Can You Sue a Distracted Truck Driver in Arizona?

Driver inattention and external distractions are common causes of serious truck crashes. When they factor into your wreck and play a part in your injury, you may be able to file a distracted truck driver lawsuit in Arizona. The experienced truck accident injury lawyers at Burg Simpson are here to help you understand your options and seek maximum compensation.

What Causes Most Truck Accidents?

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has found that driver-related error is the leading cause of truck accidents. Broken into four distinct categories, the LTCCS codes driver error as:

• Decision. Factoring into 38% of commercial vehicle accidents, “decision” includes speeding and following other vehicles too closely.
• Recognition. Factoring into 28% of large truck crashes, “recognition” includes inattention and distraction, both from inside and outside the vehicle.
• Non-Performance. Factoring into 12% of semi-truck wrecks, “non-performance” includes falling asleep and physical impairment from a medical issue.
• Performance. Factoring into 9% of big rig crashes, “performance” includes driver panic and poor directional control.

According to the LTCCS, distraction and related issues factor into more than a quarter of all truck crashes. Tragically, when a trucker is not paying attention, they place everyone on the road at heightened risk for serious or fatal injury. When the victim is you or someone you love, filing a suit against the distracted trucker is often the most effective way to seek the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Learn About Your Right to File a Distracted Truck Driver Lawsuit in Arizona

If a distracted trucker has caused you harm, you have every right to hold them accountable and seek compensation for your damages. Call Burg Simpson at 602-777-7000 to schedule a FREE and confidential consultation at our Phoenix office and learn more about your rights. Located in Phoenix, we serve victims of serious semi-truck crash injuries in Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Yuma, and throughout Arizona.

Is Distracted Driving Illegal in Arizona?

Outside of handheld devices, there are no laws specifically banning distraction in Arizona. However, driving while distracted is a form of negligence and, when it contributes to a crash, can make the distracted driver liable for damages.

Distraction may include:

• Using a handheld device like a cellphone
• Eating or drinking
• Personal grooming
• Reading a map
• Adjusting onboard electronics
• Reading billboards
• Talking to a passenger

Of these, only using a handheld device is illegal in Arizona.

Arizona’s Hands-Free Law makes it illegal to hold or manually use an electronic device while driving, unless it is completely hands-free. This includes texting, typing, scrolling, watching videos, and anything else that can be done on a cellphone or tablet. While there is no truck-specific “distracted driving” statute in Arizona, truckers must still obey hands-free laws.

Violations of these regulations are considered a civil offense, with fines that can run from $75 to $250. When a violation of Arizona’s hands-free regulations results in serious injury or death, criminal charges may apply.

Your Right to File a Distracted Truck Driver Lawsuit in Arizona

Just because the law prohibits certain behaviors does not mean that crashes come with automatic compensation. However, if a distracted trucker broke the law (or simply ignored safe-driving basics), their behavior may have provided you with a powerful building block for a lawsuit. Whether they were texting, adjusting GPS, or just daydreaming, they can, and should, be held accountable for any damages they cause.

No laws have to have been broken for you to file a distracted truck driver lawsuit in Arizona. Claims for compensation are civil proceedings that are entirely separate from criminal charges. Your right to seek compensation stems from the other driver’s negligence, not from a violation of the law. Charges against the trucker may help to support your case, but they are not necessary for proceeding with your claim.

At Burg Simpson, our Arizona truck crash attorneys conduct thorough investigations to determine if distraction played a role in your accident. This may include reviewing cellphone records, ELD data, dash cam footage, and external surveillance devices like traffic cameras for signs of inattention. It may also include working with accident reconstruction experts who can help pinpoint exactly what the trucker was doing at the time of the wreck.

Can Multiple Parties Be Named in a Distracted Truck Driver Lawsuit in Arizona?

When a truck driver is texting, watching a video, or otherwise not paying attention, their distraction may be the primary cause of a wreck. However, distraction can stem from other issues as well, which may make other parties equally or even more liable. For example:

• If something like brake failure or a tire blowout from a poorly maintained vehicle caused a wreck, maintenance companies or the owner of the trailer may be partially liable.
• If poor safety standards, inadequate training, or unrealistic schedules played a role, the trucking company might be partially at fault.
• If shifting or loose cargo causes the distraction, the loader or cargo company might share blame.
• If faulty equipment, from straps to steering components, plays a role, parts and supply manufacturers may hold a share of responsibility.

Sometimes, what appears to be one thing, like a distracted driver, is actually something else, like a driver responding to a sudden shift in trailer weight. So, what looks like truck driver negligence may really be the fault of a third party. The only way to know for sure is through a comprehensive evaluation of the accident and everything that led up to it.

When you choose an Arizona truck accident lawyer from Burg Simpson, you are selecting a law firm with the resources and experience needed to fully investigate the crash, identify all liable parties, and hold each to full account for your suffering.

Our Distracted Truck Driver Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help

Burg Simpson is a national law firm with nearly 50 years of experience helping victims of negligent truckers get justice. With offices across the country, including in Phoenix, we have access to leading experts and specialists in areas as diverse as medical evaluation, accident reconstruction, and financial planning. Along with our experienced attorneys, these outside resources can assist in evaluating the extent of your injury, ensuring liability is assigned, and assessing how much your claim is worth.

Our size is a strength, not a hindrance to personal attention. We treat each case with the importance it deserves. We will provide you with clear communication, constant access to your attorney, and an unyielding dedication to securing the justice and compensation you are due.

Our award-winning trial lawyers have secured a number of significant settlements and verdicts for victims of serious injury in Arizona and beyond. Recognized by our peers and trusted by our clients, our team knows how trucking companies defend against negligence claims. We also know the law, how to prove our cases, and how to help victims of distracted truckers get the compensation their injuries demand.

Questions About Your Right to File a Distracted Truck Driver Lawsuit in Arizona? Contact Us for FREE

If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash with a distracted truck driver, contact Burg Simpson online or call our Phoenix office to schedule your FREE case review today. We welcome clients from Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, and throughout the state of Arizona.