Oklahoma City 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney Information

Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Oklahoma City roads and highways. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck accidents occurring in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, every day. Due to the high population and highly congested traffic throughout Oklahoma City’s sprawling metropolis, the city of Oklahoma City unfortunately has its fair share of big rig truck accidents. In 2009, the U.S. Census estimated Oklahoma City’s population to be at 2.3 million people within an area of 579 square miles. With Oklahoma City being the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest city in the State of Oklahoma, 18-wheeler accidents and semi truck crashes on Oklahoma City highways are inevitable.

Oklahoma City’s freeway system, which is made up of 739.3 miles of freeways and expressways in a ten-county metropolitan area, uses a hub-and-spoke freeway structure serviced by multiple loops. The innermost loop is Interstate 610, which encircles Oklahoma City’s downtown, the medical center, and many core neighborhoods with about a 10-mile diameter. The automobile is still the most common form of transportation in Oklahoma City, with approximately 71.7% of its residents driving to work alone each day.

Oklahoma City 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer

Due to the sheer weight difference of a car versus the weight of an 18-wheeler or tractor trailer, accidents that involve commercial vehicles often times result in severe injuries or even death. Compared to the average weight of an automobile, which is only 5,000 pounds, one can easily see how much more dangerous commercial vehicles like an 18 wheeler can be. That is why if you are injured by a semi truck or commercial vehicle in Oklahoma City, it is important that you choose an experienced Oklahoma City 18-wheeler accident attorney who knows the truck regulations and laws both nationally and for the State of Oklahoma.

Commercial vehicles go by different names such as:

1. Dump Trucks
2. Lowboy Trucks
3. Tractor Trailer Trucks
4. Semi-Truck Trucks
5. Semi Trucks

Oklahoma City truck accidents caused by an 18-wheeler, big rig, semi truck, tractor trailer, bus or commercial vehicle are common on Oklahoma City streets, avenues and highways. Many of the semi truck crashes that occur in the city of Oklahoma City happen along the major Oklahoma City highways, which include the I-35, I-40, I-44, SH 3, US-62 and US-270.

Types of Trucks

The following trucks do specific things and carry certain types of cargo:

1. Bob-Tail Trucks
2. Tanker trucks
3. Refrigerated trucks
4. Flat bed trucks
5. Logging trucks

Buses are also considered commercial vehicles as well, but as a rule do not haul cargo. Instead a bus is a transportation vehicle that carries children or adults such as a school bus or commercial bus like Greyhound. School bus accidents or commercial bus accidents are common on Oklahoma City roads and freeways. The causes may vary, but often times the accident is a result of hazardous road conditions or driver negligence.

It is essential to hire an Oklahoma City bus accident lawyer if you have been involved in the following type of accident:

1. Oklahoma City city buses;
2. transportation buses such as Greyhound;
3. shuttle bus accidents when driving to and from the airport, such as Will Rogers World Airport or Tinker Air Force Base; and/or,
4. casino bus accidents that occur running back and forth from Myriad Botanical Gardens.

The ways Oklahoma City truck accidents happen occur are too numerous to list. Blind spots, rear-ends, sideswipes, head-ons, load overturns, jack-knifes are all possible and can result in fatal wrongful death truck accidents.

If you live in Oklahoma City and have a claims for an accident that involved a big rig or an 18 wheeler, your case might be filed in this court:

Oklahoma County District Court
320 Robert S Kerr Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 713-1722

18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Oklahoma City and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Central Oklahoma, including Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Ardmore, Arnett, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Bristow, Broken Arrow, Buffalo, Chandler, Clinton, Del City, Duncan, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Eufaula, Guthrie, Henryetta, Lawton, McAlester, Mooreland, Muskogee, Norman, Okeene, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Perry, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Stroud, Taloga, Tulsa, Weatherford, Woodward, areas in the vicinity of Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport, and other communities in Oklahoma County.

Oklahoma City 18-wheeler accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact an Oklahoma City 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.

Types of Trucks

What is Board Certified in Civil Trial or Personal Injury Trial Law & What are the Requirements?

Lawyer Advertising in Oklahoma Regarding
"Specialization"

Many successful lawyers seek to distinguish themselves by becoming board certified in various areas of law. The State of Oklahoma's Rule of Professional conduct Rule 7.4 sets rules for lawyers who wish to advertise that they have a "specialty" or "specialize" in a particular area of law.

Though many states have certification programs or specialization programs in various areas of law, Oklahoma has elected not to offer specialization programs to its members. However, Oklahoma, like other jurisdictions that do not have specialization programs, does recognize that there are organizations that do offer programs that offer a specialization recognition. If a lawyer licensed in Oklahoma wishes to apply for such a specialization and obtains it, that is permissible. However, if that lawyer wishes to advertise or place that specialization where the public can be exposed to it, that lawyer must adhere to the requirements of Rule 7.4. These requirements are as follows:

Rule 7.4. Communication of Fields of Practice and Certification

(a) A lawyer may, by advertisement or otherwise, communicate the fact that the lawyer does or does not practice in particular fields of law or limits his practice to or concentrates in particular fields of law.
(b) A lawyer shall not state or imply that the lawyer is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law except as follows:
(1) a lawyer admitted to engage in patent practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office may use the designation "Patent Attorney" or a substantially similar designation;
(2) a lawyer engaged in admiralty practice may use the designation "Admiralty," "Proctor in Admiralty" or a substantially similar designation; and
(3) a lawyer who is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law or law practice by the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma may communicate that fact, but only in accordance with the rules prescribed by that Court; and
(4) a lawyer who is certified as a specialist in a particular field of law or law practice by the official licensing authority of another state in which the lawyer is licensed may communicate that fact, but only in accordance with all rules and requirements of such state's licensing authority, and provided that the lawyer also communicates that such certification is not recognized by the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma.

Comments

The heading of this Rule has been modified to reflect the related issues addressed by this Rule.
Paragraph (a) of this Rule deals with identifying the substantive areas in which a lawyer does or does not practice. This paragraph generally permits a lawyer to state those areas in advertising and other communications about the lawyer's services. For example, if a lawyer practices only in certain fields, or will not accept matters except in such fields, the lawyer is permitted to so indicate. While this Rule contains no per se prohibition against a lawyer stating that the lawyer is a "specialist," practices a "specialty," or "specializes in" particular fields, statements to this effect (like all communications concerning a lawyer's services) are subject to the "false or misleading" standards set out in Rule 7.1. In this connection, it must be recognized that a lawyer who asserts himself or herself as a specialist is not merely identifying the fields of the lawyer's practice, but is also claiming to have a more than average level of knowledge, skill, and experience in those fields. Moreover, a lawyer's claim to specialist status may affect the standard of care or reasonableness against which the lawyer's conduct or performance is measured in civil, administrative or criminal proceedings.
Paragraph (b) deals with specialty certification. The term "certification" and its variations, when used in connection with an assertion of specialist status, may be misleading because it conveys that the lawyer does not merely claim to be a specialist, but that the lawyer acquired official recognition as a specialist by means of some formal, objective process. Therefore, a lawyer may not communicate, state, suggest or imply that the lawyer has been certified as a specialist in a particular field of law unless expressly permitted by this paragraph. Subparagraph (1) permits the use of patent attorney designations because recognition of specialization in patent matters is a matter of long-established policy of the Patent and Trademark Office. Designation of admiralty practice, as permitted by subparagraph (2), likewise has long historical tradition associated with maritime commerce and the federal courts. Subparagraph (3) permits a lawyer, if certified by the Oklahoma Supreme Court as a specialist in a particular field or practice of law, to communicate that fact in such a manner as the Oklahoma Supreme Court may prescribe by rule. Subparagraph (4) permits a lawyer, if certified as a specialist in a particular field or practice of law by the official licensing authority of another state in which the lawyer is licensed, to communicate that fact in accordance with the rules and requirements of the official licensing authority of such other state. However, in order to prevent any communication made under the permission granted by subparagraph (4) from being misleading, it must also be communicated that the certification granted by the official licensing authority of the other state is not recognized by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

If you wish to retain an attorney it is not essential that they be a "Specialist" in civil law to do an excellent job. However, if you wish to only choose a lawyer that has earned a "Specialization" from an ABA approved organization and you are unsure if they have a specialization, simply ask if they do hold such a specialization.

Serving clients throughout Central Oklahoma, including Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Ardmore, Arnett, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Bristow, Broken Arrow, Buffalo, Chandler, Clinton, Del City, Duncan, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Eufaula, Guthrie, Henryetta, Lawton, McAlester, Mooreland, Muskogee, Norman, Okeene, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Perry, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Stroud, Taloga, Tulsa, Weatherford, Woodward, areas in the vicinity of Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport, and other communities in Oklahoma County.

Hiring an Oklahoma City 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney

If you have been involved in an 18 wheeler truck accident in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, it is recommended that you hire a qualified Oklahoma City 18-wheeler accident lawyer who is knowledgeable in federal laws and Oklahoma state laws regarding trucking regulations. Oklahoma City, located in Oklahoma County, is the largest city in Oklahoma with extensive roadways and congested freeways due to its high population. Therefore, it is not uncommon for truck collisions, wrecks, crashes and injuries to occur due to the high amount of traffic. If you or a loved one have been injured in a Southeast Oklahoma truck accident, contact a qualified Oklahoma City semi truck accident attorney today for a free initial consultation.

Oklahoma City & Oklahoma Professional Associations

In addition to selecting a qualified Oklahoma City accident & injury lawyer that regularly handles Oklahoma City big rig truck accident cases, you should also check out the attorney’s credentials. For example, is the attorney a member of the Oklahoma City Trial Lawyers Association, Oklahoma City Bar Association, or the Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association? All lawyers that practice Oklahoma City truck accident litigation must be active members of the State Bar of Oklahoma. They may also join other professional organizations, such as:

• Oklahoma City Trial Lawyers Association
• Oklahoma Bar Association
• Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association
• American Association of Justice

The Oklahoma City Bar Association (HBA) is a nonprofit professional association of lawyers with nearly 12,000 members. It is the fifth largest bar association in the nation. The Oklahoma City Bar Association provides educational and professional development services for both the legal profession and the Oklahoma City community.

Big Rig Accidents Can Be Devastating

When a negligent truck driver makes the decision to get behind the wheel of their semi tractor-trailer, any driver traveling near them is at risk for serious injury or death. The consequences of an 18-wheeler truck a crash along an Oklahoma City intersection, avenue, or freeway can be devastating, often resulting in very serious injuries that can even lead to death. The sheer force of a speeding 18-wheeler truck is a dangerous weapon that can forever change your life. Under the law if you are involved in such a wreck or an accident, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering. If you or a loved one have been injured in a commercial truck accident in Oklahoma City, OK or Oklahoma County, it is in your best interest to contact an Oklahoma City big rig truck accident lawyer immediately.

Oklahoma City 18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys File in Oklahoma County, OK

When a truck accident occurs and a lawsuit is subsequently filed, the decision of where to file it is called “choice of venue.” The venue chosen can have legal consequences that affect the outcome of your case. Generally, venue in a truck accident case is proper in any of the following locations:

1. the county wherein the accident occurred;
2. the county wherein the defendant company’s principal place of business is located; or,
3. the county wherein the defendant truck driver resides.

Even though your accident may have occurred in Oklahoma City, the truck company and truck driver will often be from a different state. This is because trucking companies frequently operate in states other than where they are registered. In these cases, the venue where the lawsuit may be filed could be the state where the truck accident occurred, the state where the trucking company is located, or even the state where the trucking company regularly does business, if different. For example, the accident may have occurred in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, therefore making venue proper in Oklahoma County, but the claim may be filed against a trucking company from another state. You need a qualified and experienced Oklahoma City tractor trailer lawyer to decide what the best venue would be in a case like this that crosses state lines.

One of the courts in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, areas include:

Oklahoma County District Court
320 Robert S Kerr Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 713-1722

18-Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Oklahoma City and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Central Oklahoma, including Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Ardmore, Arnett, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Bristow, Broken Arrow, Buffalo, Chandler, Clinton, Del City, Duncan, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Eufaula, Guthrie, Henryetta, Lawton, McAlester, Mooreland, Muskogee, Norman, Okeene, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Perry, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Stroud, Taloga, Tulsa, Weatherford, Woodward, areas in the vicinity of Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport, and other communities in Oklahoma County.

Don’t be the victim of a semi driver’s negligence. Hiring a qualified Oklahoma City 18-wheeler accident lawyer is essential if you or a loved one have been injured in a truck collision. Contact a big rig accident lawyer today to ensure you receive expert representation from an attorney who knows how to handle your case.

Types of Trucks on Oklahoma City Highways

There are many types of commercial trucks found in and around Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Trucking companies in Oklahoma City offer a wide variety of vehicle choices. Some Oklahoma City trucking companies deal with courier and small package delivery as well. Some companies offer bicycle couriers for downtown Metro areas and will also use an assortment of vehicles ranging from cars, vans and pick-up trucks to large tractor-trailers and bobtail trucks.

Types of Trucks Used By Oklahoma City Trucking Companies:

• 18 Wheeler
• Semi Truck
• Tractor Trailer
• Big Rig
• Semi Trailer
• Box Truck
• Straight Truck
• Flatbed Truck
• Stake Truck
• Bobtail Truck

Be sure to insist on the highest levels of safety by selecting a reputable Oklahoma City trucking company that uses late model vehicles which are inspected on a regular basis.

When to Hire an Oklahoma City Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney

In many cases, Oklahoma City 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways an Oklahoma City tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need an Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Oklahoma City tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.

Oklahoma City Trucking Companies

Following is a list of trucking companies based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Services offered include container drayage, loose freight drayage, overweight loads, bonded moves, same day delivery.

Truck Accident Lawyers Serve Oklahoma City and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Central Oklahoma, including Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Ardmore, Arnett, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Bristow, Broken Arrow, Buffalo, Chandler, Clinton, Del City, Duncan, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Eufaula, Guthrie, Henryetta, Lawton, McAlester, Mooreland, Muskogee, Norman, Okeene, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Perry, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Stroud, Taloga, Tulsa, Weatherford, Woodward, areas in the vicinity of Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport, and other communities in Oklahoma County.

Oklahoma City truck accident attorneys are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact an Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.

Oklahoma City Semi-Truck Accident Attorneys Represent Injured Truck Drivers

Truck drivers who operate an 18-wheeler truck or big rig on the busy roads and highways of Oklahoma City such as I-35, I-40, or I-44, can become injured when a major commercial vehicle collision occurs. Truckers often say, “Ride with me for just one day and you will see what it is like ‘out there’…it’s not always the trucker’s fault…”

It is not uncommon to see a big rig wreck, semi crash or major accident involving semi truck drivers in Oklahoma City, OK. Oklahoma City’s freeway system, which is made up of 739.3 miles of freeways and expressways in a ten-county metropolitan area, uses a hub-and-spoke freeway structure which is serviced by multiple loops. The danger of an 18-wheeler truck accident is not just confined to injured people in automobiles, but can end up injuring the truck driver affecting their livelihood and family’s livelihood as well as the automobile driver. So, when an Oklahoma City 18-wheeler truck accident lawyer is contacted, be it by an automobile driver who has been injured or a truck driver that has been injured at the dangerous hands of another, you will need an expert Oklahoma City truck injury lawyer to fight for your rights.

The Semi Truck Driver is Not Always at Fault

When an 18-wheeler is moving down an Oklahoma City road or highway, such as I-35, I-40, I-44, SH 3, US-62 or US-270 at high speeds, it is nearly unstoppable and can easily turn a motorist’s everyday commute into a lethal situation. Although a passenger car is lightweight, in comparison, and can easily maneuver in and out of lanes on Oklahoma City highways, it is no match for a big rig truck. If the two vehicles are unable to avoid a collision, wreck or crash, the driver of the passenger car will be lucky to escape with their life.

A driver of a passenger vehicle could easily be killed as a result of  veering out of his lane and then smashing into a tractor trailer truck let’s say on the U.S. 59 Southwest Freeway which is just under the beltway in Oklahoma City.  If the trucker tried to avoid hitting the passenger car but was unable to avoid the wreck or crash, then this would be a case where the accident was caused by the driver of the passenger vehicle and therefore the trucker would not be at fault.

Truck Driver Facts

• Two of your fellow truck drivers die each day in accidents
• 33,000 people driving large trucks are injured each year
• 6.3% of U.S. truck drivers are injured each year.

Injured Truckers Need Legal Representation

A qualified Oklahoma City 18-wheeler accident attorney should offer a free case review. If they decide to take on your legal matter, they should not require an up-front fee. Truckers with a trucking injury claim are generally taken on a contingency fee basis. In other words, your Oklahoma City truck accident attorney is only paid if you receive compensation for your injuries.

Injured Truckers Need to Know Their Rights

As a trucker, you have rights you need to be aware of. It is not uncommon for aggressive insurance companies to contact you shortly after the accident in an effort to try to get you to settle quickly and convince you that you want the matter to go away. In many cases, injuries are not so quick to heal. Many times the injuries can be permanent, long-lasting, and career-threatening. That is why you need a competent Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer that is not only prepared to mediate a resolution, but also prepared to take your case to court.

When Negligence Changes a Trucker’s Life

Qualified Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers know exactly how to provide nationwide representation for truckers injured in trucking accidents caused by a variety of negligent acts and mechanical malfunctions, including:

• Rear-end, Head-On Crashes and Jackknives
• Poor Maintenance, including Tires and Brakes
• Driver Fatigue
• Unsecured Loads
• Aggressive Driving
• DWI/Drug Use
• Lack of Reflectors and Poor Visibility

Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, litigation can be very complex. Hiring a semi truck accident attorney who specializes in the numerous trucking laws throughout the United States is essential for a successful verdict outcome. For more information about trucking laws or to schedule an appointment with an experienced commercial truck injury lawyer, contact a truck injury attorney today.

When an 18 Wheeler accident occurs, your Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer will check the truck driver’s credentials to see if he/she attended an accredited Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) school. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, one truck driving school is Driver Training/CDL Training, 1101 SE 59th Street B, Oklahoma City, OK 73129 - (405) 602-1388, although there are many others throughout the country. See the Nationwide List of Accredited CDL Schools for a more comprehensive list.

Truck Accident Lawyers for Injured Truckers Serve Oklahoma City and Surrounding Cities

Serving clients throughout Central Oklahoma, including Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Ardmore, Arnett, Bartlesville, Blackwell, Bristow, Broken Arrow, Buffalo, Chandler, Clinton, Del City, Duncan, El Reno, Elk City, Enid, Eufaula, Guthrie, Henryetta, Lawton, McAlester, Mooreland, Muskogee, Norman, Okeene, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Perry, Ponca City, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Stroud, Taloga, Tulsa, Weatherford, Woodward, areas in the vicinity of Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport, and other communities in Oklahoma County.

Oklahoma City truck accident attorneys for injured truckers are experienced in handling serious injury truck collision cases and can help you fight the trucking company or its insurer in order to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact an Oklahoma City 18 wheeler accident lawyer today for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION.