Scottsdale Truck Accident Lawyer

18 wheeler semi-truck trailer involved in a truck accident on highway

Scottsdale Truck Accident Lawyer Pursuing Adequate Compensation for Victims of Truck Related Crashes

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), over 4,3000 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in 2015. Truck accidents are often deadlier and cause more catastrophic and serious injuries than car accidents. The height, weight, and size of 18-wheelers, semis, and other tractor-trailer combinations mean that cars are no match for a truck if a crash occurs. Trucks are also much harder to control than other vehicles which is why drivers of many types of large trucks are required to have a commercial driver’s license.

Truck drivers and trucking companies are also required to comply with FMCSA traffic laws. These laws require regular inspections, that the trucks meet certain safety standards, and that the hours drivers can operate their trucks be limited. At Amar Esq. PLLC, our Scottsdale truck accident lawyer understands how dangerous and deadly truck accidents can be. We work with investigators and other professionals to determine how the accident happened. We bring wrongful death claims and personal injury claims against the driver, trucking companies who pushed the driver to go too fast or failed to secure the loads, and any other responsible parties.

Common Ways on How Truck Accidents Occur

How a truck accident happens can determine who is liable and what kinds of injuries are expected. Some of the truck accident types Amar Esq. PLLC handles include:

  • Jackknife Accidents – If the brakes lock, the trailer can rotate at a right angle to the tractor causing the driver to lose control or causing a truck rollover.
  • Unsecured Cargo or Cargo Overload – If the products being shipped are not secured, the driver can lose control causing an accident. The cargo may spill causing multi-car accidents as other vehicles attempt to avoid the spill.
  • Rollover Accidents – Trucks may rollover if the driver takes a turn too fast, speeds, cargo shifts, the truck jackknifes, or the truck hits a large pothole or object on the road.
  • Under-ride Crashes – In this type of truck accident, a smaller car gets stuck under the bigger truck. Rear guards and side guards can help protect smaller vehicles from riding under the truck when an accident happens. Under-ride crashes are usually fatal.
  • Construction Site Collisions – Trucks that routinely bring supplies to the site and unload them at the site should be supervised so the truck driver doesn’t collide with other trucks, have to navigate uneven roads, or with cars that aren’t aware of the construction site.

Trucks can also be involved in intersection accidents, head-on crashes, rear-end collisions, and sideswipes with other vehicles.

Liability for Truck Accidents

The starting point for any truck crash is to examine how the driver of the truck was negligent. Was the driver distracted? Was he or she tired? Did the driver fail to follow the traffic laws by speeding, passing improperly, failing to merge the correct way, running a red light, or committing some other violation? Was the driver intoxicated? Drivers can be found liable even if they did not violate any laws. Just driving fast for certain conditions can be grounds for negligence.

Additional Truck Accident Defendants Can Include:

  • The company that owned the truck – Owners who let a driver operate their vehicle with their consent can be liable for the actions of their driver(s).
  • The trucking company that hired the driver – If the trucking company pressured the driver to go fast or without sleep, let the driver operate the truck without proper logs or without a valid license, failed to properly secure the load or the truck, or was negligent in other ways – the trucking company can be liable.
  • A vendor of alcohol – If a tavern, hotel, or other vendor serves someone who is visibly drunk, the vendor can be liable for any injuries caused by the driver including injuries to the driver.
  • A parts manufacturer, supplier, or retailer – If a product such as the brakes failed to work and the product defect caused the truck crash, the businesses that profited from the sale of the part can be held strictly liable.
  • The state of Arizona, a county, or other governmental subdivision may also be liable for failing to properly design or properly repair an Arizona road or highway.

Speak With a Scottsdale Truck Accident Attorney Near You

Truck accidents can cause spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, nerve damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, and many other types of harm that can change your life forever. Injured truck accident victims are entitled to compensation for their physical pain, emotional suffering, disfigurement, scarring, lost wages, medical bills, and property damage. Contact 480-802-8232 to speak with a truck accident lawyer who will guide you through the legal process and prepare your case for a jury trial or negotiate fair settlements. Our firm takes truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis.