Edmond Truck Accident Lawyer
A truck accident is not your typical car accident case. You need a qualified attorney who has extensive experience handling these types of injury cases. Without a trusted legal advocate fighting for your right to fair compensation, you may be treated unfairly.
Contact McGuire Law Firm at (405) 513-5658 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Edmond truck accident lawyers today. Remember, there is no fee unless we win, so get started today.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney After a Large Truck Accident in Edmond?
An unexpected truck accident can turn your life upside down. Hiring an experienced Edmond personal injury lawyer to help you pursue compensation can make things easier. At McGuire Law Firm, we’re ready and willing to help you in any way that we can. Here’s what you can expect when you call us after a large truck crash in Edmond.
Investigate the Truck Accident to Determine Liability
You need someone who has the experience and resources to investigate a large truck accident. These crashes are much more complicated than a typical traffic accident. Determining the cause of the crash is key to recovering compensation for injuries and damages.
Several parties may be liable for damages caused by a truck accident including:
- Truck Drivers
- Trucking Companies
- Insurance Providers
- Other Drivers
- Government Entities
- Truck Manufacturers
- Loaders and Shippers, and
- Repair and Maintenance Facilities.
Our team will conduct an exhaustive investigation into your crash to figure out why it happened and, in turn, who’s at fault.
Securing Evidence
Our attorneys begin an immediate investigation into the cause of the truck accident. We notify all parties to preserve critical evidence that can be used to prove fault, such as the truck’s black box, maintenance records, logbooks, and other driver records. Our legal team searches for witnesses, videos, and other evidence that can prove how the truck accident occurred.
Accessing Experts
In some cases, we utilize industry experts and accident reconstructionists to assist in the investigation. Many times, accident victims also require medical experts who can accurately diagnose the severity of their injuries. Our legal team works with your doctors to determine the extent of your injuries for a truck accident claim.
Calculating the Value of Damages
Another reason to hire an Edmond truck accident attorney is to ensure that you are asking for the maximum value of your claim. Many truck accidents result in debilitating impairments for the victims. If you sustain a disability from a truck crash, you are entitled to future damages, which could total millions of dollars.
Our truck accident lawyers in Edmond understand what is necessary to prove damages. We know how to use the evidence in your case to seek full compensation for all damages caused by a truck accident.
Providing Peace of Mind
Truck accident cases generally involve a large trucking company, insurance providers, and defense lawyers for all parties. Going up against the parties alone can be daunting. When you hire an Edmond truck accident lawyer, you have the resources, skills, expertise, and tools of a law firm working for you.
We protect your best interests by utilizing all available tools to get the results that you deserve. Our legal team handles all aspects of your truck accident claim so that you can focus on your recovery.
Commercial Trucks – Necessary But Dangerous
Commercial trucks have many different names. Big rigs, 18-wheelers, large trucks, tractor-trailers, and semi-trucks are just a few of the names we use to describe commercial trucks. Unfortunately, regardless of what you may call a large truck, an accident with a large truck could have life-altering consequences for you and your family.
We rely on large trucks to transport billions of dollars in goods throughout the United States each year. However, this means that we must share the road with these very large vehicles. Sharing the road with large trucks can be deadly in some cases.
The Edmond truck accident lawyers of McGuire Law Firm see firsthand the devastation caused by large truck accidents. We help individuals and their families seek the compensation they deserve from negligent trucking companies and reckless truck drivers. If you’ve been injured in a crash, give us a quick call to find out how we may be able to help you, too.
How Common are Large Truck Accidents in Edmond, OK?
Large truck accidents result in thousands of deaths and injuries each year.
During 2018, 4,951 people died in large truck accidents nationwide. An estimated 151,000 people were injured in truck accidents that year. Overall, 531,000 large trucks were involved in police-reported accidents during 2018.
In Oklahoma, large trucks were involved in 5,836 crashes. Oklahoma County had the highest number of large truck accidents that year with 1,346 total large truck crashes. One hundred and seven people lost their lives in truck accidents in Oklahoma in 2018.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
Truck accidents generally lead to catastrophic injuries for the passengers of other vehicles. A typical passenger vehicle cannot withstand the impact of a collision with a large truck. In many cases, the large truck crashes and destroys a passenger vehicle.
Common large truck accident injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Multiple Fractures and Broken Bones
- Internal Organ Failure
- Internal Bleeding
- Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
- Neck and Shoulder Injuries
- Severe Burns, Scarring, and Disfigurement
- Blindness and Hearing Loss
- Increased Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Dementia from Head Trauma
- Severe Emotional and Mental Anguish
Causes of Large Truck Accidents in Edmond
In many cases, the causes of large truck accidents are attributed to truck driver error. However, other factors can contribute to a large truck accident. Discovering all factors that contributed to the cause of the crash increases the chance you can recover full compensation for your injuries.
Common causes of large truck accidents include:
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers are distracted by many of the same things that other motorists are distracted by while driving. Talking on a cell phone, texting, eating, reaching for objects, adjusting vehicle controls, and daydreaming are just a few of the distractions that can cause a deadly truck crash.
Speeding, Tailgating, and Reckless Driving
Large trucks are difficult to maneuver, and they cannot stop as quickly as passenger vehicles. Excessive speed and reckless driving maneuvers are common reasons for truck accidents.
Prescription Drug Use
Some truck drivers take prescriptions for various conditions. Some of these prescriptions can cause drowsiness, which may lead to an accident.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is always dangerous. When you are driving an 80,000-pound vehicle, it is even more dangerous for others on the road.
Fatigue and Drowsy Driving
The hours a truck driver may operate a truck are restricted to decrease the risk of accidents. Some truck drivers and truck companies routinely violate hours of service regulations.
Unsafe Trucks
Large trucks are incredibly complex machines. A defective brake system or steering system can lead to an accident. Negligent maintenance by the truck driver or trucking company may also lead to unsafe trucks. Repair shops can also be liable for faulty repairs.
Inexperienced Truck Drivers
Driving a large truck requires training and experience. Some trucking companies cut corners to save money by hiring inexperienced drivers or failing to train drivers properly.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
Cargo that is improperly loaded can shift, causing the truck driver to lose control of the truck. Overloading a truck decreases the stopping distance and could result in a rollover crash.
Violations of federal trucking regulations and legal requirements can also contribute to the cause of a truck accident. Poor weather conditions and hazardous road conditions may also be factors. In some cases, another driver may share in the responsibility for a large truck accident.
What Damages are Available After a Large Truck Accident in Edmond?
The damages in large truck accident cases tend to be substantial. Victims of truck accidents sustain physical, emotional, and financial damages. Many of those damages cause lifelong consequences.
Large truck accident damages include:
- Past and Future Cost of Medical Care
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Past and Future Cost of Personal Care
- Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish
- Past and Future Loss of Income and Benefits
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Other Emotional Disorders
- Scarring, Disfigurement, and Permanent Disabilities
- Loss of Quality of Life and Enjoyment of Life
Our Edmond personal injury lawyers work with you, your physicians, medical experts, and financial experts to determine the extent of your damages. We calculate the value of your truck accident claim based on the maximum cost of past and future care and financial losses.
Our team also works to create a strong narrative to describe your pain and suffering to increase your chance of recovering maximum compensation for a truck accident claim.
What Happens if I am Partially to Blame for a Truck Accident?
In some cases, a victim may share blame for the cause of a large truck accident. Oklahoma’s contributory negligence laws do not bar victims from receiving compensation if they share responsibility for an accident.
However, your responsibility for the cause of the truck accident must be less than 51 percent. If you are 51 percent or more at fault for the cause of the truck crash, you cannot recover any compensation for your injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Truck Accident?
Oklahoma’s Statute of Limitations sets a two-year deadline for filing most truck accident lawsuits. If you do not submit your lawsuit before the deadline expires, you lose your right to seek compensation through the courts.
While two years sounds like a lot of time, it is actually a very short period for a truck accident claim. Truck accidents are extremely complex. We need time to investigate and evaluate your claim.
It is best to talk to a truck accident lawyer in Edmond as soon as possible after a crash. Waiting too long could jeopardize your chance of success in a truck accident case.
Contact an Edmond Truck Accident Lawyer Today for Help
Were you recently involved in a truck accident in Edmond, OK? We understand you may still be healing from injuries. You may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. Let us help you stand up to negligent parties and insurance companies and fight to get you the money you deserve..
Our team of legal professionals works with you to ensure that you receive the answers and guidance you need. We take care of all aspects of your claim so you can rest and recover from a truck crash. More importantly, we are aggressive in our efforts to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve after a truck accident.
Contact our law office in Edmond, Oklahoma to schedule your free consultation with an experienced truck accident attorney today.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who may be held liable in a truck-accident-case?
Determining who may be held liable for a trucking accident is a case-specific determination. Under certain circumstances, liability may extend beyond the driver of an involved truck to include, e.g., the driver’s employer; third parties responsible for loading the involved truck pre-transport; maintenance workers; or even truck manufacturers. Given the complexity of determining who may be responsible in a trucking case, the assistance of a qualified attorney is necessary.
Can I sue the trucking company if the truck driver was at fault?
Yes, but the success of such a lawsuit may turn on the specific facts and circumstances of a particular accident. In many circumstances, such , trucking companies can be held vicariously liable for the actions of their drivers. Additionally, if the company engaged in negligent hiring, failed to train the driver correctly, or forced unrealistic delivery schedules, they may be liable for your accident.
What if a defective truck part causes or contributes to a trucking accident?
Where a defective truck part (such as failing brakes, shoddy tires, or a faulty steering system) contributes to a trucking accident, such may affect who is liable for the same. In such cases, the manufacturer of the truck and/or the defective component, or even a parts supplier, may be liable for injuries arising from the relevant accident. To determine who is at fault in circumstances involving potentially defective parts, a thorough investigation guided by qualified counsel is likely necessary.
What if the trucking company offers me a quick settlement?
It is entirely your choice whether to accept an offer of settlement. However, it is often the case that quick settlement offers prove to be nothing more than a strategic means of minimizing liability and any payout relating to the same. Initial offers may be artificially and/or deceptively low, obscuring the true value of any claim(s) or potential claim(s) arising from a trucking accident. So before accepting any settlement, it is advisable that you first consult an attorney to ensure you are receiving fair compensation for all damages incurred as a result of a trucking accident.
What if injuries arising from a truck accident do not appear until sometime after the date of the accident?
As a rule of thumb, after a crash of any kind, you should see a doctor to confirm the extent of your injuries, if any. Some injuries, such as concussions or internal bleeding, may not show symptoms immediately, while other initial injuries, like whiplash, may feel or seem less severe in the immediate aftermath of a wreck. Even if you feel fine after an accident, we advise that you seek medical attention immediately, as delays in discovering any injury may complicate the time limit in which you must bring a subsequent lawsuit. More importantly, delaying treatment can worsen your injuries and may even give a potential defendant a reason to deny causing ongoing and/or permanent injuries.
What if the truck was carrying hazardous materials?
Accidents involving trucks transporting hazardous materials (such as flammable liquids, toxic chemicals, or explosive materials) can be even more devastating. These cases may involve additional federal safety violations and multiple liable parties, including manufacturers or shipping companies.
Does it matter whether the truck driver that causes an accident is classified as an “employee” or an “independent contractor”?
Yes; a truck driver’s employment status may affect the extent of liability attributable to other parties, such as the driver’s employer. Even if the truck driver involved in an accident is an independent contractor not subject to another’s “supervision” or “control,” a trucking company or a third party may still bear some liability. At bottom, who may be liable for a trucking accident depends on numerous factors, including (but not limited to) ownership of the truck; the person(s) exercising control over any driver’s work schedule; and/or the duties and responsibilities of those charged with maintaining a truck involved in a subsequent accident.
