Tuttle OK Truck Accident Lawyer

Ylla Gosney represents injured truck accident victims in Tuttle, Oklahoma. If you’ve found yourself injured in a truck accident, you’re most likely looking at extensive medical bills, property damage, and ongoing treatment costs to permanent disability. Truck accidents tend to be horrific. Just the financial toll alone can be overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure how to manage the aftermath of a truck accident. You may find yourself asking: What if I can’t go back to work? What are my legal options? Do I have a case?

If you’ve found yourself asking these questions, then you’ve come to the right place. At Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law, we will manage your accident claim and recover all your costs, as well as ensure you receive additional compensation needed to get your life back on track. So, don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action. Get trusted, legal help in Tuttle, OK, by contacting us today for a no-cost, no-obligation case review.

Do I Need a Lawyer if I’m Injured in a Truck Accident?

The City of Tuttle may not be as crowded as the more populated Oklahoma city, but it still has some of the busiest interstates in Oklahoma passing through it, putting Tuttle drivers at a high risk of being involved in a truck accident. If you find yourself involved in a truck accident, you are most likely facing life-altering injuries, that will absolutely impact your health and financial security for the foreseeable future. This is, unfortunately, the frightening reality most truck accident victims face. These accidents tend to be horrific and life-altering.

But that’s where Ylla | Gosney can help you get your life back together after a truck accident. Our law firm will connect you to immediate medical resources, protect you from liability, and fully recover financial compensation for the following damages:

• Special Damages: medical bills, ongoing treatment, costs that accumulate when you’re unable to work, like rent or mortgage payments
• General Damages: these are non-economic hardships like pain and suffering, anxiety, depression, mental trauma
• Wrongful Death Damages: these damages may be sought by a spouse or close relative for funeral arrangements, burial expenses, and medical treatment before a loved one’s death
• Punitive Damages: these damages are rare, but if the driver engaged in reckless driving with the intention of hurting you, then you could sue for punitive damages

How Should I Prepare for My Initial Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney?

The outcome of a personal injury case can provide victims with much-needed relief, such as a settlement that can provide funds for medical bills, home and vehicle modifications, and other necessary services. At Ylla | Gosney, we understand how important it is to reach a successful outcome for your case, and having an adequate preparation list for when you first contact a Personal Injury Lawyer can help you get started. You can prepare for your initial consultation by detailing the following:

• Employment details: current or former employer, job title, dates of employment, and compensation information.
• Nature of the complaint: type of carelessness that led to your injury (premise liability, car accident, defective equipment)
• Timeline of events: dates of key incidents, formal complaints filed, relevant communications with employer
• Details about the incident: small details can make a huge difference when it comes to proving liability and damages
• Receipts and Invoices: any documentation you have of expenses related to your injury or accident may help in proving your damages
• Witnesses: names and contact information of potential witnesses to the alleged misconduct
• Documentation: list of relevant documents (x-rays, MRIs, doctor’s diagnosis, physical therapy appointments, workers’ compensation forms)
• Prior legal action: if you’ve filed previous personal injury claims, then the details of your previous case may be relevant to your new case
• Medical information: details about your medical diagnosis and treatment plan
• Social media presence: your injury may be documented online, as well as you discussing the details of your personal injury

What to Do After a Truck Accident

The steps you take after a truck accident will be important to ensuring you and your passengers’ safety, as well as protecting your right to compensation if you decide to take legal action. After a car accident, you should:

• Ensure the safety of you and your passengers: Depending on the situation, this could mean moving your car to the side of the road, or if you are severely injured, it could mean remaining where you are until help arrives. Check yourself for burns, lacerations, or broken bones. Oftentimes, the adrenaline from an accident can mask the pain from major injuries.
• Call the Police: The police will file an accident report and take down the names of everyone involved, as well as assign fault based on the evidence in front of them. A police report will serve as evidence if you need to back up your claims later.
• Document the incident: Take photos or film the aftermath of the bus accident. Film yourself recounting the details of the incident and describe the pain you’re in. It is best to capture how the accident played out while the memory is still fresh in your mind.
• Gather Witness Statements and Driver Information: Film or record witnesses willing to give a statement about the accident. Take down their names and phone numbers. Take a picture of the other driver’s license and license plate number. Take down the contact information. All of this information will help support your claim and assist your attorney in building your case if you end up taking legal action.
• Do NOT Admit fault: Don’t admit fault even if you feel you may have caused the accident. Allow the police to conduct their investigation and determine fault.
• Get Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it is important to get checked out by a doctor or go to a hospital. Certain injuries can lie dormant and manifest themselves hours, or even days later.
• Notify Your Insurance of the Accident: Notifying your insurance of the accident is typically a part of any auto insurance policy. Failing to report an accident can result in a dismissal of your policy agreement, depending on the contract you signed with your insurance company.
• Contact Ylla Gosney: If you consult with one of our attorneys after a truck accident in Tuttle, we can manage your claim and ensure you are taking the proper legal actions to receive compensation and protect yourself from liability.

Oklahoma’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law for Truck Accidents:

Oklahoma’s Modified Comparative Negligence Law is considered a “50-percent” rule. Basically, the ability to pursue damages under comparative negligence applies when a crash victim is 49 percent or less liable for the accident. This percentage of fault can be decided by a police report, but all accident victims have the right to object to their assumption of fault, and ultimately have their fault decided by a judge and jury in court.

So, let’s say a truck driver rear-ended you because they were speeding. Speeding is illegal in the state of Oklahoma, and the truck driver would most likely be more than 50 percent at fault for the accident because they violated the law. But what if the truck driver says you were drifting across lanes recklessly, and cut the truck driver off? What if the police include this false statement in their report? What are your legal options?

If liability is in question in your case, and you fear you may be found liable for the accident, contact Ylla Gosney today to discuss the details of your case. Our firm will help you take the necessary steps to protect you from liability or eliminate it entirely, so you can recover compensation and move on with your life.

“Negligence Per Se,” for a Tuttle, OK Truck Accident:

If you can establish that a truck driver’s careless actions caused your accident, you may be able to establish “Negligence Per Se” and recover damages. Negligence Per Se means the driver broke the law, which directly caused your injuries. Illegal U-turns, distracted driving, speeding, or running a red light typically come with citations, which will make proving “Negligence Per Se” fairly easy in court if your lawsuit goes to trial. Proving Negligence Per Se is much easier than proving negligence.

Proving negligence usually involves an investigation to obtain video footage or witness statements. Sometimes, there is no available evidence, and your case becomes one person’s word over another’s. For this reason, it is important to report your accident to law enforcement the moment it happens and speak with Ylla Gosney to build a strong case and protect your right to compensation.

How Police Assign Fault for a Car Accident in Oklahoma:

When a police officer is called to an accident, they will attempt to capture as much information as they can about the accident. At first glance, they’ll look to see what happened leading up to it, how it started, and who was likely the at-fault party. While determining fault at the scene of the accident, police officers will look at the following:

• Evidence at the scene:
  • Tire marks
  • Road damage
  • Vehicle damage
• Eyewitness statements
• Appearance and behavior of both drivers
• Whether a citation has been issued to either driver in the past (speeding, tailgating, DUI, or other concerning violations)
• Any other available evidence such as street cameras, dash cams, or photos

After an investigation, police will issue citations for any violations committed by either driver. Citations can be harmful to both drivers in an accident case. However, guilt of a traffic violation is only settled after a ruling, conviction, or the payment of the fine without pleading “nolo contendre.” So, if you are given a citation, but feel it was unwarranted, you do not have to admit fault. Contact one of our Truck Accident Attorneys to help you build your case and protect your rights.

Common Liable Parties for a Tuttle, OK Truck Accident

With the number of trucks traveling east and west through Tuttle on Highway 37 every day, the city is at a much higher risk of trucking accidents than most other places. In 2020, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 28% more fatalities from large truck crashes than in previous years. The most common liable parties in these trucking accidents include:

• The truck driver: As is the case for most truck drivers, they will most likely not be held liable because the company they drive for is responsible for their actions. However, if the employee is an independent contractor and not associated with a company, then you may be able to bring a claim against the individual driver.
• The truck company: As stated above, the truck company is liable for the actions of their employees when they commit a careless or wrong act within the scope of employment, according to Oklahoma’s Respondeat Superior Law, which states: “The employer or a principal could be held vicariously liable for an unlawful or unjust act of an employee or an agent. For the employer or the principal to be vicariously liable under the respondeat superior, the employer or the agent must commit the wrongful act while working in the scope of the employment agency.”

• A third party: Another driver, a government body, a road construction crew, or a truck maintenance company could also be liable if their reckless or careless actions resulted in an accident.

Contact Ylla Gosney | Tuttle, OK Truck Accident Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Tuttle, Oklahoma, the experienced Truck Accident Attorneys at Ylla | Gosney can help. We’ve handled numerous cases like yours, and we will work tirelessly to get you fully compensated for your damages. The road to recovery can seem difficult after such a horrific accident, but it doesn’t have to be. Contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront costs, and you won’t spend a dime until your case is won.