Trucking companies and their insurance carriers often try to minimize the amount of money they have to pay out after an accident. They may try to blame you or try to downplay the severity of your injuries. A truck accident lawyer in Reno won’t let them get away with this. They will aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation you are entitled to.
At Shook & Stone, our legal team has successfully represented more than 30,000 clients, including those who have been seriously injured in large truck accidents. We understand the complexity of these cases and know how to build a strong case to get the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, a Reno personal injury lawyer is ready to fight for you.
Why Do Truck Accidents Happen in Reno?
There are many reasons why large truck accidents may happen in Reno. They are often rooted in human error and negligence, and could be avoided by following the rules of the road and remaining responsible and alert. Since trucks are significantly larger and heavier than cars, such actions can have serious and even deadly consequences.
In Reno, some of the most common causes of truck accidents include:
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Improper turning
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Unsafe lane changes
- Tailgating
- Improperly Secured Load
- Substance Abuse
In some cases, the trucking company may be at fault for the accident. This can happen if the company did not properly maintain the truck or if it failed to properly train the driver. Cargoloaders can also be liable for improperly loading or securing cargo, as well as negligent mechanics and manufacturers who issue defective parts. If this is the case, a truck accident attorney in Reno will hold them accountable.
Reno Commercial Vehicle Accidents
According to the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts report, there were 5,472 fatalities and approximately 153,452 injuries in truck accidents across the country.
Additionally, according to Nevada’s Zero Fatalities site, there have been 48 fatalities over the past five years of data. The most common types of commercial vehicles involved in accidents include:
- 18-wheelers
- Delivery trucks
- Dump trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Tanker trucks
- Tractor trailers
- Ambulances
- Fire Trucks
- Police Vehicles
- Municipal Vehicles
These vehicles can all cause significant damage to passenger vehicles, which may range in severity depending on the type of truck involved. All trucks are broken down into vehicle weight classes and categories, and the larger and heavier the truck, the greater the potential for severe damage and injury in a collision.
There Are Several Types of Truck Accidents That Can Occur in Reno
The damage caused by a truck accident often depends on the force and direction of impact. For example, a truck going 50 miles per hour and colliding with a car head-on is going to have a vastly different outcome than a truck going 25 miles per hour as it rear-ends the car in front of it. As such, different types of accidents may have different effects. Common types of truck crashes include:
- Head-on accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Jackknife accidents
- Underride accidents
- Side-impact collisions
- Sideswipes
- Rollovers
Smaller vehicles typically absorb the majority of the impact and suffer more harm than truck drivers do. This is because they have less to buffer and protect them as compared to a large truck. There is also significantly more weight behind a truck during an accident, which contributes to the potential damage they can cause.
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Common Injuries in a Truck Accident
Due to the nature of commercial trucks, accidents involving these vehicles often result in serious injuries. Some injuries may even result in permanent physical losses, and the costs of catastrophic injuries can impact every area of a victim’s life. The force of the impact between two vehicles can affect the severity of the injuries sustained. Some of the most common injuries we see include:
- Whiplash
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burn injuries
- Paralysis
- Wrongful death
If you have been seriously injured in a truck accident, experienced semi-truck crash lawyers at Shook & Stone can help you get the compensation you deserve. Be sure to keep thorough medical records of all doctor visits, test results, treatments, medications, and bills. This documentation will support your case by providing essential evidence of your losses and help you recover maximum compensation.
What to Do After an Accident with a Commercial Vehicle in Reno
If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, it is important to take certain steps in order to protect your rights and the outcome of your claim. Unfortunately, trucking personnel and insurance companies will do anything they can to protect themselves and get out of paying you what you deserve. By being proactive and taking the following steps, you can be confident of a better outcome:
- Get medical attention: It is important to get medical attention as soon as possible after the accident. This will ensure that your injuries are documented and treated.
- Do not sign anything: The trucking company’s insurance adjuster may try to get you to sign a release. This release will waive your right to seek further compensation. Do not sign anything without first consulting with an attorney.
- Get the truck driver’s information: Be sure to get the truck driver’s name, contact information, and insurance information.
- Get the trucking company’s information: Be sure to get the name of the trucking company and their insurance information.
- Take pictures: If you are able, take pictures of the accident scene, the damage to your vehicle, and your injuries.
- Get witness information: If there are any witnesses to the accident, be sure to get their name and contact information.
- Hire a Reno truck accident attorney: It is important to hire a Reno tractor-trailer collision attorney who has experience handling commercial vehicle accidents. An experienced attorney will know how to navigate the complex legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
By gathering evidence and hiring an experienced lawyer, you can have a stronger claim and protect yourself from being taken advantage of while your case is being resolved. These steps also ensure that your losses are accurately documented and that your settlement sufficiently provides for your needs so you can recover and rebuild your life.
Types of Compensation in Truck Accidents
There are many different types of compensation that may be available to truck accident victims. The losses you can recover will depend on the specific facts of your case. Some of the most common types of compensation our clients receive include:
- Medical expenses: Includes future treatment such as physical therapy, medical equipment, surgeries, home/vehicle accommodations, and more.
- Lost wages: Used to offset lost income when you are unable to work due to your injuries.
- Pain and suffering: Compensates for the physical and emotional injuries you have suffered and helps you get the supportive resources you need.
- Loss of consortium: Encompasses the loss of companionship and support of a spouse or partner.
- Punitive damages: In some cases, punitive damages may be available to punish the truck driver or company for their negligence
While it is common to inquire about the average settlement in a personal injury case, it’s important to understand that no two cases are alike. As such, lawyers must calculate the value of your case based on the specific circumstances of your case. Factors such as severity of injuries, insurance policy caps, and partial fault can increase or decrease the outcome of a settlement.
The Time Limit to File a Truck Accident Claim in Nevada
In Nevada, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is 2 years from the date of the accident, according to NRS 11.190. This means that you must restrict all legal actions to this window of time. If you do not file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires, you will be barred from recovering compensation and will have to assume the costs of your damages yourself.
How to Establish Negligence in a Truck Accident
In order to get the compensation you deserve, you will need to demonstrate that the truck driver, trucking company, or another party was negligent. This means that they failed to use reasonable care, and as a result, you were injured. This generally requires demonstrating the four aspects of negligence, which is a requirement in personal injury cases. These four parts include:
- Duty of care: The applicable at-fault party had an obligation to protect others and act in a safe manner at all times.
- Breach of duty: The at-fault party failed to act appropriately or engaged in careless or reckless behavior that contradicted their duty of care.
- Causation: As a direct result of their actions, the at-fault party caused an accident that resulted in the injuries and losses you suffered.
- Damages: The party who is at fault for the accident is expected to pay for the damages they caused and make restitution for their actions.
These steps must be fulfilled before you can recover compensation for your claim. Their purpose is to clearly establish the wrongdoing so there is no doubt about who caused the accident. While there may be times when to litigate and when to settle in truck accident claims, demonstrating the standard of negligence is required regardless of how the case is resolved.
Evidence You Can Use to Support Your Claim
The more evidence you have in your case, the smoother the claim process will go. While the forms of evidence you gathered after the accident are essential for demonstrating and supporting your claim, there are also other types of evidence that can be used in your case.
Below is a closer look at the types of evidence you can use to establish the at-fault party’s liability for the accident:
- The truck driver’s driving record: If the driver has a history of traffic violations, this can be used to show that they were negligent.
- The trucking company’s hiring practices: If the company hired a driver with a history of traffic violations, this can be used to show that they were negligent.
- The truck’s maintenance records: If the truck was not properly maintained, this can be used to show that the trucking company was negligent.
- Eyewitness testimony: If there are witnesses to the accident, their testimony can be used to show what happened.
- Black box data: Many commercial trucks have a “black box” that records data about the truck. This data can be used to show how fast the truck was going, whether or not the brakes were applied, and other important information.
Your lawyer will help you gather this type of evidence to strengthen your case and secure a more favorable outcome. Because much of this information is not directly available to victims, it is essential to work with a Reno truck accident attorney when trying to recover your losses and resolve your claim.
How Truck Drivers Try to Hide Their Wrongdoing in an Accident
After an accident, truck drivers will often try to hide their wrongdoing. They may try to make it seem like the accident was your fault. They may also try to downplay the seriousness of your injuries. The Department of Transportation sets guidelines that truckers and trucking companies need to follow in order to ensure the public’s safety in the trucking industry. Some of these guidelines include:
- Truck drivers must take breaks after driving for a certain number of hours.
- Truck drivers must keep a logbook that tracks their hours of operation. This is one of the most common things in an accident, the truck driver will lie or try to alter their truck driver log.
- Trucking companies must keep records of the truck drivers’ hours of operation.
If a truck driver or trucking company violates these rules, they can be held liable for any accidents that occur as a result. To further exacerbate these problems, the truck driver or the trucking company’s insurance will often use similar tactics to avoid paying you. They may even try to pay you less or deny your claim based on a policy technicality. Lawyers can stand up to these parties and demand better on your behalf.
What Makes Truck Accidents so Complex
Truck accidents are highly complex for many reasons. One of the primary reasons is that multiple parties can be at fault for an accident. Getting to the bottom of who contributed to the accident requires time and investigation, which a lawyer can do efficiently and effectively.
Additionally, these collisions result in more severe injuries. It may not always be clear upfront the full extent of injuries or what care may be required in the short and long-term. This means that victims may have to wait for a period of time before they can accurately determine how much their case is worth.
Truck drivers and trucking companies are also subject to extensive regulations. If they violate any of these rules, they can be penalized for their actions in addition to compensating you for your losses. These are just a few situations that highlight the difference between truck and car accidents. To understand your legal rights, be sure to talk to a lawyer before moving forward.
How a Reno Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help and How
Hiring a lawyer is the wisest decision you can make when dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident. With their expansive knowledge and extensive skills, they know how to stand up to trucking companies, negotiate with insurance companies, advocate for your rights, manage your case, and so much more. They generally recover larger sums of compensation than victims would be able to on their own.
Because we understand the financial stress that comes after a truck accident, Shook & Stone work on a contingency basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case. We know that most people who’ve been injured in a truck crash are unable to work and have many medical bills. We don’t want to add to your financial burden, which is why we only get paid if we are successful in getting you compensation.
Consult Shook & Stone Today About How to Proceed with Your Reno Truck Accident Claim
If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, it is important to hire an experienced Reno truck accident lawyer.
A well-practiced attorney will know how to investigate the accident, gather evidence, and build a strong case. They will also fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact our Reno, NV, office today to schedule a free consultation with our team.
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