Whether you live in Las Vegas or are just visiting the area, you might not think about the risks of serious truck accidents. On the Las Vegas Beltway, semi-truck collisions are common, and they can cause catastrophic, sometimes fatal injuries. Yes, Interstate 15 near the Strip is frequently used by 18-wheelers; be prepared to share the road with them. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), drivers and passengers of smaller automobiles are more at danger in truck incidents because of the vast size and weight of semi-trucks. Heavy trucks actually have better ground clearance and generally weigh 20 to 30 times more than passenger automobiles. This implies that a smaller car may collide with a large tractor and underride it, causing devastating casualties. What should you do if you are involved in a significant trucking accident in Las Vegas?
Photograph the truck crash scene
As we’ve just seen, large truck accidents frequently result in fatalities and severe injuries. It could be difficult for an accident victim to precisely describe the situation as a result. However, if you are in a collision and are able to obtain information at the scene, it can be very helpful for your truck accident claim. You should take the following actions:
Take pictures: Use your smartphone’s camera to document the occurrence, including any property damage, in both close-up and wider-angle photos of the whole crash area.
Other parties’ contact and insurance information: Obtain the names, phone numbers, and addresses of any further drivers who may have been involved in the collision.
Was anyone present to witness the collision? Get the names and contact information of any witnesses who might be able to corroborate your story of what occurred.
Find out if Las Vegas Is Liable for a Trucking Accident
We routinely work with claimants who have suffered severe injuries in auto accidents and are eager to learn who will likely be held liable. There are typically multiple parties involved in truck accidents, all of whom may bear some responsibility for the collision and any damage it may have caused. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) examined a wide range of variables in their research on the causes of large-truck collisions, including the following:
- caused by poor vehicle maintenance, overloading, a flat tire, or a blowout;
- defective auto parts, such as the brakes or steering;
- poor road conditions as a result of poor maintenance;
- a truck going faster than the posted speed limit or moving too swiftly for the weather or road conditions;
- a jackknifing accident caused by malfunctioning parts or poor weather;
- a truck driver who is distracted or drowsy causes a truck to slip out of its lane or encroach upon another lane;
- Vehicles approaching the truck from the opposite or wrong side of the road
Various parties may be held liable for truck accidents, depending on the particular causes of the incident. Unrestricted instances of prospective defendants include, but are not limited to:
Truck driver: for incidents brought on by driver negligence, such as drowsy, aggressive, or drunk driving;
trucking company: If a collision is caused by a driver error or inadequate vehicle maintenance, the trucking company may be held accountable;
Owner of the semi-truck: In some situations, the semi-truck belongs to a third party who could be held accountable for an accident, especially if the accident was brought on by poor truck maintenance;
Large trucks are commonly loaded by a third party; hence, the loading company or its loaders may be held responsible for damages if the crash was caused by improper loading;
Auto designer: If a truck part or component malfunctions and causes a collision, the designer of that part or component may be held liable;
The owner of the property where the incident took place: Whether it is private or public property, the owner may be liable for a plaintiff’s injuries if a road or parking lot where an incident took place was not kept in good condition.
To be clear, a plaintiff may file a claim against numerous defendants if more than one party contributed to the incident. A Nevada personal injury attorney can help you identify the best course of action for pursuing your claim.
Understand Your Options for Pursuing Damages Under Nevada Law
What kinds of damages can you pursue if you make a truck accident claim? Plaintiffs who suffer severe injuries in truck accidents frequently have two alternatives for compensatory damages under Nevada law:
Economic damages: they compensate a plaintiff for their immediate, measurable economic losses (such as medical costs, operating room fees, or lost wages); and
Non-economic damages are intended to compensate a plaintiff for unreasonable losses that are not based on the economy (such as pain and suffering).
If the defendant acted in a way that implied a purposeful disregard for the safety of others on the road, and that behavior resulted in the collision, the plaintiff may in some cases also be eligible to receive punitive damages. Despite the fact that punitive damages are relatively unusual in truck accident cases, you should consult a Nevada car accident attorney to see whether they are suitable for your particular situation.
You should learn more about filing a wrongful death claim if a loved one died in a vehicle accident.
Do not wait to file your claim after a truck accident in Las Vegas.
How long after a truck accident do you have to bring a lawsuit? If you were harmed in a Las Vegas trucking accident, Nevada law states that you have two years from the date of your injuries to file a claim (in other words, the date of the accident). This window of time is referred to as the statute of limitations. If you don’t file your case by the due date, you run the danger of not getting paid for your losses.
Following a transportation accident, wrongful death cases have a two-year statute of limitations. However, the timer begins when the victim of the wounds dies, not when she or he received the injuries that caused his death. To start the procedure, get in touch with us right now!