Las Vegas Truck Accident Lawyer

A simple commercial truck case can take 6 months to a year to settle, while a moderate to complex case can take 12 months to two years to resolve completely.

When looking to understand how long it may take for your case to be settled, it's important that you know the factors that affect a truck accident case timeline, which are:

• Extent of injuries and recovery time
• The complexity of determining liability
• Amount of insurance negotiations
• If litigation and trial are involved
• If there are multiple at-fault parties
• Skill of the victim's legal representation

All the factors above can affect how long it will take a truck accident victim to receive payment for their injuries and damages.

Truck accident cases can be extremely expensive and complex cases, which is why it's crucial that you hire a truck accident attorney to assist you with your legal needs.

Having an attorney involved in your commercial truck accident case can provide you with the following:

• Understanding of Complex Trucking and State Laws: Truck accidents often require an understanding of both federal and state laws, including laws and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Support in Determining Liability: Truck accidents often involve complex liability issues that require the assistance of an experienced Las Vegas truck accident lawyer.
• Handling Insurance Companies: Without the backing of an attorney, insurance companies may delay your claim or violate your rights to avoid having to pay a large settlement.
• Building a Strong Case: A lawyer gathers evidence by obtaining police reports, black box data, and traffic camera footage to build a strong case that can withstand negotiations and trial if necessary.
• Maximum Compensation: Data shows that car accident victims who hire lawyers obtain significantly higher compensation than those who don't.
• Trial Support: If your case goes to court, a lawyer with trial experience can provide the necessary preparation and documentation to win.

Proving negligence in a truck accident case will typically require substantial evidence, including the police report, truck driver's hours-of-service records,

black box data, maintenance report, cargo loading record, surveillance footage, witness testimonies, and medical records.

Gathering this evidence can be time-consuming and difficult, which is why it's highly recommended that you contact an attorney to handle the task for you.

In Nevada, you must report a truck accident to the DMV through a Form SR-1 within 10 days of the wreck under NRS 484E.070 unless the police respond, in which case a report has already been filed.

If you seek to obtain compensation for the damages you sustained in the accident, you have two years from the date of the accident, according to the Nevada statute of limitations outlined under NRS 11.190.

Numerous factors can cause truck accidents, with some of the most common being:

Driver Fatigue

Truck drivers can be subjected to long work hours, which can sometimes exceed the federally mandated hours of service.

Exceeding the HOS regulations can lead to fatigued driving, which can cause a truck driver to have impaired reactions, times, and judgment, similar to drunk driving.

Impaired Driving

With more regulations and better technology, drunk driving among truck drivers has become less common.

However, that doesn't mean DUI truck accidents still don't occur, with around 5% of truck wrecks being caused by drunk driving.

Further information on drunk driving and motor vehicle accidents can be found in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on drunk driving.

Improper Maintenance

Large trucks that are improperly maintained or neglected risk mechanical malfunctions, such as tire blowouts that can result in a crash.

Blind Spots

Large trucks have significant blind spots known as no-zones, where smaller vehicles can become invisible to the driver.

These no-zones create potential hazards for passenger vehicles if a truck driver does not adequately check their blind spots when making a lane change or turning.

Improperly Loaded or Overloaded Cargo

A common cause of commercial truck accidents is when the truck is improperly loaded or overloaded, which can increase the risk of a truck rollover.

In addition, if a truck is overloaded, uncontrollable trailer swings may occur, as well as increased stopping distances.

Due to trucks' substantial size and weight, truck accidents often result in more severe injuries than regular auto accidents.

Common types of injuries sustained in truck wrecks are:

• Traumatic Brain Injuries: TBIs typically occur due to a violent impact or blow to the head and can cause permanent cognitive damages such as memory loss, difficulty with speech, and impaired motor skills.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Injury to the spine can be severe, causing paralysis to the upper and lower parts of the body.
• Broken Bones: The impact of a truck accident can cause bones to break and fracture in areas such as the arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones.
• Whiplash: Found in almost all types of vehicle accidents, whiplash is caused when the neck is suddenly jerked back and forth and can cause chronic pain, limited range of motion, and headaches.
• Internal Injuries: Damage to the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs can occur during a truck crash, which could be fatal if not treated immediately.
• Psychological Damage: Emotional distress and mental anguish are common non-physical injuries following trucking wrecks.

Trucking accident lawyers often work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win your case.

If your lawyer wins your case, they will take a percentage of your final settlement, typically around 25% to 40%, depending on the circumstances of your case and the agreements between you and your attorney.

Through this method, people can seek legal help for personal injury cases without the need to pay upfront legal fees.

Understanding the worth of your specific truck wreck case will require an attorney to review and determine its value.

However, there are several key factors that can provide you with a rough estimate of how much your case may be worth; these factors include:

• Severity of Injuries: If you sustained substantial injuries in the crash and, as a result, have accumulated a significant amount of medical bills, your case will be worth more.
• Lost Wages: If your job was high paying and you were unable to work or work at full capacity due to the injuries caused by the truck crash, you may be entitled to more compensation.
• Fault: Nevada's modified comparative negligence rules allow multiple parties to be at fault for any accident, meaning you may have your case's worth deducted if you share fault in the motor vehicle accident.
• Insurance Limits: In commercial truck accidents, the insurance policy limits are typically higher than those for individual drivers; however, commercial truck insurance policies still cap out between $1 million and $5 million, which could affect your case's worth if you sustain a catastrophic injury that requires more compensation.
• Punitive Damages: If the truck driver's actions were extremely negligent, you may be awarded punitive damages, which will positively affect your case's worth.
• Pain and Suffering: The amount of physical pain and emotional anguish you suffer because of the accident will have a direct effect on your case's worth.

To completely understand your trucking accident case's worth, you must consult with a motor vehicle accident lawyer who can accurately determine its worth.