Oklahoma City Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorneys

Commercial vehicles dominate the highways and side streets of Oklahoma City, serving businesses that sometimes prioritize speed and profit over the safety of our community. An Oklahoma City commercial vehicle accident lawyer advocates for you against corporations trying to evade responsibility for employee negligence.

DM Injury Law prevents big businesses from minimizing your suffering or ignoring your rights. Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Why Choose DM Injury Law for Your OKC Commercial Vehicle Accident Case

DM Injury Law brings a potent combination of local legal knowledge and aggressive litigation tactics to every case we handle. An Oklahoma City commercial vehicle accident lawyer from our firm builds a sophisticated strategy designed to secure maximum results.

Our Detailed Approach

We approach every new case with a rigorous, investigative mindset designed to uncover the truth. Our process begins with a comprehensive investigation, where we visit the scene to gather photos, video surveillance footage, and physical evidence. 

Our team speaks to witnesses who saw the collision and works closely with medical professionals to document the full extent of your injuries. We refuse to accept lowball offers and engage in aggressive negotiation by presenting a strong demand package to the insurance company.

Deep Knowledge of OKC Traffic Patterns

Oklahoma City functions as a major transportation hub, meaning heavy commercial traffic clogs our arteries daily. We investigate accidents involving delivery fleets rushing down the Broadway Extension and utility trucks merging poorly onto the Kilpatrick Turnpike. 

Our team knows the specific hazards present near the bustling warehouses by Will Rogers World Airport and the tight turns in the Stockyards City district. This geographic familiarity allows us to identify environmental factors and traffic violations that out-of-town firms might miss. 

Our History of Winning

Results matter when choosing an attorney to fight a large corporation. Our Oklahoma City commercial vehicle accident lawyers have successfully represented clients in challenging cases, securing the settlements they needed to move forward with their lives. 

While every case presents unique facts, our track record demonstrates our ability to maximize value.

Take a look at some of our successful case results:

• $11,000,000: Our client’s son was in a company truck when another driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit his vehicle, causing his death.
• $1,800,000: A contractor driving a work vehicle crossed the divider line and struck our client, causing injuries that eventually proved fatal. 
• $1,500,000: Our client’s father was killed after being struck by a semi-truck.
• $700,000: Our client was a passenger in a commercial truck that her boyfriend drove; the boyfriend hit a vehicle in front of him and died, and our client sustained serious injuries, yet we obtained this settlement after the initial insurance offer was $0.

Mike’s Got This!

Our legal staff takes on the heavy burden of fighting the insurance companies so you can find peace of mind. We handle every communication, every filing, and every argument while pushing back against large commercial property owners and their powerful carriers. 

Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

What Is a Commercial Vehicle?

Most people associate commercial vehicle accidents strictly with massive 18-wheelers, but the definition covers a much broader range of transportation. A commercial vehicle includes any vehicle used for business purposes, whether it transports goods or carries passengers. 

This distinction matters because commercial vehicles carry higher insurance limits and are subject to stricter regulations than private cars. If a vehicle bears a company logo or is performing a job during the crash, you likely have a commercial liability claim.

Common types include:

• Freight and Construction Haulers: The largest threats on the road include 18-wheelers and semi-trucks, cement mixers, and construction vehicles that require long stopping distances, as well as garbage trucks operating in tight alleys.
• Service and Delivery Units: Local streets are often congested with delivery trucks, postal service vehicles, tow trucks, and utility trucks that frequently stop and block traffic flow.
• Passenger Transport: We handle claims involving buses, limos, and rideshare vehicles like Ubers and Lyfts, where the driver is responsible for multiple lives.
• Specialized and Emergency Vehicles: Unique hazards arise from accidents involving food trucks or even emergency responders like ambulances and fire trucks when they fail to drive safely.

If you’ve been injured in an accident involving any of these vehicles, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. Speak to an OKC commercial vehicle accident attorney today to explore your legal options.

Identifying Liable Parties in Commercial Crashes

Determining fault in a commercial vehicle accident requires looking beyond the person sitting behind the wheel. While the driver physically caused the crash, their employer often bears the legal and financial burden. 

Oklahoma law allows victims to hold employers accountable for the actions of their employees if the employee acted within the scope of their job duties during the collision.

An Oklahoma City commercial vehicle accident lawyer investigates the chain of command to find failures at the corporate level. Perhaps the company hired a driver with a suspended license, or maybe the fleet manager ignored necessary brake repairs to keep a van on the road. 

We widen the net of liability to include every negligent party, from the driver to the parent corporation.

Corporate Negligence Claims

Companies prioritize deadlines over safety far too often. We investigate whether the employer enforced unrealistic schedules that forced the driver to speed or violate rest rules. A business might also fail to train its staff on how to operate heavy machinery or specialized vehicles. 

We demand access to training manuals and disciplinary records. If the company retained a driver despite a history of reckless behavior, we hold them directly liable for negligent retention.

Third-Party Maintenance and Loading

Many businesses outsource vehicle maintenance or cargo loading. If a third-party mechanic failed to fix a steering issue, that shop may share the blame. Similarly, if a shipping company loads a flatbed trailer improperly, causing the cargo to shift and the truck to tip, the loader may bear responsibility. 

We analyze the relationships between these various entities to find every available insurance policy.

Evidence Specific to Commercial Vehicle Cases

Commercial accident claims differ significantly from typical fender benders because of the unique evidence available. Businesses need to keep detailed records that individual drivers do not. 

We move quickly to preserve this evidence before the company destroys it or “loses” it in a standard data purge.

• Electronic Control Modules: Modern commercial vehicles utilize Electronic Control Modules (ECMs), also known as black boxes, which capture data on speed, brake usage, and engine RPM moments before a crash.
• Fleet Maintenance Records: Businesses must comply with federal and state maintenance laws; therefore, we audit the service history of each vehicle to identify potential evidence of negligence.
• Driver Qualification Files: Employers must maintain files containing medical certifications and driving histories, which we review to catch negligent retention, such as allowing a driver to work after a recent failed drug test.
• Hours of Service Logs: Commercial drivers must adhere to strict federal time limits, so we audit their Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).
• Dispatch Communication Records: Dispatchers often encourage drivers to meet unrealistic deadlines via text or onboard computer systems. We utilize these timestamped messages to demonstrate that the company prioritized speed over driver safety.
• Cargo Manifests and Bills of Lading: Shipping documents reveal exactly what the truck was hauling and who loaded it, allowing us to identify if the vehicle was overweight or if a third-party loader created an imbalance that caused the crash.

Seeking Compensation With an Oklahoma City Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Commercial vehicles weigh significantly more than passenger cars. This weight disparity transfers massive force during a collision, leading to life-altering injuries. An Oklahoma City commercial vehicle accident lawyer calculates all of your damages for you.

Common damages include:

• Current and Future Medical Expenses: A collision with a commercial vehicle often results in injuries that require lifelong care, so we calculate costs for emergency surgeries, ongoing physical therapy, and future procedures to cover your entire treatment plan.
• Lost Wages and Salary: Recovery often keeps you out of work for weeks or months. We use your tax records and pay stubs to claim the income you missed while healing.
• Diminished Earning Capacity: Severe injuries frequently prevent victims from returning to their previous careers. We project the gap between your pre-accident income potential and your post-accident limitations.
• Physical Pain and Suffering: Medical bills fail to capture the daily agony of recovery, so we quantify the physical burden of your injuries to demand payment for the torment the defendant caused.
• Permanent Disability and Disfigurement: Commercial crashes often leave lasting scars or result in amputation. We seek specific compensation for the physical changes that permanently alter your appearance and mobility.
• Property Damage: Commercial vehicles often cause significant damage to smaller passenger cars upon impact. We fight for the full replacement value of your vehicle and reimbursement for rental costs.

FAQ for Oklahoma City Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Who Is Liable in a Company Car Accident in OKC?

Liability usually extends to both the driver and their employer. Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer is held liable for the negligent acts of their employees while they’re on the job. If a salesman hits you while driving to a meeting, his company bears responsibility. 

An Oklahoma City commercial vehicle accident lawyer examines the employment relationship to verify liability.

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit in Oklahoma After a Wreck With a Commercial Vehicle?

Oklahoma law typically grants a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, including commercial vehicle crashes. This clock starts ticking on the date of the accident. 

However, if the vehicle belongs to a government entity, such as a city bus or public works truck, the deadline for filing a Notice of Claim is considerably shorter. 

Can I Sue the Company Directly?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit against the business entity directly. Claims for negligent hiring, negligent supervision, and negligent maintenance stand separately from the driver’s error. 

If the company put an unsafe vehicle on the road or hired a driver with a dangerous history, the company committed its own independent act of negligence.

Does Commercial Insurance Cover More Than Personal Insurance?

Commercial auto insurance policies generally carry significantly higher liability limits than personal policies. State and federal regulations often require businesses to carry hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in coverage to protect the public. This deeper coverage allows victims with catastrophic injuries to receive full payment, whereas a personal policy might run out of funds quickly.

What Evidence Helps My Oklahoma City Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer?

Save any photos you took at the scene and the information exchange slip from the driver. Collect your hospital discharge papers and any medical bills you received. DM Injury Law will handle the rest of the investigation. 

Our team sends preservation letters to secure critical corporate evidence you cannot access, such as the truck’s electronic data recorder and the driver’s employment history.

Protecting Your Financial Future

A collision with a commercial vehicle can impact your health, career, and the stability of your family. The law empowers you to demand restitution from the businesses that caused this harm. DM Injury Law provides the strength, resources, and strategy required to win against corporate giants. 

Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.