Glendale Truck Accident Lawyer

If you have been injured in a truck accident due to the fault of another, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Having an experienced legal team on your side after a truck accident is very important. The legal team at Phillips Law Group has obtained over $1 billion in compensation for personal injury victims. Founding partner Jeffrey Phillips is a Top 10 member of the Trucking Trial Lawyers Association, an invitation-only group of the top 10 attorneys in a state or region who serve truck crash victims.

Contact our Glendale truck accident lawyers to learn more about your legal options. Your initial consultation with us is 100 percent free and confidential. We work on a contingency fee basis which means there are no upfront costs if we represent you. You only pay us for our services if you recover compensation. You can reach us anytime, 24/7.

Call our legal team today. 602-222-222 .

Am I Eligible to Pursue Compensation?

There are many factors to consider when trying to determine if you may have a viable truck accident claim. In a free consultation, our attorneys can review your accident to determine if there is a case. For example, we can determine if the truck driver or another party was negligent and whether this careless behavior caused the accident.

Our attorneys have many years of combined experience proving negligence through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit on behalf of injury victims.

There are four elements of negligence that must be proven to recover compensation:

• The other party owed you a duty of care – he or she had a legal duty to act as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances to refrain from causing you harm.
• The other party breached this duty of care by failing to act in a safe and reasonable manner.
• The other party’s breach of duty resulted in your injuries, and they would not have otherwise happened.
• The other party’s breach of duty caused you to suffer damages, such as medical bills and lost wages.

Proving negligence is complicated, but so is the rest of a truck accident case. We recommend seeking qualified legal representation during this stressful time. If you have a case, we are prepared to defend your best interests throughout the legal process.

Determining the Value of a Truck Accident Claim

Every single case is different so the amount of compensation you may be able to recover will vary based on your situation. There are two main categories of compensation that may be available in an injury claim: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are generally easier to calculate because they are actual measurable losses. These damages reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses as a result of an injury. Some examples include:

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate because they are highly subjective, based on how injuries affect a victim’s life. These damages compensate for non-monetary losses after an accident. Some examples include:

At Phillips Law Group, our reputable Glendale truck accident attorneys have worked with many clients impacted by truck accidents and we are ready to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To receive a free and confidential consultation, contact our firm today over the phone or online. Phone: 602-222-222 .

Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer

You may be eligible to pursue compensation after a truck accident, but the legal process is stressful and complicated. While there are no guarantees with hiring an attorney, those who do often recover more compensation than those who do not.

Our Glendale truck accident lawyers can handle the entire legal process on your behalf, if you hire our firm. This means we can deal with insurance companies, negotiate for compensation, investigate the crash, preserve evidence, study medical records, evaluate non-economic damages, and take other necessary steps to try to obtain fair compensation for your damages. We can explain how you can help us document the full value of your damages and keep you informed about the status of your claim.

Our attorneys also prepare each claim for trial, in case we are unable to reach a fair settlement beforehand. If you work with an attorney who is unprepared for the courtroom or rarely takes cases to court, you might be less likely to recover full compensation for all your damages.

Sometimes simply being represented by an attorney who is prepared for court causes insurance companies and at-fault parties to attempt to reach a settlement. Insurance companies often know which attorneys go to court and have a track record of recovering fair compensation.

Our firm is here to help and answer your post-accident questions.

Deadline for Filing an Injury Claim

Insurance companies that cover commercial trucks often have deadlines for filing claims. There are also deadlines for filing lawsuits in Arizona, known as statutes of limitations.

In a lot of cases, the statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit over a truck accident is two years from the date of the accident (Arizona Revised Statutes 12-542). If this deadline applies to your case, you must file a lawsuit within two years or you lose the right to do so.

There are many exceptions to this deadline, depending on the specifics of the case. This is why it is so important to talk to an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.

Our Glendale truck accident attorneys can determine the deadlines that may apply. If you have a case, we can help ensure it is filed before deadlines pass.

Should I Talk to the Insurance Company?

You will most likely be contacted by insurance companies after a truck crash. They are calling to try to find ways to deny or devalue your injury claim.

This is why insurance companies may offer a quick settlement after an accident. These settlement offers are often for much less than the full value of your claim. Since you have not completed medical treatment, there is no way to evaluate your future treatment needs.

Accepting a settlement offer this early in the process is not recommended. In fact, you can decline to speak to the insurance company until you discuss the accident with a licensed attorney. You are not required to give a statement or answer their questions immediately.

If you do say anything to the insurance company, only discuss the basic details of the accident (when and where it happened and the fact you have sought medical treatment). It is best not to discuss details about your injuries, such as your level of pain. You could say something that diminishes the value of your claim without realizing it.

Fill out aFree Case Evaluation formright now or call us at 602-222-222 .

Who Can Be Held Liable for My Injuries?

If you have been injured in a truck accident, determining liability can be very complicated because multiple parties could be involved. Phillips Law Group’s experienced legal team understands how to investigate the situation and determine who may be at fault.

Truck Drivers

Truck drivers are often liable for truck crashes. For example, the driver may have disobeyed traffic laws by speeding, getting distracted, or consumed drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

Trucking Companies

The trucking company that hired the driver could be held liable. Perhaps the company cut corners around safety by not having the vehicle inspected before departure or they may have provided unrealistic expectations for the driver to meet deadlines.

Cargo-Loading Company

There are specific requirements for how a truck must be loaded. If the cargo is not secured or balanced properly, or the cargo is too heavy and overloaded, it can be dangerous in an accident. The cargo or loading company could be held liable for any accidents and injuries that occur due to a load-related issue.

Owner of the Truck

Sometimes the employer owns the truck and sometimes the driver does. Truck owners are responsible for vehicle inspections, maintenance, and all the internal workings of a truck to make sure it is safe and operational.

Truck Manufacturer

The manufacturer of the truck or its parts could be held liable if a malfunction or design defect led to a tire blowout, brake failure or another mechanical issue that caused the accident.

It is important that you work with a licensed Glendale truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. We understand the nuances of liability, which helps us gather the evidence needed to determine what caused the accident, who is responsible, and how we can demonstrate the party’s liability to an insurer or in a lawsuit.

Call 602-222-222 now for our free consultation.

Insurance Policies for Commercial Vehicles in Arizona

The state of Arizona and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have specific insurance requirements when it comes to commercial vehicles. Some coverages are mandatory for truck drivers to carry, such as liability insurance, while others such as physical damage truck insurance or bobtail coverage can offer added protection in the event of an accident.

Arizona law requires truck drivers traveling within state lines to have a certain amount of liability insurance. The amount of coverage needed depends on the type of cargo carried and where the cargo is being carried.

• Trucks transporting household goods must have at least $300,000
• Trucks transporting general cargo must have at least $750,000
• Trucks transporting oil must carry at least $1,000,000
• Trucks transporting hazardous materials must have at least $5,000,000

For truck drivers transporting cargo across state lines, they must be in compliance with federal truck insurance requirements. A commercial truck with a gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more and carrying non-hazardous cargo is generally required to have a minimum of $750,000 of liability insurance. This helps to cover injuries to others and damage to property. It can go up to $5,000,000 for hazardous goods of any kind.

Since there are significant amounts of insurance coverages available, those involved in the trucking industry will also have experienced insurance companies and attorneys whose main focus is to make truck accident victims settle for the least amount possible.

This is why we recommend being represented by a lawyer who has experience handling these types of cases and knows how to calculate the true value of a truck accident claim. There are no upfront fees for our legal services. Get started with a free consultation today.

Safety Regulations for The Trucking Industry

The FMCSA oversees truck drivers’ hours, vehicle maintenance, drug and alcohol use and the transport of hazardous materials while the Arizona Department of Transportation oversees commercial trucking within the state. Both work together to ensure certain safety standards are being met across the trucking industry.

Legal Load Limits

Statewide, the overall width of a commercial vehicle cannot be more than eight feet and six inches. The standard height of a truck cannot be more than 14 feet on interstates and 13 feet and six inches on secondary roads. The length also cannot be more than 65 feet. Anything over that limit requires a permit.

The legal weight of a commercial truck is based on its number of axles. The maximum gross weight in Arizona is 80,000 pounds for a truck with five axles or more. A single axle truck with at least one rear axle cannot be more than 20,000 pounds whereas a tandem axle truck with at least two rear axles cannot be more than 34,000 pounds.

Hours of Service Rules

For the safety of others on the road, the FMCSA restricts the number of hours a driver can operate a commercial vehicle. This is because many truck drivers can become fatigued from being on the road daily.

The hours of service rules are as follows for property-carrying drivers:

• Drivers can drive for a maximum of 11 hours after being off duty for 10 straight hours
• Drivers cannot drive more than 14 hours after coming on duty following 10 straight hours off duty
• Drivers cannot drive after being 60 to 70 hours on duty over a period of seven or eight straight days

Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules

The FMCSA also requires trucking companies to appropriately test drivers for alcohol or drug use. Drivers are tested for substances that may negatively impact their ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle. This includes testing for a driver’s blood alcohol concentration level and marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and methamphetamines.

These tests are conducted during various stages of employment, including:

• During the hiring process
• After an accident involving serious injury or death
• Under reasonable suspicion of being under the influence
• After returning to duty having previously tested positive
• Randomly throughout the year

Federal trucking laws and industry regulations can be difficult to understand on your own. We welcome the opportunity to review your claim to help determine if any of these rules apply to your specific situation.

Call our attorneys for legal help today 602-222-222 .

Steps to Take After an Accident

After a truck accident, it is important to call 9-1-1 and wait for the police to arrive so they can investigate and complete an accident report. If it is safe to do so, and you are able, take pictures before police arrive. Capture the accident scene, your injuries and damage to any vehicles involved. If possible, get pictures of identifying information on the truck and trailer.

Exchange information with all the parties involved, particularly insurance information and the driver’s name, contact information, and company he or she works for.

If there are witnesses, ask them what they remember and take notes on the conversation. You can also record a video of the conversation with their permission.

It is important to seek medical treatment right away to ensure your injuries receive proper treatment. You also want to help establish a strong link between your injury and the accident. This is often something the insurance company or at-fault party will try to dispute in an injury claim.

Contact our Glendale truck accident lawyers today to learn more about what to do after an accident to help protect your claim.

What Causes Truck Accidents

There are several reasons why commercial trucks can be involved in an accident. One of the most common reasons is due to driver error. A study conducted by the FMCSA identifies four of the most common reasons drivers cause accidents:

• Non-performance ”“ This includes drivers who fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident.
• Recognition ”“ This includes drivers who are distracted or inattentive because they are texting, eating, playing with the radio, or using a GPS device instead of focusing their eyes on the road.
• Decision ”“ This includes drivers who are speeding or driving recklessly or following too closely.
• Performance ”“ This includes drivers who are inexperienced or poorly trained and panic or overcompensate under certain circumstances while driving and cause an accident.

The Glendale truck accident lawyers at our firm represent clients involved in accidents with various types of large trucks and commercial vehicles, including semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, cargo trucks, flatbed trucks and more. No matter the kind of commercial truck that hit you, it is in your best interest to contact an attorney as soon as possible. You have a limited time to pursue compensation so do not delay.

Call Our Glendale Truck Accident Lawyers To Learn More

If you have been injured in a truck accident and are unsure if you have a claim, contact a knowledgeable member of our legal team to discuss what happened. If you have a case, we are prepared to take the steps necessary to build a strong case, including collecting the evidence and documentation of your damages, determining all liable parties, and negotiating with insurance companies for a fair settlement.

Let us discuss the legal options that may be available to you during a free, no obligation consultation. We are prepared to protect your best interests every step of the way. There are no upfront fees for our services to represent you. We only get paid if we collect compensation for you through a settlement or verdict.

Several of our attorneys are members of the American Association for Justices Leaders Forum, including founder Jeff Phillips and Timothy Tonkin. Jeff Phillips has obtained verdicts in Maricopa, Pinal, Pima and Mohave County.

We are ready to take your call. 602-222-222 .