A collision with a commercial truck on Oklahoma City roads like I-40 or I-35 is more than just an accident—it’s a life-altering event. The sheer force of an 80,000-pound vehicle leaves victims facing serious injuries, overwhelming medical debt, and a future filled with uncertainty.
Before you’ve even had a chance to process what happened, the trucking company’s insurance carrier is already building a case against you. Their goal is simple: to protect their profits by paying you as little as possible. They are not on your side.
In this critical time, you need an experienced Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer to level the playing field and fight for the full compensation you deserve. You need a team that understands how to hold negligent drivers and powerful trucking companies accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
At DM Injury Law, we are here to handle that fight so you can focus on healing. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can protect your rights.
Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.
Why Choose DM Injury Law for Your Oklahoma City Truck Accident Claim
When you are facing the aftermath of a serious truck wreck, the lawyer you choose can make all the difference. You need a firm with the resources to challenge powerful trucking corporations and the dedication to treat you with the compassion and personal attention you deserve. At DM Injury Law, we combine the firepower of a major regional law firm with the deep-seated Midwestern values you can trust.
We understand that this is more than just a case to you—it’s your life, your health, and your family’s financial stability. We’ve built our reputation on helping people just like you navigate these difficult times and emerge stronger.
Here is what sets DM Injury Law apart:
- Big Firm Resources, Local Dedication: While we have offices across the Midwest, our roots are firmly planted here. We bring the full weight of a nationally recognized trial practice to your Oklahoma City claim, equipped with the investigators, expert witnesses, and financial strength needed to build an unbreakable case on your behalf.
- A Proven Record of Success: Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for accident victims. This track record is not just a number; it represents restored futures, paid medical debts, and the financial security our clients needed to heal and move forward after a life-altering injury.
- We Battle the Insurance Giants: Trucking companies and their insurers are formidable opponents. They have teams of lawyers dedicated to minimizing their liability. We have made it our mission to level the playing field. Our reputation as aggressive trial lawyers often persuades these companies to offer a fair settlement rather than face us in court.
- A Large Support Staff: When you hire us, you get the full support of industry experts who will help you throughout your entire case. We have a support staff of investigators, case managers, and medical records specialists to answer all your questions.
- Our No-Fee Promise: We believe everyone deserves access to high-quality legal representation, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we work on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay us absolutely nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if and when we win your case. If you don’t get paid, neither do we.
Choosing our firm means putting a team of experienced advocates in your corner. Let us handle the legal complexities so you can focus on healing.
Our Case Results
Trucking accidents can lead to severe injuries and financial setbacks. That’s why our truck accident attorneys in Oklahoma City have a track record of securing fair compensation for our clients.
Take a look at some successful case results involving truck accidents:
- $11,000,000: Our client’s son was killed while driving in a company truck, and the other driver fell asleep at the wheel.
- $1,500,000: Our client’s father was killed by the driver of a semi-truck who turned in front of him.
- $1,000,000: Our clients were a family who were seriously injured when a delivery truck hit them.
Tell us your story, and we’ll fight for the justice and compensation you are owed.
The Insurance Company Offered Me a Settlement. Should I Take It?
It’s a common scenario after a serious truck accident. You’re in pain, medical bills are starting to arrive, and you’re worried about your finances. When the at-fault party’s insurance adjuster calls with a seemingly generous and quick settlement offer, it can feel like a lifeline. But it’s crucial to proceed with extreme caution.
You must remember: the insurance adjuster does not work for you. Their primary goal is to protect their company’s profits by resolving your claim for the lowest possible amount.
This initial offer is almost always a fraction of your claim’s true value. It rarely accounts for the full scope of your losses, such as future medical treatments, long-term physical therapy, lost earning capacity if you can’t return to your job, or the immense pain and suffering you’ve endured. The insurance company is counting on you to be unaware of your rights and desperate for a fast resolution.
The most dangerous part? Once you accept a settlement and sign their release forms, your case is closed forever. You forfeit your right to seek any further compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be far more severe than you initially realized.
Before you sign anything or agree to a recorded statement, please talk to us. Let our experienced attorneys evaluate your case to determine what fair compensation truly looks like. Accepting a quick offer could cost you the financial security you need to truly recover—let us protect you from that mistake.
Who May Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?
Unlike a typical car accident involving two passenger vehicles, a commercial truck wreck often involves multiple potentially liable parties. Identifying every party whose negligence contributed to your accident is a critical step in ensuring you can recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to. A thorough investigation is essential, as liability can extend far beyond the driver behind the wheel.
Our legal team meticulously investigates every angle of your accident to determine all sources of liability, which may include:
- The Truck Driver: The most direct cause of an accident is often the driver’s actions. Negligence can take many forms, including speeding to meet a deadline, driving while fatigued in violation of federal Hours-of-Service regulations, distracted driving (texting, eating, or adjusting controls), driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or simply making a reckless maneuver.
- The Trucking Company (Motor Carrier): The driver’s employer can often be held responsible for the accident through a legal principle called “vicarious liability.” More directly, the company itself may be negligent. This can include negligent hiring practices (hiring drivers with poor safety records), inadequate training, failing to properly maintain their fleet of vehicles, or creating a culture that encourages drivers to cut corners on safety to maximize profits.
- The Cargo Shipper or Loader: The way cargo is loaded and secured onto a trailer is critical for the truck’s stability. If a third-party company improperly loaded the truck, causing the cargo to shift and the driver to lose control, or if the truck was dangerously overloaded beyond legal weight limits, that company can be held partially or fully liable for the resulting crash.
- The Truck or Parts Manufacturer: Sometimes, the accident is not due to human error but to mechanical failure. If a critical component like the brakes, steering system, tires, or coupling fails due to a design or manufacturing defect, the company that produced the faulty part can be held liable under product liability laws.
- A Maintenance or Repair Company: Many trucking companies outsource their vehicle maintenance to third-party repair shops. If one of these shops performed shoddy work, used substandard parts, or failed to identify a dangerous mechanical issue during an inspection, their negligence could be a direct cause of the accident, making them a liable party.
Pinpointing liability requires a deep dive into driver logs, maintenance records, company hiring policies, black box data, and more. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to uncover every negligent act that led to your injuries.
What are the Regulations for Trucks?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has implemented strict regulations to maintain road safety. Key rules include:
- No driving after 14 hours on duty without taking a 10-hour break.
- Mandatory vehicle inspections before and after shifts, with immediate repair of any safety issues.
- Drivers must complete entry-level training with FMCSA-registered providers.
- Cargo must be secured using approved devices.
- These regulations aim to prevent accidents and help identify responsible parties in case of violations.
How Our Lawyers Prove Negligence in a Truck Collision
Proving that another party’s negligence caused your injuries is the foundation of a successful personal injury claim. This requires more than just pointing fingers; it requires building a comprehensive, evidence-based case that can withstand the scrutiny of insurance adjusters and, if necessary, a jury. At DM Injury Law, we have a systematic and aggressive approach to proving our clients’ cases.
Here is how we work to build a powerful claim on your behalf:
- Immediate and Thorough Investigation: Evidence in truck accident cases can disappear quickly. Skid marks fade, vehicles are moved or repaired, and witnesses’ memories can become less clear over time. We act immediately, deploying investigators to the scene to photograph the area, document property damage, and locate anyone who may have seen the crash. We also send a spoliation letter to the trucking company, a legal notice demanding they preserve crucial evidence like the truck itself and its electronic data.
- Securing Critical Evidence: We use the full power of the legal system to obtain and analyze key pieces of evidence that often tell the real story of the crash. This includes the truck’s “black box” (Electronic Control Module or ECM), which records data on speed, braking, and other operational details in the moments before impact. We also secure the driver’s logs, drug and alcohol test results, cell phone records, and the trucking company’s records on hiring, training, and vehicle maintenance.
- Consulting with Leading Experts: To explain complex technical details to an insurance company or a jury, we work with a network of respected experts. This may include accident reconstruction specialists who can digitally recreate the crash to show how it happened, medical experts to testify to the severity and long-term consequences of your injuries, and financial experts to calculate the full extent of your lost income and future care needs.
- Exposing Company-Wide Failures: We dig deep into the trucking company’s operational history. We look for patterns of safety violations, pressure on drivers to ignore federal regulations, or a history of poorly maintained vehicles. Proving a pattern of negligence at the corporate level can significantly strengthen your case and demonstrate a reckless disregard for public safety.
- Demonstrating the Full Scope of Your Damages: Proving negligence is only half the battle. We work closely with you and your doctors to create a complete picture of how the accident has impacted your life. We meticulously document every medical bill, every day of lost work, and the profound, personal costs of your pain and suffering to ensure our demand for compensation reflects your total losses.
Our exhaustive approach is designed to build a case so strong that the opposition is often compelled to offer a fair settlement rather than risk facing us at trial.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
Victims of trucking accidents often experience catastrophic injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Amputations or disfigurement
- Internal organ injuries
- Burns and fractures
- Wrongful death
Recovering from these injuries often involves significant medical expenses, long-term care, and emotional distress. An experienced Oklahoma City truck accident attorney can help you secure the necessary compensation to pay off all your medical expenses and more.
Compensation Available in an Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawsuit
No amount of money can truly undo the trauma and pain you have endured. However, securing a fair settlement or verdict is essential for protecting your financial stability and providing the resources you need for your physical and emotional recovery. Under Oklahoma law, you are entitled to seek compensation for all the ways the accident has negatively impacted your life.
These damages may include:
- All Medical Expenses: This includes everything from the initial emergency room visit and ambulance ride to hospital stays, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and any future medical care you may require.
- Lost Wages or Income: We will fight to recover the income you have lost while being unable to work during your recovery.
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity: If your injuries are permanent and prevent you from returning to your previous job or earning the same level of income, we will seek compensation for this diminished earning potential over the course of your working life.
- Pain and Suffering: For the physical pain, discomfort, and anguish caused by your injuries.
- Emotional Distress and Mental Anguish: This includes compensation for trauma, anxiety, depression, fear, and conditions like PTSD that often follow a violent crash.
- Disfigurement and Scarring: For permanent scarring or physical changes that affect your appearance and self-esteem.
- Loss of Consortium: In some cases, the uninjured spouse may have a claim for the loss of companionship, support, and intimacy resulting from their partner’s injuries.
In rare cases involving extreme recklessness or intentional misconduct by the defendant, Oklahoma courts may also award punitive damages. These are not designed to compensate you for a loss but to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future.
Call (405) 900-9000 or contact us online today for a free consultation.
Oklahoma City, OK Truck Accident FAQs
After a serious accident, it’s natural to have countless questions. Below, we’ve answered some of the common questions we hear from our clients. For answers specific to your situation, we encourage you to call us directly.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims, including truck accidents, is 2 years from the date of the accident, according to Okla. Stat. tit. 12 § 95(3).
Case outcomes and laws depend on the specific details. This may seem like a long time, but it is crucial to act quickly. Building a strong case takes time, and evidence can be lost if you wait. If you miss this two-year deadline, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation forever.
What if I Was Partially at Fault for The Accident?
Oklahoma follows a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means you can still recover damages as long as your share of the fault is not greater than the combined fault of the other parties (i.e., you are 50% or less at fault). However, your final compensation award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault for the accident, your total award would be reduced by 20%. Insurance companies often try to unfairly shift blame onto victims to reduce their payout, which is why having an experienced truck accident lawyer to defend you is so important.
Will I Have to Go to Court for My Truck Accident Case?
The vast majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court. When we build a thorough, evidence-backed case, we can often negotiate a full and fair settlement with the insurance company without ever needing to step into a courtroom. However, our firm is comprised of proven trial lawyers. If the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, we are always prepared to take your case to trial to fight for the result you deserve.
Contact Our Trusted Oklahoma City Truck Accident Lawyers Today
The journey to recovery after a devastating truck accident can feel long and exhausting, but it’s a path you do not have to walk alone. The decisions you make in the coming days and weeks can have a lasting impact on your future. Let the experienced and compassionate team at DM Injury Law be your guide and your champion.
When you trust us with your case, we will immediately get to work to lift the legal and financial burdens from your shoulders.
We will:
- Listen to your story with empathy and respect.
- Answer all your questions and clearly explain your legal options.
- Launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into your accident.
- Handle all communications with the insurance companies so you can focus on healing.
- Fight tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Your fight is our fight. Call the Oklahoma City truck accident attorneys at DM Injury Law today at (405) 900-9000 or contact us online to schedule your free, confidential case evaluation. There is no cost and no obligation, just a conversation about how we can help you move forward.
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.