Flagstaff Truck Accident Lawyers
Trucks are overrepresented in vehicles involved in fatal collisions as compared to the percentage of registered vehicles they represent in the U.S. However, it is often the passenger cars, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists that suffer life-threatening injuries after a truck accident. Catastrophic injuries can cost a patient an exorbitant amount in medical bills and lost wages, as well as take a significant emotional toll. The Flagstaff truck accident lawyers at Lerner and Rowe understands the magnitude of loss a serious truck accident can cause.
Our team of Flagstaff personal injury attorneys can provide the clarity you need to decide to pursue a Flagstaff truck accident lawsuit and ensure that your rights are protected. We will relentlessly seek the maximum compensation possible on your behalf. Reach out to us at 602-977-1900 to schedule a free consultation or complete a free online case review today.
Why You Should Choose Our Flagstaff Truck Accident Lawyers
When a client who is considering filing a truck accident lawsuit contacts our team, we know to anticipate substantial, ongoing damages and potential delays as liability can be difficult to establish. If you have been severely injured in a Flagstaff truck accident, you can’t afford to hire a personal injury attorney who is unfamiliar with the standard obstacles associated with negotiating a truck accident claim.
As experienced Flagstaff truck accident lawyers, our team at Lerner and Rowe will be meticulous in our investigation of the circumstances of your truck accident, the documenting of your damages, and our approach to negotiating for the compensation you deserve. We are trusted by clients nationwide to negotiate complex claims that can impact their family’s financial future for years to come, which is a responsibility we take very seriously.
For nearly two decades, we have channeled our skills, resources, and efforts into providing the best possible service to our injured clients. This has produced a track record of successful settlements for our team. If you are looking for a committed, knowledgeable truck accident attorney to maximize your compensation, the reliable team at Lerner and Rowe stands ready to negotiate your claim.
Understanding Flagstaff Truck Crashes
Flagstaff has a population of over 70,000 people. It is also a frequent pit stop for truckers making their way across the southwest, as it has an extensive freeway system including major interstates like I-17. The volume of drivers in Flagstaff combined with the heavy presence of trucks on Flagstaff roads increases the risk of truck accidents by proximity alone.
Statewide, about 6% of traffic accidents involve trucks or buses each year. Out of the 157 fatal truck accidents in Arizona in 2022, only 27 of the fatalities were truck drivers. This shows that passenger vehicle occupants often sustain the brunt of the impact in a truck accident. Not only do truck accidents cost Flagstaff residents in terms of their health and safety, but they also cost in terms of taxpayer dollars.
Common Causes of Flagstaff Truck Accidents
The size of semi-trucks and the conditions most truckers operate under can make these types of vehicles more prone to accidents. The average semi-truck with an empty trailer weighs 35,000 pounds and can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. In effect, semi-trucks need more time and space to come to a safe stop. Their impact can be disastrous even at lower speeds, and their height makes it easier for them to tip over. When a semi-truck is operated or loaded carelessly, the risk of a truck accident increases even more.
Due to semi-trucks’ lack of maneuverability and balance issues, truck drivers can’t afford to give anything less than their full attention to the road. However, the circumstances that truck drivers operate under can create conditions that are more conducive to serious accidents. Most truck drivers spend long hours by themselves, which can leave them susceptible to becoming distracted or drowsy. The pressure of delivery deadlines can also encourage negligent driving behaviors, such as speeding or aggressive driving, in order to reach their destination sooner. Common causes of truck accidents include:
- Reckless maneuvering
- Ignoring traffic laws
- Mechanical failures
- Poor road maintenance
Serious Injuries From Flagstaff Truck Accidents
Survivors of truck accidents typically emerge with serious or life-threatening injuries after colliding with a vehicle 20 times the weight of their car. Even with the protection afforded by seatbelts and airbags, the impact of a loaded semi-truck is powerful enough to slam a passenger car occupant into the dashboard or against a window, launch them from the vehicle, or crush them.
The additional weight of the truck can make it difficult for first responders to extract car accident victims, delaying potentially life-saving treatment. Truck accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Crush injury
- Whiplash injury
- Soft tissue injury
- Fractured or broken bones
- Deep lacerations
- Contusions
- Severe burns
- Dental and facial injuries
Truck accident victims should immediately seek medical treatment, even if they appear unharmed. The sheer force exerted on the body in a truck accident can cause significant internal damage even if the occupant did not collide with a hard surface, and prompt treatment can minimize the risk of additional damage. It is also important to have a record of your treatment in case the representatives for the defendant try to trivialize your injuries and offer you a lower settlement than your claim is worth.
What Damages Are Available in a Flagstaff Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Damages are losses the plaintiff experiences as a result of the injuries they sustained in an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence. Compensatory damages are meant to refund plaintiffs for the monetary value of their losses so that they are, in theory, no worse off than they were before the truck accident. Truck accident injuries typically inflict substantial economic damages on the injured party, which refers to the financial costs they experience as a result of their injuries.
The second type of compensatory damages is known as non-economic damages, and they acknowledge a plaintiff’s emotional and intangible losses stemming from their injury. For many truck accident survivors, the emotional toll of recovering from their injuries and potentially losing a loved one in the crash can be just as harmful as their physical injuries. Damages in a Flagstaff truck accident lawsuit may include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
Consider a driver who lost a leg after sustaining a crush injury in an underride truck accident. It takes them over a year to recover from the amputation surgery, attend physical therapy, and adjust to a prosthetic leg. During that time, they struggle to keep a regular work schedule due to chronic pain and get passed over for the promotion they were on track for.
They also miss a season of coaching their kid’s soccer team. Even months after the truck accident, they find themselves struggling with PTSD from the crash. A truck accident claim allows plaintiffs like this to recover the compensation they deserve to help them heal.
Why You Need Our Flagstaff Truck Accident Attorneys
When an insurance company receives a claim pertaining to a truck accident, they know to be prepared for extensive damages. They are motivated to settle for the lowest amount the plaintiff will accept to avoid a major hit to their profits, so they are likely to resist settling an expensive truck accident claim without significant pushback. You need a formidable truck accident attorney who possesses the skill set and legal knowledge to demand fair compensation for your damages.
Hiring a reputable truck accident attorney also signals to the insurance company that you intend to actively pursue a settlement that covers your damages, as opposed to submitting a claim and hoping for the best. Personal injury attorneys with truck accident experience are also more likely to only represent clients who have legitimate personal injury claims, as they do not get paid unless they can settle the case.
Flagstaff truck accident lawyers provide many valuable services, including drafting statements for the insurance company, preparing you for depositions, collecting evidence to meet the burden of proof, crafting negotiating strategy, managing administrative responsibilities, and protecting your right to seek compensation for your damages after you have been injured by another party’s negligence. Without a capable truck accident lawyer representing you, you run the risk of recovering less compensation than the insurance company potentially would have settled for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flagstaff Truck Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a Flagstaff truck accident claim?
Arizona law gives injured parties a window of two years within which they can file a personal injury claim to attempt to recover compensation for damages. That means as soon as you have been injured in a Flagstaff truck accident, the two-year period to file a claim begins. Judges may have the discretion to be flexible in when the period officially starts, such as in a case where a plaintiff was unaware that they were injured until several weeks after the truck accident, but plaintiffs should not depend on this. Instead, get medical attention as soon as possible and secure a Flagstaff personal injury attorney to evaluate your claim.
Is the truck driver always liable for my damages?
Truck accidents are unusual in that third-party liability can be more common. That means that the truck driver’s actions were not at-fault for the crash, and rather another party’s negligence is responsible. Examples of potentially liable third parties include:
- The owner of the truck
- The truck driver’s employer
- The cargo loader
- The manufacturer of the cargo
- The truck parts manufacturer
In some cases, multiple parties may share liability. This can quickly complicate your claim, as each party is motivated to minimize their own share of the fault, which can lead to delays in negotiations as the parties determine liability.
How much does it cost to hire a Flagstaff truck accident attorney?
You do not have to pay your truck accident attorney for their services prior to receiving your settlement, nor do you have to pay them out of your own pocket. Instead, your personal injury lawyer will represent you to the best of their ability to settle your claim. Then, they recover a contingency fee out of the settlement or court awards. The fee is usually equal to about a third of whatever amount is recovered. If they are not able to settle your truck accident claim, you do not have to pay them anything.
Contact the Flagstaff Truck Accident Attorneys of Lerner and Rowe
At Lerner and Rowe, we believe that you deserve to have the full extent of your damages acknowledged and the party responsible for your injuries held accountable. Your truck accident injuries may have altered your career path, caused you to experience financial instability, and compromised your quality of life. While we can’t undo the damage caused by the truck accident, our team will remain committed to maximizing your compensation throughout the personal injury claims process.
We will remain accessible to you to offer support, answer questions, and provide updates. As Flagstaff truck accident lawyers, we understand how stressful the claim process appears to new clients, but we want to reassure you that we will help you navigate any challenges that arise so that you can focus on your recovery.
A Flagstaff truck accident can irrevocably alter your life, but you do not have to absorb the financial, physical, and emotional ramifications without compensation. At Lerner and Rowe, we have the skills and knowledge to secure a fair settlement for you. We highly recommend that you give us a call at 602-977-1900 to schedule a free consultation or complete a free online case review today. The personal injury attorneys of Lerner and Rowe are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve in a Flagstaff truck accident lawsuit.