Why do you need a truck accident lawyer?

No matter how careful you are, you can still be in an automobile accident because of another driver. When that vehicle is a truck, it can spell big trouble. The damages to your vehicle in a truck accident are typically more severe than in one with a regular car, and your injuries are also likely to be more serious. You may be due financial compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury, economic losses, etc. Our lawyers at De Castroverde can help you get the compensation you deserve after a truck accident in the Las Vegas or Reno area.

What Is a Truck Accident?

Truck Accidents Las Vegas, NV

Jack-knifed semi by mark6mauno is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Truck accidents are classified as collisions with semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and tractor-trailers. Truck accidents are in a different category than regular automobile accidents, as the bigger vehicle size is known to cause more property damage, a higher incidence of injuries, and a greater risk of death.

What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents?

Truck accidents can occur due to several factors, including the following:

Speeding

Speeding is particularly dangerous in a semi-truck, 18-wheeler, or tractor-trailer, as the size and weight of a truck mean it’s harder to handle and needs more time and space to slow down to avoid a collision. If truck drivers disobey the speed limit, they’re putting themselves and everyone else on the road at risk of an accident. Speeding may also be combined with aggressive driving, which increases the danger. Driving aggressively in a truck puts other drivers at high risk for accidents.

Blind Spots

Blind spots contribute to the risk of a truck collision. Due to the truck’s length, height, and overall size, the driver often has difficulty seeing all the vehicles around them. Vehicles aren’t supposed to pass trucks on the right, as this is one of the primary blind spots for a truck driver, but some automobile drivers make the mistake of doing so, resulting in potential accidents.

Impaired Driving

Truck driving is very demanding, and truck drivers may be impaired in various ways. They may drive under the influence of illegal drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication. When a truck driver is impaired, their judgment is affected, and their reflexes and reaction times are slowed. Their response times may also be affected because they’re exhausted from sitting in place for prolonged periods and driving long hours, often at times of night that interfere with a normal sleep cycle. These impairments behind the wheel can cause truck accidents.

Distracted Driving

It’s important to pay complete attention to the road when driving a truck, but not all truck drivers do. They can cause accidents by not being attentive to the road conditions and the other vehicles around them. Texting, eating, making phone calls, talking to a passenger, changing music, or any other behavior that takes their eyes off the road can lead to an accident. It can be as simple as missing a car in their blind spot or following too close to a vehicle in front of them that causes an accident.

Failing To Yield the Right of Way

Another severe error a truck driver can make is not allowing the vehicle with the right of way to go first. This can occur at stop signs, three-way intersections, yield signs, left turns, and traffic lights. Failure to follow these rules of the road can lead a truck driver to be the cause of an accident.

What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, you should contact emergency services and law enforcement if you’re not injured. You should also gather as much information as you can on everyone involved in the accident, including the following:

  • The name and direct contact information of the trucking company.
  • The driver’s full name, phone number, street address, and email.
  • The number of other drivers involved in the collision. 
  • The commercial driver’s license details.
  • The name of the truck driver’s insurance company and the policy number.
  • The contact information of any witnesses to collect written statements.

You may be taken to a hospital immediately following the crash if you’ve been seriously injured. In those circumstances, law enforcement at the site of the accident will be responsible for gathering evidence and searching for witnesses. In many cases, the truck driver will also be tested for drugs and alcohol, which can help your case if the driver is found under the influence.

Who Is Liable in a Truck Accident?

Truck accidents can be tricky because liability can fall on one or more of the following:

Commercial Driver

The truck driver may be at fault. They may have experienced a truck-related malfunction or been distracted, fatigued, impaired, or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. They may be guilty of speeding, aggressive driving, failure to check their blind spot, or failure to yield the right of way.

Truck Manufacturer

If the cause of the accident is found to be a truck malfunction, then the truck or parts manufacturer can be held liable. Tire defects, faulty brakes, or a badly constructed steering system can cause a truck to lose control.

Trucking Company

The trucking company may be liable for the accident if it’s found that it hired a careless, unsafe, or untrained driver. They may also be found at fault if the truck involved in the accident wasn’t safe due to needing repairs or proper inspection. The trucking company can also be liable if it’s found that they placed unrealistic demands on their drivers, such as forcing them to meet impossible deadlines.

What Can You Expect for Compensation in a Truck Accident?

De Castroverde Law Group can make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve, including the following:

  • Economic damages: This can include present losses due to your injuries and future losses you may suffer from reduced income if you can’t return to work due to hospitalization, ongoing recovery, or permanent disability.
  • Medical expenses: Recovery of your medical expenses can include the costs of an ambulance from the accident, doctor visits, diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, and future medical care.
  • Non-economic damages: These include by-products of losses caused by your injuries, such as physical damage, loss of productivity, and emotional pain and suffering.

Let our team at De Castroverde help you navigate your claims from a truck accident. Call us at 702-780-6463 or complete our secure online form to get started. A team member will happily provide a free consultation to discuss your case.

Photo Credit: Jack-knifed semi by mark6mauno is licensed with CC BY 2.0