Texting and Driving Truck Accidents in Phoenix

Texting while driving is highly inadvisable, especially while operating a tractor-trailer. If a truck driver looks down at their phone, even for a moment, it can end in a deadly crash. It only takes a few seconds for a fully loaded vehicle to drift out of its lane and collide with another vehicle, leaving victims with painful injuries and large medical bills.

At Elmm Law Group, we take texting and driving truck accidents in Phoenix seriously. If you were recently involved in a crash with a distracted trucker, our skilled 18-wheeler accident attorney could investigate the circumstances and fight on your behalf to hold the negligent parties accountable.

The Dangers of Texting While Driving a Tractor-Trailer

Commercial drivers spend long hours on the road, but they still have a responsibility to remain focused on operating their vehicles safely. Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-914, all drivers are prohibited from using hand-held devices while driving. 49 Code of Federal Regulations § 392.80 has even stricter standards, making it illegal for commercial drivers to hold a phone or text while driving.

When commercial drivers ignore these laws to check a text message or notification, they place the road users around them in danger. Fully-loaded commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, increasing the risk of a severe crash.

Distractions can cause drivers to react slowly, swerve into other lanes, rear-end another vehicle, or even roll over. In addition to the damages resulting from a crash in Phoenix, texting truckers can face penalties in the form of fines or suspension of their commercial driver’s license. When their negligence contributes to an accident, both the driver and the trucking company can be found responsible.

Who Is Liable for a Texting While Driving Truck Accident?

A personal injury claim can involve several parties when a commercial vehicle driver in Phoenix causes a collision by using their phone. The truck driver is liable for violating state and federal laws, resulting in damage to other persons and vehicles. However, liability can also extend to the trucking company for unsafe communication practices or failing to adequately supervise the driver.

These cases can also involve third-party dispatch services that require drivers to use phones for updates or even technology providers if a device malfunction contributed to the distraction.

You are entitled to recover damages, even if you share fault with other parties. Under A.R.S. § 12-505, the state follows pure comparative negligence, which means your compensation will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent responsible for the accident, your damages would be reduced by 20 percent.

The Importance of Acting Quickly

Acting quickly is critical for these cases. Phone data and dashcam footage from a tractor-trailer can be altered or deleted in a matter of days, destroying crucial evidence needed to show causation between the driver’s distraction and the resulting crash. Trucking companies will not hesitate to act in their own best interests, which often conflicts with your interests as a victim.

Our experienced injury attorney in Phoenix could act fast to preserve this evidence and communicate directly with insurers to build you the strongest case possible after a collision caused by a texting truck driver. At Elmm Law Group, we fight to secure the full compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and long-term suffering.

Call Our Phoenix Firm Today After a Texting Trucker Causes a Crash

At Elmm Law Group, we help clients injured in texting and driving truck accidents in Phoenix recover the compensation they deserve. We are ready to give you the support you need to move forward and pursue justice. Call us today for a free consultation in English, Spanish, or Serbo-Croatian.