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Truck Accidents Can Result In Serious Injuries

Colliding with a tractor-trailer while driving on the road can be a frightening experience. If you’ve suffered injuries in a truck accident because of someone else’s negligence, reach out to a truck accident attorney in Oklahoma today to seek compensation for your suffering.

Accidents involving tractor-trailers happen much too often because truck drivers and car drivers have a hard time sharing the road. Trucks are much larger than automobiles, and they’re also harder to control. When trucks and vehicles collide, the consequences can be catastrophic for everyone involved. Severe and sometimes fatal injuries can make it impossible to return to life as normal.

If you’re suffering from severe injuries because of someone else’s negligence in a truck wreck, the recovery process can become increasingly difficult. You’re already going through immense physical and emotional hardships, and on top of that, you may feel that justice has yet to be served. Not only do you deserve compensation for your injuries, but the negligent party needs to be held accountable.

An Oklahoma truck accident lawyer from Talley, Turner, Stice & Bertman can assist you in picking up the pieces of your life by ensuring financial stress isn’t added to your plate during recovery. We’ll do a deep investigation into your accident to pinpoint who was at fault for your wreck and then fight to make sure you walk away with the maximum settlement amount possible.

Determining Liability In Your Semi Accident

When trying to determine liability, your truck accident attorney will gather all of the available evidence from your crash, such as police reports, medical records, witness testimonies, video footage, and photographs. All of this information will be helpful because it can show why the wreck happened, what injuries were caused by the crash, and, ultimately, who was at fault.

The benefit of having an Oklahoma personal injury lawyer on your side is that your lawyer will work tirelessly to ensure all possible parties are held accountable in your case. Pinpointing more than one liable party, if applicable, can maximize your settlement amount.

For example, if you were hit by a distracted driver and the truck caught on fire and caused burn injuries due to a truck malfunction, then both the truck driver and the truck manufacturer may be held liable.

Understanding Modified Comparative Negligence

Many drivers who are injured in truck accidents avoid filing claims for compensation because they’re partially at fault for causing the wreck and are unaware of Oklahoma’s modified comparative negligence law. If you were partially at fault in your accident, this law gives you the right to file a claim and still receive compensation from the other liable parties.

Once your percentage of fault is calculated, it’ll be taken out of your overall claim amount. For instance, if you’re found to be 20 percent at fault for the accident and your claim amount ends up being $100,000, you’ll ultimately receive $80,000. The modified comparative negligence law protects all parties involved and gives everyone the right to receive money for the damages they’ve suffered.

Top Causes Of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can occur for a number of reasons, and more often than not, the truck driver is at fault because they have a hard time seeing other vehicles on the road and controlling such a large vehicle. In general, there are a variety of things that can go wrong with trucks, because a lot of factors are involved in the control, maintenance, operation and safety of a big rig.

Some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:

  • Driver mistakes
  • Poor vehicle maintenance
  • Improper cargo loading
  • Bad weather or road conditions

Types Of Truck Crash Injuries

Just like car accident injuries, truck accident injuries can range from moderate to severe. Broken bones, concussions, burns, amputations, spinal damage and other traumatic injuries can all result from truck wrecks, depending on the type and severity of the collision. These injuries can involve large medical expenses, long-term side effects and extensive recovery periods.

Aside from the physical injuries that may occur from your accident, emotional damage is also possible, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and shock. Your mental health deserves the same attention as your physical health, and the costs of such treatment should be fully covered.

Full Compensation For Your Damages

Your truck accident attorney in Oklahoma will work closely with your doctor when trying to calculate your settlement amount, but the damages you’ve suffered will include more than just your initial medical expenses. Future medical expenses will also be taken into consideration, as well as other economic damages, such as property damages and loss of earning ability.

Noneconomic damages will also be considered, which are ways in which the accident has affected your lifestyle. Noneconomic damages can include pain and suffering, loss of consortium, scarring and disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Oklahoma Truck Accident FAQ

Filing a truck accident lawsuit can seem like a scary process when you have unanswered questions or concerns, but in reality, the process isn’t as complicated as it seems. We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions below in hopes that you’ll feel more confident as you seek justice for the injuries you’ve suffered.

If you find that you still have questions after reading, you can schedule a no-obligation consultation with one of our lawyers and we’d be happy to discuss your case in greater detail.

Is there a time limit on when I need to file my claim?

The state of Oklahoma has a statute of limitations of two years on personal injury lawsuits. This means you’ll need to file a claim for your truck accident injuries within two years of when the truck accident occurred or else the court won’t hear your case and you won’t receive compensation for your injuries. If you were diagnosed with your injury at a later date, the statute of limitations will begin then.

Will I need to testify in court if I want to win my settlement?

There’s only a slim chance that your truck accident case will go to trial, because it’s likely that you’ll be able to receive the compensation you deserve through a settlement agreement outside of court. Your lawyer will do everything in their power to ensure your case is settled as quickly and as easily as possible; however, if you do go to court, testifying can ensure your voice is heard.

Can I still file a lawsuit if the semi was from out of state?

If the accident occurred within the state lines of Oklahoma, it makes no difference whether the truck was traveling from out of state. It’s fairly common that trucks will be traveling from out of state, but you can still file a claim against them for compensation.

Consult An Oklahoma Truck Accident Attorney

When you get injured in a tractor-trailer accident, it can feel impossible to make a full recovery when you know someone else was responsible for causing you harm. Seeking justice can ensure you’re financially covered as you try to return to normal life, and it’ll give you peace of mind knowing the liable parties were held accountable.

At Talley, Turner, Stice & Bertman, we’re prepared to fight on your behalf and get you the compensation you deserve. If you’re ready to speak with an Oklahoma truck accident lawyer about your case today, you can call 405-467-2858 or fill out the contact form.