Oklahoma Truck Accident Attorneys
When a large truck crashes into an automobile, the impact forces are devastating. The car is usually totaled, and its passengers are often killed or seriously injured. In 2015, more than 86,000 people were injured in a collision with a large truck. Many will need medical care for the rest of their lives. We have a record of holding companies responsible when they put drivers at risk on Oklahoma roadways. We’ve achieved multimillion-dollar settlements and judgments that help support victims and force trucking companies to put safety before profit.
If you or a loved one has been in a truck accident, you aren’t alone. At McIntyre Law, our highly skilled semi-truck accident lawyers will work to protect the rights of truck wreck victims in Oklahoma and across the nation. We won’t rest until our clients get the compensation they deserve.
Call us to start your trucking accident lawsuit today.
What to Know Before You File a Trucking Accident Lawsuit in Oklahoma
If you just got into a trucking accident in Oklahoma, contact McIntyre Law right away. We can refer you to a doctor who’ll provide proper treatment and reliable records in your lawsuit. (Some primary care doctors choose not to testify at trials as a standard policy.) If your trucking accident happened awhile ago, and you’ve already gone through treatment, contact our tractor-trailer accident attorneys. We can help you collect all the medical records you’ll need to file a lawsuit.
In order to file a semi-truck accident lawsuit in Oklahoma, you’ll need to acquire legal papers, like petitions, summonses, or complaints. McIntyre Law can help you with that process. And if you lost a loved one in a trucking accident, we can help you get life insurance documents, loans to cover lost wages, and more.
At McIntyre Law, we’ve built a team that includes some of the top semi-truck accident lawyers in Oklahoma City, who are skilled in dealing with tractor-trailer collisions. We work tirelessly on behalf of our clients to protect them from being further victimized by the trucking company and/or their insurer. We search for the cause of the accident and, when necessary, call on nationally recognized experts to assist in our investigation. We won’t stop working until our clients get the compensation they deserve.
Dealing with a trucking company
Putting an experienced legal team on your side is the best thing you can do after you’ve been injured by a tractor-trailer. If you get into a semi-truck accident, there’s something you should know: You’re not starting on a level playing field when dealing with a trucking company. When one of their semi-trucks crashes into a car, they automatically try to devalue the victim’s claim from the get-go. That’s why it’s important to get the best truck accident attorneys in Oklahoma on your side.
What happens after a semi-truck accident?
Right after the semi-truck accident, the truck driver calls the dispatcher. The dispatcher will typically call the trucking company’s “risk manager.” The risk manager quickly reviews the situation and figures out ways to keep the accident from costing the trucking company too much money. Then, no matter the hour, a call goes out to a “rapid-response team” headed by a defense attorney here in Oklahoma. Many times, the trucking company’s investigator and defense lawyer will arrive at the accident scene before the debris is even cleared.
Why should you contact an Oklahoma truck accident lawyer?
You and your lawyers are the only ones looking out for your best interests. That’s why it’s important to call us about your semi-truck accident right away. Our experienced Oklahoma truck accident lawyers will:
- Identify and contact the insurance companies involved.
- Negotiate a fair settlement.
- Collect critical evidence, such as witness testimonies and important information about the accident, truck driver’s qualifications, and more.
- Investigate and document the truck crash scene.
- Determine who is liable for the accident, whether it be the driver, the trucking company, or a parts manufacturer.
- Calculate your total damages and losses.
We recently helped a retiree recover $4,250,000 in damages after his wife was killed in an accident caused by a tractor-trailer near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our client was also injured, and in the aftermath, the trucking company and their insurance company offered him just $250,000 for his injuries and his wife’s death. The difference between the original offer and the final payout shows you how hard freight companies try to limit payments to trucking accident victims. That’s why you need the best attorney you can get.
From the outset, the trucking company is automatically going to try to reduce the amount of compensation you may receive as a result of your accident. It makes no difference how serious your injuries are. Even local law enforcement may not preserve all the evidence you’ll need at trial.
But at McIntyre Law, we’re determined to get the evidence you need for your case. For example, one of our attorneys went out to the scene of a crash, scoured the area, and found a trashed receipt that solved the case and won the lawsuit.
Our Oklahoma City truck accident attorneys can find and preserve critical evidence for your case — but they aren’t alone. McIntyre Law will also bring in specialized investigators, like human factors experts, doctors, and cellular phone experts, to help you build the strongest case possible.
What are the most common causes of semi-truck accidents?
As with car accidents, there are many possible causes of a semi-truck accident. But the types of trucking accidents that are most likely to result in compensation are ones resulting from driver error or trucking company negligence. The following are some examples of when a truck driver or trucking company may be held responsible for a collision:
The truck driver was tired or fell asleep while driving
Driver fatigue is a common cause of truck accidents in the United States, contributing to 13% of all commercial motor vehicle collisions. There are federal laws in place, known as hours of service (HOS) regulations, that are meant to limit instances of driver fatigue. But despite these rules, many drivers still end up getting tired or falling asleep on the job.
Many factors can lead to driver fatigue:
- Long shifts that extend throughout the night
- Frequently changing work schedules
- Not stopping for breaks, especially on dull routes
- Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as a poor diet or drug use
- Sleeping disorders, such as sleep apnea
- Performing physically demanding tasks, like loading and unloading cargo
- Pressure from trucking companies to ignore hours of service regulations
The trucking company didn’t train or hire safe drivers
It’s up to the trucking companies to make sure that the drivers they hire are qualified for the job and trained in company policies. This involves performing background checks, pulling criminal records, and carefully reviewing a driver’s experience and credentials. Trucking companies should also be monitoring driving logs in order to ensure that drivers are acting safely and following federal guidelines.
Operating a tractor-trailer is a high-stakes job that requires a lot of specialized knowledge and skill. Trucking companies that fail to recognize this and try to cut corners during hiring and training can be held liable in the event of an accident. If you believe trucking company negligence played a role in your semi-truck collision, our Oklahoma truck accident lawyers have the tools and resources to prove it.
Who can be held liable in a truck accident?
Depending on what happened in your truck accident, there are several parties that may be held liable for your damages:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- Insurance companies
- Parts manufacturers
- Cargo companies
It often takes a lot of research and investigation to determine who’s responsible for a trucking accident. Getting help from a legal professional can relieve you of that burden. The Oklahoma truck accident lawyers at McIntyre Law know the process and will work to get you compensation from those who are responsible.
What compensation can I get from a trucking accident lawsuit in Oklahoma?
You may be entitled to recover the following if you’re injured in a semi-truck accident in Oklahoma:
- Cash awards
- Property damages
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and surgery fees
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Mental suffering and psychological trauma
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Some people are lucky enough to walk away from a car accident with minor injuries or no injuries at all. Not so often with semi-truck accidents. These vehicles weigh 10,000 pounds or more. An accident involving a tractor-trailer typically results in very serious injuries — and larger settlements than you might get after a car accident.
Contact Us
Call McIntyre Law Firm
Let us work on your case
Receive updates along the way
Get compensated and peace of mind
Working with McIntyre Law
Honesty, hard work, and compassion — those are the values that guide us at McIntyre Law. We strive to provide the best legal representation to trucking accident victims in Oklahoma and across the nation. We pledge to keep victims’ best interests in mind and make the legal process as painless as possible for them and their families.
Even though your wreck or lawsuit may happen in another state, our Oklahoma City truck accident attorneys will handle your case as if you were a next-door neighbor. Our founder and senior partner, Noble McIntyre, is always just one phone call away.
What is a contingency fee?
Lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis agree to accept a fixed percentage of any settlement or award from your lawsuit to cover their legal fees. If there are no rewards from your truck accident case, you don’t owe a cent. We only get paid if you do.
Do you have a case for a truck accident lawsuit in Oklahoma?
If you’ve suffered severe injuries or lost a loved one from a trucking accident in Oklahoma, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Calling our big-truck accident lawyers to find out won’t take much time and won’t cost anything. McIntyre Law works on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t get paid unless you do. That means we won’t charge you or waste your time if you can’t win. If we take your case, we’ll work hard to get you the compensation you deserve.
Meet Our Oklahoma City Trucking Accident Attorneys
Our team is made up of some of the top truck accident attorneys in Oklahoma, and they’re waiting to take your call.
Noble McIntyre
Jeremy Thurman
Jordan Klingler
Monica Schweighart
Brenda Gómez O’Dell
Sarah Ramsey
Mario D’Angelo, Esq.
Daniel Zonas
Oklahoma’s Statute of Limitations for a Truck Accident Lawsuit
If you’re involved in a collision with a large truck in Oklahoma, you have a limited amount of time from the day of the accident to file a claim. In most states, it’s at least a year. Most truck accident cases must be filed in Oklahoma within two years of the day of the accident.
But you should start the process of getting compensation for your injuries as soon as possible. Every day that goes by, evidence could be destroyed, and the pain and suffering you feel changes. Contact our semi-truck accident attorneys as soon as possible to file your claim.
