Swift Transportation Truck Accidents
Call the experienced attorneys known for trucking litigation
A common carrier is a commercial enterprise that transports passengers or goods for a fee and establishes that their service is open to the general public. Swift Transportation is a carrier that has tens of thousands of trucks in its fleet that can be seen frequently on the roads. These vehicles are also often involved in truck accidents.
When people are injured in crashes caused by negligence, they need experienced legal representation. The truck accident attorneys at Fried Goldberg LLC take on big trucking companies on behalf of people left injured when the company or its drivers are responsible for an accident.
Truck accident cases make up the majority of our work, and we have established a national reputation as leading attorneys in the field of truck accident litigation.
For live statistics on the number of accidents and injuries associated with Swift Transportation trucks, see the interactive map on our Safety Statistics page.
Company snapshot
Swift Transportation is an American truckload motor shipping carrier based out of Phoenix, Arizona. It is part of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., also based in Arizona. Swift Transportation operates over 23,000 trucks, and is among the largest common motor carriers in the U.S.
What to do if you are involved in a Swift truck accident
There are three things you should do right away after an accident with a Swift Transportation vehicle.
1. Seek medical care and preserve documentation.
You don’t need our advice to know that serious truck accident injuries need emergency medical care. However, it’s important to get even minor injuries checked professionally, as they could be an indicator of invisible internal damage to your organs or brain.
Also, by seeking medical care, you are generating documentation of your injuries in the form of scans, doctors’ notes, and insurance paperwork and billing. These are vital pieces of evidence when seeking a fair settlement or damages award.
2. Do not sign or agree verbally to anything.
If you are offered anything to sign or asked to make a statement by representatives of the Swift trucking company, their insurance providers, or your insurance agents: decline. You are under no obligation to provide any information, especially in the early hours and initial days following a traumatic crash.
Do not admit any fault or liability when speaking to police either. There are unique rules to determining fault and responsibility after an accident, and the facts will inform that decision. If you’re not sure what to say, then stay safe by remaining silent. Document your observations, and let the facts speak for themselves when the time comes. When you hire an attorney, they can then communicate with the other side on your behalf.
3. Call the industry-leading truck accident attorneys at Fried Goldberg.
The sooner you secure your own attorney, the better off you’ll be in recovering after a Swift Transportation accident. Not only do our lawyers have the knowledge and experience to advise you on what to do after a truck accident, we also are unique among lawyers for our trail-blazing work in commercial truck accident law. Specifically:
- Our firm has achieved major recoveries in nearly every major state
- We revolutionized the way truck accident cases are litigated (as their own separate type of case, not just an extension of car accident cases)
- Other attorneys refer their truck cases to our firm, or request us as lead/co-counsel, because we have the in-depth proficiency they need
We will request the documents needed to protect your rights, prepare those documents to meet filing deadlines, and help negotiate with insurance companies and the Swift Transportation reps. However, these are the same steps that most competent attorneys will take when pursuing a Swift accident case. What makes our firm stand out is that we’re negotiating at a table we helped build.
Swift Transportation Truck Accident FAQ
- How is fault determined after a Swift Transportation truck accident?
- Are Swift Transportation truck drivers responsible for damages?
- How long does it take to settle a Swift commercial truck accident lawsuit?
- How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a Swift Transportation truck accident?
What is the average settlement in truck accident cases against Swift Transportation?
For serious injury lawsuits against Swift Transportation, there is no single number or range that can accurately describe an average settlement amount. This is because results vary significantly between cases, as each claim is decided based on the circumstances of the crash, and the specific losses of the injured party.
That being said, Fried Goldberg regularly delivers multi-million-dollar results for our clients, including verdicts and settlements that include:
- $52 million for a brain injury case in Georgia — a tractor-trailer ran a stop sign in Atlanta and crashed into another vehicle, injuring a teenager.
- $31 million for a wrongful death case in North Carolina — a tractor-trailer rear-ended a vehicle, killing an adult and two children.
- $20.25 million for multiple fracture injuries in Georgia — a wheel came off a tractor-trailer truck and hit a woman’s vehicle head-on in North Georgia, causing injuries that required multiple surgeries to treat.
Every case is different. But having an attorney experienced in trucking litigation gives you a better chance of recovering maximum compensation.
What determines the settlement value in a Swift truck accident case?
The high-value settlements in Swift trucking cases reflect the profound damages that result from these wrecks. There is an enormous disparity between the size, weight, and velocity of tractor-trailers when compared to passenger vehicles, and the damages that result from such accidents can be substantial.
A fully loaded semi-truck or 18-wheeler is a deadly machine in the wrong hands. On interstate highways, these trucks completely eclipse the average family car. Even with all the crash-rated safety features of modern automobiles, commercial trucks can cause massive harm.
Swift Transportation settlements are large because they must account for:
- Medical expenses: Every injury-related cost from the first ambulance ride to the ongoing physical and cognitive therapy needed to recover from spine or brain trauma.
- Lost income: Missed work, unemployment, an inability to return to higher-skilled jobs due to injuries, and the loss of work-related benefits like retirement contributions or health insurance.
- Pain and suffering: This includes the physical pain endured by the injured person, as well as the psychological suffering associated with long-term permanent injury or disfigurement. This category can also account for the emotional stress experienced by families after the injury or death of a loved one.
You deserve compensation for all of the damages you suffered. A proven attorney knows how to account for all of your losses — physical, financial, and psychological — in terms a court can understand and award.
Taking legal action can make a big difference
These accidents are largely preventable. With well-trained, well-rested drivers and proper maintenance of the trucks and cargo, so many lives could be saved. Your choice to pursue a lawsuit could improve your personal future prospects, and improve industry standards by holding Swift Transportation accountable.
If you’ve been hurt in a Swift trucking accident, you deserve representation from an attorney dedicated to helping you get the best possible outcome. Fried Goldberg changed the nature of commercial trucking cases to value the injured party above all else, and to hold all responsible parties accountable for the harm caused.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. Learn about your legal options and get answers to your questions.
How is fault determined after a Swift Transportation truck accident?
There are many components that go into determining fault after an accident, but the most important include:
- The police report and witness statements: These first-hand, on-scene accounts carry high value, and your lawyer can help collect and preserve witness accounts.
- Visual and physical evidence: Visual evidence from nearby video cameras, as well as physical evidence like the vehicles themselves or tire tracks help determine fault.
- Documentary proof: Paperwork, schedules, and electronic logs can show how fast a vehicle was traveling, how long a driver was on shift, and when the latest vehicle maintenance check was performed.
When considered as a whole, these pieces of information can assign full or partial fault to one or multiple parties.
Are Swift Transportation truck drivers responsible for damages?
The answer to this question depends on the evidence: if the truck driver acted negligently on their own, they may be held responsible for your damages and those done to Swift Transportation’s truck and the cargo it carried. However, if the company allowed the driver to operate a faulty vehicle, or the company knowingly overworked the driver in defiance of safety regulations, it may be the Swift Transportation company that is responsible for damages.
How long does it take to settle a Swift commercial truck accident lawsuit?
There is no real average timeline when it comes to how long it takes to reach a settlement. A fair compensation amount may be agreed upon quickly, or the negotiations may have to go to trial, which takes longer.
A skilled attorney knows how to present the strongest possible evidence. Strong evidence means the other side may decide to settle rather than risk a trial. If the case does go to trial, the settlement amount could increase, or a verdict may add even more in “punitive” or punishment damages—funds that would go to you and your family.
Regardless of how long it takes, your best bet is to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer for the best results.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a Swift Transportation truck accident?
The legal deadline for filing a lawsuit after a trucking accident varies from state to state between 1-6 years. These timelines are known as statutes of limitations, and they are very strict: if you miss your window of opportunity, you miss your chance for compensation entirely.
Fried Goldberg is headquartered in Georgia, where the statute of limitations is 2 years. However, we also handle truck accident cases nationwide independently, with co-counsel, or by referral. If you have questions about your potential case, contact us to schedule a free consultation.