Truck
Accidents
Las Vegas Truck Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in a truck accident, are caring for a family member who has, or have lost a loved one in a truck accident, our firm can help you pursue the financial recovery you deserve. We know just how devastating these accidents are, which is why we work tirelessly to defend the rights of accident victims.
Our aggressive approach to negotiation and litigation has allowed us to secure millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. We are ready to fight for you, too. If you are unable to travel to our office, we can meet you in the hospital or at your home. There are no attorneys’ fees when you work with our firm unless we are successful in recovering compensation for you.
Were you injured in an accident and unsure of your next steps?
Why Do Trucking Collisions Happen?
Truck Driver Negligence
- Aggressive driving behavior (tailgating, weaving, other)
- False assumption of other road users’ actions
- Prescription drug use
- Over-the-counter drug use
- Traveling too fast for conditions
- Unfamiliar with roadway
- Inadequate surveillance
- Fatigue
- Work-related pressure
- Illegal maneuver
- Inattention
- External distraction factors
- Inadequate evasive action
- Unfamiliar with vehicle
- Following too closely
Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts are one of the most devastating defects a commercial truck can experience. Even though 18-wheelers have so many wheels, losing just one tire so abruptly can make the truck driver lose complete control of the vehicle and cause a crash.
Contributing factors to tire blowouts include:
- Inflation issues: Tires that have not been inflated enough are misshapen and can tear while in transit. Tires that have been overinflated are more likely to burst when nicked or when traveling quickly across bumps.
- Debris: Loose debris in the road is a hazard for all drivers and their tires. Truck drivers sometimes assume their larger vehicles can coast right over debris without an issue, but this is not true. Hitting even a small piece of wood, concrete, plastic, etc. can dig into a tire and burst it.
- Overloaded trailers: An overloaded trailer puts an excessive amount of weight on the tires and brakes of a big rig. The heavier the truck, the more force is needed to bring it to a complete stop, which involves the tires experiencing more friction when grinding against asphalt. As time goes on, the treading will wear away until it fails.
- Speeding: Similar to overloaded trailers contributing to truck tire blowouts, speeding does, too. The faster a truck travels, the more stress it puts on the tire while it is in motion and while it is braking. Specifically, a truck traveling at 75 miles per hour puts an inordinately high amount of stress on the tires, making it far more likely to rip and suffer a blowout.
Overloaded Trucks
In addition, an overloaded truck is difficult to control and maneuver, and even more difficult to stop once it is moving at highway speeds. Rollovers of large trucks that were overloaded or improperly loaded are common. Overloads may also contribute to truck accidents in which additional factors such as bad weather and a fatigued driver create the “perfect storm” for a serious crash.
Rear-End Collisions
The most common types of large truck accidents are:
- Large truck hitting the back end of a non-truck vehicle such as a car
- Non-truck hitting the back of a large truck
- One truck hitting another truck from behind
Truck accident injuries resulting from these kinds of collisions are often very serious.
Large trucks can be difficult to maneuver quickly, especially when they are carrying a heavy load (or are overloaded trucks). It is not easy to brake and stop a large truck when it is moving at freeway speeds. When a large truck hits the back of a smaller vehicle, it often runs over the smaller vehicle. Such truck accident injury cases often involve fatalities.
Common Truck Accident Injuries
At Carter Cullen, our Las Vegas truck accident attorneys have decades of experience in representing catastrophic personal injury victims whose lives have been disrupted by devastating 18-wheeler accidents.
The most common truck accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Crushed or broken bones
- Joint, ligament, and muscle damage
- Internal bleeding
- Neck and spine injuries
- Organ damage
Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, making a passenger vehicle no match for its size and force. When truck accidents occur in Las Vegas, our experienced lawyers want to help hold the negligent person or party accountable for their reckless or wrongful behavior.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, your need for medical care and the time you spend away from work can last weeks, months, or even a lifetime. Recovering the total expenses related to your injuries without an accomplished Las Vegas truck accident lawyer by your side will be difficult, if not impossible. Do not let the insurance company take advantage of you! Allow our experienced attorneys to help speed up the recovery process and pursue results on your behalf.
Who Is Liable for Truck Accidents?
This is a complicated issue, which is why having a skilled truck accident attorney by your side is so important. There are several factors that can lead to a truck accident and, in most cases, only a legal professional can investigate the cause thoroughly to determine who is at fault for the accident.
Some of the leading causes of truck accidents include:
Truck driver negligence
- Driving while distracted
- Speeding
- Driving while intoxicated/under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Inexperience
- Fatigued driving/falling asleep at the wheel
- General carelessness
- Traffic law violations
Negligent trucking company practices
- Encouraging drivers to forge hours-of-service logs
- Overloading trucks/loading cargo improperly
- Pressuring drivers to meet unrealistic timelines/quotas
- Failing to conduct background checks on new hire
- Failing to provide adequate training
- Improper and/or negligent supervision
- Failing to perform alcohol/drug testing
Defective truck parts
- Tires
- Braking systems
- Reflective strips/lights
- Brake lights
- Horns
Third-party negligence
- Another motorist behaving careless or recklessly
- Defective road design or construction
This is not an exhaustive list. As you can see, proving what happened can be extremely difficult, as can proving who is legally liable. However, each of these factors will be explored by our Las Vegas truck accident attorneys to ensure each party is investigated thoroughly. This allows us to hold all liable parties responsible for their role in the crash.
How a Nevada Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
Your injuries are evidence. If you have been hurt in a truck accident, someone is responsible for your well-being going forward, and our partnerships with industry professionals will help us thoroughly build your case.
Our firm employs a skilled team of:
- Accident inspection experts
- Automotive engineers and technology experts
- Forensic accident reconstruction professionals
- Law enforcement officials
- Medical professionals
- Private and public compliance officials
- Traffic concentration and flow technicians
Together with these experts, our attorneys can uncover the full extent of your injuries and associated damages. From there, we can aggressively negotiate a settlement that is intended to cover you for all of your current and ongoing costs. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are ready to take your case to trial.
Working to Uncover the Full Extent of Your Injuries & Damages
Our truck accident attorney in Las Vegas work with our clients to ensure their injuries are fully accounted for; we do this by partnering with a team of physicians and medical experts to assess the full extent of our clients’ injuries. This allows us to then build comprehensive personal injury cases that cover all of our clients’ damages, including current and future medical costs and related expenses.
If you are hurt in a truck accident in Las Vegas and do not have health insurance, you are likely worried about the type of medical care you will be able to receive, as well as how you will be able to pay for that care. Our experienced truck accident lawyers can provide the legal advice you need to get the medical care you deserve. Your injuries should never go untreated—our truck accident lawyers in Las Vegas will provide the representation you need to recuperate all of your medical costs, starting from the time of the collision through your entire recovery.
Negotiating with a single liable party requires an aggressive approach to producing results, and our truck collision attorneys have decades of experience producing results that have positively changed our clients’ lives.
When there is more than one party involved in the mediation process, the goal is to obtain the compensation our clients deserve from each party at the same time, so we are not leaving any detail to chance.
- Evidence from the crash scene
- Collision reconstruction specialists
- Eyewitness statements
- Black box data
- Logbooks
- Other truck records, including:
- Criminal history
- Drug or alcohol violations
- Traffic collisions where the driver was at fault
What Compensation Can I Receive in a Truck Accident Case?
These damages often include:
- Immediate and short- and long-term medical care
- Lost wages, from the time of the accident through your recovery
- Miscellaneous expenses and costs resulting from your injuries
- Partial or full disability needs
- Property damage and replacement
- Short- and long-term disability needs
- Pain and suffering
Additionally, victims might be eligible for compensation related to loss of consortium, which involves the loss of companionship or relationship benefits due to an injury. This aspect is often overlooked but is critically important as it addresses the non-economic impact on victims’ personal lives. Compensation may also encompass vocational retraining if injuries prevent a return to previous employment, ensuring victims can pursue new career paths without financial burdens.
How Common Are Truck Accidents?
Trucks that are considered “large” are over 10,000 pounds. This category of trucks includes semis (tractor-trailers), single-unit large trucks, and some heavy cargo vans. There are thousands of large trucks in motion on the roads and highways around Las Vegas and throughout Nevada everyday, including tractor-trailers with huge loads and logging trucks. Some trucks are carrying hazardous materials that are flammable, explosive, poisonous, or radioactive. Other trucks can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds (40 tons).
According to a 2019 study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration, there are more than 158 million semi-trucks registered in the country.
Additionally, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recorded that, in 2020:
- Nearly 147,000 injuries resulted from semi-truck crashes
- 4,965 fatalities resulted from semi-truck crashes
- 332,000 accidents involving property damage occurred
Additionally, statistics consistently show that occupants of other vehicles are far more likely to be injured or killed in truck collisions.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of the people killed in large semi-truck accidents in 2020:
- 71% were occupants of other vehicles
- 13% were non-occupants, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and bystanders
The NHTSA also reports that large trucks, on average, are responsible for 9% of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes.
Truck accident injuries have tremendous costs in terms of loss of life, permanent injuries, loss of jobs and future income. The grave losses suffered by a family whose member(s) have been hurt in a truck accident are both financial and emotional.
Understanding Truck Driver Fatigue and Its Impact on Road Safety
Truck driver fatigue is a major cause of truck accidents. The Las Vegas law firm of Carter Cullen represents individuals and families injured in large-truck collisions, many of which are caused directly by a truck driver’s fatigue, which is common among long-haul drivers on U.S. roads today.
Truck drivers are under pressure to “deliver the goods,” literally – to get their cargo to its destination as soon as is safely possible, and sometimes sooner. In many cases, the more deliveries that a truck driver can make, the more money he or she can make. This results in drivers trying to drive too many hours at a stretch. Too many hours on the road is one of the factors that can produce driver fatigue.
Federal Regulations About Driving Time
Truck Driver Drug Use in Las Vegas
A tired truck driver is an impaired driver. He or she may make mistakes in judgment or become an outright driving hazard. We’ve all heard the reports of exhausted, snoozing truck drivers who plowed into cars on a freeway or at a toll booth. An 80,000-pound, 75-foot-long truck can do a huge amount of damage when it’s being driven by a fatigued trucker.
Large trucks carry thousands of tons of hazardous and non-hazardous materials across the U.S. each day, and any impairment of the drivers in charge of this cargo is a problem for everyone on the road.
Although spokesmen for the trucking industry have stated that the rate of drug use among truck drivers is essentially the same as or lower than that of drivers of other vehicles, this is small consolation and debatable at best.
Two factors that may account for drug and alcohol use by truck drivers:
- Economic pressures on truck drivers to deliver their cargo as quickly as possible – and to continue to deliver as much cargo as possible – have resulted in the use of stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine to help the drivers stay awake on long hauls.
- The boredom of driving hundreds of miles a day, year after year, is assuaged by drugs such as marijuana and alcohol.
Alcohol and Drug Testing
Truck drivers are routinely tested for alcohol and drug use by federal laws monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Some 30,000 drivers test positive for drug use each year in the U.S. However, there are many ways for truck drivers to cheat these tests, and there are probably thousands more drug-using truck drivers on the road each day around the Las Vegas area and across the country.
Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine and Methamphetamine Use
The National Transportation Safety Board studied a large set of fatal truck accidents and found that in about one in eight of these accidents, the cause was marijuana use by the truck driver. Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that of the many truck drivers stopped by police for driving recklessly, of those who did not have alcohol in their blood, 45% had marijuana, and 25% had cocaine in their blood.
At Carter Cullen, we represent the victims of all types of truck accidents, including ones caused by truck driver drug use. If a drug-impaired truck driver has hurt you, contact our Las Vegas truck accident lawyers for more information about your legal rights.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas?
Reach out to our accomplished attorneys today to schedule a free consultation. Allow us to explore the facts of your case and provide the legal representation you need to move forward.
Were you injured in an accident and unsure of your next steps?
Local Truck Accident Trends in Las Vegas
One notable trend is the impact of seasonal fluctuations in traffic, with the city seeing spikes during major events and holidays. During these periods, the interaction between large trucks and an influx of tourist vehicles can create complex traffic situations, leading to higher accident rates. Understanding these patterns is crucial for implementing preventative measures and optimizing road safety for both commercial and non-commercial vehicles.
Local Regulations & Enforcement
In addition, initiatives such as public awareness campaigns help educate about the risks associated with large truck and vehicle interactions. By informing both truck drivers and everyday motorists about safe driving practices and road sharing techniques, the community works collaboratively towards reducing accident occurrences and enhancing road safety for all users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Next, it’s important to notify your insurance company about the accident. Avoid providing statements until you’ve consulted with an attorney, as insurance companies may use your words to minimize payouts. Contacting a Las Vegas truck accident lawyer promptly can help you navigate the legal complexities, ensure your rights are protected, and facilitate the process of seeking compensation for any damages incurred.
Understanding how these laws impact your claim can be complex. An experienced Las Vegas truck accident attorney will examine whether any violations occurred, such as fatigued driving due to excessive hours or overloaded cargo, which could prove negligence on part of the truck driver or their employer. This legal insight increases your chances of securing a rightful settlement that accounts for the full extent of your injuries and damages.
Accidents involving these vehicles are typically severe, given their size and weight. Factors contributing to these incidents often include driver fatigue, equipment malfunctions, and difficulty maneuvering in tight spaces. Recognizing these patterns can aid drivers in maintaining vigilance and adhering to safety practices while sharing the road with commercial vehicles.
An attorney will evaluate your personal insurance policy to identify uninsured motorist coverage benefits that may apply. They will assist in negotiating with your insurer to maximize your claim’s settlement or prepare to litigate if necessary. Ensuring such complexities are managed by qualified professionals allows you to focus on recovery while pursuing the compensation you deserve.
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