How Arizona’s Extreme Heat Impacts Car Accident Claims

If you’ve ever driven on a hot summer day in Phoenix, you know how brutal the Arizona heat can be. Temperatures soaring into the triple digits bring real dangers that go way beyond feeling sweaty. At Plattner Verderame, we’ve seen how extreme heat can trigger car accidents and impact the aftermath.

Today, we’ll discuss how the sweltering desert heat can contribute to car accidents (like tire blowouts, engine breakdowns, and even heat-related medical emergencies), and how those causes can complicate fault-finding, insurance claims, and legal strategies. We’ll also provide practical steps for those involved in heat-related crashes to protect their rights and demonstrate how our in-depth knowledge of Arizona weather can help build a stronger claim.

Summer heat plus asphalt equals trouble

Arizona heat isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s dangerous for cars. When road surfaces bake under the sun, temperatures can reach skin-searing levels. In urban areas, dark asphalt and concrete absorb heat and reach temperatures much higher than the air, sometimes up to 180°F (82°C). This extra heat gets transferred into your tires and engine, increasing the risk of serious problems.

Tire blowouts are common in the summer

One of the most frequent heat-related causes of accidents is tire blowouts. Heat causes tire pressure to rise, and that can stress the tire walls until they fail. In Arizona, repair experts report that summer roads and superheated asphalt significantly increase blowout risk.

When a blowout happens at highway speed, it can cause spin-outs, loss of control, or rollovers. These crashes often lead to serious injuries and complex after-the-fact legal issues over who’s at fault.

Engines, batteries, and heat-stress failures

It’s not only tires that suffer in the Arizona heat. Engine components, belts, hoses, and batteries break down faster. Older or poorly maintained cars are especially at risk of overheating and sudden failure. If your engine quits in traffic or steering control fails, you could be involved in a crash through no fault of your own.

These types of mechanical failures can make fault determination complicated. Was it the driver’s maintenance, a defective part, or pure heat stress? Insurance companies may dispute coverage unless you’ve documented maintenance well.

Heat-related medical emergencies behind the wheel

Driving when you’re overheated, dehydrated, or suffering from heatstroke isn’t just miserable, it’s dangerous. Studies show that extreme heat can cause fatigue, slower reaction times, impaired thinking, irritability, and even aggression behind the wheel. These effects increase the risk of accidents like rear-end collisions or drifting between lanes.

In some cases, drivers experience actual heatstroke, which can lead to fainting or losing control, especially if they don’t realize something is wrong until it’s too late.

Heatwave tragedies: Danger inside the car

Crashes aren’t the only hazard. In the Arizona heat, a crash victim, or anyone stuck inside a vehicle, faces rapid overheating. After a collision, people waiting for help may remain in or near their cars. Inside temperatures can climb above 120°F, making injuries worse or creating new ones entirely. Outside of crashes, heat in cars can be deadly, especially for kids. Every year, dozens of children die from vehicular heatstroke across the U.S., including in Arizona, when left unattended in hot vehicles.

How the heat can affect fault and insurance disputes

When accidents happen under extreme heat, figuring out fault and securing insurance payouts can get tricky. For example:

• Tire blowouts. Was it driver negligence (like poor maintenance), a defect, or plain heat stress? The answer affects who’s accountable.
• Vehicle failure. If a vehicle overheats or malfunctions, was it bad design, a lack of repair, or an environmental cause?
• Heat-impaired driving. Is a crash partly due to driver impairment from heat, or just poor visibility or fatigue? Again, this may affect liability.
• Worsened injuries. Heat-related suffering after a crash can increase medical bills, which deserve fair compensation. But insurers may argue original injuries were minor.

At Plattner Verderame, our deep experience with Arizona’s weather helps us anticipate these issues early and build strong arguments for compensation.

Using Arizona heat as part of your legal strategy

Here’s how knowledge of Arizona’s climate becomes an advantage in a claim:

• We can bring in scientists or mechanics who explain how asphalt heat or elevated temperatures stress tires and systems.
• Analyzing how a blowout happened at 110°F through speed, tire condition, and road heat through accident reconstruction.
• Showing how post-crash heat exposure worsened your injuries and recovery.
• Demonstrating regular upkeep with vehicle maintenance or pointing out failures can influence liability.
• Arizona’s heat is unique. Insurers know drivers in Phoenix shouldn’t be expected to count on parts built for cooler climates.

What accident victims should do in extreme heat situations

Here’s a simple to-do list if you’re injured in a heat-related car accident:

• Get to safety. Move to a cool, shaded area if possible.
• Call 911. Emergency services may need to treat heat-related conditions.
• Document everything. Take photos of your car, road surface, ambient temperature (apps help!), and any tire or engine damage.
• Seek medical attention promptly. Even if you feel okay, heat can hide injuries or worsen them.
• Save maintenance records like oil changes, tire rotations, and repair receipts; anything that shows your car’s condition.
• Report the accident with accuracy and a clear mention of the weather conditions.
• Talk to a legal team experienced in Arizona weather-related cases. Someone who understands how heat plays into liability can make a big difference.

At Plattner Verderame, we can help.

Why weather-savvy legal representation matters

At Plattner Verderame, we’re not just personal injury lawyers. We’re Phoenix natives who understand how relentless heat affects cars and drivers. Since 1991, we’ve represented clients hurt in car crashes across Arizona, including on I-10, Loop 101, US 60, and local roads. We’ve helped clients get fair compensation after heat-related accidents by:

• Building cases that include environmental evidence, expert reports on heat’s role, and thorough documentation.
• Preparing for disputes over fault, whether insurers blame maintenance, conditions, or design.
• Advocating for full damages, like covering increased medical bills, prolonged recovery, lost wages, and suffering due to heat complications.
• Standing ready for trial, since a strong presentation shows insurers we’re prepared to hold them accountable.

Our honest, client-focused approach and our reputation in Arizona legal circles ensures your voice gets heard.

During Arizona’s extreme summers more than temperatures rise; so does your risk of an accident. Tire blowouts, mechanical breakdowns, heat-induced impairment, and dangerous vehicle interiors all lead to accidents. But with the right approach, that same heat becomes key evidence. Documentation, expert support, and a lawyer who understands the Arizona climate can turn a confusing accident into a successful claim.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a crash where heat was a factor, call Plattner Verderame. We’re here to fight for the compensation you need and take into account all the ways desert heat may have turned a routine drive into something far more serious. For help now, call our Phoenix car accident lawyers or complete our contact form today to arrange a free consultation. We take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. We maintain an additional office in Tempe for your convenience, and we serve clients throughout Maricopa County.