When a road accident involves a commercial truck, anyone in a smaller vehicle will likely suffer severe injuries due to the substantial size and weight difference between the two.
Truck accidents are common, and commercial trucking companies have teams of investigators and other professionals whose sole job is to limit their liability. You need a seasoned personal injury attorney fighting for your rights when you are hurt in a truck crash.
Contact a Mesa truck accident lawyer for dedicated representation. With the help of Phillips Law Group, you could receive reimbursement for all your accident-related expenses and losses, plus compensation for your pain and diminished quality of life.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck drivers may be skilled and highly trained, but in the end, they are just human beings driving long hours in cumbersome vehicles. Trucking companies often pressure drivers to meet unreasonable deadlines; this adds to truckers’ stress and sometimes incentivizes them to break federal rules about how many hours they can work in a row.
When a trucker does not take reasonable steps to stay alert and keep their vehicle safe, accidents happen. Driving too fast in bad weather or with worn brakes can lead to a trailer jackknife. Other examples of driver negligence include:
- Operating on insufficient rest
- Hauling a poorly secured load
- Driving after consuming alcohol or drugs
- Not performing the appropriate maintenance checks on the vehicle
- Driving while distracted by using a cell phone or eating while operating their truck
In addition to driver error, overloaded trucks can overturn or experience catastrophic equipment failures such as blown tires and broken axles. Regardless of the cause of the wreck, an injured person seeking damages must prove negligence — a failure to use reasonable care — was a factor in the incident and resulting injuries. Our Mesa accident attorneys can investigate the details of a commercial vehicle crash to determine whether negligence played a role and who could be held legally liable for the event.
Potentially Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Case
The occupants of passenger vehicles that crash with trucks often sustain severe, permanent injuries including multiple broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Obtaining sufficient funds to cover a catastrophic injury might require making claims against multiple insurance policies.
Besides truck drivers and trucking companies, liable parties in a truck accident case might include:
- The company responsible for loading the trailer
- The school that trained or certified the truck driver
- The local government responsible for road maintenance
- The maintenance contractor, if the truck was not in good repair
- The truck manufacturer, if one of the truck’s components was defective
If a third driver contributed to the accident — as might be the case in a multi-vehicle pileup — that driver also might be liable. A skilled Mesa attorney can find evidence that shows responsibility is shared by several parties, ensuring a compensation demand adequate to meeting the injured person’s needs.
Procedure for Bringing a Truck Accident Claim
Truck accident cases are complicated for several reasons: They typically involve multiple responsible parties; the trucking industry aggressively defends against claims; and the injured person often suffers serious harm, meaning the potential liability is significant.
When someone injured in a truck accident engages our firm, we investigate the accident and try to identify all potentially responsible parties. It could be several months before a severely injured person’s prognosis is clear and it becomes possible to calculate their damages. At that point, our team typically sends claims for damages to all the potentially responsible parties and begins negotiations.
Most truck accident claims settle before a trial, but the threat of a lawsuit is critical leverage when negotiating with insurers. Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 requires an injured person to file a lawsuit within two years. Conducting a thorough investigation and compiling the evidence necessary to support a truck accident lawsuit takes considerable time, so an injured person or their family should contact our Mesa attorneys as soon as possible after an accident.
Engage a Mesa Attorney To Pursue Damages After a Truck Crash
You shouldn’t try to manage a truck accident claim without legal expertise. You’ll need an aggressive advocate on your side to take on the trucking company’s insurer and others who would deny you fair compensation for your injuries.
A Mesa truck accident lawyer from Phillips Law Group knows how the industry operates and can negotiate the most favorable result possible. Rely on our long-standing history of success and community support and call today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our experienced team of legal professionals.
