Steps to Protect Your Health & Claim After a Semi-Truck Crash
The first 72 hours are a practical guide for taking early action after a truck accident, not a general legal filing deadline. If more time has passed, you may still have options. An experienced Arizona truck accident attorney can help you understand your rights and determine the next steps.
Key Points
- Get medical attention immediately. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can mask serious injuries. Insurance companies also scrutinize gaps in medical treatment.
- Preserve evidence early. Federal rules generally require trucking companies to retain hours-of-service records for six months. Certain video footage and vehicle data may have shorter preservation windows.
- Be careful with insurance companies. You are generally not required to give the trucking company’s insurer a recorded statement.
- Don’t rush into a settlement. An early settlement and release generally ends your ability to pursue additional compensation for the same accident.
- Understand Arizona’s filing deadlines. Arizona generally allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims involving government entities can have much shorter notice requirements, including a 180-day deadline.
A semi-truck accident can change your life in seconds. You may be dealing with serious injuries, a damaged vehicle, mounting medical bills and uncertainty about what happens next.
Meanwhile, the trucking company and its insurance representatives may already be working to protect their interests.
Trucking companies often have investigators, claims adjusters and defense attorneys who understand how to build a case. They may begin collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and evaluating potential defenses almost immediately.
Your priority should be different: protect your health, preserve important evidence and understand your legal options.
The first 72 hours after a semi-truck accident are an important window. Decisions made during this time can influence your medical recovery, the availability of critical evidence and the strength of a future injury claim.
If you’ve been involved in a semi-truck accident in Arizona, here’s what you need to know.
Semi-Truck Crashes by the Numbers
Large-truck crashes killed 5,340 people in the United States in 2024. An estimated 161,201 people were injured. Of those killed, 70% were occupants of vehicles other than the large trucks.
Arizona experienced 140 deaths in large-truck crashes in 2024, including 96 people in other vehicles and 15 pedestrians or cyclists.
These numbers highlight the serious risks commercial truck accidents pose to everyone sharing the road.
Measure | Figure | Source |
U.S. fatalities in large-truck crashes, 2024 | 5,340 | NHTSA |
Estimated U.S. injuries in large-truck crashes, 2024 | 161,201 | NHTSA |
People killed who were in other vehicles | 70% | NHTSA |
Arizona fatalities in large-truck crashes, 2024 | 140 | NHTSA |
Truck tractors involved in Arizona crashes, 2024 | 3,245 | ADOT |
Truck tractors involved in fatal Arizona crashes, 2024 | 106 | ADOT |
Arizona traffic fatalities, 2025 | 1,156 | ADOT |
Sources: NHTSA: Large Trucks – 2024 Data | Arizona Department of Transportation: 2024 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts | Arizona 2025 Traffic Fatality Data
Your First 72 Hours vs. the Trucking Company’s
The trucking company and its insurer may begin investigating immediately after a crash. You should also take steps to protect your health and preserve important information.
Time | What You Should Do | What the Trucking Company May Be Doing |
At the scene | Call 911. If safe, photograph the truck’s USDOT number, license plates and trailer. Collect witness information. | The driver reports the crash to dispatch. The carrier may send investigators. |
First 24 hours | Get medical attention, even if you feel fine. Tell medical providers a semi-truck was involved. Start an evidence folder. | The company may gather statements from the driver and witnesses. |
24–48 hours | Decline recorded statements from the opposing insurer. Keep your vehicle unrepaired. Avoid posting about the crash online. | An adjuster may contact you. The insurer may evaluate an early settlement offer. |
48–72 hours | Speak with a truck accident attorney about preserving evidence and sending a spoliation letter. | The truck may be repaired, and certain electronic data may be overwritten or become unavailable. |
Federal Post-Accident Testing Deadlines
Federal regulations establish specific post-accident drug and alcohol testing requirements for qualifying commercial motor vehicle crashes.
Alcohol testing: When required, testing should occur as soon as practicable, generally within two hours. If it cannot be completed within two hours, the employer must document the reason. Testing generally cannot be conducted after eight hours.
Drug testing: When required, testing must occur as soon as practicable and no later than 32 hours after the accident.
Federal rules require post-accident testing following a fatal crash. For certain crashes involving an injury treated away from the scene or a vehicle towed away, testing is required when the truck driver receives a qualifying traffic citation.
These deadlines are governed by 49 CFR § 382.303
1. Prioritize Your Health: Get Medical Attention Immediately
Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible after a semi-truck accident, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline and shock can temporarily mask pain and other symptoms of serious injury.
A collision involving an 18-wheeler can generate tremendous force. You may not immediately recognize the full extent of your injuries.
Don’t Fall Into the Gap in Medical Care
Waiting several days to receive medical attention can create unnecessary complications for both your health and your injury claim.
You might assume your soreness will go away or believe your injuries aren’t serious enough to require treatment. However, insurance companies frequently scrutinize gaps in medical care.
If you wait several days before seeing a doctor, an adjuster may argue that:
- Your injuries weren’t serious enough to require immediate treatment.
- Your condition developed after the accident.
- Your injuries were caused by an unrelated event.
- Your medical treatment was unnecessary or unrelated to the collision.
These arguments don’t automatically defeat a claim. However, they can make it more difficult to establish the connection between the accident and your injuries.
Get evaluated as soon as possible, even if you believe your injuries are minor. If you experience an emergency or potentially life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Can Adrenaline Hide Injuries After a Truck Crash?
Yes. Adrenaline and other stress hormones can temporarily change how you perceive pain after a traumatic event. You might feel surprisingly alert or experience little discomfort immediately following a collision.
That doesn’t mean you’re uninjured.
Some potentially serious injuries may not produce obvious symptoms right away, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Concussions and other brain injuries can cause headaches, confusion, dizziness and memory problems. Symptoms may develop or become more noticeable over time.
- Internal injuries: Blunt-force trauma can cause internal bleeding or organ damage that may not be immediately apparent.
- Spinal injuries: Damage to the vertebrae, discs or spinal cord can cause pain, numbness, weakness and other neurological symptoms.
- Soft-tissue injuries: Damage to muscles, ligaments and tendons may become increasingly painful as inflammation develops.
Never use the absence of immediate pain as a reason to skip a medical evaluation.
Follow Your Treatment Plan and Document Your Care
Following your treatment plan supports your recovery, while accurate medical records help connect your injuries to the crash and support the losses included in your personal injury claim.
In an Arizona truck accident case, treatment records serve three important purposes:
- Help establish the connection to the crash. Dated medical notes document when symptoms began, your diagnoses and your provider’s findings about what caused or aggravated your injuries.
- Document the extent of your losses. Test results, specialist evaluations and progress notes can show injury severity, pain, physical limitations and anticipated future care. Medical bills and receipts document treatment expenses.
- Show reasonable efforts to recover. Following medically appropriate recommendations helps demonstrate that you took reasonable steps to limit avoidable worsening of your injuries.
Attend recommended follow-up appointments, specialist visits, testing and rehabilitation. Describe your symptoms and limitations accurately, including how they affect work and daily activities. Report new or worsening symptoms promptly.
If cost, transportation or scheduling problems interfere with treatment, discuss them with your provider and attorney so the reasons for interruptions in care can be documented.
Keep organized copies of medical records, discharge instructions, test results, appointment summaries, prescriptions, bills and receipts. These materials help your attorney explain your medical needs and substantiate the losses you are claiming.
2. Preserve Critical Evidence Before It Disappears
Preserve evidence early because not all trucking evidence is kept indefinitely. A semi-truck accident claim often depends on evidence an ordinary car accident investigation might not uncover.
Commercial trucks generate substantial amounts of electronic and operational data. This information can help establish how fast the truck was traveling, how long the driver had been on the road, whether the vehicle was properly maintained and what happened immediately before the collision.
How Long Do Trucking Companies Keep ELD Records and Other Truck Data?
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations generally require motor carriers to retain drivers’ hours-of-service records and supporting documents for six months. Certain video footage and vehicle data may be subject to different retention policies or shorter preservation windows.
Record | Federal Requirement | Regulation |
Driver’s records of duty status (hours-of-service logs) and supporting documents | Six months from the date received | 49 CFR § 395.8(k)(1) |
Backup copy of electronic logging device records | Six months, on a separate device | 49 CFR § 395.22(i) |
Post-accident alcohol testing, when required | Generally within two hours; no testing after eight hours | 49 CFR § 382.303 |
Post-accident drug testing, when required | Within 32 hours | 49 CFR § 382.303 |
After applicable retention periods expire, a trucking company may no longer be required to keep certain records under those regulations.
Other electronic information, including video footage and vehicle data, may have different retention policies.
Potentially valuable evidence includes:
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) records: Documents related to a driver’s hours of service and driving activity.
- Event Data Recorder (EDR) information: Also commonly called black box data, this may capture vehicle speed, braking and other operating conditions surrounding a collision.
- GPS and telematics records: Can help establish the truck’s location, route and movement before the crash.
- Dashcam footage: May capture the moments leading up to the collision.
- Driver communications: Dispatch messages, electronic communications and other records may help establish what the driver was doing or being instructed to do.
- Inspection and maintenance records: Can reveal whether the trucking company properly maintained its vehicles and addressed known mechanical problems.
A formal evidence preservation demand, commonly called a spoliation letter, can put the trucking company on notice that relevant evidence must be preserved.
A spoliation letter does not guarantee that every record will be retained. However, it is an important step in protecting potentially critical evidence.
This is one reason contacting an experienced truck accident attorney early can be so important. An attorney can identify relevant evidence and send preservation requests before important information is lost.
Your Personal Evidence Preservation Checklist
Keep a dedicated physical or digital folder containing your medical, accident, vehicle and expense records. You don’t need to conduct your own accident investigation, but preserving information can help protect your claim.
Truck and Driver Information
- The trucking company’s name and USDOT number, usually displayed on the cab door.
- The truck’s license plate and the trailer’s license plate or number.
- The truck driver’s name, phone number, commercial driver’s license number and issuing state.
- The trucking company’s insurance company and policy number.
- Photos of the truck, trailer and any cargo that shifted or spilled, if safely obtainable.
The USDOT number is particularly useful. It identifies the motor carrier and allows an attorney to look up its federal safety record.
Medical Documentation
- Emergency room and hospital discharge papers.
- Medical bills and prescription receipts.
- Names and contact information for treating physicians.
- Medical appointment summaries and test results.
Accident and Police Information
- The responding police agency’s name.
- Names and badge numbers of responding officers, if available.
- The police report number.
- Contact information for witnesses.
- Photographs and videos of the accident scene, vehicle damage and visible injuries, if safely obtainable.
Vehicle and Property Information
- Towing company information and receipts.
- The name and location of the tow yard storing your vehicle.
- Vehicle storage and inspection documentation.
- Photographs of vehicle damage before repairs or disposal.
Communications and Expenses
- Insurance correspondence and claim numbers.
- Emails, letters and text messages from insurance representatives.
- Receipts for accident-related expenses.
- Documentation of missed work and lost income.
Don’t repair, dispose of or authorize the destruction of your damaged vehicle before speaking with an attorney about whether it should be inspected and preserved as evidence.
Even seemingly minor details can help establish what happened and how the accident has affected your life.
3. Protect Yourself From Trucking Insurance Company Tactics
The trucking company’s insurance adjuster may call you sooner than you expect. The representative may sound friendly, sympathetic and eager to help, but they represent the insurance company’s interests, not yours.
Here are two common tactics to watch for.
Do I Have to Give the Trucking Insurer a Recorded Statement?
You are generally not required to give the trucking company’s insurer a recorded statement simply because they ask for one. Anything you say could become part of the insurer’s claim file and potentially be used against you later.
An adjuster may explain that a recorded statement is a routine part of the claims process or suggest that providing one will help move your claim forward.
Before agreeing, understand that your words can be taken out of context.
For example, imagine an adjuster calls you a day after the collision and asks how you’re feeling.
You casually respond: “I’m doing okay, thanks.”
It sounds like an ordinary, polite response. But an insurance representative could later point to that statement as evidence that you weren’t seriously injured.
Similarly, an innocent comment about not seeing the truck, being distracted or feeling unsure about what happened could be used to challenge your account.
You may also be asked questions about your medical history, previous injuries or activities immediately before the collision.
Politely decline a recorded statement until you’ve spoken with an attorney. An attorney can also help you understand any reporting requirements under your own insurance policy.
Should I Accept a Quick Settlement From the Trucking Insurer?
You should not accept a quick settlement from the trucking insurer before you understand your injuries, anticipated losses and the terms of any settlement release.
Signing a settlement release can prevent you from seeking additional compensation for the claims and parties it covers, even if your injuries later prove more serious than expected.
A quick payment may feel appealing when medical bills, missed paychecks and unexpected expenses are piling up. However, an early offer may arrive before you know how much treatment you will need or how your injuries will affect your ability to work. Some injuries require ongoing rehabilitation, additional surgery or long-term care.
Before accepting any settlement, make sure you understand:
- Your medical outlook: Your diagnosed injuries, recovery expectations and potential lasting limitations.
- Your treatment needs: Whether surgery, rehabilitation, specialist appointments or other future care may be necessary.
- Your financial losses: Current expenses, anticipated medical costs, lost income and any reduction in future earning capacity.
- The offer’s scope: Whether it accounts for the injuries and losses you are agreeing to settle.
- The release’s terms: Which claims and parties it covers and what rights you would give up.
An attorney can review the offer and release, explain their potential consequences and help you assess whether the settlement addresses your documented losses and reasonably anticipated future needs.
What Not to Do in the First 72 Hours
A few common mistakes during the first three days can make a truck accident claim harder to prove. Avoid these:
- Don’t apologize or guess about fault. Stick to the facts. A polite “I’m sorry” or “I didn’t see the truck” can be taken out of context.
- Don’t give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurer before speaking with an attorney.
- Don’t sign medical authorizations or releases from the trucking company’s insurer without legal advice. A broad authorization can open your entire medical history to review.
- Don’t accept an early settlement before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
- Don’t post about the crash, your injuries or your activities online. Insurers may review public social media posts.
- Don’t repair or dispose of your vehicle before an attorney determines whether it should be inspected and preserved as evidence.
- Don’t skip follow-up appointments. Gaps in treatment can be used to argue that your injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the crash.
4. How Are Semi-Truck Accident Claims Different From Car Accident Claims?
Semi-truck accident claims differ because trucking companies operate under federal and state safety rules that don’t apply to ordinary motorists in the same way. As a result, an investigation often examines the company’s business practices as well as the collision itself.
Commercial trucking companies are responsible for maintaining safe vehicles, properly qualifying drivers and following applicable transportation regulations.
Understanding these responsibilities is important when determining who may be responsible for an accident.
Who Can Be Liable for a Semi-Truck Accident in Arizona?
The truck driver, trucking company, cargo loading company, maintenance contractor and other companies or individuals may share responsibility for a semi-truck crash, depending on the circumstances.
Potentially liable parties include:
- The truck driver: A driver may be responsible for speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, impaired driving or other negligent behavior.
- The trucking company: A motor carrier may be responsible for negligent hiring, inadequate training, unsafe scheduling, poor supervision or failure to maintain its fleet.
- The cargo loading company: Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can cause a truck to become unstable, lose control or create dangerous road conditions.
- The maintenance contractor: A company responsible for inspecting or repairing a commercial truck may be liable if negligent maintenance contributes to a collision.
- Other companies or individuals: Depending on the circumstances, additional parties may have contributed to the accident.
Identifying all potentially responsible parties is important because it can affect how an injury claim is investigated and pursued.
How Do FMCSA Rules Affect a Truck Accident Claim?
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration safety regulations govern many interstate trucking companies and drivers. Records required under these rules, such as a driver’s electronic logs, may help establish whether a problem like driver fatigue contributed to a collision.
The FMCSA establishes safety regulations covering important areas such as:
- Driver hours of service and fatigue prevention.
- Commercial driver qualifications and licensing.
- Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance.
- Cargo securement.
- Drug and alcohol testing.
- Electronic logging device requirements.
For example, federal hours-of-service regulations limit how long many commercial truck drivers can operate without required breaks and off-duty periods.
If a truck driver was operating beyond permitted hours, the driver’s electronic logs and supporting documentation may help establish whether fatigue contributed to the collision.
Investigating these issues requires more than simply obtaining a police report. It may involve examining company records, driver qualification files, maintenance documentation, dispatch communications and electronic vehicle data.
A serious semi-truck accident deserves an investigation that looks beyond the driver and examines the trucking company’s responsibilities as well.
At Ramos Law, our approach combines experienced legal representation with a medical perspective. Understanding how an accident happened is important. Understanding how it affected your health and what you may need moving forward is equally important.
5. How Arizona Law Affects Your Semi-Truck Accident Claim
Arizona law sets filing deadlines, allows injured people to recover compensation even when they share some responsibility for an accident, and places no constitutional cap on injury damages for personal injury or death.
Understanding these rules can help you make informed decisions after a semi-truck accident.
Arizona Filing Deadlines
Most personal injury lawsuits in Arizona must be filed within two years, but claims involving a government vehicle or agency have much shorter deadlines.
Type of Claim | Deadline | Arizona Law |
Personal injury lawsuit | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542 |
Written notice of claim against a city, county or state agency | 180 days | A.R.S. § 12-821.01 |
Lawsuit against a city, county or state agency | 1 year | A.R.S. § 12-821 |
A notice of claim against a public entity must include a specific amount for which the claim can be settled and the facts supporting it.
A notice that misses the deadline or leaves out required information can bar the claim entirely.
Because these deadlines can have serious consequences, speak with an attorney promptly rather than waiting until a filing deadline approaches.
You Can Recover Even If You Were Partly at Fault
Arizona follows pure comparative fault under A.R.S. § 12-2505. This means sharing some responsibility for an accident reduces your compensation rather than automatically eliminating your right to recover.
For example, if you are found 20% at fault, you could still recover 80% of your damages.
The insurance company may attempt to shift blame to you to reduce what it pays. A thorough investigation can help establish how the collision happened and each party’s role.
Each Responsible Party Pays Its Own Share
Under A.R.S. § 12-2506, each defendant is generally responsible only for its own percentage of fault.
This is why identifying every responsible party matters. Liability may extend beyond the truck driver to the trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance contractor or other parties.
Arizona Does Not Cap Injury Damages
Article 2, Section 31 of the Arizona Constitution prohibits laws limiting the amount of damages recoverable for causing the injury or death of any person.
However, the value of an individual claim still depends on the injuries, financial losses and available evidence.
Trucking Companies Carry Larger Insurance Policies
Federal regulations require for-hire trucking companies hauling non-hazardous property to carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Certain hazardous cargo requires higher minimum coverage, reaching up to $5 million under applicable federal rules.
These requirements are established under 49 CFR § 387.9.
The applicable insurance requirements depend on the type of operation and cargo involved.
Higher insurance limits can also mean more is at stake during an investigation. Trucking insurers have a financial interest in evaluating claims and limiting their exposure.
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Semi-Truck Accident?
Depending on the circumstances, an injured person may be able to pursue several types of damages.
Type of Damages | What It May Include |
Economic damages | Medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning capacity, vehicle and property damage |
Non-economic damages | Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life |
Punitive damages | Available only in qualifying cases involving especially reckless conduct |
The damages available in a particular case depend on the facts, applicable law and evidence.
Talk to an Arizona Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Early
The first 72 hours after a semi-truck accident can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate everything alone.
While you’re focused on recovering, important evidence may be moving through routine retention cycles. Witnesses may become harder to locate. Insurance representatives may already be working to limit the value of your claim.
Taking action early can help protect the information needed to understand what happened and establish the full extent of your injuries.
At Ramos Law, we believe injured people deserve more than an insurance company’s version of events. They deserve an investigation that considers every potentially responsible party, preserves important evidence and takes their medical recovery seriously.
Our team can help evaluate your situation, explain your options and determine what steps may be necessary to protect your claim.
Don’t wait for critical evidence to disappear.
Contact Ramos Law today for a free case evaluation. Our team can discuss your accident, help identify important evidence and, when appropriate, send a formal spoliation letter (evidence preservation demand) to the trucking company and other relevant parties.
You focus on getting better. We’ll focus on helping you protect your rights.
Call Ramos Law today to discuss your case. You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.
What Makes Us Different Makes Us Better.
Arizona Semi-Truck Accident FAQs
What should I do immediately after a semi-truck accident in Arizona?
After a semi-truck accident, move to a safe location if possible, call 911 and request medical assistance. Seek medical evaluation even if you don’t immediately feel injured. Document the accident scene if it is safe to do so, exchange necessary information and avoid making statements about fault. Contact an experienced truck accident attorney before discussing a recorded statement or settlement with the trucking company’s insurer.
Do I need to see a doctor if I feel fine after a truck accident?
Yes, see a doctor even if you feel fine, because concussions, internal injuries and spinal trauma may not produce obvious symptoms right away. Adrenaline and the body’s stress response can also temporarily mask pain. A prompt medical evaluation can help identify injuries and establish documentation connecting your condition to the accident.
Why are the first 72 hours after a truck accident so important?
The first three days are an important opportunity to address medical needs, document injuries, identify witnesses and begin preserving evidence. Trucking companies and their insurers may begin investigating immediately. Acting promptly can help prevent avoidable gaps in medical documentation and delays in securing important evidence.
How can I protect the full value of my Arizona semi-truck accident claim?
To protect the full value of your claim, get a medical evaluation immediately, follow your treatment plan without gaps, and avoid giving a recorded statement or accepting an early settlement from the trucking insurer. Because Arizona follows pure comparative fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505) and holds each defendant liable only for their own share of fault (A.R.S. § 12-2506), working with an attorney early to send a spoliation letter, preserve black box and ELD data, and identify all liable parties, including the motor carrier, cargo loader, or maintenance contractor, is critical to documenting your full economic and non-economic damages.
What is a spoliation letter in a truck accident case?
A spoliation letter is a formal written demand notifying a trucking company or another party that relevant evidence must be preserved because it may be needed in anticipated litigation. It can identify records and materials such as ELD data, vehicle information, dashcam footage, inspection records and driver communications. Sending a preservation letter does not guarantee that every record will be retained.
What happens if I wait several days to get medical treatment?
Waiting can create challenges for both your health and your injury claim. Some injuries can worsen without treatment, and insurance companies may argue that a gap in medical care means your injuries were unrelated to the accident. A delay does not automatically eliminate your right to pursue a claim, but you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How long do I have to file a semi-truck accident lawsuit in Arizona?
Arizona generally provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under A.R.S. § 12-542. However, certain circumstances can affect the applicable deadline. Claims involving government entities generally require written notice within 180 days and a lawsuit within one year. Speak with an attorney promptly to determine which deadlines apply.
What if I was partly at fault for the semi-truck accident?
You can still recover compensation in Arizona even if you were partly at fault, because Arizona follows pure comparative fault under A.R.S. § 12-2505. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault, you could still recover 80% of your damages.
What if a government vehicle or road defect caused my truck accident?
Claims against a city, county or state agency in Arizona generally require written notice of claim within 180 days under A.R.S. § 12-821.01, and a lawsuit within one year. The notice must include a specific settlement amount and the facts supporting it. Missing the deadline or a required detail can bar the claim, so speak with an attorney right away.
What if the truck that hit me was from another state?
An out-of-state truck does not prevent you from pursuing a claim after an Arizona crash. Interstate trucking companies must follow applicable federal safety rules and carry required federal minimum insurance. An attorney can determine which parties may be responsible and where the claim should be filed.
Should I talk to the trucking company's investigator or risk manager?
You should speak with an attorney before talking to anyone representing the trucking company, including investigators and risk managers. They work to protect the company’s interests, not yours, and what you say can become part of the company’s claim file.
How do I find out who owns the truck that hit me?
The USDOT number on the truck’s cab door identifies the motor carrier responsible for the truck. The police report usually lists the carrier and driver as well. An attorney can use the USDOT number to look up the carrier’s federal safety record and insurance information.
Is there a limit on how much I can recover after a truck accident in Arizona?
Arizona does not cap damages for injuries. Article 2, Section 31 of the Arizona Constitution prohibits laws limiting the amount of damages recoverable for causing the injury or death of any person. What a claim is worth still depends on your injuries, losses and the available evidence.
How much insurance do trucking companies have to carry?
For-hire trucking companies hauling non-hazardous property must generally carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under federal rules (49 CFR § 387.9). Certain hazardous cargo requires higher minimum coverage, reaching up to $5 million.
How can a truck accident attorney help during the first 72 hours?
An experienced truck accident attorney can help identify potentially responsible parties, send evidence preservation demands, coordinate the investigation, obtain available records and communicate with insurance companies on your behalf. Early legal involvement can help prevent important evidence from being overlooked or lost.
How much does a truck accident lawyer cost?
Ramos Law handles truck accident cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we win your case. Case evaluations are free. Ask about any applicable case costs and expenses when discussing representation.
Does Ramos Law offer free consultations for Arizona semi-truck accident victims?
Yes, Ramos Law offers free case evaluations for people injured in semi-truck accidents. Our team can review the circumstances of your collision, discuss your legal options and explain how we may be able to help.
Important Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Every accident and injury claim is different. Consult a qualified medical professional regarding your health and an attorney regarding your legal rights.