Understanding the legal Intricacies

Accidents involving heavy commercial trucks and passenger vehicles can be catastrophic, especially for anyone in the smaller vehicle. These accidents often result in severe injuries, costly medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and other financial and emotional consequences.

If you're dealing with injuries after getting hit by a semi-truck, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. Our experienced Phoenix truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the legal intricacies of commercial truck accidents and seek the maximum compensation you deserve.

Contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer today to learn more in a free initial consultation.

Why Are Truck Accident Claims So Complex?

Truck accidents frequently involve several factors that make them more complicated than accidents between passenger vehicles. For starters, because of the size and weight of commercial trucks, injuries from truck accidents are likely to be more severe, require more expensive medical treatment, and have more far-reaching consequences, including permanent disabilities and impairments.

Commercial truck accident claims in Arizona are also more complex because of the number of parties that may be involved. The trucking industry includes multiple individuals and entities who could be liable for a truck accident. While the truck driver and trucking company that employs the trucker are often liable, the individuals and companies responsible for manufacturing, maintaining, repairing, and loading the truck may also share fault, depending on the nature of the accident.

Trucking companies must follow strict federal and state regulations and keep highly detailed records, which means more evidence for a semi-truck accident lawyer to gather and evaluate.

Federal Laws Governing Commercial Trucks

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates commercial trucking operations to protect the public's safety and ensure fair competition between businesses. Federal trucking regulations include:

• Hours of service (HOS) for truck drivers
• Commercial driver's license requirements
• Drug and alcohol testing for drivers
• Vehicle safety inspections
• Liability insurance coverage for trucking companies
• Use of electronic logging devices
• Environmental and fuel efficiency standards

Our truck accident lawyer can review the evidence about the collision to determine whether any party failed in its duty to abide by FMCSA regulations. Whether a truck driver or trucking company violated these rules could be crucial in determining liability for your injuries and other losses from the crash.

Which Parties Could Be Liable for a Truck Accident in Phoenix?

Identifying the liable party in most car accidents is relatively straightforward — it's generally one of the drivers involved in the collision. Determining liability for commercial truck accidents can be more complicated because multiple parties may have contributed to the crash.

A few examples of parties that may be liable for a truck accident include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company that employs the driver
• The owner of the truck and trailer (which may be different from the trucking company)
• The company that loaded the truck's cargo
• The mechanics or shop responsible for maintaining and repairing the truck
• The manufacturer of the truck or one of its parts