Posts by Ryan Y. Cunningham
How Oklahoma Truck Accident Lawyers Use Black Box & ELD Data to Prove Negligence
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were nearly 3,000 truck crashes reported in Oklahoma in 2024, resulting in over 1,300 injuries and 108 fatalities. Serious truck accidents can be catastrophic and cause major physical, emotional, and financial distress for crash victims and their families. Subsequently, the period after these crashes can…
Read MoreFMCSA HOS Violations & Fatigue Crashes: What Oklahoma Victims Should Know
According to a recent report, the average long-haul truck driver covers around 125,000 miles every year. With so much ground to cover, it’s no surprise that many drivers spend long stretches of time behind the wheel with only limited opportunities for breaks and rest periods. In an effort to curtail the well-documented dangers associated with…
Read MoreCatastrophic Injury Claim Process in Oklahoma: Evidence, Experts & Avoiding Pitfalls
Traumatic and unexpected accidents of any kind can wreak havoc on the lives of injured victims and everyone in their orbit. In some cases, however, the injuries sustained during an accident are particularly catastrophic and devastating. From serious car accidents to life-changing workplace disasters, it is difficult to overstate just how far the impact of…
Read MorePsychological Trauma in Survived Truck Crashes: PTSD, Anxiety & Compensation
In a recent meta-analytic study, the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among traffic accident survivors was estimated to be approximately 22.25%. That means, nearly one in four victims will develop PTSD in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. Given the particularly catastrophic nature of truck crashes, this figure may be even higher for…
Read MoreHow to Handle a Car Accident With a Rideshare Driver (Uber/Lyft)
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have completely overhauled how many of us travel. These services provide a safe alternative to drinking and driving, make it easier to get around in an unfamiliar area, and help you avoid high parking fees. However, a new type of travel also means new types of accidents—and complications for…
Read MoreWhat is Considered a Catastrophic Injury in Oklahoma Law?
Serious injuries are always possible after a slip and fall, car crash, or other type of accident. Catastrophic injuries are a subset of serious injuries that are exceedingly rare, but permanently life-changing. When a victim is left with permanent physical or mental harm due to another person’s negligence, they often have legal options. While financial…
Read MoreMotorcycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents: Key Legal Differences
Motorcycle accidents and car accidents are similar in a number of ways; they’re both considered personal injury cases if victims decide to take legal action, and the insurance requirements are somewhat similar. But beyond there, the similarities are largely gone. From the role of liability and negligence to the severity of damages and how these…
Read MoreWhy Truck Accidents Often Result in Catastrophic Injuries
Truck accidents are less common than other types of vehicle accidents, but when they occur, their impact can be felt for miles. Whether a truck crashes into a stationary object or another vehicle, it’s not uncommon for the road to be shut down for hours or days. And then, of course, there’s the human cost…
Read MoreWhat Is a No-Zone Accident?
“No-zone” is another word for “blind spot”. More specifically, it refers to one of the numerous areas around a commercial truck that make it dangerous for a car to drive close to a truck. A no-zone accident is one that occurs while a vehicle is in a truck’s blind spot, often involving reduced visibility and…
Read MoreWhat is a Contingency Fee?
A lawyer can get paid in a variety of different ways. The “billable hours” method is the most famous–or, perhaps, the most notorious. There are also flat fee, contingency fee, and hybrid fee arrangements. Among these, the contingency fee arrangement is most advantageous to low- and middle-income clients. Personal injury lawyers almost always bill by…
Read MoreOklahoma’s Move Over Law
Cars don’t always work well. The engine can stall or overheat, requiring the driver to stop and pull over to the side of the road if possible. Accidents on all types of roads are common. The police, tow truck drivers, and emergency medical personnel do more than just help drivers when their car fails or…
Read MoreHow Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer after a Car Accident in Oklahoma City?
At Cunningham & Mears, we handle many different types of car accident cases. We represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders. We also represent families when a family member dies in a car accident. When it comes to any of these, we represent clients on a contingency basis. Learn more about what that means for…
Read MoreOklahoma’s Handheld Phone Ban in Work & School Zones
Distracted driving is one of the main causes of vehicle accidents in Oklahoma. A new bill, House Bill 2263, aims to help deter one form of distracted driving – the use of handheld cell phones in school zones and at construction sites. The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed the law. The bill was also approved…
Read MoreWhat is Oklahoma’s Bernardo-Mills Law?
The Oklahoma Senate and House passed legislation called the Bernardo-Mills Law. The law mandates that drivers who are near emergency vehicles use due caution, reduce their speed, and change lanes. The purpose of the law is to protect emergency workers and drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who need emergency assistance. Drivers who fail to comply with…
Read MoreWho Is Liable in a Self-Driving Car Accident in Oklahoma City?
Self-driving cars were once thought to be a technology of the future. However, they are quickly becoming a reality on our Oklahoma City streets. Self-driving vehicles offer convenience and safety, but they also present an important question: Who’s responsible when a self-driving car causes an accident? Here at Cunningham & Mears, we know that car…
Read MoreWho is At Fault in an Oklahoma City T-Bone Accident?
T-bone accidents, also known as “side impact collisions,” are some of the most dangerous types of car accidents. These accidents occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another (forming a “T” shape). The sides of a car offer less protection than the front or rear, and a T-bone accident can result…
Read MoreRollover Accidents: Causes and Legal Support Available for Victims in Southeast Oklahoma City
In 2024, three devastating rollover accidents occurred along Interstate 240 in Oklahoma City – one in May, one in June, and another in August – leaving two dead and one seriously injured. What causes rollover car accidents? Rollover accidents are unique in that they often occur without impact from another vehicle. According to the National…
Read MoreInjured in a Hit-and-Run in Oklahoma City? Here’s What to Do Next
The morning of August 20, 2024, was just like any other for the daughter of Maria Herrera of Oklahoma City. She was headed to school when another driver slammed into her parked car, continuing down Shartel Avenue until they collided with a tree and fled the scene on foot. Maria’s daughter had just become the…
Read MoreHolding Negligent Drivers Accountable for Pedestrian Fatalities in Northwest Oklahoma City
Here in Oklahoma City, pedestrian fatalities are an increasing concern, especially in busy areas like the Northwest 39th Expressway. When an innocent person dies because of another driver’s negligence, the family left behind is forced to deal with emotional and financial burdens. Holding the negligent driver accountable can provide justice and closure. Our Oklahoma City…
Read MoreLegal Options for Victims of Semi-Truck Accidents on the Turner Turnpike in Oklahoma City
Semi-trucks often use The Turner Turnpike to transport goods in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, thanks to the heavy traffic and high volume of large vehicles, accidents involving 18-wheelers are not uncommon on the Turnpike. If you or a loved one has been injured in a semi-truck accident on the Turner Turnpike, you need to learn more about…
Read MoreWrongful Death Claims After Deadly Crashes on I-44 in Oklahoma City
Interstate 44 is one of the busiest roads in Oklahoma, especially at the stretch that runs through Oklahoma City. As a highway that connects the state’s biggest cities – Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Lawton – it is often full of commercial and passenger vehicles. The interstate also facilitates travel between Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. The…
Read MoreLegal Options When Mechanical Failures Cause Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Oklahoma City
Driver negligence is, hands down, the leading cause of fatal motorcycle crashes. However, sometimes, the issue that causes a wreck can be a defective motorcycle part. When a motorcycle defect causes the death of a rider, the responsible defendants may include motorcycle parts manufacturers, mechanics, and repair people. At Cunningham & Mears, our compassionate attorneys…
Read MoreWhat Is the Statute of Limitations on a Personal Injury Claim in Oklahoma?
When it comes to filing personal injury claims and seeking compensation for your damages, Oklahoma follows a specific statute of limitations. Therefore, before you decide to start building a case and pursuing financial recovery, it is a good idea to check the statute of limitations for your type of case. The statute of limitations can…
Read MoreHow to File a Police Report after an Oklahoma City Car Crash
After being involved in a car accident, you must make several decisions. Tackling these steps can be difficult to do when your emotions are running high and your adrenaline is rushing. One of the most important tasks you must do is to alert the authorities about the crash and file a police report. If you…
Read MoreHow Fault Is Determined in a Multi-Car Accident in OKC
It can be difficult to determine fault in any type of accident, but a multi-car accident can seem almost impossible. Multi-car accidents involve at least three different vehicles and parties, meaning that it can be extremely challenging to identify who acted negligently, caused the accident, and should be held responsible. To help you determine fault…
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