Nevada Truck Accident Lawyer

Sitting at the crossroads of multiple freight routes, Nevada sees its fair share of commercial vehicle traffic. While we rely on these large trucks for everything from the food in our grocery stores to construction materials, there is no doubt about it—sharing the road with tractor-trailers is dangerous.

If you or your loved one was injured in a collision with a semi-truck, you deserve to be fully and fairly compensated for all of your losses, including your medical bills, missed paychecks, and any lasting physical and emotional trauma.

Ready to learn more about your rights? Trucking Injury Law Group provides a free initial consultation to injury victims. Contact us today so that we can put you in touch with a Nevada truck accident lawyer.

Why Choose Trucking Injury Law Group?

We have extensive experience holding trucking and insurance companies responsible for their negligent, reckless, and wrongful actions. As a law group made up entirely of truck accident lawyers, we:

• Understand the uniquely complex nature of injury claims for large truck accidents.
• Know where to look for evidence of negligence.
• Are well-known by the trucking companies and their insurers.

Not only do we provide a free consultation to trucking accident victims and their families, we are also able to take many cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that we provide our legal services without collecting any payment upfront—you only pay if we win your case.

Nationwide & Nevada Truck Accident Statistics

You’ve already heard time and time again that sharing the road with tractor-trailers and other large trucks is dangerous. But how do we know this to be true? 2020 data collected by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the National Safety Council (NSC), and Zero Fatalities Nevada paint a grim picture of the state of truck accidents in the U.S. and Nevada.

• Big trucks were involved in 13.49 crashes per million people in the U.S.—a 27% increase from 2010.
• 4,965 people lost their lives in truck accidents.
• 3% of truck drivers involved in deadly crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of 0.08% or higher.
• Commercial trucks caused 68 deaths in Nevada between 2016 and 2020.

Types of Commercial Truck Accidents

Due to the size, weight, and shape of commercial vehicles (CMVs), trucking accidents tend to take one of the nine most common forms:

• Rollovers
• Head-on collisions
• Rear-end collisions
• Sideswipes
• T-bone crashes
• Jackknife accidents
• Wide turn accidents
• Overrides
• Underrides

Jackknifes, wide turns, overrides, and underrides are unique to truck crashes. Let’s take a closer look at what these four types of accidents involve:

Jackknife Accidents

In a jackknife trucking accident, the trailer will swing wide to either the left or right, forming a right angle with the cab. Named for the shape a folding blade makes, these types of wrecks are often the result of sudden braking, swerving, or improperly loaded cargo.

Wide Turn Accidents

While a tractor-trailer might be well-suited to travel on interstates and highways, narrow lanes and tight turns found in cities like Las Vegas and Reno can pose a much greater challenge. When making a right turn, truck drivers will typically first swing the vehicle far to the left. This creates the illusion of an open lane, resulting in wide turn or “right turn squeeze” crashes.

Override and Underride Accidents

These types of accidents are two sides of the same coin, as the end results are the same—smaller passenger vehicles end up underneath the body of a truck.

So what’s the difference? An override accident occurs when a truck driver drives over the body of another vehicle. An underride accident occurs when a smaller vehicle slides under part of the truck, typically the trailer.

These accidents can occur when a trucker is not paying attention to traffic, or when the company or entity in charge of maintaining the truck failed to install, maintain, or repair proper underride guards.

Causes of Truck Accidents in Nevada

Although the causes of accidents involving large trucks can be different than causal factors in motor vehicle accidents involving two smaller passenger vehicles, there is some noticeable overlap. Distracted driving and speeding are problems found among all drivers, not just those behind the wheel of big trucks.

However, truck drivers who are licensed to operate commercial vehicles should be held to a higher standard behind the wheel. These are individuals who have been through professional training and have been licensed to operate CMVs on public roads. Perhaps more than anyone else, these drivers know just how much is on the line in a semi-truck accident.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common causes of trucking accidents in Nevada.

Driver Error

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates the trucking industry. This is the regulatory body that limits how long a truck driver may be on-duty and imposes rules and regulations on trucking companies that operate interstate.

Some of the most common driver errors, as noted by the FMCSA, include:

• Speeding
• Using a hand-held phone or device
• Texting and driving
• Operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Possession of amphetamines or narcotics
• Following too closely (tailgating)
• Reckless or aggressive driving
• Unsafe lane changes
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Railroad crossing violations
• Improper or wide turns

Hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are also frequent contributors to semi-truck accidents. Drivers who have been awake for a period of at least 20 hours are considered to have a level of impairment similar to that of a drunk driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%.

If you believe that a truck driver’s poor behind-the-wheel behavior caused or contributed to your crash, contact the experienced truck accident lawyers of Trucking Injury Law Group. We represent injured victims nationwide.

Trucking Company Negligence

The typical trucking company has one main priority—making money. In an industry that relies on the transportation of commercial goods and products on relatively short schedules, safety often becomes secondary to maximizing profits.

Our truck accident attorneys are familiar with some of the most common forms of negligence committed by trucking companies, including:

• Poor truck maintenance
• Unreasonable delivery schedules
• Pressure on drivers to violate HOS regulations
• Negligent hiring practices
• Insufficient driver training

If negligence by a commercial truck company played a role in your accident, we’re here to help. Our legal team is made up of knowledgeable truck accident attorneys who are prepared to hold the trucking company, negligent driver, and insurance company liable for your resulting damages.

Mechanical Failure

Under the right circumstances, even a well-maintained vehicle can suffer mechanical failures that may cause an accident. We regularly work with clients who have been injured in accidents caused by:

• Tire blowouts
• Brake failures
• Coupling system failures
• Engine failures
• Lighting system failures

Lowering Your Risk of Being Involved in a Truck Crash

If you spend any amount of time on I-15, I-80, I-215, I-515, or any of the other numerous interstates, highways, or roads in Nevada, you will end up sharing the road with large commercial trucks.

While there is no avoiding being on the same stretch of roadway as a large truck, there are steps that you can take to limit your risk of being hurt in a commercial truck accident. As personal injury attorneys specializing in truck accident cases, we recommend that you:

• Leave extra space when passing or following semi-trucks
• Don’t text and drive
• Limit distractions
• Use your blinker to signal all lane changes and turns
• Never assume a trucker can see you
• Stay out of the “no-zone”

Unfortunately, you could do everything “right” and still be injured in a crash. That’s because you can only control what goes on inside of your own vehicle. If a truck driver loses control, you can be hurt through no fault of your own.

If you suffered severe injuries in a commercial wreck, a truck accident attorney from Trucking Injury Law Group is standing by to speak with you about your legal rights.

Large Trucks and Their No-Zones

To limit your risk of being injured in an accident involving a trucker who can’t see you, avoid spending any amount of time in a truck’s no-zones. A no-zone is an area outside of a commercial vehicle that the driver cannot see.

There are four distinct no-zone areas on most large trucks:

• Front no-zone – Approximately 20 feet in front of the truck
• Left side (driver side) no-zone – Approximately one lane to the left and slight rear of the cab
• Right side no-zone – Approximately two lanes to the right of the truck, extending diagonally from the rear of the cab
• Rear no-zone – Approximately 200 feet from the rear of the truck

If you can’t see a truck driver’s face, they can’t see you. Truck drivers don’t have rearview mirrors, and much of the view provided by their side view mirrors is obstructed by the trailer.

Want to avoid being involved in a motor vehicle accident with a CMV? Assume the driver can’t see you and take extra care when passing or riding alongside these large vehicles.

Injuries Associated With Commercial Vehicle Crashes

While serious injuries can occur in car accidents involving two smaller vehicles, serious, severe, and catastrophic injuries are much more likely to occur in commercial truck accidents.

When fully loaded, the average tractor-trailer may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds—nearly 20 times more than the average passenger vehicle. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles make resulting injuries much more serious.

Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Back injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Torso and rib injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Broken bones and fractures
• Burns
• Cuts and lacerations
• Loss of limb (amputation)

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, your top priority should be to seek medical attention. Once you’ve received the care you need, contact Trucking Injury Law Group to speak with one of our personal injury lawyers, free of charge. It doesn’t cost anything to learn about your legal rights and options regarding a truck accident lawsuit.

How To File a Truck Accident Claim

To recover compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, property damage, mental anguish, and other damages, you will need to go through the process of filing a truck accident claim.

This is a complex legal process that demands time, attention, and a thorough understanding of state and federal laws governing personal injury claims. At Trucking Injury Law Group, we work closely with our clients to build and prepare the strongest truck accident case possible.

We handle truck accident claims by:

• Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting evidence.
• Investigating the cause of the crash.
• Correctly identifying all liable parties.
• Valuing the worth of your claim, including past, current, and future medical bills.
• Working with outside experts, including medical professionals and accident reconstructionists.
• Negotiating for full and fair compensation from the insurance company.
• Taking things to court when necessary.

We want to get you the help and support you need to make the fullest possible recovery. If you were hurt in a trucking accident, the sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner we’ll be able to start work on your truck accident case.

Potential Liable Parties

“Who is responsible for my injuries?” Few truck accident victims realize just how complicated this question really is.

In a single truck crash, there may be multiple at-fault parties with varying levels of responsibility for resulting damages. Your truck accident attorney will conduct an in-depth investigation to determine whether any of the following entities may be liable for your economic and non-economic damages:

• The truck driver
• The owner of the truck
• The trucking company
• Shipping or loading companies
• An auto part or vehicle manufacturer
• A third-party contractor

You cannot secure maximum compensation for your injuries and financial losses without first determining liability by identifying all at-fault parties.

Evidence Needed To Prove Your Claim

Your truck accident lawyer from Trucking Injury Law Group will work tirelessly to identify and collect all evidence. While proof needed to prove a claim will vary from case to case, some of the most common forms of evidence we work with include:

• The police report or accident report
• Pictures and videos from the accident scene
• Eyewitness testimonies
• Results from drug and alcohol tests
• The trucker’s driving history
• Data collected by the truck’s electronic on-board recorder (EOBR)
• Data recorded by the truck’s event data recorder (EDR)

Do I Need a Lawyer To File a Claim?

There is no requirement for you to retain the legal counsel of a truck accident attorney before moving forward with a claim. However, trucking companies and their insurers are much more likely to take advantage of victims who are trying to recover compensation on their own.

These companies rely on the fact that the average accident victim doesn’t know their rights, the type of compensation to which they are entitled, and which parties can be held responsible. If you go in unprepared and without the legal backing of a truck accident lawyer, you are more likely to be taken advantage of.

Speak With a Nevada Truck Accident Lawyer To Learn Your Rights

Don’t let the trucking company tell you what you are owed. These large businesses and their insurers have a vested interest in limiting their own liability by cutting your settlement as much as possible.

Here’s what you need to know—if you were injured by a negligent truck driver, you are owed compensation for your medical costs, lost income, property damage, and more.

Don’t let the insurance company decide what you’re owed. Our Nevada truck accident lawyers are prepared to advocate on your behalf, upholding your legal rights even in the face of immense pressure from the truck and insurance companies. We also regularly work with clients on a contingency fee basis, which allows us to provide our legal services regardless of an individual’s financial status.

Let’s talk. Contact our law group today to schedule your no-cost, no-obligation consultation.