OKLAHOMA TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
There are many dangers involved with trucking. Large trucks often weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger vehicles. Due to their weight and size, tractor-trailers and other large trucks are more difficult to steer, more likely to tip over or jackknife, and have much longer stopping distances than normal passenger vehicles.
These factors require truck drivers to be particularly cautious to prevent accidents. When they fall short and a crash results, a truck’s size and weight can make crash injuries far more severe, especially when a smaller vehicle is involved. Federal rules require that commercial tractor trailers traveling at 60 miles per hour must come to a complete stop in 250 feet, nearly the length of a football field. Across the nation, 97% of the people killed in two-vehicle accidents involving a passenger vehicle and a big rig were occupants of the passenger vehicle, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Fatalities in tractor trailer accidents in Oklahoma have increased from 94 in 2009 to 112 in 2013. The counties that include Oklahoma City and Tulsa have by far the highest number of truck accident injuries and fatalities in 2013, accounting for a third of the state’s total. Large truck accidents occur most frequently on city streets, interstate highways and rural highways in Oklahoma, with the majority of truck wrecks happening on weekdays. A total of 230 people sustained incapacitating injuries and more than 650 people suffered other injuries in large truck accidents in Oklahoma in 2013.
Got involved in a commercial truck accident? Entrust your case to Burch, George & Germany, P.C.
With such severe injuries, a lot is at stake in a truck accident lawsuit. Crashes involving trucks are often more complex than other types of traffic accidents. That’s why you need an experienced commercial truck accident lawyer to stand up for your rights.
Through honest and ethical practices and years of hard work on behalf of injured people, the Oklahoma truck accident attorneys at Burch, George & Germany, P.C., have earned the respect of our peers and the community we serve. This is evidenced by the fact that about two-thirds of our cases are referred to us from other reputable law firms that trust us to treat their clients with respect, compassion and personalized attention.
They know that the truck crash lawyers at Burch, George & Germany, P.C., are committed to doing everything it takes to succeed, regardless of the defendant’s size, power or financial strength. Our Oklahoma City law firm has the experience and resources to take on the largest trucking companies and insurers – and win.
Isn’t it time to find out how we can put our resources to work for you? Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Got injured in a truck crash? If you are filing a truck accident lawsuit, let our truck wreck lawyer handle the details.
There are many types of truck accidents. Many factors can lead to these accidents, including tailgating, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs resulting to drinking and driving accidents, distracted driving and other dangerous behaviors. One of the major causes of truck accidents is driver fatigue and lack of sleep. Truckers face tremendous pressure from trucking companies and shippers to make deliveries on time. Because they are usually paid by the mile, truck drivers also have a major financial incentive to go as far as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Under federal hours of service rules, truck drivers are allowed to stay behind the wheel only a certain number of hours without taking mandatory breaks and rest periods. Drivers are required to keep logs that detail how long they stayed on the road and how far they drove. Some truckers falsify logs, often with unspoken approval – or even encouragement – from their employers. Evidence such as this could play a role in determining fault in a truck accident lawsuit.
Many commercial trucks are equipped with a “black box” – similar to those used in the airline industry. These devices record important information about how fast a truck was traveling at the time of the accident, whether the truck’s brakes were applied, how long the truck had been traveling without interruption and other important details that could be used to establish liability.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, it’s important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney who has the ability to:
- Understand the types of information needed to prevail in a truck accident case, such as details contained in the black box or logs.
- Identify all potential defendants (many truckers haul cargo for various companies who could share responsibility).
- Analyze insurance policies and uncover all available sources of coverage.
- Negotiate with insurance companies while also preparing for trial if necessary.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, engineers and other expert witnesses on your behalf.
Don’t let an accident with a tractor-trailer or other big truck negatively affect your life any more than is necessary. Contact an experienced Oklahoma truck wreck lawyer to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve, such as lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering and long-term medical or disability issues that you may have to deal with in the future. If you or a loved is a victim of a truck-related hit and run accident, don’t hesitate to contact our hit and run lawyer to seek for legal assistance.
Contact our Oklahoma truck accident attorney at Burch, George & Germany, P.C.
At Burch, George & Germany, P.C., we have successfully represented many victims of serious truck accidents. How can we help with your Oklahoma trucking accident or injury case? Contact us today for a free consultation. You may also contact us if you or a loved one were involved in a motorcycle accident. We will explain how Oklahoma motorcycle laws work.
Let’s get started. Call us toll free today at 405-239-7711.