What to Do After a Truck Accident in Arizona: A Guide for Victims and Drivers

A truck accident in Arizona is bigger, louder, and far more costly than routine car wrecks. According to the latest Arizona Department of Transportation Crash Facts, 2,552 truck accidents in Arizona were logged statewide in 2023, causing 117 deaths and more than 700 serious injuries.

Those numbers prove that if an 80,000-pound rig strikes your car, motorcycle, or pickup anywhere in Cottonwood, Camp Verde, or Prescott Valley, the margin for error vanishes. The checklist below walks you through every decisive move—from the instant airbags deploy until your skilled local injury attorney presents a settlement demand. 

Need answers now? Call (928) 649-3400 for a case review with the Law Office of Shiloh K. Hoggard, P.L.L.C. 

Step 1: Move to Safety and Dial 911 After Your Truck Accident in Arizona

Life and limbs come first. Switch on hazard lights, steer clear of traffic if possible, activate road flares, and call 911. Arizona law requires drivers involved in a crash that causes injury, death, or at least $2,000 in property damage to remain at the scene, and law enforcement must file a written accident report within 24 hours. The sooner you summon police and medical teams, the stronger your evidence chain will be when a truck injury lawyer in Cottonwood negotiates with the trucking carrier.

Step 2: Accept Immediate Medical Care—Even Minor Pain Counts

Medics may recommend ambulance transport or an emergency-room visit. Say yes. Cracked ribs, concussions, and spinal-disc tears often appear mild at first but worsen within days. Early CT scans or MRIs link injuries to the collision date, stopping insurers from arguing that your pain stems from an old football injury. Keep every discharge summary; your Cottonwood attorneys will use those records to build a verified damages ledger.

Step 3: Request—and Later Order—the Official Crash Report

Officers who arrive on scene will create an Arizona Crash Report (Form 01-2704) that captures driver statements, skid-mark measurements, and the truck’s USDOT number. Ask for the incident number before leaving. Within seven days, purchase the certified report through ADOT’s Public Records Center. Lawyers spot errors quickly—such as a wrong speed estimate—and petition the agency for corrections before the trucking insurer relies on them.

Step 4: Capture Evidence Before It Disappears

Sunlight and tow trucks erase crucial proof within hours. Pull out your phone and photograph the full scene first, then details.

Key images to collect:

• Both vehicles from all angles, including any underride or trailer-override damage.
• Skid marks, gouges, and fluid trails that show impact speed or brake use.
• The truck’s license plate, cab-side company logo, and trailer ID.
• Nearby traffic signals, stop signs, or construction warnings.

Obtain names and numbers from any eyewitnesses and note camera locations on surrounding buildings. This archive gives your attorney in Cottonwood, AZ a leverage when opposing adjusters claim you “came out of nowhere.”

Step 5: Exchange and Record Crucial Information

Arizona law obligates drivers to share names, addresses, driver-license numbers, registration data, and liability insurance details. For large rigs, add the carrier’s legal name, the driver’s commercial license number, and any hazardous-materials placard ID. Hand that packet to your lawyer—not to social media. Even a casual apology post can be twisted into an admission.

Step 6: Lock Down Electronic Data and Physical Components

Most semis house an electronic control module (ECM) that stores speed, throttle, and brake-application data for about 30 days. Your lawyer will send a spoliation letter within 48 hours, compelling the carrier to preserve the ECM file, driver log books, and dash-cam footage. If a faulty brake shoe or blown steer-tire contributed to the wreck, they will also secure the physical parts for metallurgical testing.

Step 7: Direct All Insurer Calls to Your Lawyer—Speak Sparingly

Within a day or two, an adjuster may offer a quick payout in exchange for a recorded statement. Politely decline. Claims personnel are trained to minimize payouts; one poorly phrased answer about pain levels can shave thousands off a settlement. Forward every voicemail and letter to the Law Office of Shiloh K. Hoggard, P.L.L.C. so our team—not you—handles the insurer’s strategy.

Step 8: Track Every Expense and Symptom

Arizona’s pure comparative-fault rule means damages are reduced only by your share of fault; nothing is paid automatically. Maintain a crash diary with dates, pain ratings, mileage for medical trips, and days missed from work. Keep receipts for prescriptions and adaptive devices. A truck accident lawyer will bundle these records into a demand package that withstands the carrier’s scrutiny.

Categories of Recoverable Damages:

• Economic – ER visits, surgeries, physical therapy, lost wages, future earning reduction, vehicle replacement.
• Non-Economic – pain, emotional distress, loss of life enjoyment, scarring.
• Punitive – available when a driver logs excessive hours or ignores federal brake-maintenance rules.

Spelling out these lines early prevents the defense from claiming later that they never had notice of your full losses.

Step 9: Know the Statute of Limitations and Comparative Fault

Under A.R.S. § 12-542, you have two years from the collision date to file a personal-injury claim, and the clock is identical for wrongful-death lawsuits. Arizona juries assign fault by percentage; if you are 10 percent responsible, your award falls by 10 percent, but you still recover 90 percent. Acting quickly allows an Arizona truck accident attorney to investigate while skid marks and driver memories remain fresh.

Step 10: Engage the Law Office of Shiloh K. Hoggard, P.L.L.C. After Your Truck Accident in Arizona

Our Cottonwood headquarters serves victims throughout the Verde Valley, Prescott Valley, and beyond. Here is the workflow you can expect:

• Rapid Response: Investigators and drones document the roadway within 48 hours.
• Data Preservation: Court orders secure ECM downloads and cell-phone records.
• Medical Correlation: We partner with treating physicians to confirm how crash forces caused each injury.
  Regulation Proof: Driver logs and freight invoices reveal violations of hours-of-service rules, strengthening liability.

Because we work on contingency, injured drivers never pay out-of-pocket. The Law Office of Shiloh K. Hoggard, P.L.L.C. has guided Arizona families through life-altering truck collisions, recovering medical costs, wage replacement, and rightful compensation under state law. Let our seasoned team shoulder the legal burden while you focus on healing—contact us today at (928) 649-3400 for a thorough and personalized consultation.