Yuma Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial Truck Can Cause Serious Damage

Commercial trucks are truly a sight to behold. These behemoths weigh up to 80,000 when fully loaded with cargo! Unfortunately, when commercial trucks are sharing the road with average passenger cars, large commercial trucks risk colliding with smaller vehicles. On average, a regular car weighs around 4,000 pounds. This is no match for a semi-truck with a full load. More often than not, the people inside the passenger car sustain devastating injuries and even death.

Negligent commercial truck drivers and trucking companies must be held accountable. At Karnas Law Firm, PLLC, our accident attorneys are devoted to protecting the legal rights and financial interests of injured victims. If you or your loved one was hurt in a trucking accident, we are here to help. To set up a free, no obligation consultation with a top-rated Arizona truck accident lawyer, please contact our Yuma law office today.

The Steps to Take After a Tractor Trailer Accident in Yuma, Arizona

Were you hurt in a tractor trailer accident in Yuma County? It is essential that you take proactive steps to protect yourself and your best interests. You cannot rely on insurance companies to do what is right for your family. Here are five steps to take after a trucking crash in Yuma:

1. Always Take Care of Your Medical Needs First: Large truck crashes are disproportionately likely to cause severe, even life-changing injuries. In the aftermath of a tractor trailer accident, the first step you should take is to seek medical attention for yourself and anyone else involved in the collision. You may be more severely hurt than you initially believe. Beyond that, medical documentation is a required step to bring a personal injury claim. 
2. Report the Collision to Law Enforcement: All tractor trailer crashes should be reported to law enforcement. Arizona law requires motorists involved in an injury crash—whether large commercial truck or otherwise—to report the collision to the police. Be sure to report your accident to the Yuma Police Department, the Arizona Highway Patrol, or another law enforcement agency. 
3. Document the Truck Accident: Neither a trucker nor a truck company is automatically at fault for a crash. These cases are based on negligence. It is crucial that you have as much evidence as possible. While you wait for the police to arrive, try to document the scene of the accident as much as possible. Take photos of the damage to your vehicle, any road markings or signs, and the surrounding area. If there are witnesses, obtain their contact information. 
4. Be Careful When Dealing With Insurance Adjusters: The big insurance companies are not on your side—especially in commercial truck accident cases. It is their fundamental objective to resolve claims for less. They put a lot of their resources towards training individual adjusters to protect the financial interests of the company as a whole.  
5. Speak With a Yuma Truck Accident Attorney: The single most important thing that you can do after a truck accident to protect your rights is to schedule a free, no obligation initial consultation with an experienced Yuma, AZ commercial truck accident lawyer. Your lawyer will help you take whatever action is needed to get justice and full financial compensation.

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Accidents Happen All The Time

Dangerous truck accidents take place on a daily basis in and around Yuma, often destroying the lives of drivers and passengers in lighter cars. If you’re a recent victim of a truck accident, you know that coming into contact with a large truck on the highway is no joke. And if you’ve sustained injuries or have a family member who lost their lives as the result of an accident, it’s essential for you to know that you’re entitled to compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering.

To earn the maximum settlement the law from the insurance company and or the responsible party, you first must obtain the help of our experienced truck accident lawyers.

Common Reasons for Yuma Truck Accidents

Yuma truck accidents take place for many reasons, but some of the most common causes can be attributed to truck driver error. From not getting enough rest to failing to properly maintain their trucks, drivers are often responsible for tragic accidents. Other common reasons for truck accidents in Yuma include:

• Bad Road Conditions
• Severe Weather
• Distracted Driving
• …and more.

If you’ve been injured in a Yuma truck accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for the injuries you sustained. A Yuma truck accident lawyer with Karnas Law Firm will investigate all aspects of your case to determine the best course of action.

Who is Responsible for a Yuma Truck Accident?

Truck accident victims have rights after surviving a powerful collision. The main difference between a car accident and a commercial truck accident is that, with truck accidents, there may be more parties responsible for the oversight that led to the crash. Some of the parties that may be held accountable for the accident include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The shop responsible for trucking repairs
• The company that manufactured the trucker’s equipment
• The shipper or loader of the truck’s cargo
• The owner of the truck or tractor-trailer
• The company that leased the truck from the owner

Truck accident attorneys must conduct deep investigations into these cases that go beyond the scope of a typical car accident. Our attorneys have decades of experience following the trail to unravel the true cause for our clients’ accidents. We work hard to hold each potential party accountable for their negligence.

What to Know About Truck Accident Liability in Arizona

Arizona is a fault-based truck accident state, meaning that the person or entity that caused the accident is responsible for compensating the victim for their damages. Any part that contributed to a crash through negligence—failure to take due care—can be held responsible. Examples of negligence that can contribute to truck accidents include: 

• Speeding; 
• Distracted driving; 
• Intoxicated driving;
• Overly fatigued driving;
• Companies hiring under trained drivers;
• Poorly loaded trailers; and
• Improperly inspected trucks. 

In Arizona, the standard of comparative negligence is used to determine fault in truck accidents (A.R.S. § 12-2505). Parties to a tractor trailer crash can be held responsible for their assigned “share” of the fault. Victims may even be partially at-fault. As an example, a truck accident victim may be deemed 25 percent at fault for their own crash. If so, they will be liable for 25 percent of their own damages—meaning they can only recover for the remaining 75 percent. 

A detail-driven investigation is a must. Investigating liability in truck accidents can be complex, as multiple parties may be involved. It is imperative that you have an experienced Yuma truck accident attorney who can thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the accident and identify all responsible parties. By doing so, your attorney can ensure that their client receives the maximum compensation possible for their injuries and damages.

Be Proactive: Two-Year Statute of Limitations in Truck Accident Claims

There is a strict deadline to file a truck accident injury claim. Under (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542), there is a two-year statute of limitations for truck accident cases. What does that mean? You have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Otherwise, your claim will be time-barred by law. It will be automatically dismissed unless filed before the deadline. While there are some exceptions, they are narrow. Protect yourself by consulting with a Yuma truck accident lawyer right away.

Common Compensation for Commercial Truck Accidents

If you’ve been hurt in a commercial truck accident, you may be suffering a significant amount of loss. You may be spending time away from your family as you recover in a hospital. You may be losing funds from missing work, and on top of it all, you may be in severe pain. Rest assured, you do not have to resolve this complicated case alone.

Our attorneys fully believe you deserve justice and fight for every cent you need to heal by law. At Karnas Law Firm, we have more than 25 years of experience helping clients receive compensation for their losses, including but not limited to compensation for:

• All medical expenses
• In-home care
• Cost of psychological and psychiatric treatment
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Pain & Suffering

Yuma Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers on Your Side: Why Choose the Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers of Karnas Law Firm

A great truck accident attorney will fight for you and your family to help you earn the settlement you are entitled to. If you’re looking for a great truck accident attorney in Yuma, Arizona, look no further than Karnas Law Firm. Our dedicated and trusted Yuma truck accident lawyers have been practicing personal injury and family law for more than 25 years and have earned over $50 million in settlements for their clients. We are proactive and solutions-focused. When you contact us at our Yuma law office, you will have a chance to connect with an Arizona truck accident lawyer who can:

• Conduct a comprehensive and confidential review of your case;
• Investigate the truck accident in Yuma County, securing the relevant evidence;
• Deal with all of the legal and insurance paperwork; 
• Build a strong case to help maximize your compensation; and
• Take whatever action is necessary to get you justice and the best results. 

Our Arizona Truck Accident Lawyer Represents Truck Accident Victims in Yuma on a Contingency Fee Basis

The Karnas Law Firm is devoted to protecting the best interests of injured truck accident victims. You never have to worry about upfront costs or out-of-pocket expenses with our legal team. We represent truck accident victims on contingency. A contingency fee agreement is a type of fee arrangement between an attorney and a client, where the attorney is paid a percentage of the settlement or award the client receives. In other words, the attorney only gets paid payment if the client wins their case. We will review your truck accident claim for free. There is no obligation.

Contact Our Yuma, AZ Commercial Truck Accident Attorneys Today For Your Truck Accident Claim

To answer all of your questions and ensure you feel as comfortable as possible before we take on your case, we provide free initial consultations. We listen to our clients to establish a customized and strategic approach to their case. Learn more about how our team can advocate on your behalf by calling (928) 323-0456 to reach our Yuma law office for your free consultation. Our personal injury law firm handles truck accident claims in Yuma and throughout the surrounding region, including in San Luis, Fortuna Foothills, Wellton, Somerton, Roll, and Gadsen.