What You Should Know About Arizona Truck Accidents

Being involved in a truck accident can be very devastating and they can cause serious life-threatening injuries. Large commercial trucks often weigh over 10,000 pounds, while regular vehicles weigh about 3,000 pounds. Due to their size and weight, truck accidents tend to be very serious. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 11 percent of all motor vehicle accident deaths in 2017 occurred in large truck accidents. It is important to always be aware and alert when driving on the roadways next to large commercial trucks and never assume that they can see you. Listed below are important things to know about truck accidents.

Truck Accidents 

Large truck crashes occur for a variety of reasons. Drivers get distracted while driving, they are fatigued, they’re driving under the influence, or they aren’t paying attention to traffic signals. Truck drivers typically have long days where they drive many hours throughout the day to deliver goods to a destination on time. There are particular rules on how long an individual can drive and truck drivers must follow them. These laws state that a truck driver cannot drive more than eleven hours in a fourteen-hour workday and they must take ten hours off from driving. Additionally, if a driver is on duty for 60 hours within 7 days, they are supposed to be off duty for 34 hours.

Truck drivers have high demands and often they are forced to hit tight deadlines so they aren’t able to take the accurate amount of breaks. All of this pressure and high demand could be the cause of truck accidents as well. Other reasons for truck accidents occurring include the following:

•     Inadequate training.
•     Compensation systems that encourage faster vehicle speeds and longer driving days.
•     Unrealistic expectations and deadlines.
•     Changing lanes abruptly.
•     Merging improperly onto a highway.
•     Improper maintenance.

Injuries Sustained From Truck Accidents

Since semi-trucks are so large, injuries sustained during a truck accident tend to be more severe and could even lead to death. According to research, about 5,000 individuals in passenger cars die each year in automotive accidents that involve a semi-truck. Semi-truck accidents that involve serious injuries could have a long-term effect on an individual’s everyday life. When an individual sustains life-threatening injuries, they often need to miss work and could even be disabled and unable to work. These accidents can also be the cause of psychological injuries that include anxiety and PTSD.

Injured victims must go to a doctor for proper diagnosis of all injuries sustained after a truck accident so they can be treated properly. The liable party will have to pay for all of the damages that relate to the accident including medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, loss of income, and emotional damages. 

Contact An Arizona Truck Accident Attorney

If you have sustained injuries due to a truck accident at no fault of your own, protect your legal rights and contact a truck accident attorney. The Arizona truck accident attorneys at ELG will help you determine all of your legal options so you can file the best claim. Our team of truck accident attorneys wants to help you file a claim so you can receive the maximum amount of compensation. We will utilize special tactics to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Call us today  Phoenix or Mesa Arizona law offices at (623) 877-3600 for a consultation.