If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident involving a distracted truck driver, call the truck accident attorneys at Abel Law Firm immediately. With over 130 years of combined experience, the dedicated team at Abel Law Firm will fight to get you the compensation you deserve in the wake of your accident. Having recovered over a quarter of a billion dollars for our clients over the years, Abel Law Firm has a proven track record of getting results.
Abel Law Firm has a team of highly respected and awarded attorneys who are committed to fighting to get you the results you deserve. U.S. News & World Report named Abel Law Firm one of America’s best law firms in 2017 and 2018. Abel Law Firm has also been rated as a top personal injury law firm. We understand that if you or someone you love has been involved in an accident with a distracted truck driver the resulting consequences can seem overwhelming. You should not have to suffer alone after your life was tragically altered by the careless actions of a truck driver.
In the aftermath of being involved in a truck accident, you or your loved one may be suffering from broken bones, torn ligaments, head trauma, spinal injuries, paralysis, whiplash, severe bruising, and emotional distress, among other things. Having to deal with health issues after an accident can be a long process that involves prolonged doctors visits, multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and visits to other providers aimed at helping you or your loved one heal. The stresses of healing can be intense, let alone having all the extra pressure of mounting medical bills, lost time at work, and lost time with friends and family.
You do not have to go through this difficult time alone. We are here to help alleviate some of these pressures for you. We believe that in the aftermath of an accident, you and your loved ones should not have to be worrying about how you are going to pay for mounting bills. If you have been injured in an accident with a distracted truck driver, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. For help, contact the Oklahoma City distracted truck driver accident lawyers of Abel Law Firm today at (405) 239-7046.
Why Choose Abel Law Firm for My Distracted Driver Truck Accident?
In a word, results. Abel Law Firm has helped thousands of clients get millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries since 1976, and we can help do the same for you and your family. We have the experience to go up against the insurance companies that want to deny your claim. We’ll do everything we can to negotiate fair and just compensation for your injuries.
We are an award-winning firm. Ed Abel, our firm’s founder and senior partner, was selected as the 2011 Oklahoma City Personal Injury Litigator of the Year by BestLawyers.com, and is a past president and chairman of the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association. T. Luke Abel, the firm’s manager, was selected as a “Super Lawyer” by SuperLawyers.com and is on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Association for Justice. We have the credentials for success.
We are a family firm. We understand what a truck accident can do to a family, and we treat our clients with understanding and compassion. We’ll take the time to get to know you and learn each detail about your accident and injury so we can help you get compensation for all your losses, not just the material ones.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My Accident?
Anyone can file a personal injury claim with an insurance company, but having an experienced attorney take care of it for you can relieve your mind about at least one of the uncertainties in your life post-accident. Your lawyer can ensure that your claim is investigated and backed up by evidence. They can accurately assess the value of your case and make sure that all your losses, past and future, are included in that assessment. An attorney will also take charge of dealing with insurance companies while you recover from your injuries. Having a reputable attorney also shows the insurance company that you can take the case to trial if they don’t compensate you appropriately for your losses.
Trucking Accidents
Large trucks are those weighing over 10,000 pounds. Motor-carriers, semi-trucks, 18-wheel trucks, and tractor-trailers all fall into the large truck category. These trucks are often carrying loads of up to 80,000 pound. Accidents involving large trucks can be devastating because of the enormity of the trucks themselves and all the weight they carry.
In 2015, there were 32,166 fatal vehicle crashes in the United States. Of those crashes, 3,838, or 11.9%, involved at least one large truck. There were also 6,263,000 nonfatal crashes in the United States in 2015, with 476,000, or 7.6%, of those crashes involving at least one large truck. Between 2012 to 2015, the number of accidents involving large trucks increased from 317,000 to 415,000. One reason for the increase in accidents involving large trucks may be due to the fact that from 2012 to 2015, the number of registered large trucks increased by nearly 10 million. As the data shows, more large trucks on the roads means a greater possibility of accidents.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the number of moving violations for truck drivers has been steadily increasing from 2012 to 2016. In 2012, there were a recorded 199,612 moving violations for truck drivers. In 2016, that number increased to 225,224. These numbers are alarming not only because of the devastating damage a large truck has the potential to cause, but also because it means that truck drivers are more frequently not obeying the law or not paying attention to the road while driving large trucks.
Distracted Driving
There can be numerous factors that come into play that cause a truck accident. One such thing is distracted driving. Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the roadway. In 2015, 3,477 people were killed as a result of distracted driving, and another 391,000 people were injured as a result of distracted driving. Distracted driving commonly occurs as a result of a driver doing one of the following actions.
- Texting while driving
- Talking on the phone while driving
- Eating while driving
- Changing the radio while driving
- Fussing with the navigation system while driving
Distracted driving can have severe consequences, especially when the driver is maneuvering an enormous truck. While any distracted driving has the potential to cause an accident, texting or checking a cell phone is what most commonly causes accidents.
In 2014, one in every five crashes involved texting while driving. A person who is texting while driving is 23 times more likely to crash. While some distracting behaviors are frowned upon, others are outright illegal. In Oklahoma, the distraction of texting while driving is against the law. Texting and other behaviors that distract truck drivers can have devastating results.
If a truck driver is distracted while driving, they can cause a severe accident that can result in injury or death. Driving a large truck is a big responsibility. Truck drivers are required to have a specific license in order to operate a large truck. They are also subject to rules and regulations set forth by the federal government. If truck drivers are causing accidents because they are not following the rules or because they are distracted while driving, they need to be held accountable.
In Oklahoma, a person who was injured or had property damaged in an accident has two years to file a legal claim against the wrongdoer. The two-year period starts from the day of the accident. Oklahoma also recognizes a wrongful death claim. This means that if a loved one died as the result of a truck accident, a family member, or a representative of the estate, may be able to sue for compensation. In this instance, the person bringing the claim has two years from the date of death to file a legal claim.
What To Do If You’ve Just Been In A Distracted Driver Truck Accident
If you’ve just been in an accident involving a truck or distracted driver, here are some steps you can take to get help and protect yourself from liability:
- Get to safety. Immediately get clear of any active roadways or road hazards to assess any injuries. Leave any damaged vehicles where they are.
- Get medical attention. Get emergency medical services on-site immediately. Make sure to request a full evaluation when they arrive, even if you don’t have any outward signs of injury.
- Get insurance info. If possible, get the truck driver’s and trucking company’s insurance information as soon as you can.
- Keep quiet. Don’t discuss the particulars of the accident with anyone else involved. Even apologizing can be taken as an admission of fault, so watch what you say, and certainly don’t sign anything until you’ve retained a lawyer.
- Start documenting. The moments following an accident can be critical to building a good personal injury claim. If possible, start documenting the accident immediately. Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, emergency vehicles on-site, and any visible injuries. If there are medical records or police incident reports, request a copy.
Contact Us
Bringing a legal claim against a truck driver and trucking company can be a daunting and confusing process. Trying to sue a big trucking company may be overwhelming as they try to intimidate you and give you less compensation than you deserve.
You do not have to go through this process alone. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed as the result of being in an accident involving a distracted driver of a large truck, call the truck accident attorneys of Abel Law Firm today at (405) 239-7046. We will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Call (405) 239-7046 today.