NEVADA TRUCK ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Hurt in a Truck Accident in Nevada? Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

In the great state of Nevada, people come from all over the world to enjoy the incredible entertainment, alluring atmosphere, unbelievable sites and extravagant casinos. Though people hope to win money at the casinos, losing money is commonplace. However, the last thing you want is to lose money unintentionally from a disastrous accident that depletes your savings and financially sets you back many years to come.

At Ladah Law Firm, our Nevada truck accident attorneys are diligent, experienced, and effective advocates for justice. We go above and beyond to hold large trucking companies and their commercial insurance carriers accountable. With more than $300 million recovered on behalf of injured victims across our personal injury practice areas, we know how to get results. Contact us at our Las Vegas law office today for a free, no obligation review and evaluation of your case. 

Five Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Nevada

Truck accidents happen. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that more than 100,000 people are hurt in large commercial truck accidents nationwide each year. Although they are far from rare, that does not make them any easier to deal with. Knowing what to do can make all the difference. It can protect your rights and your well-being. Here are five of the most important steps to take after a serious semi-truck accident in Nevada:

1. Stop Your Car and Report the Truck Accident: Nevada law is clear: All parties to a truck accident are required to stop their vehicle. You should pull over and exchange information with all other drivers involved in the crash, including the trucker. It is also in your best interest to ensure a truck accident in Nevada is reported to police in a timely manner. 
2. Get Prompt Medical Care for Any Injuries: All semi-truck accident injuries should be thoroughly evaluated by a doctor. Even if you feel fine, it is critical to seek medical attention immediately. Many truck accident injuries can arise with a delayed onset. Beyond protecting your health, seeing a doctor is required to bring a personal injury claim. 
3. Proactively Document the Collision: If it is safe to do so, take photographs of the scene, including all vehicles involved, any visible damage, and road conditions. Gather names and contact information of witnesses and other drivers involved. Write down your recollection of how the accident occurred as soon as possible. The more information, the better. 
4. Beware of Insurance Adjusters: Insurance companies are not on your side. They put their best interests above what is right for your family. Be cautious when dealing with insurance adjusters. They may seem helpful, but their primary role is to minimize what the insurance company pays out. You should deal with an insurance company through your lawyer. 
5. Consult With a Nevada Truck Accident Lawyer: Semi-truck accident injury claims are extremely complex. You do not have to take on the legal claims process alone. A Nevada commercial truck accident attorney will review your case, answer questions, and take action to help you secure the absolute maximum financial support.

Protect Yourself & Your Pocketbook

That scenario is exactly what can happen to you if you are in an accident with a semi-truck. If you are in an accident with a truck, statistically cars are totaled and injuries are severe. With such a dreadful outcome, you want to be protected. Being left without a car, thousands of dollars in medical debt, and sometimes life altering injuries, receiving financial compensation for someone else’s negligence isn’t just a want, it’s a dire need. Your life may never be the same.

Large Commercial Truck Accidents Can Cause Catastrophic Harm

Large commercial truck accidents are among the most dangerous and destructive on our roads. Unfortunately, when crashes happen, the outcome can be downright catastrophic—especially for the people involved who were outside of the truck itself. A fully loaded tractor trailer in Nevada has a maximum legal weight of 80,000. For reference, that is 20 or 30 times the weight of the average passenger vehicle in the United States. Our Nevada truck accident lawyers handle all types of tractor trailer accident injury claims. No matter how seriously you were hurt, we can help. Some of the most common types of truck accident injuries include: 

• Lacerations; 
• Sprains and strains; 
• Soft tissue injuries; 
• Ligament tears; 
• Broken bones; 
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs); 
• Internal organ damage; 
• Spinal cord trauma; and
• Loss of limb. 

The physical damage from such collisions typically includes traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and other life-altering conditions that may require long-term medical care or result in permanent disability. The emotional toll is also significant, as victims and their families may experience psychological trauma and stress that can persist long after the physical wounds have healed. Every truck accident injury in Nevada requires immediate medical attention. 

The Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Nevada

Eighteen wheeler accidents can happen for a wide array of different reasons. Indeed, every specific truck accident in Nevada should be carefully investigated to determine exactly what went wrong. With that being said, most large truck accidents in Nevada do share a key commonality: Adherence to the proper safety precautions could have prevented the wreck. Here are some common examples of negligent that contribute to large commercial truck accidents in Nevada: 

• Undertrained Truck Drivers: Operating a large commercial truck requires skill, training, and experience. One major cause of truck accidents in Nevada is under trained drivers. Due to the demanding nature of driving a truck, comprehensive training is essential. Some trucking companies may skimp on training to cut costs or rush drivers into service. 
• Truckers Speed to Meet Deadlines: The pressure to meet delivery deadlines can lead truck drivers to speed. Speeding reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of crashes. The rush can be especially perilous in areas with variable weather conditions, busy intersections, or when navigating through traffic-heavy roads in Nevada.
• Overly Fatigued Truckers: Driver fatigue is a serious issue in the trucking industry, where long hours and insufficient rest are common. Overly fatigued truckers experience decreased alertness and slower reaction times, increasing the likelihood of accidents. There are actually federal service hour limits in place that limit how much time a trucker can spend behind the wheel on a daily/weekly basis. Hurt in a crash with an overly fatigued trucker? Contact our Nevada truck accident lawyer today for a free consultation. 
• Distracted Driving: A trucker should keep his or her full attention on the road at all times. An issue can arise in the blink of an eye. Distracted driving is a major safety hazard. Distractions can come from electronic devices, eating, adjusting in-cab controls, or external factors. For truck drivers, even a momentary lapse in attention can be truly catastrophic. 
• Unsafe Lane Changes (Blind Spots): Trucks have significant blind spots that can make lane changes particularly hazardous. These are sometimes referred to as “no-zones.” When truck drivers fail to adequately check these blind spots or signal their intentions, they can inadvertently collide with other vehicles hidden from their view. A trucker can be held liable for colliding with a vehicle, motorcycle, cyclist, or pedestrian in a blind spot. 
• Improperly Loaded Trailers: The way a trailer is loaded can significantly impact the safety of the truck. Improper loading can lead to unbalanced weight distribution, which affects handling and stability. If the cargo shifts suddenly, it can cause the truck to tip over or veer off course, leading to serious accidents on Nevada’s roads. The company that owns, operates, or leases a truck may be liable for an improperly loaded trailer. 
• Lack of Proper Truck Maintenance: Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping commercial trucks in safe operating condition. Neglecting maintenance can lead to critical failures of important systems like brakes, tires, and lights, which are essential for safe driving. Inadequate maintenance is often a result of oversight or a deliberate attempt to save money and time, at the expense of safety. Hurt in a crash caused by poor truck maintenance? Our Nevada truck accident attorneys can help. 
• Manufacturer Defects: In some cases, the cause of a truck accident may trace back to the manufacturer through defects in the truck’s design or parts. Defective components can cause unexpected malfunctions while the vehicle is in operation, such as brake failures or tire blowouts. When defects contribute to accidents, liability may extend to the manufacturers. Product liability claims are subject to strict liability in Nevada. 
• Poor Roadway Maintenance: In some parts of Nevada, the road infrastructure may not be ideally suited to accommodate large commercial trucks. There are issues such as narrow lanes, poorly designed intersections, lack of proper signage, inadequate maintenance of road surfaces, and poorly set up ongoing construction, that can pose serious safety hazards to drivers. A construction company or even a government entity may bear liability for a resulting collision. 

Nevada Law: What to Know About Truck Accident Liability

There are federal regulations that regulate commercial truck safety in the United States. Truck companies that operate across state lines—which are most commercial trucks in Nevada—must comply with these regulations. However, a truck accident injury claim is still handled primarily by state law. Hurt in a crash with a tractor trailer in Nevada? You need to understand how our state manages the claims process. Here are the two key points to know about truck liability in Nevada: 

• Fault Determines Liability: Liability is the foundation of any personal injury claim in Nevada. A semi-truck accident injury claim is certainly no exception to the rule. Liability is based on fault. Under Nevada law, the party at fault for causing the accident is responsible for the resulting damage. For large commercial truck accidents, fault can often be complex and involve multiple parties, such as the truck driver, the trucking company, or a truck manufacturer. Establishing liability requires thorough investigation into factors like driver behavior, truck maintenance records, and compliance with federal and state trucking regulations. Every serious truck accident should be thoroughly investigated. 
• Comparative Negligence May Be a Factor: It is far from uncommon for multiple parties to share liability for the same eighteen wheeler accident. In fact, an injured victim may even be partially at fault for their own truck accident. How do these cases work? Nevada is a modified comparative negligence jurisdiction (NRS 41.141). If you are partially at fault in a truck accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 15 percent responsible for an accident, your recoverable damages will also be reduced by 15 percent. If you suffered $100,000 of damage in a truck accident but were held liable for 15 percent, you would only be able to recover for $85,000. 

We Help Truck Accident Victims Maximize Their Financial Compensation

In Nevada, truck accident victims have the right to seek financial compensation for their economic losses and their non-economic damages. Still, truck companies and their insurers want to settle these cases for less. You cannot rely on any insurance company to willingly step up and offer full and fair financial compensation. At Ladah Law Firm, our Nevada truck accident lawyers fight to hold them accountable. Along with other losses, you may be entitled to recover financial damages for: 

• Property loss, including vehicle repairs; 
• Emergency medical treatment; 
• Health care costs, including hospital bills;
• Long-term/rehabilitative care; 
• Lost wages and lost future earning ability; 
• Pain and suffering; 
• Permanent disability; and
• Wrongful death of a family member. 

Note: Punitive damages may be recovered in a limited number of semi-truck accident cases in Nevada. These damages are a type of compensation awarded in legal cases that go beyond merely compensating the plaintiff for losses. They are intended to punish the defendant for particularly harmful, reckless, or malicious behavior and to deter similar conduct in the future.

A Two-Year Statute of Limitations For Truck Accident Injury Cases

You cannot wait forever to bring a personal injury claim. Under Nevada law (NRS 11.190), there is a two-year statute of limitations for motor vehicle crash cases, including for commercial truck accidents. What happens if you fail to bring a claim in a timely manner? You could lose out on your right to recover financial compensation at all. Insurers waste no time building a defense. Take a proactive approach: Consult with our Nevada truck accident lawyer today for a free case review.