Big-Rig Accident Lawyer Scottsdale AZ

Are you in need of a big rig accident lawyer in Scottsdale AZ? If you are, try Don Yearin of Yearin Law Office. He has more than 25 years of litigation experience. To date, he’s earned his clients more than 50 million in case results. If you’d like to speak with him, contact him here. 

How Much Is My Big Rig Accident Worth?

Your personal injury case may be worth thousands or millions. Generally, you can seek recovery for medical expenses, cost of ambulance transportation, lost wages, lost earning capacity, need for a caretaker, physical therapy costs, emotional therapy costs, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, loss of consortium between you and your spouse, and more.

Who Can I Sue For My Accident?

Multiple parties can be sued in one civil suit. Whom you can sue depends on the circumstances of your case regarding. For example, suppose that the irresponsible big rig driver is an independent contractor. In this case, it’s unlikely you can sue the trucking company employer through vicarious liability. Vicarious liability is a theory that allows you to hold the employer liable for the employee’s actions. Normally, you can sue for a larger compensatory damages amount if you go after the employer. But this theory doesn’t apply to independent contractors.

Yet, if the negligent big rig driver is an employee, you can sue the driver and trucking company. Typically, you’ll sue the trucking company for negligent hiring. Any agency has a duty to make employees undergo a background check and assessment. Let’s say that a big rig driver has been convicted of drunk driving previously. In this case, it’s negligent to hire that driver, especially if the offense was recent. 

Exceptions apply to the law of vicarious liability. Suppose the work day had ended for the at-fault truck driver, but the truck driver continued to use the vehicle for activities unrelated to work. During this time, that driver injured you. In this case, it’s unlikely you can go after the employer because the driver was in transit for non-work reasons and without employer permission. However, you can apply vicarious liability if a big rig driver hit you after business hours when the employer requested that the driver make one final delivery. In other words, so long as the driver injured you during work hours or while carrying out a work-related task, you can go after the employer. 

Of course, exceptions apply. Therefore, you should speak with a qualified big rig accident lawyer in Scottsdale AZ to ensure that your rights are protected. A less experienced lawyer won’t make as diligent arguments. A less seasoned personal injury lawyer won’t have a clear grasp of the law.

Contact Our Office Today

Don’t let this big rig truck driver go unpunished. After all, your collision may be worth millions. Even if the judge awards you a lower amount, it is the defendant’s duty to cover the costs of your medical expenses and emotional damages. Only a personal injury lawyer as knowledgeable as Don Yearin can be trusted to win your case and see to it that the defendant makes you whole again. Call us today to take advantage of your free consultation. We’ll provide you with the best big rig truck accident lawyer Scottsdale AZ has in town.

When Is The Truck Company Liable?

Liability is oftentimes more complicated than it appears, but your Scottsdale, AZ big-rig accident lawyer can help you through the process. At ​​Yearin Law Office, we have spent over 25 years helping our clients with car accidents, commercial truck accidents, and a wide variety of other personal injury cases. Now, we’re ready to use our experience to help you. Read on to learn more about liability in truck accident cases, and contact our team to get started today.

When The Driver Is An Employee

A trucking company can be held liable for an accident caused by its driver if the driver is classified as an employee and was acting within the scope of their job at the time of the accident. For instance, if the driver was making a delivery or transporting goods as part of their assigned duties, the company may bear responsibility for the resulting damages.

Independent Contractors And Liability

In some cases, truck drivers operate as independent contractors rather than employees. Trucking companies often try to avoid liability by labeling drivers as independent contractors, but this designation does not automatically exempt them from responsibility. Courts will often look beyond the label to examine the level of control the company has over the driver’s work. If the company sets the driver’s schedule, dictates routes, or requires specific safety practices, it may still be held liable, even if the driver is not formally classified as an employee.

Negligence In Hiring And Training

Trucking companies are expected to hire qualified drivers and provide adequate training. If a company hires a driver with a history of unsafe driving or fails to properly train its drivers, it could be held accountable if those oversights contribute to an accident. This can include failing to conduct thorough background checks, overlooking past violations, or not ensuring that drivers meet medical fitness requirements.

Vehicle Maintenance And Inspection Failures

Trucking companies are also responsible for maintaining their vehicles to meet safety standards. Regular inspections, timely repairs, and proper documentation of maintenance are key to preventing accidents caused by mechanical failures. If a company neglects these responsibilities and a poorly maintained truck is involved in an accident, the company may be held liable for the damages.

Pressuring Drivers To Meet Unrealistic Deadlines

Sometimes, trucking companies place undue pressure on drivers to meet tight delivery schedules, leading drivers to speed, skip rest breaks, or drive longer hours than allowed by federal regulations. When this happens, and an accident occurs as a result, the company may be held accountable for its part in encouraging unsafe practices.

Federal regulations on hours of service exist to reduce the risk of fatigue-related accidents, and companies that ignore these rules or create environments that promote violations can face legal consequences. Your Scottsdale big-rig accident lawyer can help you if you suspect your accident was caused by unsafe practices.

Seeking Accountability After A Truck Accident

Truck accidents often involve significant damages and complex liability issues. Identifying whether the trucking company is responsible requires a thorough investigation of the driver’s actions, the company’s policies, and the condition of the vehicle.

At Yearin Law Office, we help clients navigate this process and pursue the compensation they deserve. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident and believe the company may be at fault, contact us today, and see how a Scottsdale big-rig accident lawyer from our office can help.