truck on highway

Though semi-truck accidents happen less frequently than other motor vehicle accidents, the results can be far more devastating. According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, there were almost 4,800 large truck crashes statewide in one recent year, leading to more than 1,500 injuries and 75 deaths. Because large trucks are so much bigger than passenger vehicles, truck accident victims tend to suffer more severe injuries and more expensive medical bills.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a large truck, you may be suffering pain, stress, and financial hardship. The Oklahoma truck accident lawyers at Edwards & Patterson Law have more than 30 years of experience helping crash victims claim fair compensation for their injuries. We have helped thousands of clients recover millions in compensation. Our skill, professionalism, and commitment to our clients make us your ideal advocate. Contact our firm today for a free initial consultation.

What Types of Oklahoma Truck Accident Cases Do We Handle?

A truck accident can happen anywhere and when you’re least expecting it. Some of the truck accidents we handle at our firm include:

  • Head-on collisions — If a semi-truck driver is distracted, impaired, or suffers a sudden mechanical failure, they could lose control and cross over from their lane into the path of other approaching vehicles. Head-on collisions are among the most catastrophic types of truck accidents.
  • Rear-end collisions — Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and other forms of negligence can all prevent a truck driver from safely stopping and avoiding hitting a vehicle in front of them. In some rear-end collisions, the truck’s momentum will carry it forward so that part of the other vehicle becomes trapped under the front of the truck.
  • Sideswipe collisions — Semi-trucks have large blind spots on either side, making it difficult for truck drivers to see other vehicles nearby. If drivers do not check their blind spots carefully before merging, turning, or passing, they can sideswipe a car next to them.
  • T-bone collisions— T-bone accidents are generally the result of a truck driver failing to stop or yield at an intersection when another vehicle has the right of way. Common causes of T-bone accidents include distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bad weather, and poor road conditions.
  • Rollovers — Truck drivers need to be careful when rounding corners and making turns; otherwise, trucks can tip over, causing them to crush other vehicles in their path.
  • Tire blowouts — A sudden tire blowout can cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle, causing them to collide with nearby cars or objects as they veer into other lanes.
  • Jackknife collisions — If a truck driver slams on the brakes suddenly, the truck’s trailer may keep its forward momentum, causing it to swing to one side and hit anything in its path as it travels toward the front of the truck. Because this motion resembles a knife being folded and closed, these accidents are commonly referred to as “jackknife collisions.”

What Injuries Are Commonly Caused by Oklahoma Truck Accidents?

Oklahoma truck accidents frequently leave crash victims with horrific injuries, including:

  • Crushed, severed, or amputated limbs
  • Bodily or facial disfigurement
  • Burns
  • Psychological trauma, such as anxiety, depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What Are the Common Causes of Oklahoma Truck Accidents?

The causes of truck accidents are varied. Sometimes there are multiple contributors to a single accident. Some of the common causes of Oklahoma truck accidents include:

  • Impaired driving — Truck drivers who abuse alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications may experience dulled reflexes, slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and other side effects that make a crash more likely.
  • Distracted driving — All drivers should take precautions against distracted driving. Truck drivers need to be especially careful due to the potential devastation a truck accident can cause. A driver who is distracted by talking on the phone, texting, snacking, grooming, using a navigation device, or adjusting the radio will have a much more difficult time maintaining proper awareness of other vehicles around them.
  • Speeding/aggressive driving — A semi-truck’s size and weight make it much more difficult to control than other vehicles, especially when the truck needs to slow down and stop. If a truck driver is speeding or engaging in other aggressive driving behavior, they may not have enough time or room to stop in an emergency.
  • Driver fatigue — Even though there are laws requiring truck drivers to rest at certain intervals, drivers may ignore these rules to make up time along their route. Severe fatigue can compromise a driver’s reflexes and judgment, and in some cases, they may even fall asleep at the wheel.
  • Lack of proper maintenance — Trucks need regular maintenance to repair or replace worn parts. A catastrophic mechanical failure is more likely if this maintenance is not performed.
  • Defective parts — If a truck’s brakes, suspension, tires, or other critical components are defective, they may break and cause the driver to lose control.
  • Loose or shifting cargo — If a truck’s cargo is not balanced correctly or comes loose in transit, the truck may tip over, especially if the driver turns too quickly.