Arizona Truck Accident Lawyer
A crash with a semi brings more than one driver into the case. The trucking company, its insurer and sometimes the shipper each have lawyers, so a truck accident lawyer should be on your side before you talk to any of them.
Work trucks count as well. When a landscaping crew's truck or a company's branded pickup hits you, the business and its commercial insurer join the case. Saks Law takes truck cases on contingency, and Sam Saks leads each one.
What makes a truck accident case different
Each point links to the statute or court decision it comes from.
Evidence the company holds
Driver logs and the truck's electronic logging data sit with the carrier. Federal rules require a carrier to keep those records for only six months.
49 C.F.R. § 395.8 (opens in a new tab)Hours behind the wheel
A driver hauling freight may drive 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Logs that break the limit point to a tired driver.
49 C.F.R. § 395.3 (opens in a new tab)Higher insurance limits
Interstate carriers hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, far above a car's $25,000.
49 C.F.R. § 387.9 (opens in a new tab)
How a truck accident case works with us
- 1
A free call about the crash
An attorney hears what happened and whose truck was involved.
- 2
A letter to the carrier
We ask the carrier in writing to keep its driver logs and the truck's electronic data. Records that are gone can't be subpoenaed later.
- 3
The claim, valued in full
Truck crashes often mean surgery and months away from work. Future medical care and lost earning capacity go into the demand.
- 4
Settlement or suit
You decide on each offer. If a carrier won't pay what the injuries are worth, we file suit.
Why clients choose Saks Law for truck accident cases
We don't get paid unless you get paid
Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, set in writing before work begins. If the case ends without one, the costs of pursuing it are ours.
Direct access to Sam
Every client receives Sam's personal cell number when the case begins. Questions go straight to the attorney handling the case.
A medical lien cut by 99 percent
In one trucking case, Sam got a medical lien reduced by 99 percent, which left more of the settlement for his client.
Truck accident questions clients ask
If your question isn't here, call 480-440-3331.
Who is responsible when a truck driver causes a crash?
The trucking company usually answers for its driver, since an employer is responsible for a driver working on the job. A shipper that loaded the cargo badly or a shop that maintained the brakes can share the blame. Arizona assigns each party its own share of fault, so finding every responsible company affects how much you recover.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim?
Most Arizona injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the crash, under A.R.S. § 12-542. The practical deadline comes sooner, because the driver's logs can be discarded once the six-month retention period passes. A city or state vehicle brings a 180-day notice deadline as well.
What if the truck was from out of state?
You can usually bring the case in Arizona when the crash happened here. An interstate carrier must be registered with the federal government and carry the federal minimum coverage, so a company based in Texas or California still has an insurer that answers for the crash.
Will my truck accident case go to trial?
Most injury cases settle before trial, and truck cases are no exception. Filing suit doesn't mean a trial is coming, and it often moves an insurer that wasn't negotiating. You decide whether to accept any offer, and nothing settles without your signature.
What if the truck driver was an independent contractor?
The carrier whose operating authority the truck ran under can still answer for the crash. Federal leasing rules give that carrier control of the leased truck, and responsibility for it, while the lease runs. The lease and the dispatch records show who controlled the trip, so they go on our list of records to request.
Who handles the damage to my vehicle?
We do, and that part of the case carries no fee. When the truck driver caused the crash, the truck's insurer owes for the repair, or for your vehicle's value if it was totaled. We bring that claim alongside the one for your injuries.
Truck accident cases across Arizona
Many truck crashes happen on the interstates outside the Valley, such as I-10 toward Tucson and I-17 toward Flagstaff. Sam meets clients anywhere in the state, from Kingman to Sierra Vista, by phone or video.
Speak with an injury lawyer before you speak with the insurer.
The case review is free and confidential, and you decide afterward whether to retain us.
Call weekdays from 8:30am to 5pm, or send the form at any hour.