Arizona Truck Accident Blog

The professional Tucson truck accident attorneys at the Breyer Law Offices P.C. are aware of the risks of car drivers and passengers traveling together with large commercial trucks in Arizona. Commercial truck drivers are professional drivers who pass a series of examinations just to be able to drive these types of vehicles. One of the challenges that truck drivers have to face every day is that they have to deal with traffic.

Passenger car drivers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists must also be aware of what they have to do when travelling with large trucks ahead or behind them. It is always important to be extra alert when you are driving while large trucks are near. Large trucks behave differently compared to other vehicles. Truckers have several blind spots, specifically the driver’s side, passenger side, front, and rear. Trucks also take more time when braking and need more space when turning left or right.

Arizona Trucking Accident Statistics

According to statistics, one-third of the total crashes between large trucks and cars take place due to a truck driver’s blind spots. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal large truck accidents in Arizona accounted for 6.6% or 67 vehicles of the 1,008 vehicles involved in fatal accidents in 2009.

Arizona State Trucking Laws

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established within the U.S. Department of Transportation in order to prevent trucking accident fatalities and injuries. The organization enforces safety regulations, operating standards, and safety awareness to prevent trucking accidents. In Arizona, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) creates regulations to prevent trucking accidents in the state. Alexis and Mark Breyer can tell you more about the Arizona trucking laws and how it can be used to hold negligent parties accountable for the injuries a victim sustains from an Arizona truck accident.

Contact a Skilled Tucson Trucking Accident Attorney

Being involved in a trucking accident can be complicated and overwhelming. A Tucson trucking accident victim can seek the help of a skilled and knowledgeable personal injury attorney. Mark Breyer is a specialist in personal injury and wrongful death law by the State Bar of Arizona. If you have been involved in a trucking accident and have questions, call for a free consultation today.

Tucson truck accident attorneys Mark and Alexis Breyer are aware of the problems truck drivers might face while on the road, including bad weather. Heavy rain and snow can easily make road conditions less forgiving, making it more difficult for truck drivers to handle. To ensure a safe trip even in unfavorable weather conditions, here are some safety tips to take note of:

Slow Down – Probably the number one rule in driving when there is bad weather, slowing down will make it easier for you to effectively stop the vehicle whenever you need to. Large trucks and other heavy vehicles take more time to stop, making slowing down even more important.

Check Your Vehicle – Check your truck’s tires, fuel gauge, and general condition before heading out. You wouldn’t want to get stuck on the road, especially in bad weather.

Improve Visibility – Make sure wipers and headlights are working properly before you go out on the road. Also, help other motorists avoid you by using proper lighting and reflectors.

Monitor and Prepare Ahead – Monitoring the weather and road condition forecasts can prove to be a great advantage, especially when doing interstate trips. Being well-prepared can save your life on the road.

Be More Alert – For obvious reasons, driving in bad weather requires better attention to the road and other motorists. Avoid anything that may distract you, such as listening to music or using your cell phone.

Keep a Good Distance – It is important that truck drivers maintain good distances from other motorists, and more so on dangerous road conditions which make stopping harder than usual.

Contact a Tucson Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries and when this happens it is important to talk to the best trucking accident lawyer in Arizona that you can find. If you have been in a truck accident in Arizona as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact Breyer Law Offices today for a free consultation.

As Mesa truck accident attorneys, we were shocked to hear about a truck that smashed into a Mesa home Monday night, December 19, narrowly missing a 10-year-old girl. According to a news report on Fox 10, the truck was driven by an 82-year-old driver. The accident occurred near Extension and Mesa. The girl was sitting on the couch and the truck came within six inches of landing on top of her. Fire officials had to break the couch to get her out and take her to the hospital for her injuries. Our thoughts are with her and her family, and we wish her a quick recovery.

Causes of This Mesa Truck Accident

According to reports, the driver accelerated and smashed through the block wall of the house. Police are still investigating exactly why he accelerated and why he was aimed at the house. As Mesa truck accident attorneys, we often see cases like this one in which the driver was distracted and hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes.

Mesa Truck Accident Statistics

There were 6,130 total car accidents in Mesa in 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Pickup trucks and vans accounted for 39,571 Arizona car accidents in 2010, 224 of which were fatal and 11,996 which resulted in injuries. Trucks and busses accounted for 12,382 accidents that resulted in 21 fatalities and 2,150 injuries.

Contact a Mesa Personal Injury Lawyer

As Mesa personal injury lawyers, the Husband and Wife Law Team at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. knows that truck accidents like this one can be extremely costly to victims. The family in this truck accident faces medical bills for their 10-year-old daughter as well as home repair costs. We work to obtain a settlement from the at-fault driver that pays for these expenses and more. We begin by investigating exactly what happened by talking to witnesses, reviewing police reports, and investigating the truck accident scene. These types of claims are ones that we have handled for many years and we can tell you first hand that many times there are emotional injuries that are just as burdensome as the physical injuries in accidents like these. Call us for a free consultation.

The experienced Scottsdale truck accident lawyers at Breyer Law Offices were glad to hear that the number of large trucks and buses involved in road crashes has decreased according to the reports from Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also revealed that truck driver traffic fatalities dropped by 20% in 2009.

The drop can be attributed to several factors. Among them, the American Trucking Association said that this decline is due to their intense commitment to prevent trucking accidents and improve highway safety.

US Trucking Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal crashes involving large trucks have dropped to 3,215 in 2009 from more than 4,000 large trucks in 2008. Fatal large truck crashes in 2009 accounted for 7.2% of the 45,435 vehicles involved in fatal crashes.

Safety Features for Large Trucks

To prevent accidents, there are anti-lock brakes that truck companies can install on the trucks. This type of device will prevent wheels from locking in an emergency stops. The anti-lock brake device can also prevent loss of steering control. Simply put, anti-lock brakes allow drivers to have better control of the wheel.

Delphi Corporation has created a “driver protection module.” It is designed to minimize front-end injuries and features a collapsible steering column, knee bolsters, and pedals. These are added safety features on trucks that may help to prevent truck accidents.

Call an Experienced Phoenix Truck Accident Attorney

Trucking accident claims in Arizona can be very complex. It is important for the lawyer you choose to understand trucking laws. Trucking laws are entirely different than car accident laws as trucking accident cases have different federal regulations that are important to understand when a lawyer is handling the case. For one, on most trucking accident claims in Phoenix, the lawyer must be admitted to Federal Court. Attorney Mark Breyer is among the 1% of lawyers who is a specialist in injury and wrongful death law as certified by the State Bar of Arizona. Breyer Law Offices, P.C. has been handling trucking accident claims for years. For a free consultation, contact us today.

As truck accident attorneys in Arizona, we were glad to learn that the number of fatalities caused by truck and bus accidents in Arizona declined from 47 in 2009 to 21 in 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) through their 2010 Arizona Crash Facts Summary.

ABC15 reported a commercial truck caught fire in Fountain Hills. According to reports, the fire started in the afternoon of December 8 on State Route 87. There were no reported injuries or fatalities regarding this accident.

Statistics on Vehicle Crash Resulting in Fire in Arizona

According to Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT’s) 2010 Arizona Crash Facts Summary, Maricopa County has the greatest number of reported crashes with 68,579 out of 106,177 statewide incidents. Meanwhile, motor vehicle crashes resulting in fire or explosion in 2010 declined to 321 from 376 in 2009.

Should you Contact an Experienced Arizona Trucking Accident Lawyer?

As Arizona injury lawyers, we handle many trucking accidents and can tell you that people who are involved in truck accidents and are not injured are very lucky. Most people who are involved in a trucking accident in Arizona are many times very seriously injured. When a fire ensues, more likely than not, the occupants of the vehicles will be seriously injured, if not sustain fatal injuries. Trucking accidents can be very complex to pursue because a lawyer must know the federal regulations for trucking companies and truck drivers.

There are also many different ways to pursue a trucking accident case because of these regulations. One of the first things that should be done if there is a serious injury or fatality in a trucking accident, is to make sure that a spoliation letter is sent to the truck driver and trucking company so that no valuable evidence is destroyed. A specific letter with very specific language must be sent. If the letter is not done correctly, it could be the difference between a successful settlement and no settlement at all.

For a free consultation on your trucking accident case in Arizona, call Breyer Law Offices, P.C., our attorneys have been handling trucking accident injury claims in Arizona for years. Call for your free consultation at (602) 267-1280.

If a truck driver causes an injury accident, it is important to investigate if the driver has a commercial license. In the United States, drivers of any type of vehicle having gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 11,793 kg or more must acquire a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This type of driver’s license is intended for truck commercial use, or those transporting hazardous substances in large quantities such as in tractor trailers and buses.

In 1986, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act was made into law. The law was intended to improve safety on highways by ensuring that drivers are qualified to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV).

Arizona Truck Accident Statistics

According to Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), truck accidents accounted for 6.13 percent, or 12,382, of crashes in 2010. ADOT also revealed that fatalities and injuries due to trucks accounted for 21 deaths and 2,150 injuries.

CDL Classes in Arizona

A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is divided into three license classes. Any vehicles having a gross weight of rating of 26,001 lbs or more are classified into Class A. Any single vehicle with gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lbs or more, or any vehicle which tows another vehicle with weight not exceeding to 10,000 lbs is under Class B. Any single, or combination of vehicles, having less than 26,001 lbs GVWR and are designed to transport at least 16 passengers including the driver is classified into Class C.

Mark and Alexis Breyer, the Husband and Wife Law Team have handled many Arizona truck accidents and the first thing to look into is that the driver had the appropriate license. We can tell you more about CDL classifications and laws on driving without a CDL or with a suspended CDL if you have more questions.

Contact Arizona Truck Accident Lawyers

As Arizona truck accident lawyers, it is important to know how to handle a truck accident case. Being a victim of a truck accident in Arizona can be very traumatic and difficult for both the accident victims and their families. Many truck accidents also cause fatal injuries. Speaking to a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer is important so that all your questions are answered. For an honest evaluation about your trucking case, give us a call at (602) 457-6222. We help people across the Valley and offer free consultations.

After taking an especially lengthy amount of time to release statistics to the public, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released good news detailing a large reduction in the amount of tractor trailer accidents over the past several years. According to the FMCSA, fatal truck accidents decreased 31% from 2007 to 2009, and injury accidents fell 30% over the same time period.

The results were only released recently due to the extra time taken in calculations because of revisions in the U.S. hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. The large drop in crashes can be attributed to stricter safety and HOS guidelines being imposed by the government and organizations across the country, according to Trucknews.com. As distract driving, over-working of drivers, and the dangers of drowsy driving in large trucks have gained greater focus in the media and government, regulations have been focused on a considerable amount.

Big rigs pose a large threat on roads due to their large size and heavy weight that turns even small accidents into devastating crashes that can result in injuries and even death. Trucks also have the possibility for crashes that passenger vehicles are not capable of, including jackknifing, hazardous material spills, and runaway trailers.

Each of these accidents carries the potential for devastating results. As such, extreme caution on the part of truck drivers and strict regulation by agencies and companies is needed to cut down on the chances of such crashes occurring.

The big rig accident attorneys in Peoria at The Breyer Law Offices, P.C. have years of experience fighting for the rights of truck accident victims and obtaining substantial compensation for their injury needs. If you or a loved one has been injured in an Arizona truck accident, contact our offices at (623) 455-6603 for a free consultation on your case today.

Distracted driving can be caused by a number of things that may distract a driver, such as operating a radio, putting on makeup, or reading. Likely the most dangerous distraction, and the one receiving the most national attention, is the use of a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle. According to Nationwide.com, drivers who use their cell phones are four times more likely to crash and get into a cell phone-related accident.

With the dangers of distracted driving well documented, it is imperative that individuals operating large trucks, or commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), stay alert and distraction free while behind the wheel. In an effort to prevent large truck accidents and improve safety for truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is proposing a restriction on the use of cell phones while operating in interstate commerce.

The proposed rule would prohibit CMV drivers from reaching for, dialing, or holding a cell phone while driving; however, drivers would still be able to use their mobile phone with a hands-free device. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), though, is urging the group to restrict the use of cell phones completely in the future. For truck drivers who receive multiple violations for breaching the mandate, this suggested rule would also give disqualification penalties for interstate drivers.

The FMCSA may fine the truck driver up to $2,750 for each offense and fine employers up to $11,000 who permit drivers to violate the rule. Individual states are required to adopt and enforce compatible rules within 3 years of the final rule’s publication if the state receives Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grants from the FMCSA.

Truck crashes kill over 5,000 people each year and injure almost 150,000, so this proposed rule may help lessen those staggering statistics. However, the possibility of being involved in a large truck accident is still great as a restriction does not guarantee a truck driver will stay off his or her phone when driving. If you or a loved has been injured in a big rig accident, the experienced Arizona truck accident lawyers of the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. can help you get compensation for your injuries. Please call (602) 457-6222 for a free comprehensive consultation.

Tempe truck accident lawyers Mark and Alexis Breyer are relieved that no one was hurt in a recent accident which could have resulted in a more serious disaster.

According to reports by ABC 15, a soft drink truck was pulling out of the parking lot of a convenience store when it accidentally knocked down low hanging power lines. The wires ended up on the roof of the store which caught fire.

The small fire was under control just moments after, and the driver of the truck stayed inside the vehicle until emergency crews responded to the scene. Fortunately, there were no injuries that resulted from this accident.

Get in Touch with a Skilled Tempe Truck Accident Lawyer

In this particular case, everyone involved was lucky that there were no injuries involved. However, had there been injuries involved, it is likely that under the law the truck driver would have been at-fault, as well as the responsible party for letting the power lines hang down so low. If the power lines were hanging down low as a result of the City, then the injured party would only have 180 days to file what we call a Notice of Claim. After a notice of claim is filed, if the claim is against the city, the injured party must file suit within one year from the date of the accident. Cases with truck accidents can be complex, and it is especially important to hire the best Tempe Truck accident lawyer when the city is at fault. To consult with an attorney at the Breyer Law Offices, P.C., call (480)389-2463 for a free consultation.

The Arizona Republic reports that a semi collision killed a bicyclist Tuesday morning in Phoenix. The accident occurred south of Interstate 10 near 59th Ave. and Latham St. After colliding with the cyclist, the semi driver continued driving. The vehicle was described as having dark fenders and a tan body.

This tragic accident is just one of the many that occur each year due to irresponsible and negligent truck drivers and poorly maintained truck equipment. Not many automobiles, let alone a bicycle, stand a chance when it comes to colliding with a truck that weighs thousands of pounds and may be carrying heavy cargo. Even when semi truck drivers follow all of the rules of the road, accidents can still occur due to the failure of trucking companies to regularly inspect and maintain their equipment properly.

These are just some of the hazards of sharing the roads with these large vehicles:

• Their sheer size makes it more likely that a semi accident will cause serious injuries or deaths.
• Unscrupulous trucking company owners fail to inspect their vehicles regularly so they do not have to pay for needed repairs.
• Semi drivers are held to strict schedules and may be forced to work long hours without taking time to rest. This increases the risk that they will fall asleep at the wheel and injure others.
• If cargo is not loaded properly, it could fall off the truck and cause serious injuries and property damage.

If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries due to driver or trucking company negligence, you have the right to file a legal claim to recover for these injuries. The truck accident attorneys in Phoenix at The Breyer Law Offices, P.C. have extensive experiencing helping those who were injured in accidents involving semis, tractor trailers, and other trucks. Call us at (602) 457-6222 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.