Truck accidents are some of the worst that we see on the roads around the Las Vegas and Henderson areas. Injuries from truck crashes can be severe and often leave lasting consequences. These cases are handled differently from car accidents based on a few factors, such as the amount of damage caused, the types of at-fault parties involved, and the evidence that can be used.
If you have suffered injuries from a truck accident, you need an experienced Las Vegas truck accident lawyer to help get the compensation you deserve. It is important to understand what makes truck accidents different from car accidents and how personal injury cases can best be handled to optimize your settlement.
At H&P Law, our legal team will work to ensure that you are compensated for any losses that you incurred during the crash or in the aftermath.
Factors that Make Truck Accidents Worse than Car Accidents
In the last reporting year, the National Safety Council reported that 5,837 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, which is a 49% increase over a ten-year period. As more trucks enter the road supporting critical shipping and commerce sectors, accident statistics continue to rise. Truck accidents are worse than car accidents due to their size, weight, maneuverability, stopping distance, cargo, and other factors.
Semi-trucks can weigh more than 30 times the average passenger vehicle and take up much more space on the road. When loaded down with cargo, a truck causes significantly more force upon impact in a collision.
This, combined with factors like large trucks requiring a longer braking distance when hauling cargo can make for devastating results, especially on roads where conditions are slippery.
With large blind spots and difficult maneuverability, trucks have a steeper learning curve and are more likely to present hazards to inexperienced, fatigued, or careless drivers. Underride accidents also happen due to the positioning of a truck higher than many passenger vehicles. This occurs when a smaller vehicle ends up crushed underneath a truck and can cause significant injuries or death to the occupants of that vehicle.
Causes of Truck Accidents in Las Vegas
Semi accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, many of which are unique to large trucks and do not apply to car accidents. Knowing what caused your truck accident can help you establish liability and what party or parties are at fault. The following factors have been found to contribute to truck accidents:
- Driver fatigue due to long shifts
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Miscalculating inclines or turns
- Violating traffic laws and regulations
- Overloading or improperly securing cargo
- Negligence in hitching trailers
- Lack of driver training
- Faulty manufactured parts
- Lack of maintenance, especially in brakes
Factors like these can all lead to truck accidents. Investigating all contributions to the crash can help establish liability and often leads to identifying multiple at-fault parties. For example, improperly loaded or secured cargo in the trailer of a semi could lead to instability and swaying, causing a jackknife or rollover accident, which could leave both the driver and the cargo loader liable.
At-Fault Parties in Truck Accidents
Multiple parties may be liable in truck accident cases. The trucking company, the driver, the manufacturer of the truck, and the cargo loaders all could be considered at fault depending on what factors caused the crash or contributed to worsening your injuries. Your personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas can assist with a thorough investigation of the factors of the accident to determine who might be liable for your injuries.
When dealing with proving liability in commercial trucking accidents, you must build a strong case to pursue compensation from the negligent party. All drivers owe a duty of care to one another to drive safely, and a breach of that care would be showing negligence or reckless behavior that ends in an accident. To prove liability, your case must show that your injuries have direct causation and identify all the damages that you have sustained as a result.
Investigating liability can include evaluating all documents and evidence available. This might include police reports, truck inspections, witness statements, medical records, and traffic camera footage. Your truck accident attorney can assist with the collection and investigation of evidence to help determine what party or parties may be liable.
Common Injuries Victims Suffer in Truck Accidents
Due to the weight and size of an 18-wheeler, victims of truck accidents often suffer more serious injuries than those involved in car accidents. It is important to seek medical care immediately, no matter how you feel; this will ensure you get the care you need, as well as create important medical records to prove that your injuries were directly sustained as a result of the crash. Common injuries that victims suffer in truck accidents can include:
- Amputations
- Back injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Chemical or physical burns
- Internal injuries
- Lacerations
- Paralysis
- Psychological trauma including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Due to the severity of injuries sustained in truck accidents, many victims will take months or years to recover or are left with life-long disabilities. These injuries can require extensive medical care, therapies, and rehabilitation, which can cost a lot of money. It is important to pursue a settlement for your injuries and ensure that the liable parties are held responsible.
Evidence Involved in Las Vegas Truck Accidents
Truck accident cases can involve several unique types of evidence that are not available in car accidents. Most trucking companies these days utilize some kind of electronic logging device (ELD) that provides records that could be important to your claim. A black box can track a variety of data points, including speed, time on the road, and GPS navigation.
The Department of Transportation requires truck drivers to record documentation on their duty status. Commercial trucking operations will keep maintenance records showing the mechanical condition of the truck. Hours-of-service logs and other records could also come into play.
Your truck accident attorney will go over all available evidence types during your case. They will compile the best available and use it to support your claim. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, it is best to get started on your case as soon as possible to ensure that evidence is fresh and available.
Contact H&P Law to Discuss Your Truck Accident Case Today
Do not try to stand up to commercial trucking companies and insurance providers on your own. Our team is here to provide you with the support you need for your truck accident case. Contact H&P Law to discuss your case with an experienced truck accident lawyer and get your questions answered today.
