Scottsdale Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer
Delivery Truck Accidents in Scottsdale: Why You May Need a Lawyer
A delivery truck accident lawyer in Scottsdale can help work out who is responsible when a delivery van, box truck or freight truck hits you, and the answer is not always the name painted on the side. Arizona gives you two years from the crash to file a personal injury claim (A.R.S. 12-542), and delivery crashes often involve more than one company and more than one insurer, so it helps to ask early.
- Filing deadline
- 2 years from the crash
- A.R.S. 12-542(1)
- Fault rule
- Pure comparative fault, no percentage bar
- A.R.S. 12-2505
- Government vehicle
- Notice of claim within 180 days
- A.R.S. 12-821.01
What Counts as a Delivery Truck Crash
Delivery vehicles are everywhere in Scottsdale. Package vans, step vans, box trucks, grocery and furniture trucks, and food delivery cars all share Scottsdale Road, Shea Boulevard and the streets around Old Town with everyone else. They stop often, back into tight spaces, double park and run on tight schedules, which is part of why they are involved in so many collisions. Our overview of a truck accident lawyer in Scottsdale covers commercial trucks in general, and this page focuses on the smaller vehicles that bring things to our doors.
A delivery crash can feel simple at the scene. A van hit you, the driver apologized, and you assume the company will take care of it. It is rarely that simple. The driver may work for the company on the door, for a contractor, or for a small business that was hired for one route. Each of those arrangements changes who is responsible and which insurance policy applies, and insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault before anyone has talked to you.
Who May Share Responsibility After a Delivery Truck Crash
What the evidence shows decides who is responsible. These are the places we look first.
- The driver
Distraction from a phone, route app or package scanner, rushing, unsafe backing and unsafe lane changes are common starting points.
- The driver's employer
A business can be responsible for what an employee does while working. Whether the driver was an employee or a contractor is one of the first questions to answer.
- A delivery contractor or fleet operator
Large delivery fleets often work with outside contractors who own or lease the vehicles. Who hired, trained and supervised the driver can matter.
- The vehicle owner or maintenance provider
Worn brakes, bad tires or a missed repair can turn a routine stop into a crash.
- The business that loaded the vehicle
Cargo that is overloaded or poorly secured can affect how a truck handles and how quickly it stops.
Crashes With Big-Name Delivery Vehicles
People often search for an Amazon truck accident lawyer or a UPS truck accident lawyer after a crash with a van carrying one of those names. Large delivery fleets, and the contractors who drive for them, carry insurance, and who answers for a crash can depend on who employed or hired the driver. A company's name on a vehicle tells you nothing about whether anyone did anything wrong. Fault is decided by what happened on the road, and that is what a review of your crash looks at.
Evidence After a Delivery Truck Accident
Delivery vehicles generate more records than most vehicles on the road. Part of an early review is working out which ones may exist.
- Photos of the vehicle, its markings and license plate, taken if safely possible before any vehicle is moved.
- The driver's name, the company on the vehicle and any insurance details offered at the scene.
- Dashcam or onboard camera video, and video from nearby businesses and homes.
- GPS and route records, delivery schedules and package scan times that show where the driver was and how quickly he or she was working.
- Maintenance and inspection records for the vehicle.
- Witness names and phone numbers.
- The police report, which names the agency that responded and records the officer's observations.
What to Do After a Delivery Truck Accident in Scottsdale
Take these steps in roughly this order.
- 1
Call 911.
A police report creates an official record of where the crash happened, who was involved and what the officer saw.
- 2
Get medical care the same day.
Adrenaline can hide pain, and some people have no or seemingly minor symptoms at first. A timestamped medical record connects your injuries to the crash.
- 3
Document the scene, if safely possible, before any vehicle is moved.
Take photos of the vehicles, the road, the traffic signals and any visible injuries.
- 4
Exchange information.
Get the driver's details, the company name and the insurance information offered.
- 5
Report the crash to your own insurer.
Give the basic facts. You are not required to agree to a recorded statement with the delivery company's insurer, and it is usually wise to wait.
- 6
Call us before you sign or accept a payment.
If you believe you were not at fault, make sure you explain this to the officer and keep your own notes. We will explain your legal rights.
Insurance Companies and Delivery Claims
Delivery companies and their contractors carry commercial insurance, and the adjusters who handle those claims do so every day. They may ask you to describe the crash in a recorded statement, offer a quick payment for your repairs or medical bills, or suggest that you were partly responsible. Arizona uses pure comparative fault (A.R.S. 12-2505), so your compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you but is not barred. Do not take their word on the percentage. Our guide on talking to insurance adjusters explains what to expect.
If the person who hit you had little or no coverage, your own policy may help. Read about uninsured motorist claims to see how that works. If the vehicle belonged to a city or another public body, the timing is much shorter, with a notice of claim due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). Rules for federal agencies are different again, so call us before you assume which deadline applies. Our notice of claim guide has the basics.
Other Truck Crash Pages
If your crash involved a different kind of commercial vehicle, these pages may fit better.
How a Delivery Truck Accident Lawyer in Scottsdale Can Help
A delivery truck accident attorney can sort out who employed the driver, who owned the vehicle and which insurance policies apply, so that you are not left guessing while the bills arrive. Valley Accident Law offers a free case review so you can understand your legal rights before you decide anything. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
Our experienced and friendly attorney will explain how a claim may work and what to keep. Our office is at 5635 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 170, Scottsdale, AZ 85250. Call (602) 584-8054 or send us a message. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
Questions
Questions about Scottsdale delivery truck accident cases
A FedEx truck hit my car, who do I call?
Start with 911 so the crash is documented, then get medical care. Report the crash to your own insurer and get the driver's name and the company on the vehicle. Be careful before you give a recorded statement to anyone's insurer. Then call us for a free case review, and we will explain your legal rights and who may be responsible.
Who is responsible when a delivery driver hits me?
It depends on the facts. The driver, the driver's employer, a delivery contractor, the vehicle owner or a maintenance provider may each share responsibility. Whether the driver was an employee or a contractor is one of the first things to find out.
How long do I have to file a claim after a delivery truck crash?
Arizona's general personal injury deadline is two years from the date of the crash (A.R.S. 12-542). A government vehicle changes the timing, with a notice of claim due within 180 days (A.R.S. 12-821.01). These rules have exceptions, so call us and we will explain how they apply to you.
Should I accept a quick payment from the delivery company's insurer?
Be careful. Early offers usually come before you know the full cost of your treatment, and a signed release will under most circumstances close your case permanently. Ask for time and get advice before you sign.
What if the driver says the crash was my fault?
Arizona uses pure comparative fault, so you can still recover when you share some blame, but your compensation is reduced by your percentage. Insurance companies and attorneys often negotiate the percentage of fault, so do not accept their number without a review.
Free case review
Talk to Us About Your Delivery Truck Crash
Call (602) 584-8054 or request your free case review. We will explain your legal rights and what we see in your facts. The earlier you call, the better, but it's never too late to find out your legal rights.
Call any time. Office visits Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.
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