How long you have to file a claim for a truck accident can vary on a case-by-case basis. Each state has its statute of limitations for filing truck accident claims. In Arizona, the deadline for filing a claim stemming from a non-fatal truck accident case is generally two years from the collision date. Fatal truck accident claims also generally have a two-year statute of limitations.
There may be unique circumstances that lengthen the statute of limitations for your truck accident claim. For instance, if you did not discover accident-related injuries until weeks or months after the collision, this might affect your filing deadline. However, you should always assume that your filing deadline is what the law says, so you should immediately hire a truck accident lawyer.
Read more: Time Limits for Filing a Truck Accident Claim
The statute of limitations for truck accident cases tends to get the most attention in terms of “deadlines,” and it warrants plenty of focus. If you miss this deadline, your chance to pursue compensation for accident-related injuries can be gone.
That said, there are other time-sensitive features of your case that you must be aware of, which include the urgency of:
In some minor accidents, those involved will exchange contact and insurance information and handle the matter between themselves and their insurers. We do not generally advise this, in part because you are required to formally report any truck accident in Arizona that results in:
An accident must also be reported if someone involved receives a citation. However, if a law enforcement officer has issued a citation, you can be fairly sure the officer reported the collision.
If you did not call law enforcement to the accident scene, this alone is a reason to speak with a truck accident attorney. Your lawyer will ensure proper reporting of the collision. There are plausible explanations for not reporting a collision right away, and your attorney will provide such explanations to the necessary authorities.
Read more: How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for a Truck Accident?
While there is no specific deadline for reporting injuries to insurance providers after a truck accident in Arizona, you should be aware that:
Insurance companies are already well-known for using bad-faith tactics against claimants. Do not give insurance companies any leeway to challenge your claim. Instead, hire a truck accident lawyer to promptly report your injuries and resolve the claims process as efficiently as possible.
Read more: What Evidence Will Help My Truck Accident Case?
Many “deadlines” related to truck accident cases are not formal. Rather, these are time-sensitive responsibilities that may increase your case’s chances of success if you hire a lawyer to take care of them right away. Such responsibilities include:
You should also consider yourself. Most accident survivors don’t want to stress about the status of their case. The sooner you can hand your case over to an experienced attorney, the sooner you can stop worrying about that case.
Read more: When to Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
There are real, potentially devastating consequences for those who miss the statute of limitations for a truck accident case. There is a realistic possibility that, if this happens, you:
There is no reason to wait to speak with a truck accident attorney. Consultations are free. Most personal injury firms use contingency fees, so you won’t have to pay any upfront costs for legal services.
Read more: Truck Accident with an Uninsured Truck Driver
Those who hire a lawyer right after their truck accident can:
These are good enough reasons to hire a truck accident attorney. However, they are far from the only reasons why you should trust a lawyer for your case. Truck accident claims and lawsuits can be uncommonly challenging because:
Trucking companies operate in a dangerous industry. It is not a question of whether a truck accident will occur but when the accident will happen. This reality means that:
Most truck accident survivors aren’t up for such a fight. Your attorney will be.
Read more: Who Can Be Liable for a Truck Accident?
One of your lawyer’s roles will be to diagnose why your truck accident happened. They may rely on multiple experts to make their diagnosis.
Commercial trucks are not as streamlined as passenger vehicles. More can go wrong in a truck, and understanding a truck’s design and modes of operation may be necessary to determine an accident’s cause accurately. A lawyer and those they work with will have the knowledge to determine the fault for your crash.
One unique feature of truck accident cases is the tendency for liable parties to have necessary evidence in their possession. This evidence may include:
Once a trucking company recognizes its liability for your accident, it may withhold this and other evidence. Your attorney will have legal methods for securing the evidence, even against the trucking company’s wishes.
Any experienced personal injury lawyer will tell you that truck accident cases tend to be costlier than average. It is generally due to trucks’ weight, which is greater than most vehicles and makes truck collisions potentially catastrophic.
Whenever you are seeking a large sum of money, you can expect liable parties to fight you. It is a fight worth waging, but you should let an experienced, hardened truck accident attorney lead.
Read more: What to Do After a Truck Accident
Your lawyer will create a personalized plan for your case. Expect them to brief you on this plan, which may include:
Insurance requirements in the trucking industry are strict and complex. Most trucking companies and truck operators have insurance, so filing one or more claims is likely in your case.
You may need to file a claim with your insurance provider if:
If you have to resort to uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage, then filing a lawsuit against liable parties can be a more appealing option. Your lawyer will discuss these considerations with you.
Anyone contributing to a trucking accident may be liable for victims’ damages. Trucking companies may have vicarious liability for their employees, meaning that they are liable when the employee—who is an agent of the employer—causes a collision.
Dynamic lawyers do not get fixated on the first strategy they draw up. If circumstances change, they pivot to the next best option. Your attorney will remain focused on securing the compensation you deserve, and they will adjust their approach if necessary.
Every aspect of your case will revolve around your damages—or, more specifically, getting compensation for your damages. It is the goal of any truck accident case and is surely the primary reason you will hire a truck accident attorney.
Some of the damages that often affect truck accident survivors are:
Accident victims are more likely to pass away when a crash involves a truck. Those who lose a loved one from injuries sustained in a truck accident deserve to grieve without the stress of a case weighing on them. An attorney can empathetically represent anyone who has lost a loved one due to a truck crash.
By hiring a lawyer experienced in truck accident cases, you can focus on your recovery while knowing that your legal rights are in capable hands. The risks of a missed deadline should loom large after a collision. Understanding these risks will hopefully motivate you to hire a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. The alternative—losing out on compensation you deserve—should not be an outcome you’re willing to consider.
Two years from accrual for personal injury, wrongful death, and vehicle/property damage—under A.R.S. § 12-542. Courts treat “accrual” as when the injury is (or should be) known.
Key takeaway: Calendar 2 years from the crash (or discovery), then work backward for your demand and litigation timeline.
Much shorter clock. You must (a) serve a Notice of Claim within 180 days of accrual (A.R.S. § 12-821.01) and (b) file suit within 1 year (A.R.S. § 12-821). Miss either and you’re barred.
Key takeaway: Suspect a public entity? Treat it as a 180-day case, not a 2-year case.
For crashes with injury, death, or > $2,000 damage (or when a citation is issued), an officer must file a written accident report; drivers must immediately notify law enforcement if there’s injury or death. See A.R.S. § 28-667 and § 28-666.
Key takeaway: Call 911, report promptly, and get the report—insurers and courts expect it.
Policies require prompt notice, but Arizona follows a notice-prejudice rule: a carrier generally must show it was actually prejudiced by late notice to deny coverage (e.g., Lindus v. Northern Ins. Co., Holt v. Utica). Still, don’t delay.
Key takeaway: Notify ASAP to avoid a fight; if you were late, Arizona law often requires the insurer to prove prejudice.
Electronic driver-hours data (ELD/RODS) must be kept only 6 months (49 CFR 395.8(k)), while the carrier’s accident register is kept 3 years (49 CFR 390.15). Send spoliation letters early to preserve ELDs, logs, dashcam/telematics, maintenance and dispatch records.
Key takeaway: Move quickly—ELD data can vanish after 6 months without a preservation demand.