While truck accidents represent a smaller percentage of vehicular accidents in Scottsdale, the consequences are often more serious. If you live in Scottsdale and have been in a truck accident, hiring a truck accident lawyer helps you focus on the much-needed recovery of your severe injuries. For example, a savvy trucking accident lawyer will help you investigate the accident, file a car accident claim, and — in the event, a settlement can’t be reached — represent you in court to present your case in front of a judge and jury.
You don’t have to go through this process alone. At Esquire Law, we’re dedicated to helping truck accident victims navigate complex insurance claims and local laws so that you can focus on what’s most important — healing.
Why Choose Esquire Law for Your Truck Accident Case
Truck accident cases in Arizona come with layers of complexity, from state-specific trucking regulations to navigating federal laws. Our local experience in Phoenix and across the state helps us hold trucking companies and insurers accountable when they try to avoid responsibility. That kind of home-court knowledge is critical in high-stakes cases like these.
Esquire Law is dedicated to our clients — truck crash victims who have been injured by negligence and whose compensation for damages has been minimized by their insurers. We help motorists in Scottsdale obtain justice and receive the maximum compensation to which they’re entitled by law.
Our firm combines the extensive resources of a big firm with personalized attention, making us uniquely suited to handle complex truck accident cases where every detail matters. We understand the devastating impact these accidents can have and fight relentlessly for justice and compensation when insurance companies don’t.
With Esquire Law on their side, Scottsdale 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 for yourself!
Common 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 the most common causes of truck accidents helps navigate related claims and trials — and can also help prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.
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 Scottsdale’s busy highways.
Impaired Driving (Alcohol and Drugs)
The use of stimulants, or other substances, to fight fatigue can impair judgment and reaction times.
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 Mechanical Failures
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.
Weather-Related Accidents
While Scottsdale generally enjoys favorable weather, sudden dust storms or monsoon rains can drastically reduce visibility and road traction, elevating accident risks.
Common Injuries in Truck Accident
Because eighteen-wheelers outweigh and are significantly larger than passenger vehicles, it is typically the occupants of the passenger vehicle who experience the most severe injuries in truck accidents.
Some common injuries resulting from truck accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Severe lacerations and amputation
- Psychological and emotional trauma
The Importance of Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer in Scottsdale
Truck accident cases can be complex, encompassing insurance claims, liability determination, and various legal procedures. An experienced truck accident firm like Esquire Law can guide you through all these steps and ensure that your rights are protected along the way. While you focus on recovering from your injuries, trucking accident lawyers will help you gather, preserve, and analyze evidence related to the incident. They will then use this evidence as leverage when dealing with trucking companies or insurance providers to negotiate fair settlements. Obtaining local representation following a car accident ensures you will also be able to successfully navigate the city’s unique court systems.
For these reasons, it always benefits you to speak with a knowledgeable Scottsdale truck accident lawyer to maximize compensation for damages or injuries sustained.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
In the event of a truck accident, your priority should be safety. Call 911 or the Scottsdale 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 truck accident lawyer in Scottsdale 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 accounts 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 Scottsdale truck accident lawyers are committed to your protection during the critical moments following a truck accident. We will fight for your rights to a fair settlement.
Investigating the Truck Accident
Prompt and thorough investigation is critical in truck accident cases, and you don’t have to do it alone. At Esquire Law, we deploy a team to help us preserve and interpret evidence, including accident reconstructionists and automotive specialists.
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
We meticulously examine the crash scene, inspect the vehicle, review maintenance histories and driver logs, and gather eyewitness accounts. This thorough approach allows us to build a strong case, identifying all potentially liable parties and maximizing compensation for our clients.
Given the complexity and high stakes of truck accident cases, it’s crucial to promptly consult with an experienced attorney. At Esquire Law, we leverage our experience and resources to advocate for our clients, seeking maximum compensation for life-altering injuries against trucking companies and their insurers.
Establishing Liability in Truck Accident Cases
We recognize that establishing liability in truck accident cases is a multifaceted process due to the potential involvement of multiple parties. Our experienced team navigates this complex landscape to ensure all responsible parties are held accountable through various legal considerations.
Potentially Liable Parties:
- Truck Driver: Responsibility for negligence, errors, or regulatory violations
- Trucking Company: Liability for poor driver screening, training, or vehicle maintenance
- Shipping Company: Potential fault for improper cargo loading or unreasonable deadlines
- Broker: Responsibility for non-compliance with federal regulations or providing false information
- Truck Manufacturer: Liability for faulty parts or failure to address known issues
- Third-Party Drivers: Potential shared responsibility if involved in the accident
- Truck Owner: Responsibility for vehicle maintenance
- Highway Designers: Potential liability for road design issues
Key Legal Considerations:
- Negligence: Establishing a failure to exercise a reasonable duty of care is crucial for favorable outcomes. Esquire Law’s skilled truck accident attorneys excel in proving negligence to maximize compensation.
- Vicarious Liability: We explore all avenues of responsibility, including cases where an employer may bear liability for an employee’s actions.
Given the intricate nature of truck accident cases and the potential for distributed liability, consulting with Esquire Law’s experienced truck accident attorneys in Scottsdale is essential. Our team is committed to justice, protecting your rights, and holding at-fault parties accountable.
Compensation for Truck Accident Victims
The amount of compensation awarded in truck accident cases depends on factors like injury severity, age, income, and the circumstances of the case. Esquire Law can help the truck accident victims of Scottsdale understand their legal rights to compensation. Legal actions resulting from car accidents in Arizona are governed by negligence — or, a failure to meet the expected duty of care, resulting in harm. If someone failed to demonstrate a reasonable duty of care on the road and you were injured, our team of truck accident lawyers will not only prove this in court but we will relate that breached duty of care to your damages.
You can seek two types of compensation, or compensatory damages when filing a truck accident claim:
- 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 lawyer must provide convincing evidence of the defendant’s wilful wrongdoing.
If you were partially at fault for a truck accident, your ability to recover compensation may be affected. This is known as comparative negligence, and it means that the amount of compensation you’re awarded will be directly proportional to the percentage of responsibility you bear in the accident.
The worth of every truck accident case is unique to its related economic and non-economic damages. At Esquire Law, we will fight to award you the maximum compensation to which you’re entitled by calculating damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Client Testimonials
What we do makes a difference in the lives of our clients and the Scottsdale community. Just take a look at what some of them have to say:
“Esquire Law was very helpful. They kept me updated with everything that was going on with the case. I would definitely use them again.” – Annie B.
“Everyone is extremely skilled, attentive and thorough…leaving no stone unturned. Everyone is kind, caring and patient…explaining every detail in moving forward with my case.” – Carol S.
“Very responsible and proactive. They have a team working for you and are always a phone call away. If you are looking for a successful law firm that has your back, look no further. I highly recommend Esquire Law; you want them on your side.” – Jay B.
Read more client reviews and testimonials here!
Get in Touch with a Lawyer If You Have Been Involved in a Truck Accident in Scottsdale
When you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t settle for less than you deserve. The team of Scottsdale truck accident lawyers at Esquire Law has the experience to fight for the full, fair compensation you’re owed.
Get a free, no-obligation case evaluation today. We’ll treat you with the dignity you deserve during what should be a time of recovery.
FAQs
Tractor-trailer accidents pose unique dangers due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles. The reasons include:
Massive Size: Tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making them significantly heavier than passenger cars.
Limited Movement: Tractor-trailers have larger blind spots and limited movement, making them prone to accidents while changing lanes or turning.
Cargo Shift: Improperly secured cargo can shift, leading to a lack of stability and potential accidents.
Driver Fatigue: Long hours on the road can lead to truck driver fatigue, impairing reaction times and decision-making.
What is the most important thing to do after you’ve been in an accident? The first thing that you should always do is call the police. If they’re not willing to make a report, then you want to make sure that you document everything. Take photos of the vehicles, the insurance cards, the license plates, and the scene. Look around for witnesses—did anyone see the accident who can help you? Are there any cameras nearby where you can collect footage?
After that, the most important thing is to get medical treatment. Even if you don’t feel seriously injured, you should still get checked out. Often, adrenaline masks pain at the scene, and injuries can show up later. Documenting your injuries and symptoms early is one of the most important parts of bringing a successful claim.
A lot of times, when you’re in an accident, you don’t feel symptoms right away because your adrenaline is running high and you’re nervous and scared. Then later, you go home, and your symptoms start to develop, and they may develop slowly over time.
But the longer you wait to see a doctor, the more likely it is that the insurance company is going to say that something happened between the accident and the doctor’s visit that caused your injuries. They’re not going to believe that you were just at home, hoping you would get better.
The insurance company is always looking for someone else to blame for your injuries, whether they say it’s pre-existing or caused by something after the accident.
If you don’t go to the doctor right away, document your symptoms, and treat as your doctors tell you to until you feel better, the insurance company is going to argue that the car accident wasn’t the cause of your injuries, and they won’t pay you for them.
Unless you receive a policy limits offer, you should never accept the first settlement offer. Insurance companies live by under-settling your claims. They want to pay you the least amount of money so that they can increase their profits.
That is why we always advise clients never to accept the first settlement offer, and talk with an attorney about your options and what steps to take next. You would be surprised how beneficial it is to hire an attorney and how they could increase that offer from what the insurance company has already presented you with.
Insurance companies offer fast money for one sneaky reason.
What do you do if, after a crash, the insurance company is all over it? They’ve got someone evaluating your car, they’re offering you a check, maybe $5,000, and they’re ready to pay you right now.
Why do you think they’re so eager to get this done so quickly? They want you to take it and sign away your rights before you have the opportunity to speak with a lawyer.
Don’t fall for that trick.
The biggest red flag from an insurance company:
– You’re not at fault for the accident, and the insurance company tries to blame you? Huge red flag.
– You were in a big accident, and the insurance company tries to get you to sign a document for a small amount of money? Huge red flag.
– You’re trying to make a claim, and the insurance company is giving you the runaround and delaying your claim? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company is trying to get you to sign a release immediately? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company is offering you pennies on the dollar? Huge red flag.
– Insurance adjuster is not returning your calls? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company isn’t answering the phone? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company telling you that you can resolve it with them, and you don’t need representation? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company telling you not to worry about it, and they’ll pay for your medical bills? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company telling you, “Oh, don’t worry about it, just take this money and if you need treatment later, call us back”? Huge red flag.
– Insurance company treating you like a number, not a human being? Huge red flag.
One of the most common questions we get from clients is, what is my case worth? And here’s how we break it down. There’s honestly no way to know what your case is worth at the very beginning. And I generally tell clients—any lawyer that’s giving you a concrete amount or telling you what your case is worth is lying to you. There are so many factors that go into the value of your case.
Those factors include:
Applicable insurance coverage:
– How much coverage is there?
– What are the policy limits?
– Does the person at fault have insurance coverage?
– Does the person at fault have assets?
– Do you have underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage?
That’s the beginning. What also goes into how much your case is worth would be your damages—so the question becomes, what are your injuries? What is it going to take to get you better? And what does your future look like?
Another thing that goes into how much your case is worth is whether or not you have lost wages, pain and suffering. There are so many factors, and there’s no way to know right away the value of your claim. It takes time.
If I am partially at fault for the accident, how does the percentage of fault get calculated? There’s no real formula. It’s really a back-and-forth argument between the insurance company and you or your attorney.
The more evidence your attorney can collect to place blame on the other driver, the less fault percentage will be placed on you. It’s really just kind of a battle.
The only way that fault percentage is truly calculated is if your case goes to trial, and a jury decides the percentage based on the evidence presented.
You were just in a truck accident. Who do you think is responsible for paying for your damages? The answer might surprise you. You might think that when you’re in an accident that the only person responsible for paying for your damages is the other driver.
In reality, there are a lot more options that we can look into for you. A lot of people can be responsible for your damages, whether that be:
– The driver
– Another passenger in the vehicle
– The owner of the vehicle, if it’s a different person from the driver
– A company that owns the vehicle
– Your insurance company, if you have the right insurance
– Maintenance workers
– Negligent HOAs
Really, there’s a whole list of possibilities for you, depending on your case, that you can recover money from.
Some people might think that we are just passive on cases. That’s all we do is wait for you to finish with the doctor’s appointments, then tell the insurance company you’re done treating, and get an offer for you. That is not the case at all.
A good personal injury attorney will hire experts to review everything. They’ll be in contact with:
The police department
Any witnesses
Any medical providers
The hospitals
The ambulances
Lawyers want to understand every detail of your case possible. And that does not come without lots of phone calls, lots of hard work, lots of emails, and lots of time. We research all the case law that’s available. We research the conditions of the road. We go to the scene of the accident. We go to the scene of the slip and fall and take pictures, ask people if they saw anything—all for you. You might think that we are only talking a little bit back and forth with the insurance company, but it is so much more than that.