I-10 Truck Accident Lawyer for Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear and Buckeye

If a tractor-trailer hit you on I-10 between Phoenix and Buckeye, an I-10 truck accident lawyer can help you understand who may be responsible and what steps protect your claim. This page covers the West Valley stretch of I-10 through Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear and Buckeye, why truck crashes there can be complex, and what Arizona law says about deadlines. It is part of our Phoenix truck accident lawyer guide and is general information, not legal advice for your case.

Why the I-10 West Valley corridor matters

I-10 is the main east–west freeway through metro Phoenix. West of downtown, it carries commuters, travelers headed to California and a steady flow of commercial trucks serving the West Valley's warehouses and industrial parks.

The road, interchange by interchange

Heading west from central Phoenix, I-10 passes through a series of busy interchanges:

• The Stack, where I-10 meets I-17 just west of downtown. Trucks heading north on I-17 toward Flagstaff split off here.

• Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway near 59th Avenue, which links the West Valley with the southeast Valley (opens in a new tab).

• 59th, 67th and 75th Avenues, which serve nearby industrial areas.

• Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway near Tolleson.

• Avondale Boulevard, Dysart Road and Litchfield Road through Avondale and Goodyear.

• Loop 303 in Goodyear, along the Cotton Lane alignment.

• SR-85 (exit 112) in Buckeye, which heads south toward I-8 and Gila Bend.

Exit numbers and ramp layouts can change with construction, so note the cross street as well as the exit.

West of Buckeye, I-10 continues toward Tonopah and the California line. Trucks heading to or from Southern California often travel this stretch.

Freight, warehouses and on-ramps

Tolleson, Goodyear and Buckeye have many warehouses, distribution centers and logistics sites near I-10 and Loop 303. That means many trucks are entering and leaving the freeway at local interchanges, often at slower speeds than the traffic around them.

Many of those trucks head north on Loop 303 toward Glendale, Surprise and Peoria. Our guide to Loop 303 and Loop 202 truck accidents covers those routes. If you live in the area, our Goodyear and Buckeye truck accident lawyer page has local information.

Common crash patterns on this stretch

Every crash is different, and the cause depends on the evidence. On a busy freight corridor like I-10, crashes may involve:

• Rear-end crashes in stop-and-go traffic near busy interchanges, where a heavy truck needs more distance to stop.

• Unsafe lane changes and merges, where a truck moves into a lane occupied by a car in its blind spot. Low-riding cars can also slide under a trailer in these crashes.

• Tire failures, which can be linked to heat, wear, underinflation or poor maintenance. A blowout at freeway speed can lead to a jackknife or rollover.

• Fatigued driving, especially on long hauls to or from California. Federal rules generally limit property-carrying drivers to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour on-duty window, under 49 CFR 395.3 (opens in a new tab).

• Low-visibility crashes during dust storms. ADOT's Pull Aside, Stay Alive (opens in a new tab) guidance tells drivers to pull completely off the paved road, turn off their lights and take their foot off the brake when dust reduces visibility.

• Work zone crashes, where lanes are shifted or narrowed. Construction may be present on parts of this corridor at different times. For example, ADOT began work in 2026 (opens in a new tab) on extending Loop 303 south of I-10 in Goodyear.

Who may be responsible for an I-10 truck crash

A truck crash claim often involves more than the driver. Depending on the facts, these parties may share fault:

• the truck driver

• the motor carrier that employed or contracted the driver

• the owner of the tractor or trailer, if different

• a shipper or warehouse that loaded the cargo

• a maintenance shop that worked on the brakes or tires

• a parts maker, if a defective part failed

Arizona generally makes each defendant responsible only for its own share of fault, under A.R.S. 12-2506 (opens in a new tab), with exceptions such as when parties acted in concert or one was the other's agent or employee. That is one reason it matters to identify every party early.

Evidence that matters after an I-10 crash

Much of the key evidence in a truck case is in the carrier's hands. That may include electronic logging device (ELD) data, engine control module data, dispatch records, inspection and maintenance files, and forward-facing or driver-facing camera video.

Federal rules require carriers to keep records of duty status and supporting documents for at least 6 months, under 49 CFR 395.8(k) (opens in a new tab). Camera footage may be overwritten much sooner.

Our truck accident evidence guide explains each type of record and how to request it.

Evidence outside the truck matters too. Some businesses along the corridor may have security cameras that face frontage roads or ramps, and that footage may be kept only briefly. Witness names, photos of the scene and the crash report can all help show what happened.

What to do after a truck crash on I-10

1. Get to safety and call 911. If you can move, get away from traffic lanes. Ask for medical help if anyone is hurt.

2. Get medical care. Some injuries, such as concussions or internal injuries, may not show symptoms right away. Follow your doctor's advice.

3. Note the crash location. Write down the nearest exit number, mile marker or cross street, such as "eastbound I-10 near Dysart Road." This helps locate cameras and witnesses later.

4. Photograph the truck. Capture the company name and USDOT number on the cab door, the trailer number and license plates.

5. Get the report number. Ask the responding officer for the agency name and report number. Crashes on I-10 itself are generally investigated by Arizona DPS troopers, and DPS explains how to request a copy of a report (opens in a new tab).

6. Collect witness information. Names and phone numbers can be hard to find later.

7. Avoid recorded statements to the trucking company's insurer. You do not have to give one.

8. Talk with a lawyer early so preservation letters can go out before records are lost. You can request a free case review.

Insurance on interstate trucks

Interstate for-hire carriers hauling general freight in trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage under 49 CFR 387.9 (opens in a new tab). Higher minimums of $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 apply to certain hazardous loads. Many carriers carry more than the minimum, and other parties may have separate policies. Our truck insurance limits guide explains how coverage is found.

What a claim may include

No lawyer can tell you in advance what a claim is worth. The value depends on the injuries, the evidence, the insurance available and how fault is divided. In Arizona, an injury claim may seek money for losses such as:

• medical bills, now and in the future

• lost wages and reduced ability to earn

• pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life

• damage to your vehicle and personal property

When a crash is fatal, a surviving spouse, child or parent, or the personal representative, may bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the close family members listed in A.R.S. 12-612 (opens in a new tab). Arizona's constitution also bars laws that cap damages for injury or death, under Article 2, Section 31 (opens in a new tab).

Keeping your medical appointments and saving bills, pay stubs and notes about how the injuries affect daily life can help document your losses.

Arizona law and deadlines

Time to file. Arizona generally allows 2 years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, under A.R.S. 12-542 (opens in a new tab). Some exceptions can change that timing.

Public entities. If a city, county or the state may share fault, for example because of road design or a public vehicle, a notice of claim is generally due within 180 days under A.R.S. 12-821.01 (opens in a new tab), and a lawsuit within 1 year under A.R.S. 12-821 (opens in a new tab).

Shared fault. Arizona uses comparative fault. If you were partly at fault, your damages may be reduced by your share rather than barred, under A.R.S. 12-2505 (opens in a new tab).

Work injuries. If you were working when the crash happened, you may have a workers' comp claim and a separate claim against the trucking company. Under A.R.S. 23-1023 (opens in a new tab), the third-party claim is deemed assigned to the comp insurer or self-insured employer if you do not file it within 1 year after the cause of action accrues. See hit by a truck at work in Arizona.

How we can help

We work with people hurt in truck crashes across the West Valley and the rest of the Phoenix area. Our Phoenix truck accident lawyer page explains our overall approach. We handle cases on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney fee unless money is recovered. The fee percentage and how case costs are handled depend on the case, and if there is no recovery you may still owe case costs. Our online fee calculator can show how fees and costs could affect a recovery.

Attorney Gil Hacohen speaks English, Hebrew and Spanish.