More and more large trucks are causing fatalities every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The unfortunate fact about truck accidents is that the majority of them result in permanent injury and death due to their size and weight, according to the National Injury Safety Council. Truck accidents are not only physically harmful but mentally traumatic, affecting victims’ families, the companies that employ them, and their surrounding communities.
For that reason, Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law advocate on behalf of injured truck accident victims and their families in Oklahoma City. If your life has been altered in any way after suffering a truck accident injury, then we can help you fully recover damages from the responsible party. Whether your case requires an in-depth investigation or you need to recover compensation fast, we can help.
For more information, contact Ylla | Gosney today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation and get the legal help you need.
How Frequent are Truck Accidents in Oklahoma City
Large truck accidents are devastating. They can injure road users, damage property, and contaminate the environment. Several factors can cause truck accidents, such as the driver’s mental health, the weather conditions, or traffic density. While truck accidents are not as frequent as car accidents, they do result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries far more often than victims of a car crash. Below is a graph showing the number of trucking accidents that occurred in Oklahoma City and the outcome for the victims.
Cost of Truck Accidents in Oklahoma
Truck accidents are among the most dangerous types of accidents on the road, leaving many with long-term or permanent injuries. Oftentimes, these accidents are so catastrophic that they impact more than just the victims, causing whole communities to suffer. In economic terms, truck accidents can harm local businesses, traffic routes, and supply chains, which can lead to long-term economic decline, depending on how major the trucking accident was. The graph below shows the economic blow suffered by the state of Oklahoma due to trucking accidents in 2023.
Common Fatal Truck Accident Victims
In 2021, 5,788 people were killed in traffic accidents involving large trucks. According to the National Safety Council, large truck accidents have increased by 43% over the last ten years. This is most likely due to not only the number of trucks on the road increasing, but also the number of drivers as well. The study also revealed that half of fatal large-truck accidents occurred on rural roads and about a quarter on interstates. The graph below shows the percentage of the most common victims of fatal truck accidents.
How a Fatal Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve suffered the sudden loss of a loved one due to a fatal truck accident in Oklahoma City, one of the best things you can do to help your situation is to consult with a Wrongful Death Lawyer at Ylla | Gosney. Our firm will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the trucking company and all other liable parties to ensure they’re held accountable for compensating you.
A wrongful death settlement or verdict typically covers damages endured by the decedent and their family. These damages are thoroughly considered when determining the outcome and compensation of a wrongful death lawsuit. They include:
- Funeral and burial expenses: cover the costs associated with saying goodbye to a loved one
- Loss of financial support: compensation for the loss of income provided before the untimely loss of a loved one
- Cost of medical treatment: this applies if your loved one received medical treatment before their unfortunate passing
- Emotional distress and support: compensation for the psychological and emotional toll a loss can have on the surviving family members
- Pain and suffering: if the decedent was exposed to pain and injuries before their untimely death, your family can seek compensation for what they had to endure
- Loss of consortium: this covers the loss of love and companionship you and your family have lost
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim for a Fatal Truck Accident
According to Oklahoma Statutes Title 12. Civil Procedure §12-1053, the following individuals may file a wrongful death lawsuit:
- The deceased person’s spouse or domestic partner
- Children of the deceased, including stepchildren
- Parents of the deceased
- Dependent minors living in the deceased person’s household
- The deceased’s personal representative
- People who would be entitled to the property of the decedent if they did not create a will
Common Liable Parties for a Truck Accident
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.”
- “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, Attorneys at Law
If you or your loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Oklahoma City, Ylla | Gosney can help. We understand that injured victims only have one chance at securing financial relief after being injured in a serious trucking accident. That’s why we focus on getting your case resolved and getting you paid as quickly as possible.
Our firm has proudly managed numerous truck accident cases, successfully protecting the citizens of OKC from liability and reaching fair settlements quickly and efficiently on their behalf. So, don’t wait until it’s too late to take legal action for your truck accident injuries.
Contact Ylla | Gosney Attorneys at Law today for a free, no-risk consultation and case evaluation. There are no upfront fees, and you don’t pay a cent until your case is won.
