Car accidents can change everything about the way a victim can live their lives. In a car accident involving a commercial vehicle, the company’s insurance and lawyers may try everything in their power to keep the victim from receiving the compensation they need. To keep from risking a subpar settlement, you need to defend yourself with a skilled Oklahoma City injury attorney.
At Warhawk Legal, we know how to put up a strong fight to protect our clients. While negotiations are often the quickest and most straightforward way to provide you with the compensation you deserve, they are not always a viable solution. When negotiations cannot help you, we are ready to continue the fight through litigation to hold liable parties accountable.
You can call us at 405-397-1717 or email us here to schedule your initial consultation and begin seeking the compensation you deserve today.
Who Is Considered Liable When A Commercial Driver Causes A Crash?
Like most states, Oklahoma recognizes a legal principle known as “respondeat superior.” Under this principle, employers can be held liable for accidents and injuries caused by their employees if the accident/injury occurred in the scope of employment (while the employee was fulfilling their job duties).
This is an important principle because it means that the defendant in a personal injury suit wouldn’t be limited to a single driver. Instead, the company itself may be responsible, which could mean much higher compensation for accident victims.
Unfortunately, many major employers (including companies like Amazon, Uber, and Lyft) tend to classify their workers as “independent contractors” instead of regular employees, which, among other things, shields them from liability for accidents caused by their drivers. The independent contractor loophole can make it more difficult – but not necessarily impossible – for accident victims to hold companies liable. Depending on the facts of the case, an experienced attorney may be able to bypass this protection and demonstrate that companies are legally responsible.
Common Types Of Commercial Vehicle Accidents In Oklahoma City
As a major metropolitan area, Oklahoma City relies on commercial vehicles to fulfill the needs of the area’s industries and the needs of local residents. In addition to a significant number of tractor-trailers, common commercial vehicles include:
- Package delivery vans and trucks (UPS, FedEx, Amazon, etc.)
- Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft
- Food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats
- Oil and gas industry vehicles
- Buses (including motorcoaches, city buses and school buses)
- Shuttle vans and taxis
Agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have specific criteria for what defines a “commercial vehicle,” often based on the vehicle’s weight. However, a commercial vehicle can include any vehicle used for commercial purposes, including standard cars and trucks that might otherwise be personal-use vehicles.
What Your Compensation Should Include
It can be hard to know if the settlement offer an insurance company is presenting you is fair. We can help you assess the total costs of your Oklahoma City vehicle injury and set that as a goal for your negotiations. We believe a fair settlement should include compensation for:
- Lost income for the time you were not working during your injury and recovery
- Current and future medical costs, such as surgeries, doctor consultations, and medications
- Physical and emotional therapy that can take weeks or months to complete
- Property damage, such as to your phone, car or other valuables
- Permanent scarring or burns, which can affect your career, social and romantic life, as well as self-image
We know that compensation for an injury is not just a cash grab for easy money; it is the resource you need to pay for the consequences of someone else’s actions. Our job as your Oklahoma City accident attorney is to make sure you have the funds you need for your future.
Let Us Fight With Insurance Companies So You Don’t Have To
Regardless of whether a company can be held directly liable for a driver’s accident, nearly all commercial vehicle accidents will involve vehicles insured by commercial policies. Insurance companies want to protect their bottom line by resolving cases as quickly and cheaply as possible, and they fight especially hard to limit their liability for high-value commercial policies.
Negotiating with or otherwise taking on an insurance company by yourself is a very risky proposition – they have a team of Oklahoma City truck accident lawyers safeguarding their interests. When you hire our firm, we fight for you, and we are not afraid of or fooled by insurance company tactics.
Learn More About How We Can Help You
A commercial vehicle accident can take your physical health and leave you with the bill. If you suffered such an accident, let us help you fight to keep that outcome from ever happening. Call our Oklahoma City office at 405-397-1717 or email us to schedule your initial consultation to begin creating the plan that can protect your future.