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Truck Accident Attorneys in Yuma, Arizona


Truck Accident Attorneys in Yuma, Arizona

Looking for a truck accident attorney in Yuma? Contact the personal injury legal team at ELG today for reliable legal aid.

Being in a collision with a commercial vehicle is a scary situation that can be deadly. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds versus a typical passenger car at around 3,000 pounds. The weight difference alone can bring devastating results if involved in a tractor-trailer accident. Semi-trucks are one of the main modes of transportation for goods and services all around the United States, so it is inevitable to encounter these large vehicles on the highways throughout the country. The size and sound of an 18-wheeler can be intimidating, and when truck drivers don’t pay attention, the results are catastrophic.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured in an 18-wheeler crash that wasn’t your fault, our dedicated team of bilingual Yuma truck accident attorneys at ELG is here to help. We’re willing to fight by your side to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available to you. Give us a call today for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, or schedule your consultation on our website at your earliest convenience.

Types of Truck Accidents

Like passenger cars, there are different types of accidents that involve semi-trucks, including rear-end accidents, head-on collisions, and t-bone crashes. These types of accidents can cause catastrophic damage to passenger cars and to the truck itself, but there are other types of accidents that are exclusive to commercial trucks. The types of accidents that semi-trucks can be a part of include but aren’t limited to:

  • Overweight Truck Accident- The federally-mandated truck weight limits depend on the truck’s size, permit, and how many axles the truck has. Going over this weight limit can result in catastrophic consequences.
  • Tanker Truck Accident- A tanker truck is a type of commercial vehicle that has a cylindrical tank to carry liquids, gasses, and dry goods. Most of the liquids carried by a tanker truck are either hazardous or flammable.
  • Rollover Accident- Because a semi-truck has a higher center of gravity, they are more susceptible to turning over. Rollover accidents can cause significant property damage to vehicles struck by the trailer and catastrophic injury to the occupants of those vehicles.
  • Truck Driver Intoxication Accident- A DUI has significant consequences, especially for commercial truck drivers. Truck drivers risk losing their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) if they drive intoxicated.
  • Jackknife Accident- A jackknife occurs when the truck’s trailer turns 90 degrees away from the truck. This can happen when a truck suddenly changes speeds or takes a turn too quickly.

If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a commercial truck wreck, don’t hesitate to call ELG right away. Our compassionate team of Yuma semi-truck accident lawyers is available to answer any questions you may have about your crash and can help you get your truck accident claim started. Call us today for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation at your earliest convenience.

The Importance of Accident Reconstruction

Accidents involving large trucks are undeniably more complex than those involving regular passenger cars. With most semi-truck accidents, it is recommended that accident reconstruction takes place. Accident reconstruction is the process of investigating and analyzing evidence from a crash to determine the causes and who was at fault. This process is especially useful if there is a lack of evidence, more than one negligent party, or conflicting stories and witness testimonies.

Important pieces of information such as the length of pre-impact skid marks, the weights of the vehicles, brake balance, and brake lag are all inputs to the equations used in reconstructing an accident. Once the reconstruction of the accident is complete, the reconstructionist will present a brief of their findings or testify in court to help prove negligence. Your attorney may also include the reconstruction information in the demand letter sent during the settlement negotiation.

If you or a loved one were injured in a semi-truck wreck in Arizona that wasn’t your fault, our dedicated team of Yuma truck accident attorneys at ELG can help. We will keep your best interests and rights protected while we fight to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation that you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation with one of our experienced bilingual Spanish-speaking lawyers today.

Who Can be Held Reliable in a Truck Accident?

It’s important in the case of an 18-wheeler accident to sometimes look past the driver and see who could really be at fault. There is a complex line of other people and companies that are involved in the loading of the trailer and the manufacturing of the truck itself that could be held accountable for a truck accident. The line of possible liable parties for a semi-truck accident include:

  • The Truck Driver- The investigation begins with the driver who was handling the truck at the time of the accident. Reasons that a driver can cause an accident include fatigue, risky driving practices, drug and alcohol use, distracted driving, and many others. Just knowing that the driver was at fault is not enough, we also need a reason why.
  • Truck And Parts Manufacturers- Semi-trucks are subjected to high stresses every day. Truckers and trucking companies rely on manufacturing companies to live up to their guarantees of quality and reliability. But sometimes, equipment fails, even if both the trucking company and the driver all do their jobs correctly. Brakes can fail, couplings can break, the safety equipment may not properly deploy, or tires can explode.
  • Trucking Companies- Like any company, trucking companies may be held liable for the actions of their employees in certain situations. If a driver was hired by a company and was acting within the range of their duties, then the company might be liable for an accident in this situation.
  • Cargo Owners And Cargo Loaders- Truckers have high demands put on them and sometimes they’re not the ones at fault for an accident. They depend on others to do their jobs correctly as well. Poor procedures and execution from loading companies can lead to unstable loads.

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident in Yuma that wasn’t your fault, it’s important to have a knowledgeable semi-truck wreck lawyer on your side. At ELG, our experienced team of Yuma truck crash attorneys is here to help you determine who is really at fault for your accident. Let us take care of the complexities of your accident while you focus on recovery. Call us for your free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation with one of our bilingual Spanish-speaking attorneys today.

How are Truck Accidents Different From Car Accidents?

Semi-truck accidents and car accidents differ in so many ways. From weight difference to different laws for 18-wheelers, being in an accident with a truck can be extremely complicated and confusing. More ways that a semi-truck crash and a car wreck differ include:

  • Dealing with different causes- With car accidents, most of the time the cause is driver negligence, such as failing to stop at a red light or distracted driving. While the majority of the causes are still true with truck accidents, there is the added factor of equipment error. This doesn’t free the driver from liability, of course, but if equipment error is the cause of a tractor-trailer accident, then the liability can also fall onto the trucking company.
  • Compensation for damages- The law allows for a person injured or incurred property damage during a trucking crash that was not their fault to be compensated to a point that will place them back, financially and physically, to the position that they were in prior to the accident. This can include a number of things like inconvenience, lost wages, medical care, pain and suffering, and emotional suffering.
  • Truck accident injuries- Accidents with passenger vehicles and commercial trucks tend to produce very serious injuries. Serious injuries are the reason why truckers are required to carry insurance with larger-than-normal liability limits. This is to ensure that the trucker can fully compensate the injured party.
  • Special licensing- Before obtaining CDLs, truckers are required to go through extensive education and training. If a truck driver was in an accident and didn’t have the proper qualifications, the trucking company itself could be held liable for negligence in the area of hiring and training.

Talking to an 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney in Yuma

Nobody expects to be injured in a truck wreck. With the different complexities of handling an 18-wheeler accident, it’s easily confusing and stressful. You don’t have to suffer through the added stress alone, our compassionate team of Yuma semi-truck accident attorneys at ELG is here to help. With over 55 years of combined experience, our experienced bilingual team of Spanish-speaking attorneys is dedicated to being supportive and excelling in all aspects of the services we provide for our clients. Call us today at (623) 877-3600 for a free consultation with an attorney at your earliest convenience.