Common Types of Truck Accidents in Phoenix

Accidents involving trucks, even the most common types of truck accidents, often result in serious or fatal harm. Arizona recorded 121,107 total crashes in 2024, with 54,426 injuries statewide. Of these, 14,069 involved commercial trucks or buses, which resulted in 3,615 injuries and 153 deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 70% of the victims in fatal truck accidents are the occupants of smaller vehicles. This is consistent with injury rates as well.

In Phoenix, commercial traffic is everywhere. On I-10, Loop 101, Loop 102, I-17, and freight routes throughout the city, it is almost impossible to avoid. Delivery trucks, semis, dump trucks, tow trucks, tankers, and other commercial vehicles are practically a part of our landscape. Unfortunately, with this reality, serious and fatal truck crashes are sometimes unavoidable. When you are hurt, or a loved one is killed in a truck accident, Burg Simpson is here to take up your case, fight for your rights, and help you secure the fair and full compensation you deserve.

Talk to a Phoenix Truck Accident Attorney for FREE

If you were hurt in a crash with a semi-truck, box truck, or other commercial vehicle, call Burg Simpson at 602-777-7000 to schedule a confidential and free consultation today. Our truck crash lawyers serve victims of serious injury in Phoenix and throughout Arizona.

What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accidents?

Among the most frequently cited causes of truck accidents are issues such as:

• Brake failure
• Traveling too fast for conditions
• Inadequate surveillance
• Fatigue
• Following too closely
• Inattention
• Illegal maneuvers
• Cargo shift
• Tire problems

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, driver-related issues are the leading cause of truck accidents. This means that basic steps, like truckers watching the road, controlling speed, keeping a safe following distance, staying alert, and making sure their truck is safe to operate, are essential for preventing truck and car collisions.

Some of the most common types of truck accidents in Phoenix and throughout Arizona are a result of truck drivers failing to follow basic safety steps. They include:

Rear-End Truck Accidents

Rear-end crashes are common in Arizona. Often leading to multi-vehicle wrecks, rear-end truck crashes are especially dangerous when a loaded semi cannot stop in time. Large trucks need more time to brake, and a distracted, fatigued, or speeding driver can plow into slower traffic before anyone has time to react.

Sideswipe Truck Accidents

Phoenix highway traffic creates plenty of lane-change conflicts. Sideswipe crashes often happen when a truck driver merges without clearing a blind spot or drifts into an adjacent lane. Sideswipe truck accidents often force smaller cars into barriers, other vehicles, or off the road, increasing risks for serious or fatal injury.

Angle and Intersection Crashes

Angle crashes often happen at intersections, ramps, and merge points. A truck making a wide turn, running a light, or misjudging traffic can strike the side of a smaller vehicle with enormous force. This can result in catastrophic injuries for drivers and passengers.

Left-Turn Truck Accidents

Left-turn wrecks are another recurring crash pattern. A commercial driver might turn across traffic too late, swing wide, or fail to see a motorcyclist or passenger car approaching. The end result of left-turn truck crashes is often tragic.

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife happens when a trailer swings out at an angle from the cab. It is the kind of thing no driver wants to see in the next lane. These wrecks are often tied to hard braking, slick roads, poor speed control, or driver error.

Rollover Accidents

Truck rollovers can happen during sharp turns, sudden evasive moves, cargo shifts, high-speed curves, or uneven loading. Once a truck rolls, it may block multiple lanes and trigger a chain-reaction collision. Rollover crashes account for under 2% of accidents in Arizona, but are a factor in nearly 11% of all fatal crashes.

Underride Accidents

These are some of the most horrifying truck accidents. They happen when a smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a trailer. Underride truck crashes frequently result in life-altering injuries, including serious brain and spinal cord injuries.

Head-On Truck Accidents

While less common, head-on truck accidents are typically serious. In 2024, Arizona recorded 2,023 head-on crashes in multi-vehicle collisions. When one of the vehicles is a commercial truck, the injuries can be devastating.

The type of wreck you are involved in can help our Phoenix truck crash lawyers know where to look for fault. A rear-end crash may point to speed or distraction. A jackknife may raise questions about braking, road conditions, or trailer handling. A sideswipe may involve a blind spot or unsafe lane changes. At Burg Simpson, we take time to carefully investigate these crashes to identify all liable parties and help you secure full compensation for your damages.

Compensation After a Truck Accident

When you are the victim of a truck accident, no matter the type, you have the right to pursue compensation. Depending on the specifics of your case, this may include:

• Emergency care and hospital bills
• Surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment
• Lost wages  and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disfigurement
• Property damage
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

In Arizona, each defendant is usually liable only for the share of damages tied to their percentage of fault. This can pose an issue in even the most common types of truck accidents, where more than one party is often involved.

Parties that can share fault in these claims include the trucker, the trucking company, a maintenance provider, cargo loaders, or another business. Fortunately, because truck accident damages are not capped in Arizona, you can hold each responsible party fully accountable for their actions and seek maximum compensation for your injuries.

Important Truck Accident Claim Deadlines

For most truck accident injury claims in Arizona, you have two years from the date of the crash to initiate legal action. Failure to take action within this timeframe might make it impossible to pursue damages through a lawsuit.

For actions against a public entity or employee, you have only one year to file your claim. If the truck belongs to a city, county, utility, school district, or another government-related entity, this can shorten your window of opportunity to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Burg Simpson Is Here to Help

Even common types of truck accidents are rarely straightforward. The truck driver, carrier company, and their insurers may step into action quickly to try to reduce their liability. Having an experienced Phoenix truck accident legal team on your side helps to protect your rights and interests.

Burg Simpson has the resources and background to take these cases on and win them. Our award-winning lawyers have secured more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements, with millions awarded to truck crash victims and families who have lost a loved one in a commercial vehicle accident.

When you are dealing with serious injuries, lost income, and a trucking company that will do what it takes to protect itself, you need a law firm prepared to take your case as far as necessary to secure justice. Burg Simpson is here to take the call, stand by your side, and fight for every penny you are due.

Contact Our Phoenix Truck Accident Lawyers for Free

Common types of truck accidents often require much more than a common approach. At Burg Simpson, our Phoenix truck crash attorneys give these cases the attention they deserve, so we can help you move forward and heal.

Use our online contact form or call us today to schedule a cost-free, no-obligation case review and let us help you understand the best way to move forward. Based in Phoenix, we serve individuals and families living throughout Arizona.