Peoria truck accident attorney Jason Hutzler is here to help you get the compensation you deserve after a truck accident. Call our team at (602) 730-4530 today for your free consultation.
Over the past five years, Jason Hutzler has recovered millions of dollars for his clients throughout Arizona. We encourage you to see the many reviews from our satisfied clients on our reviews page.
We take pride in providing personalized and professional legal representation to each of our clients. Our attorneys are dedicated to seeking justice for individuals who have been injured due to the negligence of others.
Trucking accidents are among the most catastrophic and complex cases we handle. Unfortunately, injuries sustained in trucking accidents are often severe and life-altering. Death is also a common result of trucking accidents.
If you or someone you care about has been injured, or if you have lost a loved one due to a trucking accident, we are here to help. Call our team at (602) 730-4530 today for your free consultation.
Do You Need Help Handling Your Truck Accident Claim?
Truck accidents can be particularly devastating. It is very common for truck accidents to result in severe injuries, property damage and even fatalities.
You have a legal right to pursue compensation for your losses if you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident. However, there is a limited window of time in which you can file a claim. That’s why it is crucial to take immediate action.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, our team of Phoenix-based truck accident attorneys is here to help.
Call our team at (602) 730-4530 today for your free consultation and let us help you get back on your feet.
How a Peoria Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You Secure a Favorable Settlement
Trucking companies carry hefty insurance policies precisely because truck accidents are a common industry hazard, and because heavy trucks can do so much damage when they collide with other vehicles. However, they control costs by seeking to deny and minimize insurance claims against them after a truck accident.
When smaller cars are damaged, including injuries to drivers and passengers, it is the responsibility of the trucking company to cover their recovery expenses. However, it may take a skilled Peoria truck accident lawyer to help you navigate the tricks used by both the truck company and their insurance provider to deny or lowball your claim.
Fortunately, the founding attorney of Hutzler Law, Jason Hutzler, used to work in the insurance industry and understands all the strategies they use against claimants.
We know the tactics and strategies insurance companies use to protect their interests and minimize payouts to accident victims.
Our Peoria truck accident lawyers will fight to prove the severity of your injuries and vehicle damage to win you the settlement you deserve. Contact us for a consultation by phone at (602) 730-4530 or through our helpful online form.
Common Reasons for Trucking Accidents
Most truck drivers are careful on the road. Why, then, do 6% of all Arizona crashes involve a commercial truck? And why are many of these crashes the responsibility of the trucking company? The simple fact of the matter is that crashes are a known hazard that comes with transporting thousands of tons of goods across the country every year. Road conditions, truck maintenance, unsafe policies, and sometimes just a slight miscalculation can result in a terrible crash. Truck accidents can happen for a wide number of reasons. Among the most common are the following.
Speeding Trucks
Trucks take much longer to slow down than other vehicles because all that weight results in hefty inertia. It is also all too easy for trucks to reach an unsafe speed on flat-outs or, worse, downhill stretches. A truck that doesn’t put on its flashers and ride the brakes downhill may get going too fast to stop or even slow down for curves safely, which is why you will often see ‘runaway truck ramps’ at key locations, and especially in mountainous areas.
However, when a truck is going too fast and an obstacle (like another car) is suddenly in front of them, it can result in a smash that the driver cannot avoid.
Tire Blow-Outs
We’ve all seen the “gators” on the road, remnants of a big-rig tire that exploded on the highway. This can happen to any truck, even with good maintenance, but sometimes the explosion completely blows the truck off-course from its previous momentum. The trailer may swing, the cab may swerve. The truck might even tip over. Tire blow-outs are extremely dangerous for how common they are.
Truck Driver Fatigue
Unfortunately, many trucking companies put unrealistic schedule expectations on their drivers, and drivers do not get enough sleep between shifts. Even with good sleep, long hours behind the wheel can lead to fatigue and poor attention or response time. Driver fatigue can lead to truck drivers not responding to road hazards or the movement of other cars fast enough to avoid or prevent a collision.
Poor Maintenance or Manufacturing Failures
At times, accidents are caused when a piece of the truck’s equipment fails. Perhaps the trucking company did not provide proper maintenance. Perhaps the cargo was not tightly secured enough and it flew off toward drivers behind the truck. It might even be a manufacturing flaw that gave way at exactly the wrong moment.
Reckless Third Party Drivers
There are also truck accidents where another driver is to blame. Some people think it’s fun to tailgate trucks, or merge in front of trucks and suddenly slow down. Some like to linger in blind spots or swerve around trucks recklessly. Unfortunately, it is often other drivers that are injured when the truck either fails to see the reckless driver or is forced to take drastic evasive maneuvers.
Common Injuries Caused by Truck Accidents in Peoria
What kind of injuries occur in a truck accident? If your passenger vehicle has collided with a truck, it creates one of the greatest impacts a car crash can produce. Cars have been flipped, crushed, and projected hundreds of feet from where the collision took place, and the injuries that result can be extensive.
- Bone Fractures
- Burns from Blazing Vehicles
- Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage
- Lacerations
- Internal Injuries
- Back and Spinal Injuries
- Concussions and Brain Injuries
We Can Help You Build a Strong Insurance Claim Against a Trucking Company
Unfortunately, no matter how serious your injuries, the trucking company and insurance provider will likely try to minimize your damage or even accuse you of being the at-fault driver. Because Arizona is an at-fault state, this means that the driver or party that causes the accident is often excluded from insurance claims entirely and their insurance must pay for damage caused to the truck and driver.
A dedicated Peoria truck accident lawyer can protect you from these often-hostile protective measures taken by trucking and insurance companies. The lawyers at Hutzler Law have unique insights into the methods insurance companies will use to minimize or reject claims.
The best way to overcome these challenges is to build a strong insurance claim against the trucking company, proving both your lack of fault and the extent of your injuries.
See a Doctor Immediately and Receive a Complete Report
No matter how you feel after an accident involving a truck, see your doctor. Do not see an insurance-suggested doctor, book an appointment with your doctor or a neutral third party.
Tell the doctor that you have recently been in a car accident and ask for a full checkup, including an assessment of your joints and soft tissue where symptoms of hidden injuries may appear later. If you can, get scans that produce printed, hard-copy results.
Then, ask your doctor for a digital or physical copy of their findings. Ask for injury identification, including pictures, diagnosis of any conditions as a result of the crash – or made worse because of the crash – and a projected treatment plan to help estimate your long-term medical costs.
Evidence the Trucking Company Doesn’t Want You to Have
The final step is to ensure that the truck can be held liable for the crash, or partially responsible if the road condition or third-party driver played a role. Your Peoria truck accident lawyer will ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted, including seeking out evidence that the truck company may not want you to have.
You see, truck companies often track their vehicles closely using fleet management hardware and software. This creates detailed records of driver locations, vehicle performance, and other vital information. Your lawyer will know how to requisition this data and use it as proof that the truck is at fault.
The Truck’s Dashcam Footage
Truck dash cams are put in place to protect trucks from theft and dangerous drivers. In your case, the dash cam may reveal that your vehicle was driving safely, but the truck or another driver’s behavior created danger on the road.
The Truck’s Telematic Data
Telematics read data directly from the vehicle like speed, velocity, heat, and braking. It can reveal if the driver was going too fast and exactly when they began trying to brake to avoid the accident – if they did at all.
Unrealistic Delivery Schedules
The trucking company may have also created a driver fatigue situation by requiring unrealistic delivery schedules that require long hours or even traveling at speeds that are faster than is safe for trucks of that size.
Truck Maintenance Records
A truck’s maintenance records may reveal that certain checks or equipment quality has been allowed to slip to save time or money, resulting in an unsafe rig on the road.
Fighting Against a Lowball Settlement Offer After a Truck Accident
Trucking companies are accustomed to accepting liability after a truck accident, but they often still try to lowball drivers who are injured and whose cars are destroyed in the incident. The Peoria truck accident lawyers of Hutzler Law are here to defend your right to a fair settlement and fight against lowball offers on your behalf.
Hutzler Law is a Top-Rated Phoenix personal injury law firm that helps victims of accidents and injuries recover and get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today by phone at (602) 730-4530 or reach out through our online form to book your free consultation.