Truck Accident Attorneys in Tulsa

Providing Quality Legal Counsel to Clients in Tulsa

Because of their massive size and weight, semi-trucks can cause devastating accidents when they collide with other motor vehicles or pedestrians. No matter how a truck accident occurs, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic or even fatal. At Martin, Jean, Jackson, Martin & Peach, we are a personal injury law firm that is committed to meeting the legal needs of our clients who have been seriously injured in semi-truck accidents.

As Oklahoma's premier personal injury law firm, we have dedicated our efforts to securing the maximum amount of compensation available for our clients. We have the legal resources, knowledge, and judgment you need on your side to level the playing field against large insurance and trucking companies.

Set up your case consultation with our friendly Tulsa truck accident lawyers. Call 918-623-4119 today.

Who Is Financially Responsible for Semi-Truck Accidents?

After being hurt in a truck accident that was not your fault, someone should owe you financial compensation. But who will it be? The answer depends on all of the factors that contributed to the collision, and what our attorneys can use to prove negligence on behalf of various parties.

Evidence could show that these parties were liable, at least in part, for your injuries:

• Truck driver: When a trucker’s own gross negligence causes a crash, they could be the main defendant in your claim.
• Trucking company: A truck driver who is an employee of a trucking company changes the way liability is applied to a case. Employers can be held responsible for the negligence of their employees through liability law.
• Third parties: Load crews, mechanics, truck part manufacturers, and more can all be liable to some extent for a truck accident. It will be our job to ensure all possible defendants are known and named to pursue the greatest amount of compensation possible.

Understanding Truck Accident Challenges in Tulsa

Living in Tulsa, you are likely familiar with the bustling highways and the significant presence of commercial trucks on routes like I-44 and US-75. These busy roads are essential for commerce but also pose a higher risk for truck-related accidents. The Tulsa Police Department and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation work to manage traffic and improve road safety, but accidents still happen.

One of the major pain points for Tulsa residents involved in truck accidents is dealing with the aftermath. From navigating medical treatments at local facilities like Saint Francis Hospital to managing the financial strain of lost wages, the impact can be overwhelming. Our team at Martin, Jean, Jackson, Martin & Peach understands these local challenges and can help you through every step of the legal process.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Some of the most common causes include:

• Driver Fatigue: Truck drivers often work long hours and may drive while tired. Fatigue can significantly impair a driver’s reaction time, judgment, and ability to focus.
• Distracted Driving: This includes any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as using a phone, eating, adjusting the radio, or interacting with a GPS.
• Speeding: Exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions can reduce the driver’s ability to control the truck, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
• Impaired Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs (including prescription medications), or other substances can impair a driver’s motor skills, judgment, and reaction times.
• Inadequate Training: Insufficient training on handling a large commercial vehicle, understanding road safety regulations, or responding to emergency situations can lead to accidents.
• Poor Vehicle Maintenance: Failure to properly maintain the truck, including brakes, tires, and other critical systems, can result in mechanical failures that cause accidents.
• Overloading or Improper Loading: Exceeding the truck's weight limit or improperly securing cargo can affect the truck’s balance and handling, leading to accidents.
• Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions such as rain, snow, ice, fog, or strong winds can make driving hazardous, particularly for large trucks which require longer stopping distances and are more difficult to maneuver.
• Road Conditions: Poorly maintained roads, construction zones, potholes, and debris can cause accidents by making it difficult for trucks to maintain control.
• Aggressive Driving: Behaviors such as tailgating, frequent lane changes, and road rage can increase the risk of accidents.
• Inexperienced Drivers: New or less experienced drivers may lack the necessary knowledge to handle large trucks safely, leading to a higher likelihood of accidents.
• Blind Spots: Trucks have large blind spots, and failure to adequately check these areas before changing lanes or merging can lead to collisions with other vehicles.
• Mechanical Failures: Defects or failures in critical truck components, such as brakes, steering, or tires, can lead to loss of control and accidents.
• Violation of Traffic Laws: Ignoring traffic signals, running red lights, or not yielding the right of way can cause accidents.
• Inadequate Surveillance: Failing to properly observe the surroundings, including other vehicles, pedestrians, and potential hazards, can lead to collisions.

Common Types of Truck Accidents

A truck accident involves any collision or mishap that includes a large commercial truck, such as a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or other heavy-duty truck. These accidents can occur due to various reasons, including driver error, mechanical failure, or adverse road conditions. Due to the size and weight of these vehicles, truck accidents often result in significant damage, severe injuries, or fatalities.

Common types of truck accidents include:

• Jackknife Accidents: Occur when a truck's trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle with the cab, resembling a folding knife. This typically happens when the truck skids, causing the trailer to push from behind.
• Rollovers: Happen when a truck flips over onto its side or roof. This can be caused by taking a turn too quickly, overloading, or uneven cargo distribution.
• Rear-End Collisions: Involve a truck crashing into the vehicle in front of it. Due to the truck's weight and momentum, these collisions can be particularly destructive.
• Underride Accidents: Occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the rear or side of a truck, often leading to severe injuries or fatalities due to the disparity in height between the vehicles.
• Blind Spot Accidents: Happen when a truck driver fails to see a vehicle in their blind spot, leading to a collision during lane changes or turns. Trucks have larger blind spots than smaller vehicles.
• Tire Blowouts: Can cause the driver to lose control of the truck, leading to accidents. Blowouts may be due to overloading, poor maintenance, or defective tires.
• T-Bone Collisions: Occur when the front of a truck crashes into the side of another vehicle, often at intersections.
• Head-On Collisions: Involve the front ends of a truck and another vehicle crashing into each other. These are often fatal due to the combined speeds of the vehicles.
• Lost Load Accidents: Happen when cargo falls off a truck due to improper securing or overloading, creating hazards for other road users.
• Wide Turn Accidents: Occur when a truck makes a wide turn and collides with other vehicles or objects in its path. This can happen when the driver underestimates the space needed for the turn.

What To Do After a Truck Accident in Tulsa

First, make sure you get whatever medical care you need, whether that is emergency treatment at a local facility such as Hillcrest Medical Center or a prompt visit to your own doctor. Even if you feel “okay” after a wreck on I-44 or Highway 51, some injuries take hours or days to fully show symptoms, and early documentation of your condition can be important for both your recovery and any future claim. If you are able, you can also gather basic information at the scene, such as the truck driver’s name, employer, insurance details, and the contact information of any witnesses.

Once your immediate medical needs are addressed and the accident has been reported to law enforcement, it can be helpful to speak with a truck accident lawyer Tulsa residents trust before you talk in depth with insurance adjusters. An attorney can explain how recorded statements and quick settlement offers might affect your rights, help you understand the role of agencies like the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in investigating crashes, and advise you on how to track medical bills, lost income, and other losses while your case is being evaluated.

We Can Help You Take on Insurers

Because semi-trucks are commercial vehicles that are generally used for transporting goods and other cargo, trucking companies are required to carry adequate insurance to cover any accidents that might arise. Commercial trucks are comprised of a tractor that holds the driver and the semi-trailer that holds the goods and cargo. When you are involved in an accident with either of these two parts of the truck, it can result in serious or fatal injuries.

Because of how serious a truck accident can be, trucking companies often have a team of lawyers to help them fight against any accident or injury claim that is filed against them. This is why it is important to have legal representation you can trust by your side. An experienced semi-truck accident attorney can help you collect crucial evidence to build your case and prove the truck driver’s negligent actions caused your injuries. Our legal team is ready to fight for your rights, and we will not back down from big insurance companies that want to limit or deny your injury claim.

What Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Do for You

Five things you can count on us for:

• Free initial consultation: The first step in any truck accident claim is knowing that you have a legally valid claim to compensation against the truck driver or trucking company. We can determine in most situations if a claim is valid through discussions during an initial and free consultation.
• Investigation and evidence review: If your claim is valid and everyone agrees that we should be the team that represents you, then we will want to move forward with investigations and evidence review. We can network with various experts to make the most of the evidence.
• Settlement discussions: When confronted with a well-constructed injury claim, many trucking companies will want to talk settlements to avoid their name being taken to court. Our attorneys can negotiate settlement offers on your behalf and insist upon getting a fair amount.
• Lawsuit representation: Sometimes settlement negotiations do not end a claim because the defendant will not offer enough compensation to take care of a client’s needs. If this happens, then we will already be prepared to file a lawsuit and go before a judge and jury for you.
• After-case check-ins: The conclusion of a case through a verdict or settlement is not the end of what our law firm does for our clients. If you prefer, we can check with you in the weeks following your case’s ending to ensure you are doing well and understand the outcome, such as when to expect settlement payments if your case ended with a structured settlement.

Let Our Tulsa Truck Accident Attorneys Get Started on Your Case

Our legal professionals want to maximize your results and secure the justice you deserve, which is why we are committed to looking out for your interests and fighting for every penny you deserve. If you have sustained serious injuries in a truck accident, immediately call us to discuss how to move forward with your injury claim. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we know which legal strategies work best in these types of cases. Let us put our skills and resources to work for you. 

Call 918-623-4119 today to schedule your case consultation with our Tulsa truck accident lawyers.