Las Vegas Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
Because of their size and operating limitations, semi-trucks can present extreme dangers to other cars and motorcycles on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported that semi-truck accidents resulting in fatalities increased by 40% between 2009 and 2017 after an overall decline in the prior decade.
If you were injured in a collision involving a semi-truck, you should immediately contact a personal injury law firm as you could be entitled to compensation. Further, seeking the legal assistance of a semi-truck accident lawyer is crucial because of the severity of semi-truck wrecks and their injuries.
Substantial liability and hefty damages often cause trucking companies, semi-truck drivers, and their insurance companies to fight tooth-and-nail to undermine injury cases. If they win, you could potentially be left to deal with the resulting injuries and medical bills on your own.
Don’t let semi-truck drivers or commercial driving companies off the hook for their negligent or reckless behavior. Talk to The Paul Powell Law Firm—we’ll connect you with a semi-truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas who understands the intricacies of your case and will fight for your right to the maximum compensation.
What Causes Semi-Truck Accidents?
Semi-trucks are massive vehicles, sometimes weighing as much as 80,000 pounds or more. When they collide with much smaller passenger vehicles, serious injury and death can occur.
While a significant number of semi-truck accidents are caused by smaller vehicles driving unsafely in their vicinity, many accidents may also occur because of a number of reasons which put the semi-truck driver at fault:
Inadequate Training
Strict rules are in place to ensure semi-truck drivers take appropriate care with their vehicles. Regulations control how long a truck driver may be on the road and the length of breaks they must take. Sometimes, however, inadequate training in driving techniques, including defensive driving and safety rules, can lead to a semi-truck accident.
Trucking Company Violations
Commercial truck companies sometimes encourage drivers to break safety rules with systems of compensation that reward faster vehicle speeds and continuous driving without taking appropriate breaks. When semi-truck drivers are more concerned with meeting a deadline than operating their big rig safely, they put everyone else on the road at risk.
Impaired Driving
Some commercial drivers may use caffeine pills or other stimulants in order to work long shifts without stopping to sleep. These substances usually only mask the symptoms of sleep deprivation. Consequently, drowsy driving can be as deadly as drunken driving, especially when operating a vehicle as large as a semi-truck.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving affects all motorists, including commercial truck drivers. In Nevada, handheld cell phone use while driving is illegal. Other distractions include eating or drinking, personal grooming, reading a map or looking at a navigation system, or fiddling with the radio. Any action that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, or their mind off the task of driving is a distraction and can cause a collision.
All of these factors may help establish that a semi-truck driver behaved recklessly or negligently while behind the wheel. If recklessness or negligence can be established on the driver’s part, a semi-truck accident lawyer may level punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages. They may apply to both the driver and the trucking company, depending on the circumstances.
How Much Will I Be Compensated?
What is the average semi-truck accident settlement? The truth is, even the most experienced accident attorney can’t say with any certainty the exact figure you’ll receive. Settlement dollar amounts range anywhere from the hundreds to the millions. Factors that will determine your awarded damages include:
- The severity of your injuries
- The amount of your medical bills
- Your lost wages and opportunities
- The truck driver’s conduct
- The truck company’s conduct
- Mitigating circumstances, such as severe weather
Who Do I Contact About My Accident?
It is imperative that you seek the legal counsel of a qualified semi-truck accident lawyer. If you or a loved one has been injured because of a semi-truck driver or their employer, The Paul Powell Law Firm can help. Visit our office in Las Vegas during regular business hours, call us at 702-728-5500, chat with one of our representatives online, or submit a free case evaluation 24/7.