Las Vegas Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial truck accidents can be devastating and expensive, making obtaining maximum compensation vital to truck accident victims.

If you or a loved one was in a Las Vegas truck accident, contact the experienced truck accident attorneys at Rodney Okano Car Accident Lawyer, who will assess your damages, determine liability, and deliver your maximum settlement.

With:

• 20+ Years of experience

• Millions Recovered

• Standing 5-star rating among clients

Our truck accident lawyers have the skills and expertise to deliver the results you're entitled to.

Don't wait to get help with your truck accident case. Call (702) 566-3600 to schedule a free consultation today.

Understanding Truck Accidents in Las Vegas

Nevada truck accident cases can be complex and damaging to the victim if not handled by skilled truck accident lawyers.

Understanding the factors of a truck accident is vital for all Las Vegas truck accident victims seeking fair compensation.

Impact of Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks v. passenger vehicles can often result in serious injuries and damages due to the size and weight difference. Commonly seen effects of trucking accidents are:

• Severe injuries: Victims of semi-truck accidents can suffer catastrophic injury to their spine or brain.

• Fatalities: Truck collisions have a higher fatality rate than regular car accidents.

• Property Damage: A trucking accident can often cause significantly more property damage than vehicle v. vehicle accidents.

• Traffic Disruptions: The accident scene of a truck wreck can result in significant traffic delays, disrupting transportation flow.

Legal Aspects of a Truck Crash

Navigating the legal maze of truck crashes involved several considerations, such as:

• Determining Liability: Identifying the responsible party for serious truck accidents can be complex as it may involve the truck driver, truck company, and even a third party, such as the truck manufacturer.

• Regulations: The trucking regulations set by the FMCSA and the state of Nevada are to be considered in truck accident claims.

• Insurance Claims: Trucking and insurance companies often bring substantial insurance policies in the event of a truck accident, which will require advanced negotiation, strong evidence, and a strong legal team to get ahold of.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Nevada

A semi-truck accident can occur for various reasons, and trucking companies and truck drivers need to understand them to prevent further accidents involving commercial vehicles.

• Driver Fatigue: Most trucking accidents are caused by truck driver fatigue, despite the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration setting hours of service for truck drivers.

• Distracted Driving: Truck drivers may become distracted by eating, talking on their phones, adjusting the radio, or using navigation devices and inadvertently colliding with a vehicle.

• Impaired Driving: Along with driver fatigue, many truck drivers who are involved in an accident are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications.

• Truck Defect: If the truck owner or manufacturer fails to ensure the truck is safe for operation, maintenance issues may arise, resulting in brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions.

• Overloading: If the trucking company goes against the Federal Highway Administration truck load limit of 80,000 pounds and overloads the truck, the vehicle's braking and stability may be negatively affected.

• Inadequate Training: If the trucking company fails to train or supervise their drivers properly, an accident involving one of their drivers is likely to occur.

Important Commercial Truck Accident Laws to Understand After an Accident

Many Las Vegas truck accident victims are unaware of the laws that can help them obtain a higher settlement in their commercial vehicle accident cases.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations

The FMCSA is a federal organization that regulates and oversees commercial motor vehicles.

Its main goal is to reduce injuries and damages from accidents involving semi-trucks and buses.

Hours of Services Regulation

The FMCSA HOS rules for the trucking industry require a truck driver to take a break of at least 30 minutes after 8 consecutive hours of driving.

In addition, a truck driver can only drive for a maximum of 14 hours and must take a 14-hour rest before driving again.

However, adverse driving conditions and the short-haul exception §395.1(e)(1) may exceed these times.

Insurance Requirements

The minimum insurance coverage for trucks is $750,000 - $5,000,000, depending on the cargo being transported, and $300,000 for non-hazardous cargo moves in vehicles weighing under 10,001 lbs.

Cargo Securement Rules

The FMCSA cargo securement rules outline tie-downs, unmarked tie-downs, unrated and unmarked anchor points, and front-end structures on CMVs.

Drug and Alcohol Testing

The FMCSA states in its drug and alcohol testing program that the employer must implement and conduct drug and alcohol testing on commercial truck drivers during employment.

Who Can Be Liable for a Las Vegas Truck Accident

In a Las Vegas truck accident, multiple parties can be at fault for the crash under Nevada's modified comparative fault rule. A list of parties that can be at fault for a truck accident is:

• Truck Driver: If the driver takes part in negligent behavior such as speeding, driving under the influence, or reckless driving, they can be found at fault for the truck accident.

• Trucking Company: Trucking companies that engage in negligent hiring practices, provide inadequate training, or fail to perform regular maintenance on their trucks can be found at fault for the truck accident.

• Truck Manufacturer: If a defect in the truck, such as faulty brakes, tires, or steering, leads to a truck accident, the truck manufacturer can be found at fault.

• Other Drivers: Other vehicles involved that aren't trucks that contribute to the accident can see their drivers sharing fault in the accident.

Our law firm has helped hundreds of injured victims determine liability and obtain maximum compensation.

If you have a Las Vegas truck accident claim, call (702) 566-3600 to let us handle it today.

How Is Fault Determined in a Nevada Truck Accident?

When you work with a Las Vegas truck accident lawyer, fault is usually determined by your attorney completing the steps below.

Accident Scene Investigation

Immediately after the truck accident, you should capture photographs of the vehicles, skid marks, and visible damages or injuries.

In addition, contact law enforcement so they may conduct their investigation and issue you with a police report that will be vital to your claim.

Also, your Las Vegas truck accident attorney should visit the accident scene and take notes of anything they may find helpful to your case.

Review Traffic Law and Trucking Regulations

Your truck accident lawyer will review Nevada traffic laws and federal regulations surrounding trucks to see if the truck company or driver broke any violations or laws.

Analyzing Electronic Data

Modern trucks have numerous electronic devices that provide critical data, such as vehicle speed, brake usage, location, and other technical data.

A truck accident lawyer can request this information to be handed over for investigation to strengthen your claim.

Third-Party Liability

Your truck accident lawyer may investigate other parties, such as the trucking company, truck manufacturers, and other drivers involved in the accident.

This is because other third parties can be partially or fully responsible for the trucking accident.

Accident Reconstruction

An attorney may hire an accident reconstruction expert to recreate the accident using evidence already provided in your case.

The accident reconstruction expert may use simulation models, impact analysis, and skid marks to recreate the truck crash.

Types of Truck Accidents

There are various types of truck accidents, with the most common being:

• Jackknife Accidents: A jackknife accident is when the truck trailer swings out to form a 90-degree angle, with the cab forming a jackknife-like shape.

• Rollovers: A rollover accident is when the truck flips onto its side or roof.

• Rear-end Collisions: A rear-end collision is when the front of a truck or another vehicle hits the vehicle in front of it.

• Underride Accidents: Underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a truck; such an accident is usually fatal.

• Tire Blowouts: If a large truck suffers from a tire blowout, it may lose control and begin to swerve or rollover.

• Blind Spot Accidents: Blind spot accidents are common in semi-truck accidents or large truck crashes where the blind spot is significant.

• Head-On Collision: A head-on collision occurs when the front of a truck and the front of another vehicle collide directly.

• Sideswipe Accidents: A sideswipe accident is when a truck collides with the side of another vehicle, usually during lane changes or turning.

• Wide-Turn Accidents: Trucks require more time and space to turn, and a wide-turn accident can occur when there is inadequate space or time.

Common Injuries in Commerical Trucking Accidents

Truck accident injuries can be severe and life-altering due to the sheer size and weight of a semi-truck; common injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: A TBI can range from a mild concussion to severe brain damage. TBIs can result from the head striking a solid object or whiplash.

• Spinal Cord Injuries: A spine injury can result in partial or complete paralysis and is often caused by the force of the collision or a sudden jerk in the spine.

• Neck Injuries: The sudden impact of truck accidents can cause the neck to move violently, which could result in whiplash or fractures in the vertebrae of the neck.

• Broken Bones: The force of a truck crash can cause broken bones in areas such as the ribs, arms, legs, and pelvis.

• Internal Injuries: Internal bleeding in the organs or pneumothorax can occur and often doesn't present immediate symptoms but can be life-threatening if you don't seek medical attention.

• Burns: Truck accidents have higher risks of fire or explosion, which can result in thermal or chemical burns.

• Lacerations: Cuts and scrapes can occur if broken glass or twisted metal is present during the accident and cause pain and scarring.

• Amputations: In severe truck accidents, limbs may be wholly or partially severed.

• Psychological Damage: Along with physical injuries, a truck accident can result in psychological injuries such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Our personal injury law firm specializes in obtaining maximum compensation for truck accident victims who suffer injuries similar to the ones above and will do the same for you.

Start today by calling a Las Vegas truck accident lawyer from our law firm at (702) 566-3600.

What Damages Are Available for Truck Accident Victims

Many truck accident victims are entitled to various types of damages, those being:

• Medical Bills: Future and past medical costs can be compensated for.

• Lost Wages: If your injuries cause you to miss work or reduce your earning capacity, you can recover damages for past and future lost wages.

• Property Damages: The costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle and other personal property can be sought in a personal injury lawsuit.

• Pain and Suffering: Any physical pain and emotional distress caused by the injuries endured in the accident can be compacted for in personal injury claims.

• Loss of Consortium: If your spouse is injured in a truck wreck, you can seek compensation for the loss of companionship, affection, and sexual relations through a loss of consortium claim.

• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If your injuries result in the inability to enjoy daily activities and hobbies, you can seek compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life.

• Punitive Damages: Punitive Damages are rare in car accident claims but are awarded when the at-fault party's actions were highly negligent.

To obtain a maximum settlement, we recommend that you contact a Las Vegas truck accident lawyer from our legal team today by calling (702) 566-3600.

What Is My Las Vegas Truck Accident Case Worth?

A complete understanding of the actual value of your truck accident case will require a valuation from a truck accident lawyer. However, there are a few factors that you can use to estimate your case's worth:

• Medical Expenses: If your injuries are severe and the medical costs are large, your case will be worth more.

• Amount of Lost Wages: If you were a high earner and lost income or your ability to work, the value of your claim would increase.

• Cost of Property Damage: Higher repair or replacement bills will increase the claim value.

• Amount of Pain and Suffering: If your injuries caused substantial physical pain and emotional distress

• Comparative Negligence: In Nevada, you can share fault for the truck accident, and if you do, your final compensation amount will be reduced by the percentage of fault you share.

• Insurance Policy Limit: The insurance policies of the parties involved can cap the amount of available settlement.

Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Claims in Nevada

The statute of limitations for filing a truck accident claim in Nevada is two years from the accident date. You may be barred from recovering compensation for your injuries and damages if you don't file a claim within the two-year time limit.

How Our Las Vegas Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help You

With over 20+ years of experience and millions of dollars in compensation recovered for accident victims, our attorneys have the skills to win your case and deliver maximum settlement.

To contact a Las Vegas truck accident lawyer from our law firm, call (702) 566-3600 to schedule a free consultation where you'll learn vital information surrounding your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Las Vegas Truck Accident Lawyer Near You

Searching for an attorney following a Las Vegas auto accident? Our car accident attorneys are here to help. With an advanced legal process and 20+ years of experience, we will win your case and obtain maximum compensation for you and your family.

Allow us to help you today. Contact us by calling (702) 566-3600 or filling out a free online form. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and aim to provide the best legal assistance during your time of need.