Steps to Take After a Phoenix, AZ Truck Accident

Getting into an accident with a truck is probably one of our worst nightmares on the road. Yet, in 2021, there were more than 14,000 truck and bus crashes in Arizona which caused over 3,000 injuries and 119 fatalities.

Truck accidents are more complicated than other auto collisions because they often involve multiple parties, including the truck driver and the trucking company. Therefore, you need to tread very carefully to ensure that you don’t take the blame for other people’s mistakes. 

After a truck accident, there are several steps you must take to protect your rights. Right after the collision occurs, be very careful about what you say. Next, focus on getting medical help and calling the police and your insurance company.

Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer to pursue the compensation you require. The lawyers at Phillips Law Group have decades of combined experience in successfully protecting the rights of Arizona truck accident victims. We have collected more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients over the last 26 years. 

Protecting your rights after a truck accident begins with a free case evaluation with a Phillips Law Group attorney. We want to hear your story. 

Step One: Get Medical Attention

Your rights are very important, but your health is your priority after a truck accident. Even if you feel fine at that moment, always get yourself checked out. Some truck accident injuries, such as concussion, whiplash, and back injuries, do not cause pain immediately.

Therefore, a doctor is best placed to assess whether or not you have sustained any injuries in the accident. He or she will create a medical report, which may prove to be important evidence in your personal injury case. The doctor can also advise you on monitoring symptoms of injuries and what to do if they flare up.

If you have been hurt in a truck accident, you may have the right to receive damages to cover your medical expenses, ongoing disabilities, and pain and suffering. That’s why it’s very important to see a doctor immediately if your injuries get worse or change. This will create a medical record that may be used to prove the impact of your injuries at a later date.

If you do not get prompt medical attention, your claim could be detrimentally affected. The insurance company may try to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim or are not related to the truck accident. Don’t compromise your rights by delaying medical treatment.

Step Two: Admit Nothing

All auto accidents are stressful, especially those involving heavy vehicles like trucks. Tempers can become flared in the heat of the moment, and people may begin playing the blame game. It could be tempting to diffuse the situation by apologizing and taking at least part of the blame.

However, this could work to your disadvantage. Insurance companies are looking for all possible grounds to reduce the amount they have to pay. If you verbally admit liability, they may use this to try to pin the blame on you at a later date.

Protect your rights by refusing to get drawn into a discussion about who is to blame. Remember that Arizona follows the pure comparative fault rule. Therefore, even if you were partly responsible for causing the accident, you may still be able to make a claim for compensation. 

There will be plenty of time later for discussions about liability. So, immediately after the accident, keep quiet about who was to blame. Instead, report the accident to the police and calmly tell them exactly what happened, sticking to the facts. Then focus on gathering information at the scene of the accident.

Step Three: Gather Information and Photographs

As soon as it is safe to do so, start gathering information from the other parties involved in the accident. Ask for the following information:

• Personal details, including names, addresses, and phone numbers
• Driver’s license details
• Insurance details
• Vehicle make, model, and registration
• Name and contact details of the trucking company

You must also provide your information to the other parties. Also, talk to any witnesses and get their contact information.

Next, focus on taking photographs of the scene of the accident. If you can do so safely, take photos from several different angles and include the license plates in your photographs. Take some shots showing the entire scene and others focusing on specific damage. 

Additionally, look around for anything that may have contributed to the accident. For example, did a vehicle swerve to avoid a pothole? Is there road construction going on that played a part? 

Take pictures of the scene and contributing factors. Try to create a photographic record of anything that may have affected what happened.

Don’t forget to take photographs of the interior of your vehicle. This may provide evidence of damage or deployed airbags. 

Step Four: Keep Careful Records

After a truck accident, keep track of all the expenses you’ve incurred, including:

• Medical bills
• Co-pays/out-of-pocket medical expenses
• Medications
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity/business opportunities
• Property damage, including vehicle repair bills

A personal injury lawyer may be able to use these records to build a case for pursuing compensation on your behalf. So keep them all in a file and bring them to your case evaluation. 

You may also be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering. Compared with keeping a file of bills to prove monetary expenses, keeping track of your physical pain and emotional distress can be more challenging. So it may be a good idea to keep a journal, documenting your physical and emotional state each day.

Step Five: Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident cases can be extremely complicated, with multiple potentially liable parties to consider. An experienced attorney can identify all these to ensure that every avenue of compensation is explored.

In some cases, the insurance company may try to pressure you into signing a release form and accepting a lowball settlement offer. Before accepting any offer from an insurance company, schedule a free case evaluation with a truck accident attorney.

At Phillips Law Group, our personal injury lawyers have years of experience in handling cases like yours. During the free case evaluation, one of our legal team members will listen carefully to your account of what happened and examine any evidence you bring with you. From there, our lawyer will decide whether your case is likely to be successful and if we can take it on.

Morgan W.

I felt they were more my friends than my personal injury lawyer and that isn't something you're taught it's something you have inside. If I ever needed a lawyer again Phillips Law Group Injury Lawyers would be my only choice. I can't recommend them enough. They are professional on every level and compassionate throughout. Thank you for everything.

Blanca D.

When in pain because of an accident all you want to do is focus on getting better and that is what did thanks to this firm. My family and I were set up with a Dr and Chiro right away. The treatment we received was great. I am extremely thankful for all the help we received and the outcome on the cases. Thanks to everyone involved on my case. A special thanks the intake specialist Rosalba who was very kind on the phone when I first called. I highly recommend this firm to anyone, they treat you like family.

Erika A.

I am so thankful for Ruthann and Maria. They both were amazing throughout the process. When Maria took over my case, I felt like I was being treated with empathy about my pain and experiences while treating. She also made sure to answer my questions. Maria always responded to my communication attempts and answered questions I had as they came up. She helped me with things I needed in regards to my case and helped ease the anxiety as bills piled up and my injuries were still being treated. I was able to contact her as I was treating and she helped find providers closer to my home to make it more accommodating for me. This helped me juggle work...

Santana D.

Ruby, Jennifer, Angela did me great over at this law firm. I will recommend them to anybody that has been in an injury in Phoenix Arizona they are awesome 😎. Got paid 6 months after my accident. Then out of the blue a couple years later they still contract me with another check $$$$$🤑😎🤑. Thank you....

Yunior R.

Philips Law Group offers outstanding customer service and a profound knowledge of personal injury law. Right from the initial call through to your office visit, they ensure you feel well-supported. A special mention goes to Ilse, the client experience coordinator. Her expertise in insurance policies is remarkable, and she articulately explains them in both Spanish and English. She skillfully navigates you through the process with empathy and understanding. A heartfelt thanks for the exceptional experience!

Art R.

Phillips was able to get me a good settlement after the first law group I called completely failed. Highly recommend you give them a call after your personal injury.

Rebecca M.

Philips was an awesome choice got me into the doctors offices for visits quickly and efficiently. I also want to give a big shout out to Michael the negotiator for Philips he went above and beyond to help my case get to the finish line! Also want to thank Jason and the friendly front staff.

Vallery A

Throughout the most stressful time Carmen and Donato managed to get me to the correct doctors and get the correct care I needed to make the whole process smooth and less stressful. They always answered any question or concern with professionalism and courtesy. They always valued my time as I valued theirs. Definitely recommend this great firm!

Martin K.

I'm sincerely grateful to my noble Phillips Law firm legal experts for their integrity n intelligent work for making my accident to not go free in my paint injuries. God richly bless them, for bring settlement big cash to me.

Latosha E.

What can I say about Phillips Law group. I was involved in a major car accident and sustained injuries. I looked up for Law Firms in Arizona and stumbled across Phillips Law Group. I decided to give them a call about my accident, and they were very respectful and took in my case immediately. They assigned me Tim LeDuc to represent me. From the beginning, he was very responsive and made sure to give me the proper care I deserved from this accident. Him and his team fought tooth and nail to give me the best settlement I deserved. I am so thankful, and I highly recommend Phillips Law Group to represent anyone who has been in any accident and...

Emily N.

My case closed yesterday and I RAN to make this review because of how exceptional my experience has been with Phillips Law Group! I received the best settlement I could've hoped for and am extremely happy with the outcome; but I especially wanted to shout out and give praise to Julianna, the Litigation Paralegal on my case. From the moment Julianna was assigned to my case almost two years ago, until the completion of the settlement process yesterday, Julianna's commitment to exceptional customer service, clear communication, and unwavering support truly stood out. I had so many questions -- from the legal process, to where to seek medical treatment, to questions about medical bills, to the negotiation process, and more --...

Ari

I am very impressed by how much care and effort this group puts into helping the homeless. That’s not something you see enough, especially in this time of increasing need for community. It’s important to me to work with companies that align with my views, and I would definitely go to Phillips for any future personal injury lawyer needs.

Rich S.

Just would like to share my experience with Phillips And Associates. Ever since my accident in the first of the year, it was a life changing event for me and I finally decided to go with a personal injury attorney. I contacted Phillips And Associates and they made me feel like I was an actual person instead of a lot of other firms try to go with me like a number, Phillips And Associates has reached out to me in a kind, courteous and caring way they fully understand on the circumstances of the accident So far, Phillips And Associates has been absolutely wonderful. I truly recommend going with Phillips And Associates. Thanks (RuthAnn), your the Best!!! And Thank you...

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How Phillips Law Group Can Fight for Your Rights

Don’t wonder whether you have a claim for damages after a truck accident. Protect your rights by seeking legal representation as soon as possible. In many cases, you only have two years to file a lawsuit after the date of an auto accident, so don’t delay in getting legal help.

With the assistance of a truck accident attorney, you can pursue and gain compensation that can allow you to get on with your life. If we take on your case, your Phillips Law Group attorney will consider all damages – not just the economic ones. You pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you.