While driving on the road or highways, the last thing you anticipate is for a trucker’s cargo load to detach or drop contents. You may have had a small window of time to take the appropriate action, but BDIW Law can take action quickly on your behalf. While you continue recovering from this traumatizing wreck, we can fight for the financial compensation that covers it all.
The attorneys at BDIW Law aren’t your average Stillwater truck accident attorneys; our firm handles personal injury cases of all types. The level of service we provide has brought us long-distance and local clients alike. If you speak to one of our Oklahoma unsecured cargo crash attorneys, you will be connected with a legal professional that truly cares to see you win.
The Dangers of Unsecured Cargo Truck Wrecks
You’ve experienced this firsthand, but as your attorneys, we must demonstrate the danger this wreck posed to both your life and the lives of others.
Unsecured cargo in a truck accident poses a number of risks, including the possibility that it would shift, fall off the truck, cause crashes, or obstruct the road. The truck may also jackknife or overturn. Other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians involved in the collision may sustain catastrophic injuries or pass away as a result of unsecured cargo.
Additionally, cargo spills can harm the environment and cost a lot to clean up. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shared that 68% of hazardous materials were emitted from cargo compartments involved in fatal accidents in 2020 alone. These tragic crashes are common, but an experienced legal team will counsel you through the process.
Our Team Is Here To Assist You Every Step Of The Way.
SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY TODAYPursuing Legal Action for Shipping Company Negligence
An Oklahoma unsecured cargo accident attorney can submit your personal injury claim to a civil court if you want to pursue legal action. In a personal injury claim, you will be responsible for the burden of proof to let the court know that the shipping company’s negligence caused your accident and led to losses.
Your claim must explicitly describe the accident’s specifics, the carelessness that led to your losses, and the alleged dollar amount of those damages. You should be ready to support every assertion you make with verifiable data. Hiring a law firm to handle the evidence gathering and documentation isn’t required but is highly encouraged for a more accurate settlement estimate.
Factors that Secure a Settlement for Your Unsecured Cargo Accident
Compensatory damages are recoverable damages that are owed to you for any accident-related expenses. With the guidance of our Oklahoma unsafe shipment accident lawyers, your personal injury case will be in the best possible position to hold the appropriate party accountable and recover your losses.
The typical award amount for an unsecured cargo settlement includes the following:
- Costs for medical treatment
- Wage replacement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability or disfigurement
- Punitive damages, if it applies
- Wrongful death
The total amount of your damages will depend on how badly you are hurt, how long your recovery will take, and the extent to which the other party is liable. Since multiple people can be at fault in these types of cases, multiple lawsuits may be necessary to retrieve just compensation. Our attorneys will fight to obtain the highest possible settlement.
Pinpointing Liability in an Unsecured Shipment Truck Crash
A poorly secured freight truck can cause serious collisions that injure or kill drivers and pedestrians. Identifying responsibility in these situations is essential to making sure the at-fault party covers the costs of the damages and the victims’ compensation. A loose cargo truck accident may result in multiple parties being held accountable:
Commercial Truck Driver
If the cargo wasn’t properly secured before the vehicle started moving, the driver could be held accountable. The driver might be held accountable for any incidents that occurred as a result of their carelessness if they carried unsecured loads on purpose or disregarded safety requirements.
Trucking Company
The trucking business can also be held accountable for inadequate driver training, poor truck maintenance, or failure to verify the goods before loading.
They might also be held accountable if they pressured the driver to complete deliveries quickly, which caused the driver to disregard safety precautions and transport loose merchandise.
Shipment Broker
If the cargo owner loaded unsecured cargo or failed to give adequate directions on securing the cargo, they may also be held accountable.
To ensure that the guilty parties compensate the victims and take action to prevent future accidents, it is essential for a legal professional to fully examine the accident and pinpoint who is to blame.
Adhere to the Time Restrictions or Lose Your Settlement Opportunity
According to Oklahoma’s statute of limitations, anyone who wants to file a lawsuit for losses from an unsecured cargo accident must do so within two years of the accident. Oklahoma courts can dismiss your compensation claim if you fail to file it on time.
During those two years, you will have to gather the data necessary to prove the other party’s fault and the extent of your damages. You can seek the assistance of an unsecured cargo accident attorney in Oklahoma if you are dealing with serious injuries and are unable to collect evidence or speak to witnesses.
Prepare for a Free Consultation With an Oklahoma Unsecured Cargo Lawyer Today
After being injured by an unstable Oklahoma big rig, you deserve rest and recovery. Rand Spear can ensure you have the time and opportunity to do that by taking on your case and handling the legal legwork behind your truck wreck. Our Oklahoma unsecured cargo accident lawyers are ready to investigate your case and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
If possible, contact us immediately after seeing a doctor. The sooner that you can have us review your case, the better of a chance we will have to collect and preserve evidence, such as witnesses seeing cargo fall from the truck or seeing the cargo bed detach. We promise to keep your best interest at the forefront of negotiations and assist you in the best way that we can.
Contact a member of our legal staff for a free consultation and a breakdown of how much you could win from an unsecured cargo accident in Oklahoma.
