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Phoenix Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial truck accident in Phoenix or elsewhere in Arizona, The Advocates can help.

A Truck Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case

After an accident with a semi-truck, many victims are left with catastrophic injuries, emotional anguish, a damaged vehicle, and extensive medical bills.

Semi-truck accidents often result in serious injuries and vehicle damage. Bills and expenses can pile up quickly, especially if you are unable to work due to your injuries. You may be feeling overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. If a truck driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the trucking company and their insurance.

The Advocates are competent, caring truck accident lawyers who can help you navigate the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. The experienced attorneys at The Advocates know the tricks insurance providers use to get out of offering you fair compensation for your losses.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a commercial truck, The Advocates are here for you. We will be by your side every step of the way to help you get your needs taken care of and assist you in receiving fair compensation for your injuries.

The Next Steps in Your Arizona Truck Accident Case

Injury

Check for injuries immediately after your accident

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates for legal advice and representation

Treatment

Seek medical care for your injuries

Property Damage

Get your vehicle repaired

Finish Treatment

When you’ve completed treatment, your attorney will compile your medical records

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

You will pay nothing out-of-pocket when you hire an Advocate.

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees.

Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. We don’t get paid unless we win your case and you receive a settlement.

For more information on how settlements and payment work, please see our contingency fee information page.

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex.

Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.

In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.

In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of Legal Professionals Assigned to Your Case 

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have been helping victims navigate their truck accident cases, and we are ready to do the same for you. We are a capable, compassionate legal team who make it our mission to help our clients with all aspects of their recovery, not just negotiation and litigation.

In addition to providing legal representation, The Advocates are prepared to help you:

  • Access necessary medical treatment
  • Find body shops in your area for vehicle repairs
  • Get a rental car if needed
  • Communicate with your employer regarding your injuries
  • Keep track of expenses and paperwork related to your accident

We only get paid if we win your case!

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Arizona Truck Accident Information

Red truck transport with container on winter road

Common causes of truck accidents

  • Driver fatigue: Commercial vehicle drivers work long hours, often driving on long stretches of rural road. It is easy to become tired, and it is crucial that truckers take regular breaks to rest.
  • Distracted driving: Any activity that causes motorists to take focus off of the road in front of them increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents
  • Impaired driving: A driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a danger to everyone on the road.
  • Mechanical failure: One of the most common causes of truck crashes is faulty equipment.
  • Improper passing or turning: Large trucks have much larger blind spots and stopping distances than passenger cars.
  • Poor road conditions: Steep, damaged, or icy roadways can cause trucks to lose control.

Common truck accident injuries 

Truck accident injuries can be severe, particularly for occupants of smaller vehicles. Some common types of truck accident injuries are:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Whiplash
  • Disfigurement
  • Broken or missing teeth
  • Ligament tears or strains
  • Lacerations and bruising

How many hours can a truck driver work at one time?

Driver fatigue is a serious problem in the trucking industry. Many trucking companies pay their drivers by the mile, so truckers are incentivized to keep driving, even when they are tired. Because of this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration created the Hours of Service Rule, a federal regulation limiting how many hours a trucker may drive at once.

The Hours of Service Rule is as follows:

  • Truckers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty
  • Drivers may only be on-duty, driving or not, for a maximum of 14 consecutive hours
  • Drivers are required to take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving
  • In adverse conditions, the 11-hour and 14-hour maximums may be increased by up to 2 hours

It is crucial that truckers adhere to the Hours of Service Rule, as well as taking any additional breaks as needed. A truck driver falling asleep at the wheel is a major hazard for everyone on the road.

How long do I have to file a claim?

If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it is best to call an attorney sooner rather than later. All states have a statute of limitations on both criminal and civil matters. The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time a plaintiff has to file a claim before they lose their right of action. In Arizona, the statute of limitations for auto accidents is typically two years. 

The longer you wait to begin your case, the harder it may be to receive damages. As time goes on, evidence may be lost or forgotten. An eyewitness may forget what they saw, or video footage from a nearby business may be erased. The more quickly you are able to compile evidence, get treated for your injuries, and speak with an attorney, the easier it will be to file a claim.

Medical bill from the hospital, concept of rising medical cost.

What damages can I seek in my truck accident claim?

Every accident case is different and must be judged on its own merits. There is no way to accurately gauge the value of a case without knowing the factual details regarding the accident. 

Some common damages sought by truck accident victims include:

  • Medical expenses
  • Property damage
  • Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
  • Non-economic damages like emotional distress
  • Funeral and burial expenses in cases of wrongful death

The best way to know the damages you may seek in your truck accident lawsuit is to speak with a personal injury attorney. The Advocates’ experienced Phoenix truck accident lawyers offer free case evaluations to discuss your potential claim. We’ll listen to your story and help you understand your legal options at no cost.

Who is the responsible party in my commercial vehicle accident?

Semi-truck accidents differ from passenger vehicle accidents because there are often several individuals and companies involved in the manufacturing and use of the truck. Depending on the causes of your accident, there may be one or more liable parties. 

If the truck driver was driving recklessly or negligently, they may be mostly responsible for your injuries.

If it is determined that the trucking company failed to train their driver properly or was requiring them to drive too many hours at once, the company may be held liable.

Mechanical failures may be the fault of the truck’s manufacturer, if parts or systems were defective.

To determine who is liable for your accident, an investigation may be conducted. Some potential evidence may be photo and video evidence from the scene, accident reports, witness testimony, the truck’s black box data, maintenance records, and the trucker’s activity logs.

An experienced Phoenix truck accident attorney can help you prove negligence on the part of the at-fault party.

Truck driver inspecting safety check a truck tires

What to Do After a Semi-Truck Accident in Phoenix

girl using a digital generated phone with emergency call on the screen

Move out of traffic and check for injuries

After any car accident, move the shoulder of the road or into a nearby parking lot if possible. This will allow traffic to continue moving and can prevent further injuries.

Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone has serious injuries, call 911 immediately or ask someone nearby to do it for you.

File a police report

Ask for a police officer to be dispatched to the accident scene. They will take statements and file a police report.

When speaking to the officer, avoid accepting responsibility, assigning blame, or speculating on the cause of the accident. Doing so could hurt your eventual personal injury claim.

Instead, give an honest, factual account of the events leading up to the truck collision.

Policeman writing up report on incident where their was a person injured
father and daughter walking along the city street discuss an important topic

Exchange information with the other motorist

You will need to take down the truck driver’s contact and insurance information. In a calm, neutral manner, ask for the following details:

  • The trucker’s name, address, and phone number
  • The name of their employer
  • Their insurance provider and policy number
  • Drivers license and license plate numbers

You should also get contact information from anyone who witnessed the accident. Their accounts of what happened may provide helpful evidence later.

Take photos and videos of the accident scene

Document the scene as extensively as you can. Take pictures of:

  • Your injuries
  • Your vehicle
  • The tractor-trailer
  • Any other property damage
  • Weather and road conditions
  • Traffic signs and signals nearby
  • Pavement markings

You may not end up using all of these photos and videos, but some may prove useful when building your case. Your personal injury attorney can help you determine which evidence will be important.

Person takes photos of damaged car with smart phone
man talking on phone at work.

Notify your own auto insurance company

Call your own insurance provider and inform them that you were in an accident. You may have no-fault coverage that can help cover some of your expenses. 

Reporting the accident to your insurance company can also help protect your legal rights.

Seek medical treatment

Always seek medical care after any kind of motor vehicle accident, but especially one involving a big rig. Tell your doctor you were involved in a truck accident so they can look for hidden injuries. Your medical expenses will be added to your eventual personal injury claim, should you choose to file one.

Female physiotherapist or a chiropractor examining patients back.

When Should I Hire a Phoenix Truck Accident Attorney?

If your accident resulted in physical injuries, property damage, and medical bills, it’s time to call an injury attorney. Insurance companies will often do whatever they can to avoid offering you a fair settlement for your damages. A personal injury lawyer will negotiate with these multi-million dollar companies to get you maximum compensation.

The Advocates personal injury law firm is here for you every step of the way. Our experienced attorneys will be by your side to listen to your story, answer your questions, and be your voice in the legal process.

Contact us today for a free consultation. You deserve a legal team that truly cares about you and your family. You deserve an Advocate.

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