Were you hurt in a collision with a commercial truck in Edmond, Oklahoma? The driver, the trucking company, or another negligent party may owe you compensation for what you’ve lost. Call McIntyre Law for a free consultation. Our Edmond truck accident lawyers are ready to fight for the accountability and compensation you deserve.
Our legal team has 165 years of combined experience in serious injury cases across Oklahoma, and we’ve recovered hundreds of millions for injured clients. We can explain your legal rights and options and
Why Choose McIntyre Law After a Truck Accident in Edmond?
Trucking litigation isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re up against corporate defendants and well-resourced legal teams whose entire job is to minimize what you recover. You need an Edmond truck accident attorney capable of matching their resources and strength.
Clients throughout Edmond, OK, turn to McIntyre Law because:
- Our attorneys have over a century of combined legal experience handling serious injury and trucking cases.
- We’ve recovered more than $900,000,000 for injured clients across Oklahoma.
- We’re recognized by the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the American Association for Justice Leaders Forum.
- Our attorneys have been named among the Best Litigation Attorneys in Oklahoma City by Expertise, and we are members of The Injury Board, Super Lawyers, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
Call today to schedule a free case review with an Edmond personal injury lawyer who’s ready to stand up for you.
Federal Trucking Regulations Companies Must Follow
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict rules governing how commercial trucking companies operate. These regulations cover hours-of-service limits that restrict how long a driver can be on the road without rest, mandatory drug and alcohol testing, minimum insurance requirements, and vehicle inspection and maintenance standards.
Trucking companies must also verify a driver’s qualifications, including a valid commercial license and a clean driving record, before allowing them behind the wheel.
Not surprisingly, many trucking companies cut corners on these requirements to minimize costs or to meet tight delivery deadlines. But these violations significantly increase the risk of a serious accident and may provide evidence of negligence if such an accident occurs.
Common Truck Accident Injuries in Edmond, OK
Truck accidents regularly cause the most severe and catastrophic injuries of any motor vehicle crash.
Our firm regularly represents clients suffering from:
- Traumatic brain and head injuries
- Damage to the spinal cord resulting in partial or full paralysis
- Multiple or complex bone fractures
- Internal bleeding and organ trauma
- Severe or disfiguring burns
- Partial or complete limb loss
- Herniated discs and other neck and back injuries
- Nerve damage causing chronic pain or numbness
If you suffered these injuries, a truck accident claim may be your best option for recovering the full scope of what you’ve lost. An injury claim can address the crash’s impact on your ability to work, care for your family, and enjoy activities you once took for granted.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Oklahoma?
Edmond is home to highways connecting Oklahoma City to the rest of the state, which means commercial trucks move through the area constantly. More trucks on the road means more opportunities for serious crashes.
Common causes of truck accidents in and around Edmond include:
- Driver fatigue tied to excessive hours behind the wheel
- Distracted driving
- Speeding and unsafe lane changes
- Impaired driving
- Improperly secured or overloaded cargo
- Poor vehicle maintenance leading to mechanical failure
- Inadequate driver training
Most of these accidents are preventable. In fact, federal regulations from the FMCSA exist specifically to prevent these kinds of accidents, but they are often ignored or violated. Our firm will investigate every angle of your crash to determine exactly what went wrong and who is responsible.
How Much Is My Edmond Truck Accident Case Worth?
There’s no standard price tag for truck accident claims. Every case is based on the specific injuries involved, the evidence available, and the financial toll the crash has taken on your life.
Several factors typically drive your case’s value, including:
- How severe your injuries are, and whether they’re permanent
- The extent of the medical treatment you need now and in the future
- Whether your injuries have affected your ability to work
- How the injury has changed your day-to-day life
- The insurance coverage available from the responsible parties
- Whether you share any fault for the crash
Commercial trucking cases frequently carry substantial value, both because of the injuries involved and the commercial insurance policies at play. An experienced Edmond personal injury attorney can advise you of what your case may be worth, based on the facts unique to your crash.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident in Edmond?
Oklahoma law allows injured truck accident victims to pursue compensation designed to make them whole again, from a financial perspective and a personal one.
Depending on your case, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages, which can cover:
- Medical expenses, including future care and rehabilitation
- Lost wages during your recovery
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium
Punitive damages may be available in rare cases to punish the driver or trucking company for extreme misconduct, such as a driver operating under the influence or a trucking company that knowingly ignores federal safety regulations.
Does Sharing Fault Affect My Truck Accident Claim?
It can because Oklahoma applies a modified comparative negligence rule to injury claims. Under this rule, you can usually still recover compensation even if you’re partially at fault for the crash, as long as your share of fault doesn’t exceed 50% (i.e., making you mostly at fault). However, in these instances, your total recovery will typically be reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
For example, if a jury awards $200,000 in damages but finds you 20% at fault, your recovery could be reduced to $160,000.
Insurance companies frequently try to inflate a victim’s share of fault to reduce what they have to pay, even in cases where the truck driver or trucking company was clearly negligent. An experienced attorney can push back against these tactics and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident in Oklahoma?
Trucking operations often involve multiple companies handling different responsibilities related to cargo and transport, which means more than one party may share fault for your crash.
Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver, if their own negligent driving caused the collision
- The trucking company, for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to violate federal hours-of-service limits
- A cargo loading company, if improperly secured freight shifted or spilled and contributed to the crash
- Maintenance and repair contractors, if skipped inspections or faulty repairs led to a mechanical failure
- Parts manufacturers, if a defective component played a role in causing the accident
Identifying every responsible party is one of the most important phases of a truck accident case. It determines who you are recovering from and how many insurance policies are responsive to your damages. Your attorney will identify all parties who share liability for your crash and hold them responsible for their share of damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma provides injury victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury action. The same two-year deadline typically applies to wrongful death claims (but the clock starts ticking on the date of death).
Missing your deadline will usually bar you from pursuing compensation via the legal or insurance systems, so it’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to avoid noncompliance.
Contact an Edmond Truck Accident Lawyer for Help
A serious truck accident can leave you facing injuries and losses you never thought you’d experience. When a negligent driver or trucking company is responsible for that harm, they should answer for it.
McIntyre Law can help ensure the at-fault parties are held accountable for the harm they caused you. Contact our Edmond truck accident attorneys today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you move forward.