Commercial trucks provide valuable services to residents in Arizona and throughout the United States. Truck drivers are truly national heroes, something that was displayed clearly throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when drivers operated nearly around the clock to help ensure that this country was fully stocked and supplied. However, accidents involving large commercial trucks can result in severe injuries. Here, we want to discuss the main causes of truck accidents in the state of Arizona.

Truck Accidents are not Uncommon in Arizona

Data available from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows us that truck accidents are not uncommon throughout this state. According to the data, there were:

• 1,481 semi-truck crashes
• 28 concrete mixer truck crashes
• 133 dump truck crashes
• 94 garbage truck crashes
• 24 tanker truck crashes
• 57 wrecker or tow truck crashes
• Nearly 9,000 crashes involving other kinds of truck combinations

Main Causes of Arizona Truck Crashes

At first glance, accidents involving large commercial trucks occur in many of the same ways that any other type of vehicle accident occurs. Namely, these incidents can occur due to the careless or negligent actions of drivers on the roadway. This includes drivers inside of regular passenger vehicles.

However, there are other causes of truck crashes that revolve around truck drivers and trucking companies. Some of the main causes of Arizona truck crashes related to the actions of truck drivers include the following:

• Operating over the allowable hours during a day or week against FMCSA regulations
• Operating too fast for conditions or above the speed limit
• Drivers unfamiliar with the roadways they are on
• Failure to check blind spots and “no-zones.”
• Failing to use turn signals when changing lanes or turning
• Operating while distracted by phones or other devices
• Operating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to do a pre-drive check/inspection of the truck

The trucking companies can also hold direct liability for these accidents. This can occur in a wide variety of ways, including the following:

• Failing to adequately conduct driver background checks on new hires
• Not checking for proper driver certifications, including commercial driver’s licenses
• Encouraging drivers to operate beyond the allowable hours of service
• Encouraging the overloading of trucks to maximize profit
• Failing to properly inspect and maintain the vehicles, per FMCSA regulations

Unfortunately, accidents involving large commercial trucks can result in severe injuries for those inside traditional passenger vehicles. Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds once fully loaded. When comparing this to the average weight of a regular vehicle, 4,000 pounds, it is easy to see why these crashes can be so devastating. It is not uncommon for those inside regular vehicles to sustain severe injuries, including the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries with paralysis
• Broken or fractured bones
• Severe lacerations or puncture wounds
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Crush injuries or amputations
• Significant scarring or disfigurement

Any driver or passenger who sustains an injury caused by a collision with a large commercial truck needs to work with an attorney to help them with their case. An experienced Phoenix truck accident attorney can use their resources to conduct a complete investigation into the crash in order to determine liability. They will also be able to handle all negotiations with aggressive insurance carriers and legal teams to maximize compensation for victims.