Arizona Truck Accident Lawyer
A collision involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicle can cause devastating injuries in a matter of seconds. When a commercial truck is involved, determining what happened may require investigating not only the driver but also the trucking company, vehicle maintenance, hours of service, electronic records, cargo and other evidence.
The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC represents people injured in truck accidents in Phoenix and throughout Arizona. We investigate the crash, preserve important evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, evaluate available insurance coverage and pursue compensation supported by the facts and injuries.
CALL 480-927-3700 FREE & CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATIONInjured in a Commercial Truck Accident in Arizona?
Truck accidents are not simply larger versions of ordinary car crashes. Commercial vehicles can weigh dramatically more than passenger vehicles, require greater stopping distances and operate within an industry governed by safety, qualification, maintenance and hours-of-service requirements.
A serious trucking collision may involve a tractor, trailer, commercial driver, motor carrier, vehicle owner, maintenance provider, cargo-loading entity or other party whose conduct needs to be investigated.
An experienced Arizona truck accident lawyer can investigate the collision from multiple angles and take steps to preserve trucking-company records and electronic evidence that may help explain why the crash occurred.
Early Investigation Can Be Especially Important After a Truck Crash
Commercial truck cases can involve records and electronic data that may not remain available forever. Driver logs, electronic logging information, vehicle data, dispatch communications, maintenance records, dash-camera footage and other evidence can become important when reconstructing what happened.
A trucking company or insurer may begin investigating the crash shortly after it happens. An injured person should have the opportunity to preserve evidence and investigate the collision from his or her own perspective as well.
If you were seriously injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, consider speaking with an attorney before important evidence is lost or overwritten.
DISCUSS YOUR TRUCK ACCIDENT | 480-927-3700A Truck Accident Investigation May Go Far Beyond the Driver
Commercial trucking involves drivers, motor carriers, vehicles, maintenance systems, cargo, electronic records and federal safety requirements. Those additional layers can make a trucking injury case substantially more complex than an ordinary collision.
Federal Safety Regulations
Commercial motor carriers and drivers may be subject to federal safety rules involving hours of service, driver qualifications, vehicle maintenance and cargo securement.
Electronic Evidence
Electronic logs, vehicle data, telematics, dispatch information and other electronically stored records may provide evidence about the truck and driver before the collision.
Multiple Responsible Parties
Depending on the facts, responsibility may need to be investigated beyond the individual truck driver.
Serious Injuries
The size and weight of commercial trucks can contribute to severe injuries and substantial medical, financial and long-term losses.
Maintenance Records
Inspection, repair, brake, tire and maintenance records can become important when a mechanical condition may have contributed to the crash.
Commercial Insurance
Commercial trucking claims may involve policies, insurers and coverage questions that differ from an ordinary personal automobile claim.
What Can Cause a Serious Commercial Truck Accident?
No two collisions are the same. A proper investigation should determine what the evidence actually shows rather than assuming why a crash happened.
Was the Truck Driver Too Fatigued to Be Driving Safely?
Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long many commercial truck drivers may drive and remain on duty. For property-carrying drivers subject to these rules, federal regulations generally permit no more than 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty and prohibit driving beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
Drivers subject to the rule also generally must take a qualifying 30-minute interruption after eight cumulative hours of driving without such an interruption.
When fatigue may have contributed to a collision, the investigation can include electronic logging information, records of duty status, dispatch communications, fuel receipts, toll information and other records that may help reconstruct the driver's activities.
Other electronic and documentary records may help confirm whether reported driving and rest periods are consistent with the truck's actual movements and the driver's activities.
A Truck Accident Claim May Involve More Than One Party
Identifying the correct defendants can be one of the most important parts of a commercial truck accident investigation. Responsibility depends on the relationships between the people and companies involved and what actually caused or contributed to the collision.
Depending on the evidence, potentially responsible parties may include:
What Evidence May Be Important After a Commercial Truck Crash?
The evidence available varies from case to case. Commercial trucking operations, however, can generate records that may help establish what occurred before and during the crash.
Was the Truck Properly Inspected, Repaired and Maintained?
Commercial vehicles require ongoing inspection and maintenance. When brakes, tires, lights, steering components or other vehicle systems may have played a role in a collision, maintenance history can become important evidence.
Federal motor-carrier regulations require covered carriers to systematically inspect, repair and maintain vehicles subject to their control and maintain specified records for qualifying vehicles.
A truck accident investigation may therefore examine vehicle inspection reports, repair invoices, maintenance schedules, brake and tire records and whether known safety issues were addressed before the truck returned to the road.
Improperly Secured Cargo Can Create Serious Roadway Hazards
Federal cargo-securement rules are designed to prevent cargo from shifting on or within commercial vehicles or falling from them during transportation.
Cargo problems can affect a truck's stability, balance and handling. Falling cargo can also create a direct hazard for vehicles traveling behind or beside the truck.
When cargo movement may have contributed to a collision, the investigation can include how the load was secured, who loaded it, what securement equipment was used and whether the load complied with applicable requirements.
Truck Crashes Can Cause Life-Changing Injuries
What Compensation May Be Available?
The value of an Arizona truck accident case depends on liability, the severity of the injuries, medical evidence, financial losses, insurance coverage and other circumstances.
What if the Trucking Company Claims You Were Partly Responsible?
Trucking companies and insurers may dispute liability or argue that another driver contributed to the collision.
Arizona follows a comparative fault system. When comparative negligence applies, a claimant's damages can generally be reduced according to the percentage of fault attributed to that claimant rather than automatically eliminating the entire negligence claim.
Police reports, roadway evidence, electronic truck data, video, witness accounts and reconstruction evidence can all become relevant when determining how and why the collision occurred.
How Long Do You Have to File an Arizona Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Arizona generally provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions. A deadline alone, however, is not a reason to postpone investigating a truck accident.
Evidence may disappear much sooner. Electronic records may be overwritten, vehicles can be repaired, witnesses can become difficult to locate and physical evidence at the crash scene can change.
Different deadlines may also apply when a public entity or public employee is involved. Arizona generally requires a qualifying notice of claim against a public entity or employee within 180 days after accrual, and actions against public entities or employees generally must be brought within one year.
The sooner a serious truck collision is investigated, the sooner steps can be taken to identify the parties, preserve trucking records and document the evidence.
Building an Arizona Truck Accident Injury Claim
A commercial trucking claim may require investigation into the driver, carrier, truck, trailer, cargo, insurance coverage and medical consequences of the collision.
Depending on the circumstances, The Maerowitz Law Firm may:
Did a Commercial Truck Crash Cause the Death of a Family Member?
A fatal truck accident can leave surviving family members facing grief, unanswered questions and major financial changes. When another person's or company's negligence may have caused the collision, Arizona law may provide a wrongful death claim to qualifying survivors.
The Maerowitz Law Firm has a separate resource explaining Arizona wrongful death claims in greater detail.
VISIT OUR ARIZONA WRONGFUL DEATH LAWYER PAGEWhy Hire The Maerowitz Law Firm After an Arizona Truck Accident?
The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC is a Phoenix-based Arizona law firm providing experienced, personalized representation in personal injury matters. Serious truck accident cases deserve careful investigation and individualized attention.
Managing Attorney Matt Maerowitz has 12 years of legal experience and more than a decade of litigation and trial experience. His practice includes personal injury representation for clients throughout Arizona.
We take the time to understand how the collision happened, how the injuries have affected the client and family, and what evidence is needed to properly evaluate the claim.
The Maerowitz Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. We also offer a free and confidential initial consultation with no obligation to hire the firm.
Three Important Steps After a Commercial Truck Crash
Address Your Injuries
Seek appropriate medical care and follow the recommendations of your healthcare providers.
Preserve Information
Keep photographs, crash documents, medical records, witness information and any communications relating to the collision.
Speak With a Truck Accident Lawyer
An attorney can evaluate potential liability and take steps to preserve commercial trucking evidence before it is lost.
Looking for an Arizona Truck Accident Lawyer?
The Maerowitz Law Firm, LLC is based in Phoenix and represents personal injury clients throughout Arizona. If you suffered serious injuries in a collision involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler, delivery truck or another commercial vehicle, experienced legal representation can help investigate what happened and identify the parties and insurance coverage involved.
If you are searching for an Arizona truck accident lawyer, Phoenix truck accident attorney, semi-truck accident lawyer, 18-wheeler accident attorney, commercial truck crash lawyer or Arizona personal injury attorney, contact The Maerowitz Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation.
FREE CONSULTATION | 480-927-3700Frequently Asked Questions About Arizona Truck Accident Claims
How is a truck accident case different from a normal car accident?
Commercial truck cases can involve federal safety regulations, motor-carrier records, electronic logs, vehicle data, driver qualification information, maintenance records, cargo issues and multiple potentially responsible parties in addition to the evidence ordinarily found in a motor-vehicle collision.
Can the trucking company be responsible for a crash?
Potential responsibility depends on the facts and relationships involved. The driver's conduct, motor carrier, ownership arrangements, maintenance, safety practices and other circumstances may all need to be investigated.
How many hours can a commercial truck driver drive?
For property-carrying drivers subject to the federal hours-of-service rules, the general driving limit is 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and a driver generally may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty. Exceptions and additional rules can apply depending on the circumstances.
What evidence should be preserved after a truck accident?
Potentially important evidence can include electronic logs, vehicle data when available, dash-camera footage, driver qualification records, maintenance and inspection records, dispatch communications, cargo documentation, photographs, witness statements and medical records.
What if I was partly responsible for the truck accident?
Arizona uses comparative fault in negligence cases. When it applies, damages can generally be reduced in proportion to the fault attributed to the injured claimant rather than automatically eliminating the claim.
How long do I have to file an Arizona truck accident lawsuit?
Arizona generally provides a two-year limitations period for personal injury actions. Different and substantially shorter requirements can apply in some circumstances, including qualifying claims involving public entities or employees. An attorney should identify the applicable deadline based on the particular case.
What compensation may be available after a serious truck crash?
Depending on the evidence, compensation may include medical expenses, future medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering and other legally recoverable losses.
How much does it cost to hire The Maerowitz Law Firm for a truck accident case?
The Maerowitz Law Firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. We also offer a free and confidential initial consultation. Call 480-927-3700.
Seriously Injured in an Arizona Truck Accident?
If you or a family member was injured in a collision involving a semi-truck, tractor-trailer, 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle in Phoenix or elsewhere in Arizona, contact The Maerowitz Law Firm to discuss what happened and your legal options.
Early investigation can help preserve electronic records, trucking-company documents, maintenance information, video and other evidence that may be important to your claim.
480-927-3700 CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION CONTACT THE FIRMThis information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Liability, available damages, insurance coverage and filing deadlines depend on the particular facts and applicable state and federal law. Viewing this page or contacting the firm does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship.