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Last Modified on May 15, 2026
Truck accident claims can be complicated. The first question you’ll have to ask before even deciding who to file a claim against is, “Who is liable in a truck accident in Tulsa?” You may be surprised by the complexity of the situation.
Why Truck Accident Claims Are So Complicated
Truck accident claims are different from regular car accident claims for several reasons:
- Truckers and trucking companies must follow federal regulations.
- There are typically multiple liable parties.
- Trucking companies carry insurance policies with higher settlement amounts.
- Accidents involving large commercial vehicles can cause more substantial damage.
Potential Liable Parties
Truck drivers are typically operating their vehicles on behalf of shipping or trucking companies. As a result, their employers are often held partially liable for the actions they take that lead to accidents. Trucking companies must follow regulations such as mandatory drug and alcohol testing and employee qualification screening under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They must also keep vehicles maintained up to a certain standard.
Trucking companies and their drivers aren’t the only ones who can be held liable for commercial vehicle crashes, though. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, other liable parties can include:
- Cargo loaders: Third-party cargo loading companies can be liable for accidents caused by improperly secured cargo. Shifting contents can lead truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles, and insecure cargo can escape the trailer, causing accidents in the truck’s wake.
- Fleet maintenance contractors: The company responsible for maintaining a fleet of trucks can be held liable for mechanical failures. Mechanics and parts manufacturers can also be liable if they manufacture or install parts, such as faulty brakes that cause accidents.
- Leasing companies: When drivers lease their trucks, multiple entities can share responsibility for the accidents that occur in them, depending on the contracts they have.
- Truck manufacturers: Sometimes, truck design flaws cause accidents or contribute to their severity. When this is the case, you may be able to file a claim against the truck’s manufacturer.
How an Attorney Can Help You Hold Liable Parties Responsible
Having a Tulsa truck accident attorney on your side is the most effective way to untangle the complicated web of liability that surrounds truck accidents and hold those responsible for causing them accountable. Your attorney can:
- Determine liability
- File paperwork
- Collect evidence
- Interview witnesses
- Construct a coherent narrative of the event
- Negotiate a settlement with the liable parties’ insurance companies
- Take your case to court if a viable settlement agreement can’t be reached
There were 2,904 crashes involving large trucks and buses in Oklahoma in 2025. The statute of limitations for truck accident claims is two years in Oklahoma, which means you have a limited amount of time to contact an attorney about filing your claim. If you don’t want to become just another statistic, you should hire a truck accident lawyer right away.
How Trucking Companies’ Insurance Policies Affect Personal Injury Claims
Commercial trucking companies must carry higher insurance coverage than operators of personal motor vehicles. The minimum liability coverage required by federal law is $750,000 for most commercial vehicles that are not transporting hazardous substances. For those transporting hazardous substances, the federal insurance coverage requirements are higher, reaching as much as $5,000,000.
As you can see, insurance policy caps are less likely to be an issue with commercial motor vehicle accidents than they are with accidents involving only passenger cars, which are subject only to lower state minimum insurance requirements.
Evidence Needed to Prove Liability and Damages
The evidence you’ll need to prove liability for the accident can vary depending on who caused it. In most cases, your lawyer may need to access the truck’s electronic logging device (EDR) and may be able to access footage from nearby surveillance cameras.
FAQs
Is It Better to Settle or Go to Court in an Accident With a Company Vehicle?
Whether it is better to settle or go to court in an accident with a company vehicle depends on the specifics of the accident. If you’re able to come to a reasonable settlement agreement outside of court, that can take less time, and you may incur fewer legal fees. However, if the liable party’s insurance company is unwilling to make a reasonable settlement offer, it may be worth going to court to get the money you need.
How Do Insurers Determine Who Was at Fault in a Truck Accident in Tulsa?
Insurers determine who was at fault in a truck accident in Tulsa by evaluating all of the evidence and occasionally hiring an accident reconstruction specialist. The insurance adjuster can read through the police report, contact the people involved in the accident to take statements, check the damage to all of the vehicles involved, and do everything possible to learn about what happened in the moments leading up to the crash before assigning fault.
Is Oklahoma a No-Fault State for Accidents?
Oklahoma is not a no-fault state for accidents. Because the Sooner State has a fault-based system for liability, the person who caused the accident is responsible for paying all the damages that result from it. However, people can share responsibility for accidents in Oklahoma and still file claims against the other party as long as the person filing the claim was less than 51% at fault.
Why Should You Never Admit Fault After a Truck Accident?
You should never admit fault after a truck accident because the other party’s insurance company can use that as a reason to lower your settlement amount or even deny you access to compensation entirely. Even seemingly innocuous statements such as apologizing for your role in a crash can be seen as an admission of fault, so when you’re speaking with insurance adjusters, stick to the facts.
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you were in a crash involving a large commercial vehicle, you can hire a truck accident lawyer to help you determine who was legally liable for the accident and file a claim against the correct parties. The team here at Fulmer Sill can help. We have a reputation for empowering accident victims to do what it takes to heal successfully from their injuries and move on with their lives. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.
