Hit by a Commercial Truck? We Fight Trucking Companies
Commercial trucks and 18-wheelers create constant danger on Scottsdale roads. When 80,000-pound semi-trucks collide with passenger vehicles, the results are often catastrophic. Truck accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. When a regular passenger vehicle collides with a commercial truck, there is a high risk of serious harm.
If you or someone you love has suffered severe injuries in a truck crash in Scottsdale, you need an experienced truck accident lawyer who is looking out for your best interests.
We represent people hurt by commercial trucks and 18-wheelers throughout Scottsdale and the Phoenix metro area. We’ve gone head-to-head with billion-dollar trucking corporations and won millions for our clients. Multiple truck cases we’ve handled resulted in settlements exceeding $2 million.
Your first conversation costs nothing. You won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
Call (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation. You may also submit an online form.
Our Lawyers Beat Trucking Corporations
Jack Zinda launched this firm in 2008 after seeing too many insurance companies exploit injured people who didn’t know how to protect themselves. He built a practice that can take on the biggest trucking corporations in America.
Commercial truck accidents follow completely different legal rules than typical car crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the entire trucking industry with strict requirements covering driver work hours, cargo loading, maintenance schedules, and driver qualifications. Trucking companies violate these federal rules constantly. When their violations cause crashes, those violations become the evidence we use against them.
You get access to over 100 professionals who handle injury litigation full-time. Investigators secure evidence before it disappears. Specialists reconstruct accidents to show exactly what went wrong. Experts who understand every federal trucking regulation. Medical professionals who calculate what your care will cost over your lifetime. Trial attorneys who’ve defeated major trucking companies in front of juries.
We can be selective so we have time to dig deep into your situation, respond quickly when you call, and pour genuine effort into maximizing your recovery.
The Scottsdale truck accident attorneys at Zinda Law Group have an excellent track record of success in recovering millions for injury victims. We understand the complex legal issues specific to trucking cases. We aim to handle all aspects of your claim so you can focus on healing.
Our firm has resolved over 6,500 injury cases and recovered more than $400 million for clients.
Want to discuss your situation? Call us for a free consultation or submit our online form.
Proven Track Record in Truck Litigation
Jack Zinda holds lifetime membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an achievement reserved for attorneys who’ve won seven-figure and eight-figure awards for catastrophically injured clients. Only the top 1% of American attorneys qualify.
Our team includes attorneys lauded by the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 and the Trucking Trial Lawyers Association’s Top 10. The Better Business Bureau gave us an A+ rating reflecting consistent client satisfaction with how we communicate and deliver results.
AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA BY THE NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (2016-2020) AWARDED TO JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDA (2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2021), & NEIL SOLOMON (2020-2021) AWARDED TO JACK ZINDA (2016-2020) LIFETIME MEMBERS JOHN C. (JACK) ZINDAOur Awards
See How We’ve Helped Others
After a serious injury, the right legal support should make things simpler, not harder. At Zinda Law Group, our goal is to reduce uncertainty so you can focus on recovery while we handle the legal work.
Hear From a Real Client – Jacob
“With Zinda Law Group, I was able to get my life back together.” – Jacob
Hear From a Real Client – Marlon
“Zinda was very prepared and very compassionate.” – Marlon
What Makes Our Truck Accident Representation Different
You Pay Only When We Win
Our fee comes from the compensation we recover for you. No recovery means no fee. We don’t bill hourly and we don’t require money upfront. Arizona regulates what attorneys can charge, and we’ll explain those numbers clearly before you commit.
Lawyers With Time for Your Case
Most injury firms pile 100+ cases onto each attorney. We don’t. We limit how many cases our lawyers handle so yours gets real attention. Your attorney will know your case without re-reading your file before every call.
We Know Federal Trucking Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration creates extensive rules that trucking companies must follow. We know these regulations inside and out. We know where to look for violations and how to prove companies broke the rules.
Complete Team Behind You
Your lead attorney works with investigators who preserve evidence, accident reconstruction specialists who analyze crash dynamics, federal compliance experts who identify regulatory violations, medical professionals who project your lifetime healthcare expenses, and trial lawyers who’ve beaten trucking corporations in jury trials.
Deep Experience With Truck Cases
We’ve handled commercial truck and 18-wheeler cases throughout Arizona. We know how trucking companies operate. We know the tactics their insurance carriers use. We know how to build cases that win maximum compensation.
CASE RESULTS
Our Process for Truck Accident Cases
Step 1: Free Consultation
We listen to your story, examine available evidence, and provide honest case evaluations. No fees. No sales pressure.
Step 2: Thorough Investigation
We gather police reports, medical records, witness accounts, electronic logging device data, maintenance logs, driver qualification files, and other materials that support your claim. Investigators move quickly to preserve evidence before it vanishes.
Step 3: Identify All Liable Parties
We determine every party who shares responsibility. This might include the driver, trucking company, maintenance contractors, cargo loaders, parts manufacturers, and others. Multiple liable parties often means multiple insurance policies available to compensate you.
Step 4: Medical Documentation
We work with your healthcare providers to make sure injuries and continuing effects get thoroughly documented. When appropriate, we bring in independent medical professionals who evaluate your condition and forecast long-term treatment needs.
Step 5: Complete Damage Calculation
We account for every loss, including future costs that won’t show up for years. Thorough damage assessment forms the foundation of strong settlement demands.
Step 6: Negotiation and Litigation
We build comprehensive demand packages and submit them to insurance carriers. Since we prepare each case for potential trial, insurers know that lowball offers will get turned down. If negotiations fail, we’re ready to fight for you in court.
Learn More: How Do Truck Accident Settlements Work?
Who May Be Liable in a Trucking Accident?
One of the first steps your lawyer will take is to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. Truck accidents are often complex, with multiple parties potentially at fault.
Potentially liable defendants include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that employs the driver
- Maintenance company if there was a mechanical failure
- Part manufacturer if a defective component caused a crash
- Other drivers on the road
To build a strong injury claim, your attorney will gather police reports, inspection records, logbooks, company policies, and other evidence. They may consult with accident reconstruction experts and trucking industry specialists.
Proving liability is the key to getting total remuneration for your losses. We fight to hold all negligent parties fully accountable.
Learn more: Who’s at Fault in a Commercial Truck Wreck: The Driver or the Employer?
Truck Accident Statistics in Arizona
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), there were over 2,000 truck crashes statewide in 2019. Fifty-three thousand people suffered injuries, and many accidents resulted in permanent disability or wrongful death.
Commercial truck collisions account for a disproportionate number of traffic fatalities, even though trucks make up just 4% of all registered vehicles in the U.S. When a loaded tractor-trailer weighing up to 80,000 pounds strikes a small passenger car, the results are often catastrophic.
Learn more: What Happens When You Get Run Over by a Truck?
Common Causes of Truck Crashes in Scottsdale
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the most common causes of truck wrecks include:
- Driver Fatigue. Truckers often face intense pressure to meet tight delivery schedules, causing them to skip sleep and drive while exhausted. Drowsy driving dramatically increases accident risk.
- Speeding. Trucks over the speed limit need more time to brake and maneuver, making collisions more likely.
- Distracted Driving. Truckers using cell phones, texting, eating, or reading at the wheel are at high risk of causing accidents.
- Impaired Driving. Drunk or drugged truck driving poses a serious public safety hazard.
- Poor Maintenance. Mechanical defects like faulty brakes or bald tires can cause trucks to malfunction and crash.
- Overloaded Trailers. When a truck is packed beyond its weight capacity, it is harder to control and stop.
- Jackknifing. This common big rig mishap occurs when a truck’s cab and trailer fold into a v-shape during braking.
- Wide Turns. Trucks require extra space when making turns and often swing into adjacent lanes.
Your personal injury lawyer will work to determine what caused your crash and identify every liable party. This is crucial for getting full compensation.
How Is Fault Determined in a Truck Accident?
Serious Injuries From Truck Collisions
Truck wrecks frequently lead to:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Amputations
- Severe burns
- Crushed bones
Victims of truck accidents commonly require extended hospital stays and extensive rehab. The physical and financial toll of an accident can be devastating.
Other common injuries include head and brain trauma, back and neck injuries, internal organ damage, broken bones, crush injuries, severe lacerations, and wrongful death.
Make sure you get evaluated by qualified doctors. Keep records of all diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, and prognosis. Your lawyer will have medical experts assess the full extent of your injuries to calculate damages.
Compensation Available After Truck Accidents
You may recover damages for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death benefits
Your lawyer will calculate both economic and non-economic damages to seek full compensation for how the truck wreck has impacted your life. This can add up to millions for the most serious injuries.
Read more: What Types of Damages Am I Entitled to in a Truck Accident?
Steps to Take Immediately After a Truck Crash
Your actions immediately after crashes directly impact recovery amounts.
Get Medical Care Immediately
Visit doctors right away regardless of how you feel. Adrenaline often hides pain temporarily, making injuries seem less serious. Brain injuries and internal bleeding frequently show zero symptoms until hours or days later. Without medical records tying injuries to crashes, insurance companies will argue you weren’t hurt or something else caused your condition.
Call Police and Get Official Reports
Always call 911. Law enforcement responds, documents scenes, and files official reports that become foundational evidence. Make sure police know if you saw the truck driver on a phone, driving erratically, or violating traffic rules.
Document Everything Possible
Photograph all vehicles from multiple angles, entire scenes, road conditions, traffic signs, visible injuries, cargo spills, and anything relevant. Get witness names and contact information. Write down everything while memory is fresh. Your immediate documentation protects you when insurance companies dispute facts later.
Read: What Evidence Is Needed in a Truck Accident Case?
Don’t Give Statements to Trucking Company Insurers
Trucking company adjusters contact you fast, often within hours. They sound sympathetic but protect corporate profits. They’re trained at getting you to say things limiting payments. Politely decline statements. Tell them to contact your attorney. Then call us.
Preserve Evidence From Your Vehicle
Don’t let insurance companies take your vehicle until we inspect it. Crash reconstruction experts need examining damage patterns. Once your car reaches a salvage yard, critical evidence may be lost forever.
Keep All Medical Records and Bills
Collect everything related to treatment including ambulance reports, emergency room records, hospital stays, doctor visits, therapy sessions, prescriptions, and equipment. Keep receipts for everything you pay out of pocket. These documents prove damages.
Contact Attorneys Immediately
Don’t wait to get legal help after a trucking collision. The sooner we start building your claim, the better your chances of a favorable result. Witnesses scatter, evidence disappears, and insurance companies gear up against you.
Federal regulations require trucking companies preserving certain records, but only after receiving proper notice. The sooner we’re involved, the better we protect your rights and build your case.
Learn more: What to Do After an Accident with a Truck
Critical Deadlines Under Arizona Law
Arizona’s Two-Year Statute of Limitations
Arizona gives you two years from crash dates to file truck accident lawsuits. Miss this deadline and you permanently lose ability pursuing money, regardless of case strength. Evidence doesn’t wait two years. Surveillance footage gets recorded over within days or weeks, witnesses forget details or move away, truck maintenance records disappear, and companies destroy documents. Early action protects your case.
Read more: How Long Do You Have to File a Truck Accident Claim?
Arizona Comparative Negligence
Arizona uses pure comparative negligence to assign fault. This means if the truck driver or company can prove you were even 1% to blame for causing the accident, your damages award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
When juries determine damages total $200,000 but find you 30% at fault, you receive $140,000. Even at 70% fault, you’d still receive $60,000.
Insurance companies understand this rule and use it strategically, attempting to assign you maximum fault. We investigate thoroughly and present evidence accurately reflecting what happened.
Read: How Comparative Negligence Works in Arizona
Building a Strong Case Against Trucking Companies
Successful truck accident claims require proving specific elements that establish legal responsibility.
Duty of Care
All drivers owe reasonable care, but commercial truck drivers and trucking companies owe higher duties because of extreme vehicle dangers. Federal regulations impose specific duties including following hours of service limits, maintaining vehicles properly, securing cargo correctly, hiring qualified drivers, and supervising driver conduct.
Breach of Duty
We prove trucking companies or drivers breached duties by violating federal regulations, state traffic laws, or basic safety standards. Hours of service violations, maintenance failures, improper loading, distracted driving, and speeding all prove breach.
Causation
Proving breach alone doesn’t win cases. We must also establish clear connections between what they did wrong and what happened to you. Accident reconstruction experts analyze crash dynamics. Federal motor carrier data provides electronic proof. Medical experts tie injuries directly to crash forces.
Damages
We document every loss category including medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Complete damage calculation determines what you ultimately recover.
Read more: How Is a Trucking Accident Different Than a Car Crash?
How a Truck Accident Attorney Will Fight for You
At Zinda Law Group, our truck accident lawyers pursue maximum compensation for you. Here are some of the ways we’ll aggressively advocate for you:
- Examine the crash site and truck to find proof of defects
- Obtain and analyze ELDs, log books, maintenance records
- Hire accident reconstruction experts
- Depose drivers, witnesses, and corporate representatives
- Determine the full extent of injuries and calculate damages
- Negotiate assertively with insurers
- Take your case to trial if offers are inadequate
With an accomplished Scottsdale truck accident attorney on your team, you can have confidence your rights will be protected. We level the playing field against powerful trucking companies and insurance carriers.
Further Reading: Will My Truck Accident Case Go to Trial?
More Resources for Truck Accident Victims
- How Does a Truck Accident Case Work?
- Will I Get a Larger Truck Accident Settlement If I Hire an Injury Lawyer?
- What Is the Average Settlement for a Rear-End Truck Accident?
- Who’s to Blame for an 18-Wheeler Accident Caused by Bad Brakes?
- Who’s Liable for an 18-Wheeler Wreck Caused by Tire Failure?
- How Critical Are Early Truck Accident Investigations?
- How Much Insurance Do Truck Drivers Carry?
- How Long Do Semi-truck Cases Last?
- Does It Matter If The Truck Driver Owns The Truck?
- What Should I Do If I’m Hit By An 18-wheeler But Don’t Have Car Insurance?
Talk to Our Legal Team
Zinda Law Group offers free, no-obligation consultations at our Scottsdale office or your location. When you call us, you’ll speak with someone who genuinely listens. We’ll discuss your options candidly. Consultations cost nothing and remain completely confidential.
You deserve access to top legal representation regardless of your financial situation. We take truck wreck cases on contingency, so you pay nothing upfront. Our fees come from the compensation we win for you. No recovery means no fee. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.
Reach out 24/7 and get experienced representation on your side today. Call (800) 863-5312 for a free consultation or submit an online form.
Meetings by appointment.
FAQs
Can I file a truck accident claim if the crash involved a company vehicle that was not an 18-wheeler?
Yes. Commercial truck cases are not limited to 18-wheelers. Box trucks, delivery vehicles, utility trucks, and other company-owned vehicles may also fall under commercial liability rules depending on how they were being used at the time of the crash.
What if the truck accident happened at night or in low-visibility conditions?
Low visibility can play a role, but it does not automatically excuse a truck driver. Commercial drivers are expected to adjust their speed, use proper lighting, and maintain awareness in all conditions. Failing to do so can still be considered negligence.
Can I recover damages if I was injured as a passenger in a truck?
Possibly. Passengers in commercial trucks may have claims depending on what caused the crash. Liability could involve the driver, the trucking company, or another party on the road.
What if the trucking company is based in another state?
You can still pursue a claim. Trucking companies regularly operate across state lines, and out-of-state status does not prevent you from seeking compensation for injuries that occurred in Arizona.
Can I file a claim if I was injured while loading or unloading a truck?
Yes, in some situations. If unsafe loading practices, lack of proper equipment, or negligence by another party caused your injury, you may have a valid claim separate from any workplace-related benefits.
What if the truck driver was following GPS directions that led to the crash?
Using GPS does not remove responsibility. Drivers are still expected to operate safely, follow traffic laws, and make reasonable decisions regardless of navigation instructions.
Can truck accident cases involve claims for emotional trauma even without severe physical injuries?
Yes. Emotional and psychological harm can still be part of a claim, especially if the crash caused lasting anxiety, fear of driving, or other mental health effects that impact daily life.
What if the truck accident involved a parked or stopped commercial vehicle?
You may still have a case. Liability can depend on factors such as improper parking, lack of warning signals, or unsafe placement of the vehicle in a travel lane or roadway.
Can I recover compensation if the truck accident caused damage to my business or livelihood?
Possibly. If your injuries or property damage directly affected your ability to run a business or earn income, those financial losses may be considered as part of your claim.
What if I don’t remember exactly what happened during the truck accident?
That is more common than people think, especially in serious crashes. Investigations often rely on physical evidence, vehicle data, witness statements, and expert analysis to reconstruct what happened.
Have any more questions? Check out our FAQs here.
John (Jack) Zinda
Founder / CEO
Over 100 years of combined experience representing injured victims across the country.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
Neil Solomon
Partner
Real results matter. We do not get paid unless we win your case.
Available 24 / 7|Free Consultation
