in to recover from any injuries sustained in the future—and, of course, your health will be better for it.
2. DOCUMENT AND KEEP MEDICAL BILLS AND OTHER EXPENSES
The purpose of a civil lawsuit is typically to compensate for injuries actually sustained as the result of another’s negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct. This means the financial compensation for which you may be eligible in a lawsuit is linked to the actual damages sustained. In order to show actual damages then, you must collect records of your costs and expenses—namely, in a trucking accident, this includes medical bills, ambulatory service invoices, or the like. Keeping these records evidence your costs (as well as, indirectly, the severity of any injuries), and can otherwise help strengthen your negligence claim arising from a trucking accident.
3. OBTAIN FULL FOLLOW-UP CARE: DO NOT SKIMP!
Ongoing medical care is essential for recovery and for fully documenting the long-term effects of your injuries. Follow-up appointments, physical therapy, and specialist consultations provide crucial evidence of the continued impact of the truck accident on your well-being now and into the future. Ignoring follow-up care requirements/demands, moreover, can give at-fault parties an opportunity to argue that your injuries were not as serious as documented or that you failed to mitigate your damages by stopping treatment too soon. Do not give them that ammunition—get full and complete medical treatment for any injuries sustained in a trucking accident, at least if you intend to pursue compensation against the at-fault parties.
Available Damages in a Trucking Case
If you or a loved one were the victim(s) of a trucking collision in Oklahoma, you have the right to seek financial compensation for both economic and non-economic injuries. Such losses may include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ECONOMIC INJURIES | NON-ECONOMIC INJURIES |
| Property damage to your vehicle(s);Medical bills, costs, expenses;Ambulatory service costs (e.g., EMSA);Lost wages and/or earning capacity; andLost opportunity to work/earn. | Pain and suffering;Mental anguish and distress;Disfigurement;Loss of Consortium (that is, of the benefits of a close relationship); andWrongful death. |
Please note, under Oklahoma law, that jurors determine the amount of damages to be awarded in a personal injury case, and there is no cap on damages. Thus, in Oklahoma, jurors are empowered to compensate injured persons in proportion to the actual harm sustained thereby—this may lead, in some cases, to what seem like large awards, but oftentimes jurors award amounts commensurate to the injuries sustained and the evidence presented.
Contact Our Oklahoma City Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Today
At McGuire Law Firm, our Oklahoma City truck accident attorneys have the professional expertise you can rely on. If you or your loved one was hurt in a trucking accident, car crash, or other collision involving a large or unique motor vehicle, we can help. Contact McGuire Law Firm today for a free, no obligation case review. We represent truck accident victims throughout Oklahoma, including in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Lawton.