Unfortunately, minor inconveniences are not the only possible outcomes. Even if a trucking company goes to great lengths to train its drivers, the possibility of an accident involving an 18-wheeler and passenger vehicles is always present. Commercial trucks are massive compared to other automobiles. This means what may have been a minor collision between two passenger vehicles could easily result in serious injuries or even death. There are other fairly significant differences, however, that you may not have even considered. For instance, liability in large truck accidents can be far more complex than when two cars or small trucks collide.

That’s because — unlike cars, motorcycles, and passenger trucks — commercial trucks have multiple parties responsible for their maintenance, safety, and usage. These include the drivers, manufacturers, and the companies that manage the trucks. Each of these individuals or organizations — or some combination of all three — could be held accountable for a truck accident. If you have any further questions or concerns about how such an accident can affect you or the ones you love, it may be beneficial to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas. Murphy & Murphy Law Offices believes nothing should stand in the way of those who want to pursue compensation when injured in such an accident.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation to learn how you should move forward.

How Do Truck Accidents Usually Happen?

One of the most sobering facts about truck accidents is that, when injuries occur, the truck drivers usually aren’t the ones on the list of injured victims. This is because they have a massive vehicle protecting them. The sheer size of trucks makes them ideal for carrying large loads from coast to coast, but this size also comes at a cost. The weight and dimensions of an average semi mean that it can easily impact another car and continue on its way with little to no damage. Sadly, this means it’s typically others who suffer due to driver fatigue, improper maintenance, running stop signs, or even a drunk driver behind the wheel.

Of course, even smaller trucks present some dangers. A news article in 2021 declared, “Pickups are getting bigger, creating danger for other drivers, pedestrians.” If you’ve seen some of the newer model trucks, many of them look like they could drive off from an 18-wheeler crash in one piece. When a passenger vehicle shares a road with a truck — be it a large pickup truck or an eighteen-wheeler — the person behind the wheel of the car and any passengers run a higher risk of sustaining injuries in a collision. This all explains how truck accident injuries can occur, but how do the accidents themselves unfold?

A major cause of motor vehicle crashes is distracted driving. This unsafe behavior occurs when drivers are deliberately not focusing on the road and nearby traffic. The Nevada Department of Transportation reports that reaching for a moving object while driving makes an accident nine times more likely to happen. Driving while tired is also a deadly choice, as it quadruples the risk of an accident. Other actions, such as reading, applying makeup, and dialing a phone, similarly elevate the likelihood that an accident will occur. Truck drivers engaging in any of these behaviors are knowingly putting the safety of everyone else on the road at risk. Nevada has placed bans on the use of hand-held devices while driving, and truck drivers passing through the Las Vegas area can expect to face significant fines and demerits for disrespecting the law.

Even when truck drivers are taking appropriate precautions behind the wheel, the actions of another driver can create a dangerous situation. Because 18-wheeler drivers cannot see through their rearview windows, they have an extra and far larger blindspot than drivers of passenger vehicles. If a car disappears into one of these blindspots and the vehicle’s driver does not maintain an appropriate distance or signal correctly, the truck can swerve or suddenly slow down and collide with the car. This impact would most likely result in significant damage to the car and severe injuries for everyone inside it. The truck may not be affected at all.

Drivers in the Las Vegas area are relatively lucky in that weather is less likely to play a role in truck accidents than it is in other parts of the United States. Las Vegas summers may be scorching, but because rain is rare, adverse conditions that would normally play a role in affecting highway safety are nearly absent. Las Vegas truck accident lawyers will inform you that — unless the truck driver failed to prepare for decreased visibility brought on by the sunny weather — trucking companies and insurers cannot use inclement weather as an excuse for the accident.

Are Truck Drivers Always Liable, or Could I Be Considered at Fault?

More than 500,000 truck accidents occur in the United States every year, and while fatalities in these accidents are uncommon, about one percent of truck accidents do end in death. While truck accidents typically represent less than two percent of all motor vehicle accidents in Nevada, the outcome of collisions involving commercial trucks is often tragic. Throughout America, over 70% of truck accident victims who die are in passenger vehicles. What makes this even more tragic is that truckers involved in fatal accidents had a higher rate of prior crashes than other driver types. This doesn’t look good for trucking companies when there’s a collision.

Of course, there are instances when the truck driver isn’t fully at fault. In fact, they may not be liable whatsoever. Although truck drivers receive training specifically regarding how to weave in and out of lanes without affecting other cars and motorcycles, car drivers who are unaware of how to accommodate trucks on the road can make poor decisions. Because of their size and weight, trucks require extra time to accelerate and decelerate, and if a car tries to change lanes abruptly in front of a truck, the truck driver may not have enough advance warning to slow down. And as mentioned above, truck drivers have ample blind spots, and cars traveling directly behind or alongside a truck run the risk of causing collisions.

If you are in any of these situations, does it mean an experienced truck accident attorney can’t help you recover compensation? Absolutely not. Every case is different, but Nevada is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that — even when truck accidents are partially the fault of the injured party — it may not necessarily bar them from recovering compensation for things like medical costs, lost wages, and even wrongful death claims. Judges and juries will typically reduce the court award by whatever percentage the victim was at fault. That means if there’s a jury award of $5 million — but the victim is found to be 20% liable — they’ll still receive $4 million in their truck accident lawsuit.

A common question that dedicated Las Vegas truck accident attorney Craig Murphy receives from clients is whether truck accident cases are treated differently than car accident cases. As discussed previously, there are differences in who may be considered an at-fault party. Unlike accidents involving two cars, in which at least one of the two drivers is typically at fault, there are at least three parties who can be responsible for a truck: the driver, the manufacturer, and the company contracting the truck. This means that both the driver of the car and the commercial truck driver could be completely innocent. The fault may lie instead with the truck’s manufacturer for improperly assembling the vehicle, or the responsibility may be that of the contractor for commissioning a shipment without providing adequate maintenance.

Are Truck Accident Lawyers Necessary for a Big Rig Accident?

Commercial truck accidents raise a variety of legal questions involving liability. This is one of the primary reasons you should hire a law firm to help you handle your case. No matter who is at fault in the collision — even if the police report makes it very clear — trucking and insurance companies will try to pass some liability on to you. They’ll no doubt start by framing their settlement as a fair offer. In many cases, however, the offer won’t take into account lost wages, pain and suffering, the possibility of needing future medical attention, and other losses. Even worse, they’ll often frame the offer in a way that encourages an admission of fault on your part.

A semi-truck crash can be very costly for insurers and the liable trucking company. That’s why adjusters are trained to ask leading questions and offer less than what you might receive in a personal injury case. This is precisely why you should speak with a truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas before ever talking to an insurance company. Adjusters know they can’t talk a personal injury law firm into admitting fault, so they’re far more likely to offer a fair settlement from the start. Of course, it’s possible that their maximum compensation offer isn’t enough to cover medical bills and other losses in order to make you whole again. In these cases, your claim could end up in court.

If this occurs, you want a trial lawyer like those at Murphy & Murphy Law Firm. Over 90% of personal injury claims never go to trial — they end up being settled before it gets to that point. This means many attorneys have rarely dealt with cases involving truck crashes in front of a judge or jury. While it’s statistically unlikely that your claim will end up in court, it’s important to have an experienced truck accident attorney with trial experience on your side. Reach out to our truck accident lawyers in Las Vegas today to get started.

How Much Is My Truck Accident Personal Injury Case Worth?

Any trucking company you encounter will likely have deep pockets. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that a personal injury law firm will be able to secure a million-dollar settlement for you. That’s because the eventual settlement or court award will depend entirely on the specifics of your case. No matter what a law blog or online article may insinuate, there’s no way to accurately predict an eventual settlement or court award. What we can say with confidence, though, is that a big truck accident can lead to significant compensation.

For instance, a Florida jury returned a $1 billion verdict in 2021 against two carriers found liable in a series of accidents that resulted in one death and several serious injuries. This truck accident case was unique in the sheer scale of the carnage caused by the collisions. Even when such an accident involves only one other vehicle, however, settlements and court awards can be substantial. That’s because serious truck accidents often lead to life-changing injuries. The following are just a few of the most common we’ve seen from clients of our law firm:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Paraplegia and quadriplegia
• Wrongful death

When large commercial trucks aren’t in compliance with state and federal regulations — or when the driver is simply negligent in their actions — it can change the lives of victims and their loved ones forever. While big settlements and court awards are possible in these situations, everything that happens at the accident scene matters. You should seek medical attention immediately — even if you think you weren’t injured — and follow your doctor’s orders to the T. Failure to do so can give the insurance company or carrier an “out” by claiming that some of your injuries were due to your failure to follow doctor instructions.

Of course, the best way to get an idea of how your case compares to other truck accident claims is to speak with an attorney. You no doubt have a lot on your plate at the moment — ranging from worrying about medical expenses to concerns for loved ones — but this is precisely why you should reach out for help. A truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas can handle all the heavy lifting for you and strive to get you the most compensation possible. Don’t waste another minute wondering whether you have a case. Schedule a free initial consultation with Murphy & Murphy Law Offices today and find out for sure.

Contact An Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas

If you were the victim in one of America’s hundreds of thousands of yearly semi-truck accidents — or if a trucking contractor is suing you for an accident you may be liable for — it’s important for you to have an attorney on your side. This will minimize the likelihood that you’ll be railroaded in court or by the insurer of the commercial vehicle. A trucking accident can change everything in your life in just the blink of an eye, so make sure you have a law firm that’s ready to protect your rights by your side.

At Murphy & Murphy Law Offices, we offer one-on-one free initial consultations. This gives you an opportunity to have your case reviewed before doing anything. You can’t expect a trucking or insurance company to look after your best interests, but no matter the specifics of your case, our law firm will do just that. Contact us by calling (702) 369-9696 and setting up a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Las Vegas today. We’ll work hard to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.