Accidents involving large trucks happen all too frequently in Nevada. Truck accidents are some of the worst types of accidents that happen on the state highways and roads because the truck is generally so much larger than the other vehicle or vehicles that are involved in the accident. Large commercial trucks are massive and very heavy—up to 80,000 pounds—which makes it difficult for the truck to stop quickly in the event of a traffic emergency. Due to their large size, commercial trucks accidents are more likely to result in serious or fatal injuries.
What are Some Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Nevada?
When an accident involves a semi or other large commercial truck, there is a good chance that the truck is in some way the cause of the accident. A few examples of common causes of truck accidents in Nevada include:
- The truck driver was distracted while behind the wheel. It is not uncommon for commercial truck drivers to engage and distracted driving. Commercial truck drivers often have to drive long hauls of thousands of miles at a time, which can make them weary and easily distracted. Plus, any time someone is on the road that long, the chances of something going wrong increase.
- The truck driver was driving while overly tired. Since truck drivers are on a strict schedule of when their deliveries need to be made, sometimes truck drivers will drive for more hours than is really safe without getting any sleep or without taking a decent break. While there are federal regulations governing the amount of time a driver can go without taking a break, some drivers ignore these rules and put others at risk driving drowsy.
- The truck driver was intoxicated while behind the wheel. Sometimes truck drivers are under a lot of pressure to get their deliveries done in time and they turn to various substances to get them through their long drives. It is possible that the truck accident was caused by the driver being drunk or under the influence of drugs.
- The truck was improperly maintained or suffered an equipment failure. Truck drivers are supposed to conduct a pre-trip inspection of the vehicle to ensure that everything is in operational condition and that any cargo is properly secured to the truck. Truck drivers who skip the pre-trip inspection put other drivers on the road at risk. Furthermore, many truck accidents are caused by equipment failures, such as a blown tire of a thrown tire tread.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident in Nevada, it is important that you get in touch with an experienced trucking accident personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Since there are so many federal regulations that govern how truck driver should operate his or her commercial vehicle, you will need a lawyer who is familiar with these regulations as well as state and local law.
One important thing about truck accident personal injury cases is that there are often multiple liable parties. Often, the truck driver can be a fault for the accident, likely due to negligence, but the driver’s employer, the company who owns the cargo that is being shipped by the truck, or the parties responsible for conducting shoddy repairs of the truck could all be responsible for causing the accident, as well, depending on the circumstances surrounding the trucking accident.
Please consider working with the team at H & P when you need to seek justice and compensation for injuries you suffered during an accident involving a large commercial truck. We would be happy to offer you a free consultation to discuss your situation.
