Commercial truck accidents may be caused trucks belonging to individuals (e.g. a plumber or electrician) or government agencies, or they may be part of large corporate fleets, like UPS, FEDEX, DHL, and other courier or delivery services.
What causes truck accidents in Phoenix?
Trucks are bigger and heavier than cars and often cause serious injuries when they are involved in crashes. Driving a truck requires special skills and added caution. The driver has to depend on mirrors to see other vehicles beside and behind the truck, and often has a larger blind spot, requiring extra care when turning or changing lanes.
These are some common truck driver errors:
- Not watching for pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars when backing up
- Speeding
- Making excessively sharp turns
- Not setting the parking brake
- Not maintaining the truck properly
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
Truck drivers may be under pressure to maintain strict schedules and quotas and may feel the need to hurry to complete their deliveries, which can encourage speeding and aggressive or careless driving. Drivers may be fatigued from too many hours of driving. Some truck drivers, including those who drive for the delivery service companies (UPS, etc.), are required to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations that dictate how long a trucker can drive without a break, how often the company must conduct truck maintenance and inspection procedures, what records and driving logs the companies must keep, and the amount of liability insurance they must carry.
Steps to take when you’ve been injured by a truck
If you are able to do these things, they will help your lawyer by providing evidence to back your claim:
- Call the police and file an accident report
- Get the name of the company that owns the truck, the plate number, the driver’s name, and the registration and insurance information
- Take photos of the truck and the accident scene
- Get names of any witnesses
- Don’t discuss who caused the accident, apologize, or state that you are okay; many injuries do not become apparent right away
- Get medical care immediately
- Call an experienced Phoenix truck accident attorney
Can I settle my truck accident case directly with the company that owns the truck?
There is nothing in the law to keep you from negotiating a settlement with the insurance company or directly with the owner of the truck if they are self-insured. But the insurance adjuster or the representative of the trucking company will not be looking out for your best interest. They want to get away with the lowest possible payment.
How can I pursue a recovery for my injuries and other losses?
Having an experienced Arizona truck accident attorney fighting for you will improve the likelihood of a settlement that is large enough to cover all of your current and future medical expenses and lost earnings along with the pain and suffering and other intangible losses from the accident. It requires knowledge of government regulations that apply to commercial trucks, access to accident reconstructionists, and legal expertise to investigate an accident and prepare the case for trial.
The Phoenix, Arizona, truck accident attorneys at Wattel and York have experience in truck accident law and a commitment to justice for individuals fighting large corporations and insurance companies. If you have been injured of a family member killed in a truck accident, call today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. You pay nothing unless we win!
