Truck accidents in Oklahoma have been rising: Oklahoma Highway Patrol data show more than 1,100 semi-truck crashes in the Oklahoma City metro area in a recent 12-month period. Common causes include driver fatigue, distracted or unsafe driving, and unsecured cargo. Texting while driving is illegal under Oklahoma law (47 O.S. Section 11-901d), and truck drivers face federal hours-of-service limits.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says accidents and fatalities involving semi-trucks are increasing in Oklahoma at an alarming rate. In one recent stretch, OHP recorded 574 semi-truck accidents in Oklahoma across June, July, and the first half of August.
Lt. Preston Lay, a supervisor of OHP’s Troop S, the agency’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, said distracted driving is one reason for the increase.
“Distracted driving” refers mainly to drivers talking or texting on mobile phones. When a truck driver is preoccupied with a device, or a driver sharing the road with a semi-truck is distracted, disaster can result. A standard driver may legally talk on the phone while driving, but a semi-truck driver may not use any hand-held device under commercial-driver safety rules.
Other Factors That Cause Truck Accidents
- Fatigue: Driving while sleepy is dangerous, and the danger grows behind the wheel of a truck carrying 5 tons or more of cargo. The laws governing truck drivers’ hours of service are complicated: a driver is generally limited to 14 hours of consecutive driving a day, including at least 3 hours of breaks. See when truck drivers are required to take rest breaks for more detail.
- Unsafe operation:
Truck drivers facing deadlines or running out of hours of service may speed, change lanes, or tailgate to make a delivery on time. Operating a semi-truck unsafely endangers every other driver on the road. - Impaired driving: It is illegal for any driver, commercial or otherwise, to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Unsecured cargo: When cargo comes loose, it can fall into the path of oncoming traffic, smash into windshields, or force other drivers into dangerous evasive action. This is one reason following a cargo-carrying semi-truck too closely is dangerous.
- Improperly maintained vehicles: Commercial vehicles must be kept in safe working order. Lt. Lay said that over one recent 12-month period, OHP troopers conducted 28,000 random inspections and stops and found more than 44,000 violations. “Our troopers on a daily basis in Troop S pull trucks over that (are) a catastrophe waiting to happen,” Lay said.
Dial *55
Many Oklahomans do not know about “Star 55.” If you see a driver operating in a way that endangers lives, or you have a highway emergency, dialing “*-5-5” connects you with the nearest OHP dispatcher. Talking on a phone while driving is legal, but texting while driving is against Oklahoma law statewide, as described above.
Truck Accident Statistics in the OKC Area
Over a recent year-long period, OHP reported more than 1,110 crashes involving semi-trucks in the Oklahoma City metro area, including:
- 896 semi-truck-related crashes in Oklahoma County, including OKC, Edmond, and Midwest City.
- 152 such crashes in Canadian County (including Yukon and El Reno).
- 133 such crashes in Cleveland County, including Norman and Moore.
Two brief examples of fatal Oklahoma crashes that involved semi-trucks:
- Moore: A semi-truck crashed into a car that was broken down and stopped in the inside, northbound lane of I-35. The driver, still inside the vehicle, was killed.
- Oklahoma City: A Yukon man, 48, was killed on I-240 in south Oklahoma City after a semi-truck ahead of him stopped suddenly and his vehicle struck it while changing lanes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oklahoma Truck Accidents
How many truck accidents happen in Oklahoma?
OHP reported 574 semi-truck accidents statewide in one recent multi-month stretch, and more than 1,100 crashes in the Oklahoma City metro area over a separate 12-month period. The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both track large-truck crash trends as part of broader traffic-safety efforts.
Who is liable when a semi-truck causes a crash?
Determining who is liable in a truck accident can be complex. The truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, or even a parts manufacturer may share responsibility.
Does Oklahoma’s shared-fault law affect my truck accident claim?
Yes. Oklahoma follows a comparative negligence rule (23 O.S. Sections 13 and 14): an injured person can still recover damages unless their own fault is greater than 50 percent, and any award is reduced by their percentage of fault. See our page on how shared fault is calculated in Oklahoma injury claims for more detail.
How much is an Oklahoma truck accident claim worth?
Value depends on the severity of the injury, medical costs, lost income, and who was at fault. Our page on typical truck accident settlement ranges walks through the factors that drive case value.
Contact Hasbrook & Hasbrook Today
If you have suffered a severe injury in a truck accident, our truck accident lawyers can review what happened and discuss possible compensation for your injuries. The attorneys at Hasbrook & Hasbrook help clients build a case against the truck driver, the trucking company, or another responsible party, and work to secure compensation while you focus on recovery. If your crash happened outside the OKC metro, including near Tulsa, our truck accident lawyer serving the Tulsa area covers claims in that region as well.
