Tempe Truck Accident Attorney

Attorney-Led Representation for Tempe Truck Accident Victims. No Fees Unless We Recover.

Commercial vehicle crashes aren’t like standard car accidents. When a fully loaded 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer hits a passenger vehicle, the size and weight disparity produces injuries that are often catastrophic and permanent. These cases also involve multiple liable parties, layered commercial insurance coverage, and federal trucking regulations that simply don’t apply to ordinary vehicle claims.

At Kent Law PLC, we represent people injured in commercial vehicle wrecks throughout Tempe and Maricopa County. Trucking companies and their insurers move quickly after a serious crash to protect their own interests. Getting legal representation in place early can make a significant difference in what evidence is preserved and how the claim develops. The initial consultation is free, and no attorney fees are owed unless compensation is recovered.

Injured in a truck accident in Tempe? Call Kent Law PLC at (480) 359-5368 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. No attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Commercial Truck Traffic & Crash Risk in Tempe

Tempe sits at the convergence of several major freight corridors. I-10 and I-17 carry heavy commercial volume through the metro core, while Loop 202 (the Price Freeway) and US-60 (Superstition Freeway) route trucks through and around the city’s eastern and southern edges. University-area congestion, industrial delivery routes, and last-mile commercial traffic add further exposure across different parts of the city.

After a wreck, victims often face immediate medical costs, time away from work, and pressure from adjusters seeking quick recorded statements. We help clients protect their case from the start by preserving evidence, documenting losses, and managing insurer communications so you can focus on recovery.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Tempe

Most commercial vehicle crashes are preventable, and proving the specific cause is central to identifying which parties are liable and which insurance policies apply.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets mandatory standards for commercial carriers, including hours-of-service limits, pre-trip inspection requirements, and driver qualification file maintenance. When a carrier or driver violates these rules, that violation can serve as direct evidence of negligence. Common causes we investigate include:

• Driver fatigue: FMCSA hours-of-service rules cap driving time, but violations aren’t uncommon, and electronic logging device (ELD) data can reveal them
• Distracted driving: phone use, in-cab systems, and inattention at highway speeds
• Speeding and unsafe lane changes: particularly dangerous given a commercial truck’s stopping distance and blind spots
• Overloaded or improperly secured cargo: violations of cargo securement standards can cause shifting loads, spills, and rollovers
• Poor vehicle maintenance: brake failures, tire blowouts, and lighting defects that pre-trip inspections should have caught

Types of Truck Accident Cases We Handle

Different crash types raise different legal questions and may implicate different liable parties. We handle the full range of commercial vehicle accident claims in Tempe, including:

• Jackknife accidents: often linked to brake failure or improper load distribution, where the trailer swings out and can strike multiple vehicles
• Underride accidents: where a passenger vehicle slides under a trailer, raising questions about federal underride guard compliance and trailer lighting
• Rollover accidents: frequently tied to excessive speed on curves or improperly distributed cargo weight
• Wide-turn and blind-spot accidents: a function of commercial truck dimensions and limited mirror visibility that makes urban intersections especially hazardous
• Cargo spill accidents: arising from unsecured or overweight loads that create road hazards for other drivers
• Multi-vehicle chain-reaction crashes: common when a jackknife or rollover forces other drivers into evasive action
• 18-wheeler, big rig, and tractor-trailer collisions: including cases involving multiple liable parties and overlapping commercial insurance layers
• Wrongful death claims: when a commercial vehicle collision results in loss of life, we help families pursue accountability with the documentation these cases require
• Defective trucking equipment: where manufacturer or maintenance-provider liability may apply alongside or instead of driver or carrier fault

Injuries From Commercial Truck Collisions

The force generated when a fully loaded commercial truck strikes a passenger vehicle frequently produces injuries that require long-term or permanent care. Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, internal organ damage, and amputations are among the most serious outcomes in these cases. The recovery process is often extended, and the financial impact compounds quickly.

Some significant injuries, including concussion and internal trauma, may not present full symptoms immediately after the crash. Prompt medical evaluation creates a record linking your injuries to the collision, which matters when insurers assess the full value of a claim. Complete documentation, including diagnosis, prognosis, and projected future care needs, forms a critical part of how damages are established.

How We Investigate Commercial Truck Accidents

When we take on a commercial vehicle crash case, preserving time-sensitive evidence is an immediate priority. Commercial trucks carry electronic logging devices (ELDs) and event data recorders (black boxes), and that data can disappear fast. Dashcam footage and other vehicle data can be overwritten within days or weeks, while FMCSA regulations require carriers to retain ELD records for only six months. Issuing legal preservation demands for this data is one of the first steps we take after retention.

Our investigation typically draws on crash reports, scene photos and video, 911 and dispatch records, driver qualification files, hours-of-service compliance records, inspection histories, cargo paperwork, and carrier communications. We also review a carrier’s FMCSA safety record, including inspection history, out-of-service orders, and prior crashes, which may establish a broader pattern of negligent conduct. In complex cases, accident reconstruction professionals and commercial trucking analysts contribute to the liability analysis.

The goal throughout is to prove fault and document damages tied to medical care, income loss, and the long-term impact of your injuries.

Why Choose Kent Law PLC for Your Tempe Truck Accident Case

Attorney Adam C. Kent guides each client’s representation personally. Rather than routing cases through rotating staff, we build a legal strategy around the specific facts of your situation, from the initial investigation through insurer negotiations and, when necessary, litigation.

We handle insurer communications, organize evidence, prepare demand packages, and push back against low offers and delay tactics. Many truck accident claims in Tempe involve insurance disputes over fault, medical necessity, or future care costs. We prepare claims with the documentation needed to pursue compensation at every stage of the process.

No attorney fees are owed unless compensation is recovered. The consultation is free. We represent injury victims in Tempe and throughout Arizona, in court and out.

Frequently Asked Questions