Anyone who has driven on the roads in Arizona understands that large commercial trucks are a constant presence. There are many reasons for this reality, but one unfortunate aspect of the presence of these enormous vehicles is that Arizona trucking accidents can and do happen. Any accident involving large trucks leaves behind a wake of destruction given that these vehicles can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds, which is literally tons more than most other types of vehicles. If someone you love has been lost in such an incident, you need to seek the help of an experienced Phoenix trucking accident lawyer. In the meantime, below is a brief overview of how wrongful death claims in Phoenix tend to proceed following a fatal trucking accident.
Arizona Trucking Accidents – An Overview
A relevant place to start with a look at this issue would be with the statistics regarding Arizona trucking accidents. Every year, more than 6,000 such accidents occur in Arizona, leading to more than 1,500 injuries and more than 100 deaths. Broken down, this means that at least two people every week are killed in Arizona trucking accidents, and anyone who has lost a loved one in this situation needs immediate legal help. The reason is that pursuing an Arizona wrongful death lawsuit against a commercial trucker and trucking company can be complicated.
Wrongful Death Claims in AZ Trucking Accidents
The first issue that arises in the aftermath of a fatal Arizona trucking accident is identifying the proper defendant or defendants. Defendants to a lawsuit could include the driver, the trucking company and the insurance carrier, but this will depend somewhat on the facts surrounding the relationship between the driver and the trucking company and whether or not the driver was engaged in official duties at the time the fatal Arizona trucking accident occurred. Secondly, the discovery process in these types of cases requires a high level of knowledge in regards to potential evidence, as items such as the trucker’s log and information regarding the load could be critical in terms of the resulting Arizona wrongful death claim.
Damages in an Arizona Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Finally, the family of someone who has been killed in an Arizona trucking accident needs to understand what sort of damages can be pursued. Once again, this question will largely be answered by the facts of the case, but potential damages could be awarded for funeral, burial and medical expenses, lost income and loss of companionship if the claim is successful. Placing a value on these damages also requires experience and legal knowledge, and an Arizona trucking accident lawyer will have an intimate understanding of how to put this portion of a case together.
Ultimately, everyone who is killed in an Arizona trucking accident deserves to have his or her voice be heard in court. If you have lost someone under these circumstances, contact an experienced personal injury attorneyat Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
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