Trucking accidents are unfortunately common in Oklahoma and throughout the U.S. With I-40 and I-35 both passing through Oklahoma City, this area gets a lot of commercial traffic including semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, box trucks, and other large vehicles. When big trucks get into accidents, the resulting injuries and property damage can be catastrophic.
The Carr & Carr team has decades of experience advocating for victims of Oklahoma trucking accidents. We help them recover monetary damages to reduce the strain of medical bills and lost income. If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a trucking accident, call our Oklahoma City office at 888-572-1159 or schedule a consultation online.
Trucking Accident Statistics in Oklahoma
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO), there were a total of 4,784 crashes in the state in 2020 (the most recent year for which data is available) that involved large trucks. Those crashes resulted in 75 fatalities and 1,563 injuries.
National Trucking Accident Statistics
Data from the National Safety Council indicates that in 2020, large trucks accounted for 9 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes despite the fact that they were only 4 percent of all registered vehicles. In the same year, 107,000 large trucks were involved in injury crashes throughout the U.S.
Nationally, most fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2020 occurred in rural areas, on non-interstate roads, and during the day. The highest number of crashes happened in October, and April had the fewest large truck crashes.
Common Causes of Trucking Accidents in Oklahoma
According to the OHSO, 29 percent of the truck crashes that happened in Oklahoma in 2020 occurred on interstate highways. Additionally, 24 percent of large truck crashes happened on city streets, and 13.1 percent occurred on county roads. The majority of large truck crashes (approximately 70 percent) involved two vehicles.
The OHSO also provides details about the causes of trucking accidents in the state. For truck drivers, the most common factors that contribute to an accident are the following:
- Improper act/movement (e.g. improper backing, failure to signal, improperly secured load, sleepiness, etc.)
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to pay attention
- Improper turning
For drivers of other vehicles that were involved in large truck crashes, these were the most common contributing factors:
- Failure to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Improper act/movement (e.g. ignoring warning signals, sleepiness, failure to signal, etc.)
- Inattention
- Speeding
When it comes to injuries and fatalities in large truck accidents, it often doesn’t matter who was at fault for the accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, passenger vehicle occupants account for most deaths in large truck crashes, simply because trucks have a higher clearance and weigh significantly more.
Trucking Accident Injuries
Truck crashes can cause a wide variety of severe injuries:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Contusions and internal bleeding
- Soft tissue damage
- Whiplash
In these types of accidents, pedestrians and occupants of passenger vehicles have a greater risk of injury than occupants of large trucks.
Compensation claims for large truck accidents can be complicated because there are several potentially liable parties. The truck driver, the transportation company, the truck maintenance provider, the cargo crew, and/or the manufacturer of the truck’s parts could be liable. An experienced truck accident attorney can simplify the claims process and help victims understand their options for seeking compensation.
Call Carr & Carr After a Trucking Accident in Oklahoma
Trucking accidents can be devastating, especially for pedestrians and occupants of smaller vehicles. Liable parties and their insurance providers frequently offer low-ball settlements that aren’t enough to cover the financial and emotional consequences that the victims experience. In many cases, the only way to get fair compensation is through a personal injury claim.
At Carr & Carr, we are dedicated to helping Oklahoma residents who have been impacted by trucking accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed, contact our office to learn what legal options you have for pursuing a claim. You can schedule a free consultation online or call our Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers at 888-572-1159.
