Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyers

Yukon Truck Accident Lawyers, OK

Holding truck drivers and businesses accountable for catastrophic and serious accidents in OK

Trucks are the lifeblood of Yukon and the rest of Oklahoma. They bring in the goods we need for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and the necessities and joys of life. The truckers who drive semis, tractor-trailers, box trucks, and all other types of commercial trucks need to drive safely. Driver safety includes focusing on the road and not smartphones, being sober, being refreshed, and being ready to handle any emergencies. Trucking companies need to inspect their trucks and monitor their drivers. Both drivers and trucking companies need to comply with the applicable laws and industry standards.

Trucking accidents are often complex. The weight and dimensions of a truck mean that injuries are more severe and more deadly than car accidents. There are often multiple defendants. At Cunningham & Mears, our Yukon truck accident lawyers are respected by former clients, insurance companies, and defense lawyers for our strong advocacy and our record of success; in one truck accident case, we obtained $1.3 million for a husband and wife who suffered fractures and other injuries when a tractor-trailer driver did not yield while making a left-hand turn. Call us today to get started.

How can we help?

What types of trucks cause truck accidents in Yukon?

Driving a truck requires special skills. That’s why commercial truck drivers are required to have a commercial license. Truck drivers need to understand how their type of truck works and what problems may arise while driving their commercial trucks. Large and heavy trucks are dangerous for many reasons including blind spots, difficulty making turns, cargo that shifts while the truck is in motion, and the size and weight of the truck.

Some of the common types of trucks involved in the Yukon truck accident cases we handle include:

  • Tractor-trailers
  • Rigs
  • Semis
  • 18-wheelers
  • Box trucks
  • Fire trucks
  • Delivery trucks
  • Garbage and dump trucks
  • All other types of commercial trucks and large trucks

How common are truck accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports that in 2020, almost 5,000 people were killed in large-truck accidents. About 70 percent of those who died were occupants of vehicles other than the truck. About 12 percent of those who died were pedestrians and bicycle riders.

Trucks generally cause more fatal accidents than cars because of their large dimensions, weight, blind spots, moving cargo, and many other factors. For example, truck drivers need more distance and time to stop.

Do you handle all types of Yukon truck accidents?

At Cunningham & Mears, our personal injury lawyers have the experience, resources, and tenacity to handle all types of truck accidents, including:

  • Jackknife accidents. These crashes occur when the trailer goes in a different direction from the tractor. Jackknife accidents can be deadly and can cause many other accidents as drivers try to avoid the truck.
  • Rollovers. Trucks can easily roll over if the driver speeds through a turn, the cargo moves or spills, or there is a tire blowout.
  • Blind spot accidents. The sight lines for truck drivers are terrible. It’s difficult to see on all sides of the truck. The latest blind spot technology may help. Bottom line – drivers are responsible for driving slowly, warning drivers around them, making sure they can see, and following other safety procedures. Blind spots are difficult to handle but they’re not an excuse for causing an accident.
  • Wide-turn accidents. Trucks need more room to turn. Some trucks veer into other lanes to complete their turns, so truck drivers need to be extra cautious when they turn.
  • Underride accidents. Trucks should have underride guards in the rear of their vehicles and on their sides to prevent smaller cars from sliding under the truck if an accident occurs.
  • Moving cargo and cargo that spills. There are proper procedures and equipment for loading every type of cargo in every type of truck so the truck isn’t overloaded and so the cargo doesn’t move while the truck is in operation. When cargo shifts, the trucker can lose control of the truck. When cargo spills, anyone nearby can be injured by the spilled cargo, or as they attempt to avoid the spill.

At Cunningham & Mears, our personal injury attorneys also handle head-on crashes, broadsides, intersection accidents, rear-end collisions, single-truck crashes, multiple-vehicle collisions, and all other types of truck accidents.

What are the causes of Yukon truck accidents?

Truck drivers and trucking companies should be held accountable when they drive carelessly or fail to follow trucking industry safety procedures. At Cunningham & Mears, our Yukon truck accident lawyers work with investigators, conduct extensive discovery of everyone involved, review electronic truck logs, and take many other steps to show how your truck accident happened and why the defendants should be held responsible.

Common causes of truck driver negligence include:

  • Speeding
  • Driving too fast for traffic conditions, when the roads are wet, or in bad weather
  • Driving while tired
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Driving while distracted, which includes texting while driving and eating while driving
  • Looking at a GPS for directions
  • Failing to back out into traffic with caution
  • Failing to keep electronic logs
  • Tailgating
  • Other types of driver negligence

Common causes of truck company negligence include:

  • Failing to vet, train, educate, or monitor their truck drivers
  • Failing to properly load the truck
  • Overloading the truck
  • Failing to require that their drivers keep electronic logs
  • Failing to inspect and maintain the truck in proper working condition
  • Not using the latest safety technology
  • Forcing their drivers to meet unreasonable schedule deliveries

Truck company employers are generally liable for the negligence of their employees. Manufacturers may be liable for defective truck parts. The state or state agencies may be liable for improper road designs or maintenance.

Are there laws that regulate truck driving in Yukon?

Many federal and state laws regulate the trucking industry. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the hours of service of truck drivers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates how cargo should be loaded.

There are also laws and regulations for obtaining a commercial license, the equipment trucks should have, how heavy trucks can be, the duty to keep electronic logs, and many other safety requirements.

Our lawyers work to show a truck driver or trucking company violated one or more of these laws or failed to comply with trucking industry standards.

What types of injuries do Yukon truck accident victims suffer?

Commercial trucks, by definition, are heavy trucks. When a truck strikes a car, a pedestrian, or a bicycle rider, the injuries are likely to be quite severe or fatal. At Cunningham & Mears, our truck accident lawyers work with your medical team and our network of physicians to identify your injuries, review the medical care you need, and learn how difficult your life is because of your injuries.

Our personal injury lawyers handle all types of injuries including:

We also represent close family members when a Yukon truck accident causes the death of a loved one.

How do you prove negligence in a truck accident case?

You have up to two years to file a truck accident claim in Oklahoma. You should never wait that long. We recommend that you speak with our office as soon as possible after a truck accident.

Our lawyers are skilled at the unique issues involved in truck accident cases including which trucking companies may also be responsible, the applicable federal and Oklahoma trucking laws, the written shipment contracts, the need to review any electronic logs and videos, and other issues.

Our lawyers work with investigators, the police, and any federal or state officials who investigated the accident. We use the formal discovery process to question the defendants and witnesses and obtain all relevant records and evidence.

Our Yukon truck accident lawyers prepare a formal demand letter that explains why we believe the defendants are liable and demanding compensation for all your injuries. We’re skilled at negotiating settlements with insurance companies. When insurance companies fail to make adequate offers, we’re always ready to try your case before a jury.

Who are the defendants in a Yukon truck accident case?

Our Yukon truck accident lawyers work aggressively to hold every individual and business that caused a Yukon truck accident. We file claims against:

  • The truck driver
  • The employer of the truck drivers
  • The companies involved in the shipment, including the broker that arranged the shipment
  • Truck manufacturers
  • Repair companies
  • Other drivers
  • Other defendants depending on how the truck accident happened

What damages can I claim after a truck accident happens in Yukon?

At Cunningham & Mears, our Yukon truck accident lawyers understand what damages you can claim for your injuries and how to persuade insurance companies and juries of the value of those damages. We demand that the defendants who are liable for your injuries pay your current and future:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Scarring and disfigurement damages including psychological care
  • Property damage
  • Loss of bodily function
  • Loss of consortium

Where the truck accident was inexcusable, we file punitive damage claims.

If a spouse, child, or parent died in a Yukon truck accident, our attorneys file wrongful death claims on behalf of the family members.

Do you have a Yukon truck accident lawyer near me?

At Cunningham & Mears, our personal injury lawyers meet clients at our two Oklahoma City offices:

  • 5104 N Francis Ave., Suite 102, Oklahoma City. This office is close to Penn Square Mall with lots of places to park your car.
  • 9428 Westgate, Suite 102B, in the Brookhaven West part of Oklahoma City. This office is near Resurrection Cemetery off the Northwest Expressway.

We meet ill and immobile clients at their homes and hospitals. We also conduct video conferences by appointment.

Our Yukon car accident attorneys are skilled trial attorneys. We’ve helped many car accident victims obtain strong recoveries.

Call our persuasive Yukon truck accident lawyers now

At Cunningham & Mears, we have more than 105 years of combined experience fighting for truck accident victims and families. We are skilled at determining who is liable for the truck accident, why they are liable, what injuries you have, and why those injuries are so devastating – why they’ve made every moment of every day more difficult. We also represent families when a negligent truck driver or trucking company causes your loved one to die. Our lawyers are skilled at preparing your case and anticipating the defense lawyer’s arguments. To demand your right to compensation, please complete our contact form or call us now to schedule a free initial consultation. Our Yukon truck accident lawyers handle truck accident claims on a contingency fee basis.