If You'Ve been in a  TRUCK accident in MESA, Arizona, contact us today

THINGS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED

IN a Truck or Semi-Truck accident in Mesa, Arizona

What to Do If You've Been in a Truck or Semi-Truck Accident in Mesa, Arizona

Being involved in a car accident can be life changing. In the case of a collision with a truck or semi-truck, it can be many times worse. In either case, taking the right steps immediately afterward protects your health, legal rights, and ability to recover compensation.

Arizona is a fault-based (at-fault) state, meaning the driver or party responsible for the crash (or their insurance) is liable for damages. Truck and semi-truck accidents, however, differ significantly from standard car crashes due to the vehicles' massive size (semi-trucks can weigh 20–30 times more than passenger cars), longer stopping distances (up to 40 times greater), and involvement of commercial operations, often leading to more severe injuries, fatalities (2.6% fatality rate vs. 0.46% for car crashes), and complex liability involving multiple parties like trucking companies, manufacturers, or cargo loaders.

Below is a practical, step-by-step overview based on Arizona law and best practices, with notes on key differences for truck/semi-truck crashes.

1. Immediate Safety and Legal Obligations at the Scene

• Stop immediately and stay at the scene. Leaving without exchanging information or reporting (when required) is a hit-and-run, which can result in severe penalties, including jail time (Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-661 et seq.).
• Move vehicles out of traffic if safe and possible; turn on hazard lights.
• Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone needs medical help (truck crashes often involve hazardous cargo spills or fires, so alert responders to potential dangers like flammable materials).
• Exchange information with all other drivers involved:
• Full name, address, phone number, and driver's license number.
• Vehicle make/model/year, license plate, and VIN.
• Insurance company name, policy number, and contact info.
• If the vehicle is owned by someone else (e.g., rental or company car), get the owner's info (crucial for truck/semi accidents, where you should also obtain the trucking company's name, USDOT number, and cargo details ,e.g., hazardous materials manifest, to trace liability beyond the driver).
• Get contact details from any witnesses.
• Take photos/videos of damage, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and injuries—include truck-specific elements like brake marks (longer due to weight), load securement, or black box (electronic logging device) indicators.
• Do not admit fault or discuss blame, even saying "I'm sorry" can be used against you later. Truck companies often deploy rapid-response teams to the scene, so remain cautious.

Truck/Semi Difference: These crashes require immediate involvement of specialized responders (e.g., hazmat teams for spills) and more extensive documentation, as federal regulations (FMCSA) add layers of evidence like hours-of-service logs.

2. Report the Accident

• Call police to the scene if there are injuries, significant damage, or disputes. Police will create an official report, which is crucial evidence (truck accidents often trigger FMCSA or ADOT investigations for violations like overloading).
• Arizona law requires a written report (usually by police) for accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $2,000 (ARS § 28-667).
• If no police respond and the crash meets reporting thresholds, you must file an Arizona Traffic Accident Report form with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) within 10 days (Commercial truck crashes may also require FMCSA reporting within 30 days if they involve fatalities or serious injuries).
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Truck/Semi Difference: Higher damage thresholds are often exceeded due to the force of impact, and reports must note commercial vehicle specifics (e.g., weight limits: 80,000 lbs max for multi-axle trucks under ARS § 28-109). ADOT data shows ~12,000 large truck crashes annually, vs. over 100,000 car crashes.

3. Seek Medical Attention — Do NOT Delay

Even if you feel "fine" due to adrenaline, many serious injuries have delayed symptoms that appear hours, days, or weeks later:

• Whiplash/soft tissue injuries (neck/back pain, stiffness).
• Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (headaches, dizziness, confusion).
• Internal bleeding, organ damage, or fractures.
• Emotional/psychological issues (anxiety, PTSD).

Why prompt treatment is critical:

• Untreated injuries can worsen and become chronic or permanent.
• Insurance companies often argue that a delay in treatment means your injuries weren't caused by the accident or aren't serious—this can drastically reduce or deny your claim.
• Medical records from the day of (or soon after) the crash create an unbreakable link between the accident and your injuries.

Go to the ER, urgent care, or your doctor immediately. Follow all treatment plans, attend follow-ups, and keep detailed records of everything.

Truck/Semi Difference: Impacts are far more catastrophic (e.g., higher risk of crush injuries, amputations, or spinal damage from the truck's height and mass), leading to lifelong disabilities and higher medical costs—prompt care is even more vital to counter defenses claiming "minor" damage.

4. Contact an Arizona Personal Injury Attorney BEFORE Speaking in Detail to Insurance Companies

• Attorney first is strongly recommended if there are injuries or significant damage—essential for truck/semi cases, where specialized knowledge of FMCSA rules (e.g., hours-of-service violations causing fatigue) is needed to hold companies accountable. Experienced Arizona truck accident lawyers offer free consultations and work on contingency (no fee unless you win).
• An attorney will:
• Advise what to say (or not say) to avoid hurting your claim.
• Handle all communication and negotiations (vital against aggressive trucking insurers with in-house legal teams).
• Gather evidence (police reports, medical records, witness statements); including truck inspections, driver logs, and telematics data.
• Ensure you aren't lowballed by adjusters whose job is to pay as little as possible.
• You must notify your own insurance company promptly (most policies require this), but limit it to basic facts. Avoid giving recorded statements to the other driver's insurer without legal guidance, trucking firms often pressure quick, low settlements.

Truck/Semi Difference: Multiple liable parties (driver, employer, maintainers) complicate claims, often requiring federal expertise; settlements are higher but harder-fought.

5. Key Arizona Laws That Apply to Injured Victims

Law-Details- Why It Matters

Truck/Semi Notes

Pure Comparative Negligence (ARS § 12-2505)

You can recover damages even if you were partly at fault, but, your award is reduced by your percentage of blame (e.g., 20% at fault = 20% less compensation). You can recover as long as you are not 100% at fault.

Arizona is one of the most claimant-friendly states on shared fault.

Applies equally, but truck cases scrutinize FMCSA violations (e.g., speeding over 65 mph limit under ARS § 28-709) to shift blame to the commercial party.

Statute of Limitations (ARS § 12-542)

In most circumstances you have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit (3 years for property damage only).

Miss the deadline and you lose your right to sue forever.

Truck accidents have the same timeline, but evidence like truck logs degrades quickly, so act faster.

Note: The timeframe for your case may be much shorter, possibly as short as six months.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

$25,000 bodily injury per person/$50,000 per accident/$15,000 property damage. Many drivers carry only minimums, which may not cover serious injuries.

If the at-fault driver is underinsured, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage can help.

Commercial trucks must carry much higher limits (often $750,000+ per FMCSA), enabling larger recoveries but triggering aggressive defenses.

No-Fault vs. Fault State

Arizona is at-fault—the responsible driver's insurance pays (not your own PIP like in no-fault states).

You typically file against the other driver's liability coverage.

Same system, but truck crashes invoke federal HOS rules (max driving hours) and weight limits (e.g., 80,000 lbs), expanding liability to employers for negligence.

Additional Tips

• Document everything: Keep a file with medical bills, repair estimates, lost wage proof, and a pain/symptom journal (add truck-specifics like DOT numbers or load manifests).
• Do not post about the accident on social media—insurers monitor this, especially trucking companies using it to dispute claims.
• Be cautious of early settlement offers—they are usually far below what your case is worth once all injuries are known, particularly in high-stakes truck cases.

If you've been injured—especially in a truck or semi-truck crash—the most important next step is protecting your health and your legal rights. Consult an experienced Mesa Arizona personal injury attorney as soon as possible—many victims recover significantly more with professional representation than handling claims alone, and truck cases often yield higher settlements due to added liabilities.

This overview is for general information and is not legal advice; laws can change, so speak with a licensed attorney for your specific situation.