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Crashes involving 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers and other large trucks can be the most catastrophic accidents on the road. Due to their size and weight, they can easily crush and destroy anything they collide with, whether that includes people or property.
As such, it can be helpful to know where, when and why these accidents happen so you can hopefully avoid them.
Where truck accidents happen
According to the National Safety Council, nearly 55 percent of fatal truck crashes occur in rural areas. And the vast majority of them (over 73 percent) occur on non-interstate roadways.
And while trucking collisions can happen anywhere, they could be more likely to affect drivers on the most dangerous roads in Oklahoma, including the Turner turnpike and Oklahoma state highway 9.
When truck accidents happen
Data from Oklahoma Public Safety shows that there were 5,836 crashes involving large trucks in 2019 in this state. These accidents led to over 100 fatalities and more than 2,000 injuries.
National statistics show that fatal trucking crashes increase in June and remain high until they peak in October. Perhaps surprising is the fact that most of them occur during the day.
Why truck accidents happen
Many crashes are preventable because they are due to human error. In the case of a truck accident, the cause of a collision could be:
- A drunk or distracted trucker
- A tired or sleeping trucker
- A poorly maintained truck
- Improperly loaded or secured cargo
- Untrained drivers
Weather can also cause or contribute to truck accidents. Oklahoma has very active, dangerous storms – particularly in the spring. Slick roads and high winds can make it more difficult to operate a truck safely, increasing the risk of an accident.
This information could help you avoid a devastating crash with a large truck. If one does occur, factors like where it happened or who else was involved could make it easier to assess your legal options and rights with the help of an Oklahoma City truck accident lawyer.
What These Statistics Mean for Oklahoma Truck Crash Victims
Statistics frame the landscape — but behind every data point is a specific crash with a specific cause and one or more responsible parties. Understanding where, when, and why truck crashes happen is useful for prevention. When prevention fails, the legal analysis shifts to who bore responsibility for the circumstances that made the crash possible.
A truck driver who exceeds hours-of-service limits and causes a late-night highway crash bears personal liability. The motor carrier that scheduled that driver’s route with inadequate rest time bears independent liability. The shipper whose last-minute loading delay pushed the driver into illegal hours may share responsibility. The maintenance contractor who signed off on defective brakes contributes to a defective-equipment chain. Federal motor carrier regulations create legal duties at every level of the commercial trucking industry — and violations of those duties are powerful evidence of negligence in any Oklahoma personal injury claim.
What to Do After an Oklahoma Truck Crash
The practical steps after a truck collision follow from the evidence reality: truck crashes generate evidence that does not exist in ordinary car crashes, and that evidence disappears quickly. Call 911 and request a police report. Photograph the truck’s DOT number, the load or cargo if visible, the road and weather conditions, any skid marks, and the positions of all vehicles before anything is moved. Get witness contact information before witnesses leave the scene.
Seek medical evaluation the same day. The force involved in most truck collisions produces injuries — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, rib and organ trauma — that are initially masked by adrenaline. A same-day medical record establishes the crash as the cause of your injuries and protects against insurer arguments that injuries came from elsewhere.
Do not speak with the trucking company’s insurance representative before consulting an attorney. Early statements are specifically designed to minimize claims. An attorney can send a legal preservation demand immediately, obligating the carrier to retain electronic logging device records, driver qualification files, dispatch communications, and dashcam footage before they are overwritten or destroyed.
Compensation in Oklahoma Commercial Truck Accident Claims
Oklahoma truck crash victims may recover the full range of economic and non-economic damages: emergency and ongoing medical treatment, lost wages and future earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, and — in cases of gross carrier negligence — punitive damages. Federal regulations require most interstate carriers to carry minimum liability coverage of $750,000, and many carry far more.
Oklahoma’s two-year personal injury statute of limitations applies to most truck crash claims; wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Evidence timelines are far shorter — act early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are truck crash claims more complex than car accident claims? Multiple defendants (driver, carrier, shipper, maintenance contractor), federal regulatory overlays (FMCSA), larger insurance policies, and specialized evidence (ELD data, driver logs, CMV maintenance records) make truck crash litigation more demanding than standard car accident claims — and the defense is better resourced as a result.
How quickly should I contact an attorney? Immediately after a serious truck crash. Preservation demands must go out within days to save critical evidence before it is overwritten or destroyed.
Does Warhawk Legal handle truck crash cases on contingency? Yes — no fee unless we recover for you. Call (405) 397-1717 for a free consultation.
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Learn more from our personal injury attorney in Oklahoma City. Call us for a free case review.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our experienced Oklahoma City truck accident attorney at Warhawk Legal. We offer free consultations and only get paid when you win.