Oklahoma’s trucking industry is booming, largely due to its southern-central location to many major trucking hubs. However, with such an active trucking industry comes an uptick in large truck accidents. These types of accidents are extremely dangerous and typically cause tremendous damage to drivers and passengers in smaller commuter cars.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a truck accident due to another person’s negligent actions or behaviors, an experienced Midwest City truck accident lawyer could provide much-needed assistance. Having a skilled personal injury attorney at your disposal can be critical to getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Trucking Accident Damages
Truck collisions affect victims and their families a great deal, especially financially. Fortunately, Oklahoma state law allows injured individuals to seek compensation from the party responsible for any accident that causes them to suffer damages. Through a civil suit, an experienced Midwest City truck accident lawyer can help a plaintiff seek compensation for both monetary and non-monetary damages, including but not necessarily limited to:
- Present and future medical bills for hospital stays, rehabilitation, surgical procedures, etc.
- Loss of income
- Pain and suffering
- Home modification for a disability
- Loss of ability to pursue career, education, hobbies, or interests
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
In some severe cases, a person’s injuries may become fatal. However, a family member who lost their loved one due to another’s negligence can potentially file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Trucking Company Responsibilities in Midwest City
In Oklahoma, a truck driver may not be the only entity that could be held liable in the event of a truck crash. When trucking companies are accused of causing or contributing to an accident through their own careless or reckless behavior, courts typically consider several factors to determine whether an injured individual is entitled to recover compensation, such as whether:
- The trucking company maintains safe company-wide policies
- The truck involved in the collision was overloaded or loaded unsafely
- The company has safe hiring practices for drivers that include checking references and conducting drug and alcohol screenings
- The company provided adequate training
- The company’s vehicles are adequately inspected, maintained and repaired
- The truck company incentivizes unsafe driving by skipping rest breaks or rewarding drivers who cut time off their routes.
Comparative Negligence in Tractor Trailer Accident Cases
Oklahoma uses a modified comparative negligence standard when evaluating personal injury claims. This means that injured individuals accused of being partially responsible for an accident may still file personal injury claims so long as they are not more than 50 percent at fault for causing the incident.
For this reason, defendant trucking companies often claim that the injured motorist or driver contributed largely to causing a collision or to the severity of their injuries. For example, the defendant could claim that the injured driver cut him off and their injuries were due to not wearing a seatbelt.
However, even victims who bear some fault may still be able to recover damages from a negligent trucking company. An experienced truck crash lawyer in Midwest City could help rebut such claims and maximize recoverable compensation.
How a Midwest City Truck Accident Attorney Could Help
The impact of a truck crash can be catastrophic for both victims and their families and may lead to significant physical, emotional, and financial strain. However, help is available for those who want justice for their injuries and damages.
A skilled Midwest City truck accident lawyer could help you identify liable parties in your case and seek fair restitution from them. Call today to speak to a seasoned attorney and get started on your claim.