Lawton is a suburban community with many historic sites, such as the grave of Geronimo and the Museum of the Great Plains. While locals enjoy the quiet, small-town charm and convenience of the big city amenities of Oklahoma City, it is vital for everyone in the area to know what to do after a vehicle accident. Commercial truck accidents, in particular, can be devastating, and a Lawton truck accident lawyer can be a valuable asset in helping you recover.

Legal Counsel for Truck Accident Victims in Lawton, OK

The attorneys at Fulmer Sill have years of experience representing injured clients in Lawton and surrounding areas of Oklahoma in all types of vehicle accident cases, including commercial truck accidents. We know that you are likely to have many difficult questions you cannot answer for yourself in the aftermath of your accident, and our goal is to help you make sense of your legal options in this difficult situation.

You have limited time to file an auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit after any vehicle accident in Lawton, and the first steps you take immediately following the accident can significantly impact your recovery. Even if fault for the crash seems apparent, it is vital to consult an experienced attorney who can represent you and navigate the difficult legal proceedings ahead.

Our firm is committed to empowering injured people. When we accept any type of personal injury case in Lawton, we take time to learn how our client’s injury has impacted their life, and we address the unique challenges and opportunities their case presents. Ultimately, you have limited time to pursue your recovery, so it is crucial that you contact an experienced Lawton truck accident lawyer at your first opportunity after your accident.

Proving Liability for a Truck Accident in Lawton

The National Safety Council reported that there were 5,837 large trucks involved in fatal crashes throughout the United States in 2022, and there were more than 120,000 involved in crashes resulting in serious injuries. In Oklahoma, the Office of Highway Safety reported that there were 5,575 large trucks involved in accidents during 2021, the most recent year for available crash data.

Truck accidents can happen for the same reasons as all other vehicle accidents happen. Distracted driving, speeding, and moving violations are just a few of the most commonly cited causes. However, truck accidents can also happen due to poor truck maintenance or if a truck driver and/or their employer fails to follow trucking industry safety regulations. For example, hours of service violations and improperly loaded cargo can also cause devastating crashes.

Your Lawton truck accident lawyer at Fulmer Sill can help you gather the evidence you will need to prove liability for your accident. You can rely on our team to secure witness statements from anyone who saw the accident happen, and we can also secure cell phone records, vehicle computer data, and trucking company documentation. Under Oklahoma’s at-fault rule for vehicle accidents, proving fault is a necessary first step in recovering from your accident.

Recovering Compensation for Your Damages

Obtaining compensation for your damages after a truck accident in Lawton begins with proving liability. Once your Lawton truck accident lawyer at Fulmer Sill has helped you prove fault, you can proceed with calculating the full extent of the damages the defendant caused. Every driver in Oklahoma is required to have auto insurance, so filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s policy is typically the first step in recovering from any vehicle accident in Lawton.

Most truck drivers and their employers are covered by commercial auto insurance policies that provide greater coverage than standard individual policies. However, dealing with any insurance company in Oklahoma can be challenging. You should expect the insurer to push back against your claim in whatever way they can, hoping to settle for as little as possible. Your Lawton truck accident lawyer can be invaluable for ensuring the fairest possible settlement offer.

If insurance will not fully cover your losses, or if the defendant does not have coverage, you will need to build and file a personal injury suit in order to recover compensation for the damages you suffered. The goal of any personal injury case is for the injured plaintiff to obtain compensation for the damages they endured so they can recover as much as possible. You will likely have grounds to claim economic and non-economic damages from the defendant.

Economic damages in most truck accident cases are straightforward and include financial losses such as:

• Vehicle repair and replacement costs. The plaintiff can also seek compensation for any other property damage they suffered from the accident.
• Medical expenses. If you can prove the defendant injured you, they will be responsible for the cost of the medical care you will need to recover. This includes the cost of any future medical treatment you require if you suffer any type of serious injury that demands ongoing care.
• Lost income. Many accident victims are left unable to work until they recover. If this applies in your case, the defendant is liable for the income you are unable to earn due to your accident. It is also possible to claim compensation for lost earning capacity if the accident has left you permanently disabled.

Beyond these economic losses, you also have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation from the defendant. You may find it hard to assign monetary value to these intangible losses, but your attorney can help you determine a suitable amount that reflects the severity of the harm you experienced. Generally, the plaintiff’s pain and suffering compensation is proportionate to the severity of their damages.

When you choose Fulmer Sill to represent you in any personal injury case in Lawton, trust our team to do everything we can to maximize your recovery. We can gather the evidence needed to prove fault, identify all forms of compensation you are eligible to claim, and assist you through every stage of your proceedings. You have limited time to build your case, so reach out to our team at your first opportunity to learn how we can help.

FAQs

Q: Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Lawton?

A: Liability for a truck accident in Lawton may fall to the truck driver, but it is possible for their employer to bear vicarious liability for the accident under certain circumstances. It is also possible for a third party in another vehicle to be liable, or a combination of multiple drivers could share fault for the accident. Your Lawton truck accident lawyer can help you identify all parties responsible for causing the crash so you know where to direct your recovery efforts.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Truck Accident in Lawton?

A: The amount of compensation you can claim for a truck accident in Lawton depends on the severity of your injuries. If you can prove a defendant is responsible for causing the accident, they are liable for all resulting economic and non-economic damages you suffered. Your Lawton truck accident lawyer can help you accurately calculate the full extent of your claimable damages and determine the optimal way to maximize your compensation.

Q: What Happens if I Share Fault for a Truck Accident in Oklahoma?

A: If you share fault for a truck accident in Oklahoma, you will have a fault percentage assigned that reflects your level of contribution to causing the accident. If a plaintiff shares fault with a defendant, they can still recover compensation for their damages as long as their fault percentage is lower than the defendant’s. However, if the plaintiff’s fault exceeds the defendant’s, the plaintiff is barred from recovery.

Q: Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a Lawton Truck Accident Lawyer?

A: You are likely to win more compensation if you hire a Lawton truck accident lawyer than you would likely be able to secure if you tried to handle your recovery process alone. Even if you think your case is straightforward, you could encounter unexpected challenges or unintentionally settle for less compensation than you legally deserve. Hiring legal counsel increases your chances of success with your case and the likelihood of maximizing your total compensation.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Lawton Truck Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Lawton truck accident lawyer will be a percentage of the total case award or settlement you obtain if you choose Fulmer Sill to represent you. We take personal injury cases on a contingency fee agreement. This means that instead of charging upfront fees, we only charge our client a percentage of the total compensation we recover for them, and only if and when we win their case.

The attorneys at Fulmer Sill are committed to providing consistent and compassionate legal counsel in every case we accept, and our goal is to empower injured claimants in their cases. You have limited time to pursue compensation for your damages after a commercial truck accident, and we are confident we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Lawton truck accident lawyer and learn how we can assist you with your case.