Serious Truck Accident Injuries in Phoenix Arizona

If you have been involved in a large truck accident in the greater Phoenix area including Chandler Arizona, it is likely that you and your passengers suffered severe, even catastrophic injuries. The size difference between a truck and a passenger vehicle almost guarantees that those in the smaller vehicle will receive grave injuries. When you find yourself in this position, it can be difficult to decide what to do and how to proceed. Your injuries may be severe enough that you are unable to return to work for weeks, months, or possibly forever. This means you may be unable to pay your normal monthly expenses and are facing a mountain of medical expenses as well. 

If the truck accident was caused by the truck driver, trucking company, loading or maintenance company, or from a truck part defect—not your fault—then you deserve compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and changes to your life. 

Trying to handle a truck accident on your own, however, is rarely a good idea. Truck accidents are particularly complex due to the especially serious injuries, as well as the fact that there can be more than one defendant. Having a knowledgeable Arizona truck accident lawyer in your corner can be extremely beneficial, ensuring you receive a fair settlement for your damages. 

Why Should You Choose the Arizona Truck Accident Attorneys from Ciccarelli Law Offices?

When you have a strong legal advocate in your corner, everything about your truck accident becomes easier to deal with. At Ciccarelli Law Offices we want you to be able to spend your time getting the medical treatments you need and putting your life back together without worrying about how you will pay your medical expenses or how you will pay your mortgage or put food on the table. We will fight for you and for an equitable settlement in ways you simply cannot. Insurance companies rarely have your best interests at heart, but the attorneys at Ciccarelli Law Offices do. 

Everything we do, every decision we make on your behalf, is made with consideration for your current situation as well as your future. We have helped many people just like you who were at the end of their rope, with no idea how to proceed. We understand that you have many choices when choosing an Arizona truck accident attorney and we hope you will give us the opportunity to meet with an attorney from Ciccarelli Law Offices who will comprehensively answer your questions and explain the truck accident claim process. 

Attorney Lee Ciccarelli has been recognized as:

• Super Lawyer 
• Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association
• Having the highest rating (10.0) by AVVO 
• One of the Top 100 Litigation Attorneys by the American Society of Legal Advocates.

If you want a lawyer who truly cares about your future, contact Ciccarelli Law Offices today.  

Truck Accident Statistics

As noted, truck accidents can cause severe injuries or even death to those in the smaller passenger vehicle due to the sheer size difference. Any vehicle carrying more than 10,000 pounds is considered a “truck,” but a fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. A typical passenger vehicle weighs about 3,000 pounds.  According to policyadvice.net:

• There are 500,000 truck accidents each year
• About 130,000 people suffer from severe injuries related to truck accidents each year
• Hazardous cargo is present in about 4 percent of the large trucks involved in fatal collisions
• In 2017, there were 4,102 deaths from semi-truck accidents
• The top cause of truck collisions is not truck driver impairment—contrary to common belief—rather mechanical defects, inexperienced drivers, fatigue, and aggressive driving have been tagged as the most common reasons for truck collisions. 
• About half of all truck-related accidents occur on major roads, other than interstates and freeways.   

What Compensation is Available Following an Arizona Truck Accident?

Following a truck accident, you may be entitled to several types of compensation. Of course, your exact compensation will depend on the circumstances surrounding your truck accident as well as the extent of your injuries. You will be entitled to “Special” damages, which include medical expenses and lost wages. These types of damages are easily quantifiable, meaning you can clearly see what it has cost you. 

Medical expenses you have already paid for are reimbursable, plus your attorney will work with your physician to determine future medical expenses. As an example, if you have a serious spinal cord injury, you may need medical treatments for the remainder of your life. If you had serious internal injuries, you might be expected to fully recover in a year or longer—or possibly you will require medical interventions for life. 

Your lost wages will also be calculated—both those you have already lost due to your accident, as well as future lost wages. Again, your attorney will calculate what you would have made if you had not been injured, based on your job at the time of the accident, your education, and your projected trajectory in your career. Other damages are more difficult to quantify because they are subjective. Pain and suffering damages fall under the category of “general” damages because they can be difficult to calculate. 

Pain includes both actual physical pain as well as emotional pain such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Rarely, a person may also qualify for punitive damages if the truck driver acted willfully or maliciously in causing the accident. Punitive damages are meant to punish the wrongdoer, as well as deter similar behavior. Your attorney from Ciccarelli Law Offices knows exactly how to calculate your losses. Once calculated, we will fight for your rights, a reasonable settlement, and your future. 

Truck Accidents in Arizona Fall Under Comparative Negligence

Arizona operates under the premise known as comparative negligence. This means that even if you are partially responsible for the accident, you can still collect damages from the other driver. Suppose the truck driver was driving while overly fatigued, crossing over into your lane and striking your car. While the truck driver is responsible for the accident, assume you were significantly exceeding the speed limit. You might be assigned 10 percent of the blame for the accident, meaning when a settlement is reached, you would only receive 90 percent of the settlement amount, deducting 10 percent for your role in the accident. 

What Are the Most Common Injuries Associated with Truck Accidents?

Truck accident injuries are virtually always severe. In addition to cuts, scrapes, bruises, strains, and sprains, victims may have neck and back injuries, internal injuries, internal bleeding, burns and scarring, facial lacerations, loss of vision, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can cause a lifetime of difficulties, altering the victim’s life in virtually every way possible. Not only can there be serious cognitive difficulties following a traumatic brain injury, but the victim may also suffer significant personality changes, making it difficult for the victim and his or her family members as well. 

Many of those who suffer a traumatic brain injury must relearn the most basic skills, both physical and cognitive. They can find it difficult to speak and communicate, which is, in turn, extremely frustrating. Spinal cord injuries can also result in life-altering changes and a future filled with medical interventions and assistive technologies. 

What Are the Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

The most common causes of truck accidents include distracted driving, impaired driving, fatigued driving, bad brakes and tires, poorly loaded cargo, inclement weather, poorly trained drivers, and overly aggressive driving. Fatigue is of particular concern. Even though truck drivers are not supposed to drive more than 11 hours at a stretch, many of them do—if they are not driving, they are not getting paid. If you have ever driven for 11 hours straight, then you are well aware of how difficult it is and how exhausting. 

Distracted driving is just as serious for truck drivers as it is for “regular” drivers. Truck drivers often drive while eating an entire meal because they don’t want to take the time to stop and eat. Like the rest of us, truck drivers may talk on their cell phones, read texts, change truck controls or the GPS settings, change radio stations, or talk to their passengers. Any of these distractions can lead to an accident. 

What Should You Do Immediately After a Truck Accident?

Following a truck accident, you should immediately call 911. You will want to seek medical attention right away as well. If you are physically able:

• Take photographs at the scene of the accident
• Obtain contact information from witnesses
• Exchange information with the truck driver

Once you are home:

• Contact your own insurance company and share the details of the truck accident
• Start a file with medical receipts
• Write down anything you can remember about the accident
• Contact an experienced truck accident attorney from Ciccarelli Law Offices

Call Our Arizona Truck Accident Lawyers Today

If you suffered an injury in a truck accident in Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe, or anywhere in the state of Arizona, you need someone on your side fighting for you. At Ciccarelli Law Offices, our Arizona truck accident lawyers know what it takes to go toe-to-toe with large trucking companies and insurers and win. 

Let Lee Ciccarelli and his Arizona Truck Accident Injury Team help you through this difficult time in your life. Call us today to begin fighting for justice after a serious truck accident.