A commercial semi-truck crash can result in significant, life-long consequences for you and your family. Under Nevada law, you are entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering if a negligent truck driver, trucking company, or other party caused the crash.
Our experienced Henderson truck accident lawyers are here to answer your questions about your legal options and to fight for the justice—and financial damages—you deserve. We represent Las Vegas truck accident victims and out-of-town visitors who need the skill and experience of a local attorney.
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How Commercial Semi-Truck Crashes Differ From Car Accidents
How Commercial Semi-Truck Crashes Differ From Car AccidentsA truck accident is not the same as an auto collision, and filing a claim for compensation can be much more complicated for a victim of one of these tragic wrecks. Here are important ways that a truck accident case can be very different from one that only involves passenger vehicles:
Injuries are often more serious.
Because a commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and is much larger than an automobile, the injuries that victims suffer in a truck accident are much more likely to be catastrophic or fatal. The value of the victim’s claim can be much higher than if a negligent driver of a car caused the collision. Unfortunately, the insurance company will often fight longer and harder to reduce or deny a truck accident injury claim.
Trucks are governed by different laws.
Truckers and trucking companies must follow complex Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations that are designed to promote safety and prevent accidents. Violations of these rules often play a major role in causing serious truck collisions.
There may be multiple liable parties.
In a car accident, the liable party is usually just the negligent driver. However, there could be many different at-fault parties in a truck accident, such as the trucker, trucking company, shipper, and truck repair facility. This can make proving negligence and negotiating claims settlements much more complicated.
Types of Trucks Involved in Nevada Collisions
Many different types of commercial trucks share Nevada roads with passenger vehicles. Some travel in Henderson neighborhoods, increasing the likelihood that you or a family member will be seriously hurt in a crash close to home. Our skilled legal team has handled cases involving a variety of types of trucks, including the following:
- Semi-trucks and big-rigs
- Delivery trucks and vans
- Box trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Tow trucks
- Cement trucks
- Rental trucks
- Utility trucks
- Buses
- Flatbed trucks
Why Tragic Truck Accidents Occur in Nevada
There are many causes of truck collisions, and, in some cases, there is more than one reason for the crash. If you want to be fully compensated for your injuries, you must have the assistance of an experienced truck accident attorney to determine the cause of your collision and who the liable parties are. Five leading causes of these tragic wrecks include:
Fatigue.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations combat drowsy driving by limiting the number of hours a trucker can drive without a break. Unfortunately, many truckers violate these hours of service rules—often with the encouragement of the trucking company—and cause accidents when fighting to stay awake or, even worse, by falling asleep at the wheel.
Distracted driving.
Talking on a cellphone, texting, or looking at a GPS are just a few of the dangerous distracted driving practices that truckers engage in. These activities take their minds off their driving and their eyes off the road.
Intoxication.
Commercial truckers who are intoxicated due to drug or alcohol use can exhibit impaired judgment, vision, and reaction time. This increases the likelihood that they will speed, be unable to slow down or stop when necessary, or cross over the center lane and cause a rear-end, head-on, jackknife, or other deadly crash.
Lack of maintenance.
Truck drivers are required under FMCSA rules to conduct pre- and post-trip inspections of their trucks; they are not allowed to drive them if maintenance or repairs are needed. Trucking companies also have a duty to maintain their fleets. When these duties are breached, a tire can blow out, brakes can fail, or other truck parts can malfunction and cause the driver to lose control of the truck.
Improper loading.
If the goods being transported are not properly loaded or secured, they can shift in transport and cause the truck to jackknife or roll over. In addition, the load could fall off the truck—right into oncoming traffic—and cause a multi-vehicle collision as drivers swerve to avoid the obstacles in the road.
Injuries Caused by Commercial Truck Accidents
Victims of truck accidents can suffer long-term injuries that cause chronic pain and significantly affect their quality of life. They may need expensive medical treatments for months or years and be off work while they are recovering—if they are not permanently disabled. Common injuries that result from these tragic wrecks include:
- Broken and crushed bones
- Traumatic brain injury and other head injuries
- Amputations
- Spinal injuries, including complete or partial paralysis
- Back and neck injuries
- Serious burns causing permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Death
Let Our Henderson Personal Injury Attorneys Make a Difference in Your Truck Wreck Case
We understand how stressful it can be to have your life turned upside down by a truck accident. Our dedicated and compassionate lawyers are here to thoroughly investigate your accident to determine its cause, identify all of the responsible parties, and fight to ensure you are fully compensated for your injuries. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis so that you owe us no attorney fees until we win your case. To find out more about your legal options, contact us online or call our Henderson office directly at 702.405.6000 to schedule your free consultation.
