Truck accidents, though less frequent than car accidents, often result in more severe consequences due to the sheer size and weight of commercial vehicles. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, dwarfing the average passenger car. When they collide with smaller vehicles, the results can be catastrophic. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Mesa, it’s crucial to seek the assistance of an experienced truck accident lawyer.
At Esquire Law, we understand the complexities of truck accident cases — from investigating the crash to navigating the intricate web of federal and state trucking regulations. Our team is committed to helping you secure the compensation you deserve while you focus on your recovery. Don’t face the aftermath of a truck accident alone. Let Esquire Law guide you through the legal process so that your rights are protected and your voice is heard.
Why Choose Esquire Law?
Esquire Law is dedicated to our clients — truck crash victims in Mesa who have been injured by negligence and whose compensation for damages has been minimized by their insurers. We understand the devastating impact these accidents can have, so we fight relentlessly for your justice and compensation when insurance companies don’t.
Our team of Mesa truck accident lawyers takes a client-centered approach by personalizing each case strategy, making us uniquely suited to handle complex truck accident cases where every detail matters. Additionally, Esquire Law’s services are attainable regardless of your financial situation. We operate on a contingency fee policy, which means you don’t have to worry about any upfront costs. We only get paid if we win your case.
With Esquire Law on their side, Mesa truck accident victims gain a powerful advocate who understands local laws and has a proven history of success in similar cases. Our experience in navigating the complexities of truck accident litigation, combined with our client-focused approach, ensures that victims receive comprehensive support during their recovery process.
See our case results and settlements for yourself!
Common Types of Truck Accidents
As an experienced commercial vehicle accident law firm, we’ve handled numerous truck accident cases, so we have a thorough understanding of the different types of truck accidents that can occur on Mesa’s roadways. Below are some of the most common types of truck accidents to be aware of so that you can recognize — and potentially avoid — dangers on the road:
Rollover Accidents
Truck rollovers can happen due to high speeds, sharp turns, or shifting cargo. These accidents are particularly dangerous since they can involve multiple lanes of traffic and potentially spill hazardous materials. The sheer weight of an overturned truck can crush smaller vehicles, causing severe injuries or even fatalities.
Underride Accidents
Underride collisions occur when a smaller vehicle slides underneath the trailer of a large truck. These accidents are particularly dangerous and often fatal, as they can shear off the top of the smaller vehicle. They commonly happen in rear-end collisions or when a truck makes a sudden stop.
Cargo Accidents
Improperly secured cargo can shift during transit or fall off the truck entirely. This can create dangerous road debris, cause other drivers to swerve suddenly, or directly impact vehicles behind the truck. The consequences of cargo accidents range from minor vehicle damage to catastrophic multi-car pileups.
Jackknife Accidents
Jackknife accidents occur when a truck’s trailer swings out at an angle from the cab, resembling a folding pocket knife. These accidents often happen when a truck driver brakes suddenly or loses control on slippery roads. The consequences can be severe, as the swinging trailer can strike multiple vehicles or block several lanes of traffic.
Causes of Truck Accidents
In addition to the size contrast between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, certain aspects of the trucking industry amplify risk, making truck accidents particularly dangerous. Understanding and thoroughly investigating the causes of truck accidents helps navigate related claims and legal cases to determine cause and liability.
Several factors that commonly contribute to truck accidents include:
Driver Fatigue and Drowsy Driving
Despite federal regulations mandating rest periods, the pressure to meet deadlines can lead to extended driving hours and driver fatigue, compromising safety on Mesa’s busy highways.
Speeding and Reckless Driving
Given the size and weight of commercial trucks, speeding compromises stopping distances and maneuverability.
Distracted Driving
Long hauls through Arizona’s desert landscapes may lead to attention-diverting activities, including the use of mobile devices or in-car entertainment systems.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance or Defective Equipment
Inadequate vehicle maintenance or failure to address mechanical issues related to brakes, engines, or lights, can lead to accidents. In cases involving defective components, manufacturers may bear liability.
Improperly Loaded or Secured Cargo
Some commercial eighteen-wheelers may be carrying up to 80,000 pounds of cargo. If the payload isn’t loaded properly or secured, it puts the truck driver as well as other motorists on the road at risk of debris on the road.
Liability in Truck Accident Cases
In Mesa, AZ, establishing liability in truck accident cases is a complex process that requires thorough investigation and legal research. At Esquire Law, we understand the unique challenges of these cases and consider every legal approach to identify all potentially responsible parties. While fighting on your behalf, it is our duty as your Mesa truck accident lawyer to prove liability based on a variety of determining factors.
Potentially Liable Parties in Truck Accidents:
- Truck Driver: May be held responsible for negligent driving, violations of hours-of-service regulations, or distracted driving.
- Trucking Company: Could be liable for inadequate driver training, poor vehicle maintenance, or encouraging unsafe practices to meet deadlines.
- Cargo Loaders: Improper loading or securing of cargo can lead to accidents, making the loading company potentially liable.
- Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers: Defective truck components or design flaws can contribute to accidents, placing liability on manufacturers.
- Government Entities: In cases where poor road design or maintenance in Mesa contributed to the accident, local or state authorities may share responsibility.
Key Factors in Determining Liability:
- Arizona’s Comparative Negligence Law: Mesa follows Arizona’s comparative negligence rule, which allows plaintiffs to recover damages even if they’re partially at fault. However, their compensation is reduced proportionally by their percentage of fault.
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations: Violations of these regulations can be crucial in establishing negligence in truck accident cases.
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): Data from these devices can provide critical evidence about the truck driver’s actions leading up to the accident.
- Local Traffic Laws: Violations of Mesa’s specific traffic ordinances can play a role in determining liability.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements: Failure to meet or maintain CDL standards can be a factor in assigning responsibility.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident
In the event of a truck accident, your priority should be safety. Call 911 or the Mesa Police Department to report the incident and to receive prompt medical care, regardless of how minor your injuries may seem. Your medical report will create a record of your injuries, which could be beneficial for your claim later on.
After receiving medical attention, it’s important to also report the accident to your insurance company. However, consult with a reputable Mesa truck accident lawyer before providing them with a recorded statement. Never admit fault at the accident scene and avoid discussing your case with anyone other than your lawyer. Refrain from posting anything about the accident on social media, as anything you say or post publicly could be used against you. Remember: your attorney-client relationship is confidential, so everything you discuss together will remain private.
Next, take action to document evidence to strengthen your case. Use your cell phone to capture eyewitness statements and record videos of the damaged vehicles and the accident scene. Take photos and videos of any injuries you or a loved one may have sustained. Also, communicate with the other drivers involved and make note of their contact and insurance information.
At Esquire Law, our Mesa truck accident lawyers are committed to your protection in the critical moments following a truck accident. We will fight for your rights to a fair settlement.
How a Mesa Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Prompt and thorough investigation is critical in truck accident cases — but you don’t have to do it alone. At Esquire Law, our team of injury lawyers will help you preserve and interpret evidence. We may even consult with accident reconstructionists and automotive specialists to ensure that your case is supported by expert testimony.
Our investigative process encompasses:
- Driver qualifications and compliance with safety regulations
- Vehicle maintenance records and safety checks
- Potential influence of alcohol or prescription drugs
- Equipment condition, including tires and reflectors
- Load security and mounting
- Driver behavior and decision-making
Once we’ve collected sufficient evidence, we will negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement on your behalf, handling all legal paperwork and filings along the way to ensure critical timelines are met. As reputable truck accident attorneys, we will take the next step to represent you in court if necessary.
Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
The worth of each truck accident case is related to economic and non-economic damages. At Esquire Law, we don’t settle for insurance companies’ first offers. Instead, we fight to award you the maximum compensation to which you’re entitled by calculating and substantiating damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Compensation, or compensatory damage, is classified into several categories when filing truck accident claims:
- Economic: These are measurable losses with a monetary value. Common examples include medical bills, rehabilitative care, property damage, lost wages, mental health treatment, and prescription medication.
- Non-Economic: These are intangible losses that affect a person’s well-being but have no direct monetary repercussions. Common examples include pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional trauma, scarring and disfigurement, amputation, and loss of companionship or consortium.
- Punitive: Punitive damages don’t seek compensation for losses. Instead, they’re awarded to discourage future misconduct by the defendant. To qualify for punitive damages, your Mesa truck accident lawyer must provide convincing evidence of the defendant’s wilful wrongdoing.
Truck Industry Regulations and Violations
The trucking industry is heavily regulated due to the potential dangers large commercial vehicles pose on our roads. At Esquire Law, we have an in-depth understanding of these regulations and how violations can contribute to accidents. This knowledge is crucial in building strong cases for truck accident victims in Mesa, AZ.
Key Trucking Regulations:
- Hours of Service (HOS) Rules: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets strict limits on driving time to prevent fatigue-related accidents.
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements: Drivers must meet specific training and testing standards to operate commercial vehicles.
- Vehicle Maintenance Standards: Regular inspections and maintenance are mandated to ensure vehicle safety.
- Cargo Securement Rules: Specific guidelines exist for properly loading and securing different types of cargo.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing: Drivers are subject to random and post-accident substance testing.
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): These devices are required to accurately track driving hours and ensure compliance with HOS rules.
Despite these regulations, violations do occur. Some of the most frequent infractions we encounter in Mesa truck accident cases include:
- Exceeding HOS limits: Drivers or companies pushing beyond legal driving time limits.
- Improper vehicle maintenance: Neglecting required inspections or repairs.
- Overloading: Exceeding weight limits or improperly distributing cargo.
- Distracted driving: Using mobile devices or engaging in other distracting activities while driving.
- Speeding: Particularly dangerous given the size and weight of commercial trucks.
- Falsifying logbooks: Misrepresenting driving hours to circumvent HOS rules.
- Inadequate driver training: Failing to properly prepare drivers for the challenges of operating large vehicles.
- Violating traffic laws: Including improper lane changes, tailgating, or running red lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are semi trucks dangerous?
When semi-truck drivers follow the rules of the road, stay alert, and exercise caution, the risk of danger is relatively low. However, based on their size alone — especially when compared to that of passenger vehicles — semi trucks can be dangerous if their cargo is loaded improperly or their drivers maneuver them recklessly. Because semi trucks often make long hauls to transport their payloads, driver distraction or exhaustion can also contribute to higher-than-normal danger levels.
How dangerous is truck driving?
The FMCSA reports that many truck accidents are driver-related, often stemming from fatigue or impairment. For this reason, truck driving is one of the most dangerous professions. However, in truck-involved crashes, passenger vehicle occupants suffer the majority of fatalities. These factors underscore the importance of strict safety regulations, proper training, and regular health monitoring for truck drivers to mitigate risks to themselves and others on the road.
Can I sue for being hit by a semi-truck?
Legal action resulting from car accidents in Arizona is governed by negligence — or, a failure to meet the expected duty of care, resulting in harm. If a truck driver failed to demonstrate a reasonable duty of care on the road and you were injured, Esquire’s team of truck accident lawyers will not only prove this in court but we will relate that breached duty of care to your damages.
How can truck accidents be prevented?
Truck drivers have a difficult job, and they can become distracted or fatigued when driving for long hours at a time. However, with extensive training and discipline on the road, truck accidents are preventable. By maintaining proper speeds, obeying local traffic laws, and pacing their work, drivers have a much better chance of avoiding accidents. Beyond driver error, routine truck inspection and maintenance should also be taken into account when ensuring safety on the road.
Contact a Mesa Truck Accident Lawyer Immediately
When you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t settle for less than you deserve. The team of Mesa truck accident lawyers at Esquire Law has the experience to win the maximum compensation you’re owed.
Get a free, no-obligation case evaluation today from a reliable commercial vehicle accident law firm. We’ll treat you with the dignity you deserve during your time of healing.