Shawnee Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks are crucial to the economy of Oklahoma. Shawnee is a major agricultural center, and there are many businesses in the area that rely on commercial trucking every day. Locals are used to seeing large trucks on the road, but it is possible for accidents to happen even in this quiet rural area. If you are hurt in such an accident, it will be important to consult an experienced Shawnee truck accident lawyer at your first opportunity.

Representing Truck Accident Victims in Shawnee, OK

The team at Fulmer Sill excels at representing injured clients in difficult accident cases, and we have successfully resolved many commercial truck accident claims for clients in Shawnee and surrounding areas of Oklahoma. If you believe you have grounds for legal recourse after a recent truck accident, you have limited time to pursue your recovery, so it’s important to reach out to an experienced Shawnee truck accident lawyer as soon as you can after the accident.

Our firm believes in client-focused legal counsel and empowering injured people, helping them approach their legal proceedings with confidence and secure maximum compensation for their losses. If another party caused your recent truck accident in Shawnee, you can rely on our team to gather the evidence needed to establish fault, assess the full extent of your damages, and determine the optimal path to securing the compensation you need to recover.

Understanding the Dangers of Commercial Truck Accidents

A fully loaded tractor-trailer is much larger and heavier than most other vehicles on the roads. They require careful maintenance, and truck drivers must adhere to trucking industry regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These vehicles require more time and distance to slow down or stop when traffic patterns change, and it is crucial for truck drivers to operate these vehicles attentively and responsibly.

The National Safety Council reported in 2022 that there were 5,837 large trucks involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes throughout the United States, and more than 120,000 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in serious injuries. Between 2016 and 2022, the number of trucks involved in crashes causing injuries increased by 16%. Due to the size of these vehicles, truck accidents are highly likely to cause severe or fatal injuries.

In Oklahoma, the Office of Highway Safety reports that in 2021, the most recent year with available accident data, there were a total of 5,575 crashes involving large trucks throughout the state. Some of the most commonly cited causes of these accidents include improper lane changes, driving too fast for conditions, and driver inattention. Most truck accidents happen because of negligence, such as speeding, distracted driving, or moving violations.

When these accidents happen, anyone involved has a high chance of suffering serious injuries. Many accident victims sustain soft tissue injuries like whiplash, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and damage to internal organs. Some victims will require immediate lifesaving medical attention, and many will struggle with long-term or permanent complications from their injuries.

Proving Fault for a Commercial Truck Accident in Shawnee

Oklahoma is an at-fault state when it comes to resolving motor vehicle accidents involving more than one driver, meaning if you believe another driver caused your recent accident, you must establish fault before you can claim any compensation for the damages they inflicted. This may sound straightforward, but in commercial truck accident cases, complex questions surrounding liability can arise in many ways.

Your Shawnee truck accident lawyer at Fulmer Sill can help you gather the evidence you need to prove fault for your accident. You must accurately identify the party responsible for causing the crash and prove how they caused it before you can hold them accountable for your losses. Many types of evidence can come into play in your case, such as:

• The police report from the accident. This will be one of the most important initial pieces of evidence for any motor vehicle accident case in Shawnee.
• Pictures of the crash scene. If you are physically able to do so after an accident, taking photos of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries, and the positions of the vehicles on the road while you wait for the first responders to arrive could be very beneficial to your case.
• Testimony from eyewitnesses. Your Shawnee truck accident lawyer can identify anyone who saw the accident happen and obtain their statements to support your case. It’s important to secure these statements as quickly as possible to ensure reliability.
• Digital evidence, such as vehicle computer data and drivers’ cell phone data. For example, cell phone records may show that a cell phone was in use during the moments immediately before impact, proving the driver was distracted by their phone.
• Trucking company records. Your attorney may need to investigate whether the truck driver’s employer followed applicable FMCSA regulations for hiring, training, and assigning work to their driver. A trucking company could be found liable for its employee’s actions if the company failed to follow applicable regulations.

Ultimately, various types of evidence can come into play in any motor vehicle accident case, and an injured plaintiff will need an experienced attorney’s help to gather this evidence quickly. The team at Fulmer Sill can respond immediately to your request for legal counsel and gather the evidence you will need to prove liability for your truck accident in Shawnee.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for a Truck Accident

Oklahoma law requires every driver to have car insurance meeting minimum coverage regulations for liability for bodily injury and property damage. When a driver causes an accident, their insurance policy can pay for the damages they caused up to the coverage limits of the policy. Most truck drivers and their employers are covered by commercial policies that offer greater coverage than standard individual policies in Oklahoma.

However, it does not mean that the defendant’s commercial auto insurance policy will fully cover your losses or that filing your claim will be easy. Insurance companies almost always push back against claims from injured drivers. They will look for justification to deny a claim or offer a lowball settlement, hoping the claimants will be desperate to accept whatever they can get. Hiring an attorney to help with your claim can ensure you are treated fairly.

Your Shawnee truck accident lawyer at Fulmer Sill can help you file your auto insurance claim, providing the insurance carrier with all of the documentation they need to process your claim. If any disputes arise, your attorney can be ready to help you resolve these issues as efficiently as possible, ensuring you receive a fair settlement offer.

Building a Personal Injury Case After a Truck Accident in Shawnee

When insurance does not cover your damages, a personal injury suit may be your optimal legal mechanism for recovering the compensation you need after a truck accident. Success with a civil claim for damages in Oklahoma requires that the plaintiff prove liability based on a preponderance of the evidence, meaning the evidence they present must show the defendant is more likely than not responsible for the plaintiff’s damages.

Success with a personal injury case requires establishing liability, meaning the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s negligence or misconduct directly caused the damages cited in the case. The plaintiff also needs to show the full scope of the damages they suffered because of the defendant’s actions, and they must prove causation. This means the plaintiff must show that their damages directly resulted from the defendant’s actions and not from any other cause.

If you succeed in proving fault, you can claim compensation for any economic and non-economic damages you suffered from the accident. Economic damages include any financial losses you have suffered. In most truck accident cases, these will include vehicle repair or replacement costs, medical expenses, long-term medical treatment costs for severe injuries, lost wages, and lost future earning capacity if the plaintiff has been permanently disabled.

In addition to these economic damages, the plaintiff can also seek compensation for their pain and suffering. An attorney is likely to use their client’s total economic damages as a benchmark for determining suitable pain and suffering compensation, multiplying their economic damages by a factor that reflects the overall severity of the injuries they suffered. Generally, plaintiffs who have suffered catastrophic injuries are likely to recover substantial pain and suffering compensation.

Your Shawnee truck accident lawyer at Fulmer Sill can be your most valuable asset when it comes to maximizing your case award. Trust our team to accurately calculate all of the immediate and long-term economic damages you can include in your claim, and we can seek maximum pain and suffering compensation for you that reflects the severity of your experience. Our goal is maximum client recovery in every case we accept.

An experienced attorney can be an invaluable asset to have on your side for any type of vehicle accident case in Shawnee, especially a commercial truck accident case. Fulmer Sill can help you resolve a personal injury case efficiently through settlement negotiations or represent you in the courtroom if litigation is necessary for any reason. Whatever your case entails, reach out to our firm as soon as you can so we can start helping with your recovery.

FAQs

Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident in Shawnee?

Liability for a truck accident in Shawnee could fall to one party or multiple parties. The truck driver, the driver of another vehicle, or a combination of multiple drivers could share fault for an accident. It is also possible for a truck driver’s employer to be vicariously liable for the actions of their employee if the employer’s negligence contributed to causing the accident. A Shawnee truck accident lawyer can review the details of your accident and determine liability.

What Happens if I Partially Caused a Truck Accident in Oklahoma?

If you partially caused a truck accident in Oklahoma, the state’s modified comparative fault rule will apply to your case, and you will have a fault percentage assigned. As long as your fault percentage is less than the defendant’s, you can still claim compensation for your damages. However, your case award will be reduced by your fault percentage. If a plaintiff’s fault exceeds the defendant’s, the plaintiff is barred from recovery.

How Much Is My Truck Accident Case Worth in Shawnee?

The value of your truck accident case in Shawnee will depend on the severity of the injuries you suffered. If you can prove a defendant is to blame for the accident, it is possible to hold them accountable for your economic and non-economic damages. You may be eligible to claim more compensation than you initially expected. Working with an experienced Shawnee truck accident lawyer is an effective way to ensure maximum compensation for your damages.

Will I Win More Compensation if I Hire a Shawnee Truck Accident Lawyer?

You are likely to win more compensation if you hire a Shawnee truck accident lawyer. While it is technically possible to pursue compensation on your own, it is inadvisable due to the various complications you are likely to encounter with a commercial auto insurance claim and/or personal injury suit. Hiring an attorney means you will be more likely to succeed with your recovery efforts and more likely to maximize any compensation you obtain.

What Will It Cost to Hire a Shawnee Truck Accident Lawyer?

The cost to hire a Shawnee truck accident lawyer will be a percentage of your total case award if you choose Fulmer Sill to represent you. We take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our firm only charges our clients a fee after we win compensation for them. Because this fee is a percentage of the total recovery, there is no risk of our client paying more in legal fees than they win in compensation for their damages.

The attorneys at Fulmer Sill have extensive experience representing clients in difficult vehicle accident cases, including commercial truck accident cases. Our goal is to empower injured clients, building strong cases aimed at securing maximum compensation for their losses as efficiently as possible. Contact our firm today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Shawnee truck accident lawyer to learn how we can help you recover.