Any collision between a truck and a smaller vehicle can have severe consequences for the occupants of the passenger vehicle. Side impact crashes are particularly dangerous.
Contact Phillips Law Group if you were injured or your loved one was killed in a side impact truck accident in Tucson. Our skilled attorneys can investigate the crash, identify all the parties whose conduct contributed to it, and hold them financially accountable.
How Side-Impact Crashes Occur
Side-impact crashes are sometimes called T-bone or broadside collisions. They occur when one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle.
Negligence is invariably a factor in a side-impact crash involving a truck. Trucks are difficult to bring to a complete stop or decelerate slowly, and navigating turns requires substantial skill. It is common for a commercial vehicle to roll through a stop sign, run a red light, or mishandle a turn and cause a T-bone crash.
The driver of the smaller vehicle is sometimes partially at fault. A driver might make a left turn in front of an oncoming truck, miscalculating the truck’s speed and its ability to slow or stop in time to avoid a collision. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group are skilled at investigating Tucson side-impact truck crashes to determine whose negligence contributed to them.
Broadside Truck Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
The side panels of cars, SUVs, and small trucks include the door, which is the least reinforced part of the vehicle. When a truck collides with the side of a passenger vehicle, passengers have little protection against the force of the impact. This can lead to death and devastating injuries, including:
People who survive these injuries often require extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation, and may have permanent disabilities.
When a car collides with the side of a commercial truck, it can cause an underride accident. The smaller vehicle slides underneath the truck or its trailer and is crushed. These occupants often suffer fatal injuries.
Survivors of truck accidents are entitled to compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, the psychological impact of the accident, and the suffering they endured. Family members of people who suffered fatal injuries may claim compensation for the economic impact of their loved one’s death and the loss of their companionship. A Tucson accident attorney can explain the compensation that may be available in a specific case after a side-impact truck wreck.
Holding Responsible Parties Accountable
When a truck driver’s negligence contributes to a crash that causes injuries, the transportation company employing the driver is likely liable. When the driver is an independent contractor, it is still often possible to hold the company responsible. An investigation might reveal that the company was negligent in training or hiring the independent contractor, imposed an unreasonable schedule that caused the driver to speed or skip mandatory rest breaks, or failed to properly maintain the truck.
Apart from the truck driver and transportation company, others also might be liable for a side impact truck accident. A defective stoplight, obscured or missing stop signs, and poor road markings can contribute to these accidents. In that case, the local government responsible for road maintenance could have liability.
In most cases, an adult has two years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. However, when one of the responsible parties is a local government or public agency, Arizona Revised Statutes §12-821.01 requires the injured person to file a notice of their claim within 180 days of the incident. Seeking the advice of a Phillips Law Group accident attorney soon after a Tucson side-impact truck crash allows the legal professional time to identify whether a public agency may be a defendant and provide the proper notice to preserve the claim.
Seek Compensation After a Side Impact Truck Crash With a Tucson Attorney
Obtaining just compensation after a side-impact truck accident in Tucson requires legal assistance. Issues regarding causation, fault, and responsibility are best handled by professionals.
Phillips Law Group has been representing injured people in the Tucson area for decades. We have the expertise and resources to pursue the responsible parties and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
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