Rear-End Truck Accidents in Arizona: Why They’re Rarely Simple
An experienced Gilbert, AZ truck accident attorney can help you recover compensation
Rear-end collisions are often seen as straightforward crashes – a vehicle strikes another from behind, and liability seems clear. But when a commercial truck is involved, nothing about the case is simple. In Arizona, rear-end truck accidents regularly result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities, and determining who is responsible can turn into a complex legal battle. What appears to be an open-and-shut case may actually involve layers of liability, disputed facts, and aggressive corporate defense strategies.
Rear-end truck accident victims and their families are often left with devastating losses. And while compensation is possible, securing it requires strategic legal action, meticulous investigation, and a deep understanding of trucking industry regulations.
The physics behind rear-end truck collisions
Fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds – more than 20 times the weight of a standard passenger vehicle. Because of that size, these vehicles require far more distance to stop. Under normal road conditions, a semi-truck traveling at highway speed can take up to 525 feet to come to a complete stop.
Arizona’s highway network – including heavily traveled routes like I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson, I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix, and the Loop 101 corridor – regularly sees commercial freight traffic interacting with commuter and local vehicles. The combination of high speeds, traffic volume, and weight disparity can result in rear-end crashes that leave smaller vehicles mangled or crushed.
In many cases, the driver in the smaller car never has a chance. Even a momentary delay in braking or a slight miscalculation in following distance can lead to violent impact and multi-car pileups.
Understanding underride crashes and their consequences
One of the most devastating outcomes of a rear-end truck collision is an underride crash – when a passenger car slides under the rear or side of a truck trailer. These crashes often involve sudden deceleration, uneven vehicle heights, and failures of underride protection systems.
Underride accidents are uniquely lethal. Survivors may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, amputations, or internal organ trauma. In the most severe cases, fatalities occur due to decapitation or crushing injuries, particularly when underride guards are missing, defective, or fail upon impact.
In Arizona, where long-haul freight regularly moves through urban and rural areas alike, fatal underride crashes have occurred along both interstates and state highways. When a rear-end crash results in death, a wrongful death action may be brought by a surviving spouse, child, or the estate of the deceased. But as with injury claims, these cases are rarely simple – especially when fault is disputed.
Why liability isn’t always automatic in Arizona rear-end truck accidents
There’s a common belief that the trailing driver is always at fault in rear-end collisions. While this may hold true in many passenger vehicle cases, truck accident litigation often unfolds differently.
Trucking companies and insurers frequently dispute liability in rear-end collisions, even when their driver struck another vehicle from behind. Common defenses include:
- The lead driver braked suddenly without any reason.
- A third vehicle cut off the truck, forcing it to swerve or brake.
- The lead vehicle was traveling below the speed limit or had malfunctioning brake lights.
- The injured driver contributed by driving distracted, impaired, or erratically.
Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence standard. This means that if the injured party is found partially at fault, their recovery can be reduced by that percentage. For example, if they’re even as much as 80% at fault, they can still recover 20% of their damages. This legal framework gives insurers room to argue partial fault – and they often do, even in rear-end cases that seem clear-cut.
Federal and state regulations that may strengthen a case
Commercial trucks are governed by both federal and state safety regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) establish minimum standards for commercial driver conduct, vehicle maintenance, and operating procedures. In Arizona, state agencies like the Department of Public Safety (DPS) help enforce compliance through inspections and weigh stations.
Regulatory violations commonly cited in rear-end truck crashes include:
- Brake system failures or inadequate maintenance
- Hours-of-service violations resulting in driver fatigue
- Incomplete pre-trip inspections
- Inadequate following distance
- Speeding or failing to adjust to traffic or weather conditions
If a violation is found, it may serve as negligence per se, meaning the breach of a safety rule can establish legal liability without additional proof of negligence. Violations may also open the door to punitive damages – particularly if the trucking company was aware of the risk but failed to correct it.
Building a liability case: What legal teams actually do
Winning a rear-end truck accident claim in Arizona requires far more than a police report. Truck accident lawyers must act quickly to preserve key evidence, often before it disappears.
A strong case typically involves:
- Black box (ECM) data showing the truck’s speed, braking force, and throttle input
- Dash camera or surveillance footage from traffic cameras, businesses, or the truck itself
- Driver qualification and hours-of-service logs to uncover fatigue or distraction
- Maintenance and inspection records for brake systems and lights
- Witness interviews and accident reconstruction experts
Legal teams also evaluate whether third parties may share liability for the crash – a critical part of pursuing maximum compensation. A third-party claim is a civil lawsuit or insurance claim filed against a company or individual other than the truck driver or their direct employer. These claims are particularly important in commercial truck accidents, where multiple companies are often involved in how the truck was loaded, maintained, or dispatched.
For example:
- Was the trailer owned or maintained by a different company? If so, that company could be liable for equipment failure, such as faulty brakes or worn tires.
- Did a freight broker pressure the driver to meet unrealistic delivery windows? Brokers can sometimes be held responsible if their scheduling practices contributed to driver fatigue or unsafe speeds.
- Was maintenance performed improperly by a contractor? If a third-party repair shop failed to service the truck correctly, they may be at fault for mechanical failure.
These questions matter because third-party claims can open up additional sources of insurance coverage and liability. A trucking company may have limited coverage, but a maintenance contractor, equipment manufacturer, or freight broker may have their own policies. Identifying every responsible party increases the chances of securing full compensation.
Not every crash involves third-party liability, but in serious commercial truck accidents – especially those involving corporate fleets and subcontractors – it is often a key part of the legal strategy.
Why compensation in rear-end truck crashes is contested
The severity of injuries in rear-end truck crashes often results in six- or seven-figure claims. Victims may face:
- Extensive medical treatment, including surgeries and rehabilitation
- Permanent physical disability or loss of mobility
- Psychological trauma and chronic pain
- Lost income and diminished earning capacity
- The need for lifelong care or home modifications
These high-value claims prompt insurers to fight aggressively. They may offer quick, lowball settlements before the full extent of injuries is known, or they may deny fault altogether. Lawyers must build comprehensive damage models using expert testimony, life care plans, vocational assessments, and economic forecasting.
In cases of extreme negligence or regulatory failure, punitive damages may also be pursued – not just to compensate the victim, but to penalize the trucking company and deter similar behavior in the future.
We take your claim seriously. No bull.
A rear-end crash with a semi isn’t just another accident – it’s a life-changing collision, and the trucking company’s insurance carrier will fight like hell to protect their bottom line. They’ll blame you, bury the evidence, and hope you’re too overwhelmed to push back.
That’s not going to happen here.
Browne Law Group doesn’t accept insurance company B.S. We know what it takes to hold trucking companies accountable, preserve key evidence before it disappears, and demand full compensation for every dollar you’re owed. No runaround. No excuses. Just results. Our case outcomes include a $1.6 million truck accident settlement.
If you’ve been seriously hurt in a rear-end truck crash in Arizona – or lost someone you love – we’ll get to work. Right now. Contact us for a free consultation. You don’t pay unless we win.
“If you’ve been in an accident and are feeling lost, stressed, or unsure of what to do next, I can’t recommend this team enough. They’re not just knowledgeable — they’re compassionate, responsive, and truly invested in making sure you feel confident and secure every step of the way. Hiring them was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I’m so grateful for the [Browne Law Group’s] support during such a difficult time.” – Collin B., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Click here for a printable PDF of this article, “Rear-End Truck Accidents in Arizona: Why They’re Rarely Simple.”