Semi trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When they crash into another vehicle, they can cause devastating injuries. When injury victims survive, they are often left with permanent disabilities and chronic pain. This is why getting compensation through an Oklahoma City truck accident claim is extremely important for your financial well-being.
Injured in Oklahoma City? Call Warhawk Legal at (405) 397-1717 for a free consultation. Our personal injury attorneys work on contingency — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Semi-truck drivers must operate their rig safely to avoid harming others. In addition to following the traffic laws that all other motorists must follow, they must also follow the guidelines established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Most truck drivers follow these laws and operate their trucks safely. However, some drivers drive recklessly, putting themselves and others in grave danger. If you see a semi-truck driving dangerously, you must protect yourself and, if possible, take steps to help protect others.
Semi-Truck Dangerous Driving Behaviors
You may witness various forms of dangerous driving. Some of the most common types of dangerous driving behavior by semi-trucks include:
- Speeding or driving too fast for the road or weather conditions.
- Tailgating.
- Unpredictable braking.
- Road rage behavior.
- Weaving between lanes.
- Distracted driving.
- Swerving.
- Failing to signal when they change lanes.
If you witness these or other dangerous driving behaviors, you should take steps to protect yourself and others.
Steps to Protect Yourself and Others When a Semi-Truck is Driving Dangerously
When you see a semi-truck driving dangerously, taking the following steps can help save lives:
- Move away from the truck. Create as much space between your vehicle and the semi-truck as you can safely.
- If you can do so safely, note the truck’s license plate number, the trucking company name, and any identifying numbers on the truck. Document the location you encountered the truck, the direction it was driving, and the time of your encounter. You should also document what you observed that was dangerous – speeding, tailgating, swerving, etc.
- If the driver is threatening the immediate safety of others, call 911 or have a passenger call if you can’t use the hands-free function. If there is no immediate danger, you can ask the 911 operator to transfer you to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to report the dangerous driver. You may also report the hazardous driving behavior to the local sheriff or city police.
- Contact the trucking company and report the conduct you witnessed. Many trucks have a phone number displayed for their trucking company. If not, you may be able to have a passenger look up the trucking company’s contact information or do it when you are not driving. Give the trucking company as much detail as possible about the truck and what you saw. Most trucking companies take these reports very seriously and may discipline the driver.
- File a report with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) through its National Consumer Complaint Database. The FMCSA considers complaints against trucking companies to gather details about them and determine whether they may need to be investigated.
- Do not attempt to communicate with the truck driver. Doing so can worsen the behavior and cause you and others greater harm.
- If you have a dashcam, film the truck’s dangerous behavior, or have a passenger film it with a cell phone camera.
At Warhawk Legal, we have decades of experience protecting the rights of truck accident injury victims and their families. We have the skills and resources to help you recover maximum compensation through an Oklahoma City accident claim.
Call (405) 397-1717 or visit our contact page and schedule a free consultation.
What to Do After a Semi-Truck Crash on an Oklahoma Road
Call 911 immediately — a commercial vehicle crash almost always requires a police report, and crashes involving injuries may trigger a Motor Carrier Safety investigation. If you can do so without risk, photograph the truck’s markings (DOT number, company name, license plate), the positions of all vehicles, road conditions, and your visible injuries before anything is moved. Collect contact information from witnesses at the scene — bystanders often leave quickly once traffic begins moving again.
Seek emergency medical care the same day, even for injuries that seem manageable. Soft-tissue injuries, internal trauma, and concussions are routinely underestimated in the hours after a high-adrenaline crash. Decline to give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer — their adjusters are trained in commercial claims and will begin building a defense from the first conversation. The trucking company’s insurer has far more resources and experience than the average car accident insurer; having an attorney in your corner from the start is the most effective way to level the field.
Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for truck accident claims is two years from the date of injury. Evidence must be secured long before that deadline.
For more information about personal injury law in Oklahoma, visit our personal injury practice page. Ready to speak with Joe Carson? Contact Warhawk Legal for a free consultation — no fee unless we win.
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.