Truck Accident Lawyer Phoenix AZ
When a truck crash occurs, serious injuries may occur, a victim or family member is well advised to consult with a truck accident lawyer Phoenix, AZ trusts from the Law Office of Paul Englander, PLC.
Truck accidents and collisions resulting in serious injuries may be caused by:
- Driving fatigued, distracted driving, or driving while impaired.
- Speeding
- Failure to follow safety training
- Unsafe maneuvering
- Failure to maintain the vehicle, mechanical problems
- Improper loading, overloading.
As a result of the speed, size, and weight of trucks, catastrophic injuries may occur, sometimes fatalities. Truckers who are driving tractor-trailers while fatigued can cause crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. Drivers may be violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations by exceeding the maximum number of driving hours rules. FMCSA has set forth hours of driving limits for drivers of commercial vehicles. The purpose is to prevent collisions caused by driver fatigue because the number of hours driving strongly correlates to the number of fatigue-related accidents.
The risks of fatigue are the greatest between midnight and six in the morning and they also increase with the length of the driver’s trip. The recent Tracy Morgan Walmart truck crash emphasizes the dangers of unsafe driving, unsafe driving practices, and violations of safety rules. The driver who caused the crash drove an 18 wheeler, and he had been on duty for about 13 and a half hours. He ignored work zone and speed warning signs.
Before his official workday, the Walmart driver spent 12 hours driving his own vehicle from Georgia to pick up his truck at a Walmart facility in Delaware, he had been awake for 28 consecutive hours at the time of the crash. Morgan was injured, along with eight others, Morgan’s friend was killed, a wrongful death case against Walmart was settled.
A truck accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ can investigate the reasons for the crash and consider hiring a trucking standard of care experts, or an accident reconstructionist. A case that I handled demonstrates the serious consequences of truck driver inattention and likely fatigue.
A group of adults and children were traveling home to Phoenix in their van, eastbound on Interstate 10 near Tonopah. Their vehicle was stopped when it was hit from the rear by a Freightliner tractor-trailer, going sixty miles per hour. My clients’ van was crushed, it rolled, and crashed in the desert. Traumatic injuries were suffered. The driver was negligent, further, the hours he had driven, the time of the wreck, and irregularities in his logs suggested that he was a fatigued driver.
Following a lawsuit, the injured victims received fair settlements for their injuries, medical bills, and lost income. In the event of a fatality caused by a truck crash, a wrongful death claim may be brought by a surviving spouse, child, or parent of the decedent.
The number of damages that a surviving spouse, parent, or child may recover will vary from case to case, damages that are considered may include the following:
- The loss of love, affection, and companionship since the death of the decedent and in the future.
- Pain, grief, sorrow, and mental suffering experienced since the death, and in the future.
- Lost income as a result of death.
Driver Fatigue
A Phoenix, Arizona truck accident lawyer strongly believes that it is the truck driver’s duty to be as safe as possible when traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to transport goods, materials, or other items. If they fail to operate their truck safely, then others on the road can get seriously hurt. Sadly, due to the pressure of the job many truckers may neglect their breaks and rest periods in order to get ahead of schedule, causing severe fatigue. Eyes drooping due to heaviness, frequent yawning, or actually falling asleep while driving can cause a devastating accident in which innocent people are injured.
Signs of Fatigue in Truck Drivers
If you are driving by a trucker that appears to be sleepy, we suggest calling the police right away and then getting as far away from them as possible. Unfortunately, truck drivers may not even notice they’ve gotten so sleepy or do not care because they need to get to a destination on time. Common signs of truck driver fatigue include tired eyes, yawning repeatedly, slowly swerving into another lane, jerky driving movements (as if the driver suddenly woke up), and delayed response to traffic signals.
Other reasons that truckers may become fatigued aside from not getting enough sleep include:
- A truck driver who is antsy to get home to loved ones;
- A truck driver who wants to push through a few more hours to avoid upcoming rush-hour traffic;
- A truck driver who receives bonuses or more money for fewer stops; and
- A trucker skipping a break to make up for lost time due to inclement weather.
How Tired Truckers Cause Accidents
When it comes to truck driver fatigue, it isn’t singularly caused due to long hours behind the wheel or not enough sleep. When sleep is interrupted and the quality of sleep is poor because of the driving schedule, this can largely contribute to fatigue behind the wheel. As a truck accident lawyer Phoenix drivers rely on is fully aware, sometimes truckers violate their federally-mandated breaks in favor of getting the job done sooner. A driver that hasn’t gotten proper rest is increasingly prone to:
- Aggressive driving
- Slowed reaction times
- Poor judgment
- Weak coordination
- Bad decision making
- Decreased ability to process information
- Overusing stimulants to stay awake
To take this point further, research has shown that there are major impacts on a truck driver’s performance when deprived of sleep. In fact, the capacity of those who are awake for 24 hours straight is equivalent to someone who has a BAC of .10 percent. Victims who were harmed due to a drowsy truck driver must take the situation seriously.
Get Help From Our Truck Accident Lawyer in Phoenix. Arizona!
A truck accident lawyer Phoenix, AZ has come to rely on knows that the injuries you sustain after a truck accident are likely so serious that you may need hospital stays and rehabilitative care. After a truck accident, many people may turn to doctors to prescribe them with medication to ease the pain of their injuries or a local chiropractor to help fix the damage done to their bodies. While some people can walk away from truck accidents with minor injuries, it is an unfortunate fact that because of their sheer size and weight, trucks can cause severe injuries and sometimes death. If you or a loved one were in a truck accident and you are looking for compensation for the damage that was done, do not hesitate to call our Phoenix, Arizona truck accident lawyer. We care about getting you the help you need and making sure the person who injured you is held accountable. Speak with our office to set up your initial consultation.
What kind of injuries are typical after a truck accident?
Our truck accident lawyer in Phoenix, AZ has seen clients with many different types of injuries come through our doors. In addition to brain injuries, there are other types of truck accident injuries that are common.
- Neck Injuries. When you get injured in your neck and back, it may be a dislocated disc that is causing you severe pain. If you have a neck injury, you will likely experience a reduced range of motion in how far you are able to turn your head.
- Broken Bones. In any type of accident on the road, broken bones are a possibility. When it comes to trucks, however, because of the force of impact, broken bones are much more likely and can take months to heal.
- Lacerations/Penetration. If there are loose objects in a car it is possible that something could penetrate the driver or passenger or cut them. It is also possible that if the glass in a car breaks, something outside of the car could fly in and penetrate the driver or passenger.
- Spinal Injuries. Spinal injuries can be particularly dangerous because they can go undetected. Because of how severe spinal injuries are, you should seek medical attention after an accident as soon as you can. A doctor can diagnose your injuries and make medical reports outlining the types of injuries you sustained and how the accident directly caused them.
Get Help From a Phoenix, Arizona, Truck Accident Lawyer
Don’t wait to take action if you were harmed by a fatigued truck driver. Now is the time to talk with a reputable attorney who is dedicated to fighting for innocent victims in terrible accidents.
An experienced truck accident lawyer Phoenix, AZ knows from the Law Office of Paul Englander, PLC should be consulted as soon as possible so that an injury claim may be considered.