What are the Components of a Truck Accident Investigation?
Truck accidents often result in serious, sometimes fatal, injuries for victims. When drivers of large tractor-trailers cause accidents, victims are left with exorbitant medical costs and critical injuries.
If you’ve sustained injuries in a truck accident in Arizona, contact the Phoenix auto accident attorneys at ELG. Our team of accident lawyers is here to help. While not all truck accidents can be avoided, there are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to trucking company negligence and filing a successful claim.
Truck Accident Investigations
Set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, certain regulations standardize the use and continual maintenance of commercial trucks. These truck regulations include the use of controls, starter interlocks, hydraulic and electric brake systems, and trailer load-carrying capacity, among other components.
Furthermore, truck drivers must comply with rules regarding billing, interstate commerce, the hauling of controlled substances and alcohol use and testing, commercial driver’s license standards, and a few other employee safety and health standards.
Needless to say, unqualified or untrained drivers can incur a multitude of violations when traveling throughout Arizona and across other state lines.
Regulations on Trucks in Arizona
In Arizona, trucks themselves must be properly loaded, per Arizona truck laws. Properly loaded trucks may require measuring by authorities, who also recheck all straps and equipment. For example, if a company doesn’t balance their tractor-trailers, the truck can roll or the equipment can fall. Improper loads can cause large trucks to jackknife, resulting in a serious accident. Oftentimes, these accidents mean serious injuries or even death in catastrophic cases.
And trucks require special insurance. Unlike passenger vehicles in Arizona, that require minimum insurance coverage of $15,000 to $30,000 for any bodily injury, commercial trucks must carry at least a minimum of $750,000 in insurance for any bodily injury that may occur on the road. It is essential to verify insurance coverage in these trucks after an accident because sometimes the owner may lease the truck, and the lessor may not carry the insurance mandated by the law.
Filing a Truck Accident Claim
Proper inspections and truck maintenance are essential to prevent mechanical failure. But trucking companies that are already negligent in hiring may fail to follow state laws and standards.
Noncompliance with federal regulations is responsible for a large number of truck accidents nationwide. For example, some trucking regulations in Arizona require that a trucking company provide standard times for rest, sleep, and breaks for their drivers. And depending on a driver’s weekly hours, they must have downtime to rest and step away from their vehicle.
Fatigued truck drivers can cause serious accidents on the road due to their drowsiness. That’s why it’s important to file a truck accident claim if you’ve encountered negligence from a driver or their company.
Truck Accident Attorney in Arizona
Even the best drivers can’t always avoid truck accidents. If you’re injured or your vehicle is damaged in a truck accident, contact our Phoenix truck accident attorneys at ELG. Due to the nature of truck accidents and the negligent actions of many truck companies, victims must safeguard their legal rights after serious truck accidents. Call us at (623) 877-3600 for a free consultation and legal representation from our compassionate, knowledgeable attorneys today.
