Car accidents can be devastating for the victims involved, as they often suffer physical injuries as well as financial harm and property damage. When the collision involves a large truck or 18-wheeler, the injuries are serious and even fatal and the damages and costs incurred are often substantial.
Types of Damages
There are several types of damages, or monetary compensation, that a truck accident victim may seek in a Nevada court. These damages and costs may include:
- Current medical costs;
- Future medical expenses;
- Lost wages from time missed from work;
- Loss of future wages due to inability to return to work;
- Expenses for rehabilitation;
- Costs for medical equipment;
- Home modification costs;
- Disfigurement;
- Emotional distress; and
- Pain and suffering.
Not surprisingly, the costs resulting in a Nevada truck accident can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the victims involved in the crash.
Determining Fault
While the driver of the truck may be at fault for the accident, there are many parties that may be named as a defendant in a truck accident. When a party is a defendant to a personal injury lawsuit, that party may be found legally and financially liable for the harm suffered by the plaintiff-victim who filed the claim. Potential at-fault parties in a Nevada truck accident may include the:
- Truck driver;
- Employer of the truck driver;
- Owner of the truck involved in the crash;
- Truck repair and maintenance company;
- Manufacturing company of the truck or truck parts;
- Company in charge of loading cargo onto the truck; and
- Company manufacturing the cargo.
Oftentimes it is hard to determine which party is liable in a truck accident case. This is because, as can be seen by the list above, there are numerous parties that may have played a part in causing the accident depending on the facts of the case and why the crash occurred.
In order to successfully prove fault in a truck accident case, an extensive investigation must be performed into the events that lead up to the crash. The accident investigation may include:
- A review of the truck driver’s log to see if he or she violated state or federal regulations;
- An analysis of delivery documents, driver instructions, and weight tickets to determine if any violations occurred;
- A review of truck maintenance records in search of faulty repairs;
- A thorough interview of witnesses to the truck accident;
- Consulting with healthcare professionals regarding the severity and scope of the accident victim’s sustained injuries;
Moreover, a skilled personal injury attorney will gather evidence to build up the case including obtaining and reviewing:
- Police and accident reports;
- Medical records;
- Surveillance or video footage;
- Photographs of the crash; and
- Obtaining eyewitness statements.
Investigations into truck accidents are complicated, but an experienced truck accident attorney will know the best way to investigate the accident, build a strong case for you, and ensure that evidence is properly preserved.
Contact Our Truck Accident Attorneys
If you have been hurt in an 18-wheeler accident, or know someone who has, our lawyers at H&P Law can help fight for the compensation you deserve. We have extensive experience representing clients in serious and fatal accidents and will fight for the best possible outcome in your case.
