How long do I have to file a truck accident lawsuit in Tempe, Arizona?

Arizona generally gives injury victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims against a government agency or wrongful death claims can carry different, often shorter, deadlines, so it's best to confirm your specific timeline using the statute of limitations calculator rather than assuming you have the full two years.

Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the crash?

Yes. Arizona follows a pure comparative fault rule, which means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault but is not eliminated, even if you were found mostly responsible. For example, if your damages were $100,000 and you were found 40% at fault, you could generally still recover $60,000.

Which agency investigates truck accidents in Tempe?

It depends on where the crash happens. The Tempe Police Department typically handles crashes within city limits, while the Arizona Department of Public Safety often responds to collisions on state highways and interstates like I-10 and US-60. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office may also be involved in crashes near county boundaries.

What federal rules commonly come up in Tempe truck accident cases?

FMCSA hours-of-service limits, minimum insurance requirements, and bans on texting or hand-held phone use while driving are among the federal rules that frequently become relevant. Violations of these rules, such as a driver exceeding the 11-hour driving limit, can serve as strong evidence of negligence in a truck accident claim.

How much does it cost to hire a truck accident lawyer in Tempe?

Most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you recover compensation, with fees commonly falling around 33% to 40% of the settlement or verdict. The exact percentage can vary by firm and case complexity, so it's worth asking directly before signing an agreement.

Tempe Truck Accident Lawyer Guide: Arizona Law & Next Steps

If you were hurt in a truck crash in Tempe, Arizona, you generally have two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Arizona law, and your compensation can be reduced if you were partly at fault. This guide explains how Tempe's heavy truck traffic contributes to crashes, what Arizona's legal rules mean for your case, and how to evaluate a Tempe truck accident lawyer before you hire one.

Key takeaways

Tempe sits at the junction of Interstate 10 and US 60, two of the busiest freight corridors in the Phoenix metro area.
Arizona generally gives injury victims two years to file a lawsuit, but government claims and wrongful death cases can have different deadlines.
Arizona uses pure comparative fault, meaning you can still recover damages even if you're found mostly at fault, though your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Federal trucking rules — like hours-of-service limits and minimum insurance requirements — often shape who is liable in a Tempe 18-wheeler accident.
A licensed Arizona attorney can evaluate your specific situation; this page is educational information, not legal advice.

Why is there so much truck traffic around Tempe?

Tempe sees heavy commercial truck traffic because it sits directly at the interchange of Interstate 10 and US Route 60, two major freight routes that connect Phoenix to Tucson, Los Angeles, and markets across the Southwest. This interchange, often called "the Mixer" by locals, funnels a large volume of long-haul and regional trucks through central Tempe every day.

Beyond the interstates, Tempe and the surrounding East Valley cities (Mesa, Chandler, Guadalupe) host distribution centers, warehousing operations, and light-industrial parks that generate steady delivery truck and tractor-trailer traffic on surface streets like Priest Drive, Southern Avenue, and Baseline Road. Trucks serving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's cargo operations and Valley retail distribution networks also regularly pass through or near Tempe. All of this traffic, combined with Arizona State University's dense student and commuter population, creates a mix of commercial vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and passenger cars sharing the same roads.

Common freight routes through Tempe

Interstate 10, running east-west through the heart of Tempe and connecting to Phoenix and Tucson.
US Route 60 (Superstition Freeway), merging with I-10 at the "Mixer" interchange.
Priest Drive, McClintock Drive, and Baseline Road, which serve local warehouses and distribution facilities.

Where do truck accidents tend to happen in Tempe?

Truck accidents in the Tempe area tend to cluster at high-traffic interchanges, construction zones, and during adverse weather, though crashes can happen anywhere trucks and passenger vehicles share the road. The I-10/US-60 interchange is a frequent flashpoint because of merging traffic, lane changes, and sheer volume. Ongoing freeway construction and lane closures in the Phoenix metro area also increase the chance of rear-end and sideswipe collisions involving large trucks, since big rigs need more distance to slow down or stop safely.

Arizona's monsoon season, typically mid-summer, brings sudden dust storms and heavy rain that cut visibility dramatically and make pavement slick after long dry spells. These conditions are especially dangerous for fully loaded commercial trucks, which already require longer stopping distances than passenger cars. Surface street intersections near warehouse districts, where trucks frequently turn or back into loading docks, are another common location for collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, and smaller vehicles.

What should you do immediately after a truck accident in Tempe?

Your first priority after a truck crash is safety: move to a safe location if possible, call 911, and get medical attention even if injuries seem minor. Depending on where the crash happens, the Tempe Police Department typically responds to collisions within city limits, while the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) often handles crashes on state highways and interstates like I-10 and US-60. In some cases, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office may also be involved near county lines.

Steps to take at the scene

Call 911 and request police and medical response, even for seemingly minor crashes.
Seek medical evaluation promptly, since some injuries (like internal bleeding or concussions) aren't obvious right away.
Get the official crash report number and ask how to obtain a copy once it's filed. Our guide on how to file a truck accident report walks through this process in detail.
Photograph the vehicles, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
Get contact and insurance information from the truck driver, and if possible, the name of the trucking company.
Avoid discussing fault at the scene or with insurance adjusters before speaking with an attorney.

Commercial trucks are required to carry electronic logging device (ELD) records, and carriers must generally keep records of duty status for six months. Because these records can be overwritten or routinely deleted, getting a preservation request to the trucking company early can matter for your case. For background on how these cases typically unfold, see What Happens When a Truck Driver Has an Accident?

How does Arizona's deadline and fault rule affect a Tempe truck accident claim?

In Arizona, injury victims generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline, known as a statute of limitations, is a law that sets the maximum time you have to bring a legal claim before you lose the right to do so. Missing it can mean losing your ability to recover compensation entirely, regardless of how strong your case is.

There are important exceptions. Claims against a government agency — for example, if a city- or state-owned vehicle or road defect contributed to the crash — often come with shorter notice deadlines and stricter procedural rules. Wrongful death claims can also follow a different timeline than standard injury claims. Because these exceptions are easy to miss, it's worth checking your specific situation against the statute of limitations calculator or the 50-state deadlines and fault rules table rather than assuming you have the full two years.

Pure comparative fault in Arizona

Arizona follows a pure comparative fault rule, meaning your compensation is reduced by your own percentage of fault, even if that percentage is high. For example, if a court or insurer determined your damages were $100,000 but found you 30% at fault for the crash, you could generally still recover $70,000. This is different from some states that cut off recovery entirely once a victim is found more than 50% at fault. Because insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the injured party to reduce payouts, how fault is argued and documented can significantly affect your final compensation.

How federal trucking rules fit in

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations set baseline safety rules for interstate trucking, and violations of these rules often become central evidence in a truck accident claim. Key rules include:

Property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, with no driving allowed after the 14th hour on duty, a 30-minute break required after 8 cumulative hours of driving, and weekly limits of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days (49 CFR Part 395, see fmcsa.dot.gov).
Interstate for-hire carriers must generally carry at least $750,000 in liability insurance for general freight, with higher minimums for certain hazardous materials (49 CFR Part 387).
Commercial drivers are prohibited from texting or using hand-held phones while driving, and the blood alcohol limit for CDL holders operating a commercial vehicle is 0.04%.
The federal gross vehicle weight limit on the Interstate System is 80,000 pounds.

If a driver exceeded hours-of-service limits or a carrier failed to maintain required insurance, that can be strong evidence of negligence. You can check hours-of-service math using the DOT hours of service calculator.

Who is liable and what compensation is available after a Tempe truck crash?

Liability in a truck accident often extends beyond the driver to the trucking company, a cargo loading company, a maintenance contractor, or even a parts manufacturer, depending on what caused the crash. A full breakdown of how fault gets assigned is available in Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident? A Clear Guide to Fault.

Parties who may share liability

The truck driver, for distracted, drowsy, or impaired driving, or hours-of-service violations.
The trucking or motor carrier company, for negligent hiring, inadequate training, or pressuring drivers to break federal rules.
A maintenance or repair contractor, if poor brake or tire maintenance contributed to the crash.
A cargo loading company, if improperly secured or overloaded freight caused a rollover or jackknife.
A parts manufacturer, in cases involving defective brakes, tires, or underride guards — see Underride Truck Accident: Causes, Liability, and Your Rights.

Types of compensation generally available

Damages in a truck accident case typically fall into a few broad categories: medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. The full scope depends on the severity of injuries and the specifics of the crash — see What Are Damages in Truck Accident Cases? A Full Breakdown. There's no set "average" settlement amount, since outcomes depend heavily on factors like injury severity, available insurance coverage, and degree of fault. The truck accident settlement calculator and pain and suffering calculator can give you an educational estimate based on your own numbers, though they are not a guarantee of any outcome.

Many people also want to know who pays medical bills while a claim is pending — that process is explained in Who Pays Medical Bills After a Truck Accident?

How do you choose a truck accident lawyer in Tempe?

Choosing the right lawyer means looking for someone licensed in Arizona with specific experience handling commercial trucking cases, not just general car accident claims. Truck accident cases involve federal regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and corporate defense teams, so experience with this particular type of case matters.

Questions worth asking before you hire

How many truck accident cases, specifically, have you handled — not just car accident cases?
Who typically handles the investigation, and how quickly can evidence like ELD logs be preserved?
What is your fee structure, and what percentage do you take if the case settles versus goes to trial?
Have you handled cases involving a defendant with this type of insurance coverage or company size before?
How do you communicate with clients, and how often can I expect updates?

A more complete list of questions is available in What to Ask a Truck Accident Lawyer Before You Hire One.

Understanding contingency fees

Most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee, meaning they only get paid if you recover compensation, typically taking a percentage that commonly falls somewhere around 33% to 40% of the recovery. This percentage can vary based on case complexity and whether the case settles or goes to trial, so it's worth asking upfront. For a deeper look at typical fee structures, see How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost in 2026? and How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help After a Crash?

What the legal process generally looks like

Most truck accident claims move through investigation, negotiation with insurance companies, and sometimes formal litigation if a fair settlement can't be reached. If a lawsuit becomes necessary, you may encounter terms like a legal complaint, discovery, subpoenas, and affidavits — each explained in plain language in our guides on legal complaints, discovery, subpoenas, and affidavits. Many truck accident cases settle before trial, though some do proceed to court — see Do Semi Truck Accident Cases Go to Trial? for what influences that decision, and How Long Does a Truck Accident Lawsuit Take to Settle? for a sense of typical timelines. For a full walkthrough of the process, see How Do Truck Accident Lawsuits Work? A Step-by-Step Guide and How to File a Truck Accident Claim: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Truck Accidents in Tempe, AZ: Local Risks, Arizona Law & What to Do