Bullhead City Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents are some of the most disastrous types of collisions on the road. The average passenger car is no match for the size and mass of an 18-wheeler. Our Bullhead City truck accident lawyers know these accidents often cause catastrophic and fatal physical injuries, as well as expensive property damage and lost wages.
If you or a loved one was recently injured in a truck accident in Bullhead City, Arizona, contact Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers to request a free consultation about your legal rights.
How Do Truck Accidents Differ From Car Accidents?
An experienced accident attorney in Bullhead City will not treat a truck and car accident case the same way. Collisions involving commercial trucks or tractor-trailers are unique in many ways, including:
- Severity of the injuries. The injuries suffered in a truck accident are often more serious than a typical car accident. Truck accident injuries may include crush injuries, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis and loss of limb.
- Federal rules and regulations. All trucking companies in the U.S. have to obey federal laws to increase safety. These laws include hours-of-service restrictions, alcohol testing requirements, cargo securement rules and driver training protocols.
- Size of the adversary. Most trucking companies in Arizona have plenty of resources to use in injury claims. For example, the company may have a rapid response team to the scene of the accident immediately – even before law enforcement.
- Types of evidence. Truck accident cases involve unique types of evidence, such as the black box, data recorders, in-cab video camera footage, truck driver employment records, big rig inspection reports, repair records and truck company compliance reports.
It is important to hire a truck accident attorney who can help you work through these issues and challenges. An attorney can navigate all of the elements that make a truck accident unique, leveling the playing field between you and a powerful trucking company or insurance corporation. A lawyer can also make it easy to focus on healing while a trained and skilled professional handles legal matters.
What Is Negligence in a Truck Accident Case?
During a truck accident insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit in Arizona, it is the injured victim’s legal burden to prove that the defendant more likely than not caused the truck accident. The defendant is the driver or party allegedly at fault for the collision. In general, obtaining compensation for a truck accident requires proof of negligence.
Negligence in personal injury law refers to a careless or intentional breach of one’s duty of care. The duty of care is an obligation to act in a manner that a prudent person would in similar circumstances. Proving negligence takes clear and convincing evidence that the defendant 1) owed you a duty of care, 2) breached this duty, 3) caused your truck accident and 4) gave you compensable losses. These are the four elements of negligence.
Who Is Liable?
Liability for a truck accident in Arizona will go to the person or party most responsible for causing the wreck. This is how the insurance system works in Arizona as a fault-based state. In a typical car accident case, liability goes to the driver who committed an error that caused the crash. A truck accident case, however, may involve the legal theory of vicarious liability.
Vicarious liability means a trucking company can absorb financial responsibility for an accident caused by one of its trucks or drivers. If a careless truck driver caused your crash, therefore, you may have grounds to file a claim with the insurance carrier of the trucking company rather than the individual driver. Other potentially liable parties include the truck’s owner/operator, a cargo company, a truck manufacturer, a repair team and a third-party driver.
Contact a Bullhead City Truck Accident Attorney From Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers Today
Truck accident cases have complicated legal processes. However, you do not have to handle an insurance claim or lawsuit on your own. The Bullhead City, Arizona truck accident lawyers at Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers can help you pursue justice and the financial compensation you need to move forward.
Speak to a compassionate and dedicated personal injury attorney in Bullhead City today. Call (702) 384-1414 or contact us online anytime. We represent injured victims in Bullhead City and the surrounding areas.