If you’ve been hurt in a truck crash in Las Vegas, NV, you should talk to a Las Vegas truck accident lawyer from J. Cogburn Law at (727) 747-6000. You could get money for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional losses.
Our legal team can explain your right to compensation. We have represented countless clients hurt in truck accidents in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Call our office to learn more about your legal options during a free consultation.
How J. Cogburn Law Can Help After a Semi-Truck Accident In Las Vegas, NV
The Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at J. Cogburn Law will help you get paid after a truck accident. Our team has represented injured people since 2005 across Nevada. We know what you deserve and how to get it.
When you hire our law firm after a truck accident, we will:
- Investigate the crash
- Collect evidence
- Consult with expert witnesses
- Calculate your damages
- File insurance claims
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Protect you from unfair blame
If we can’t settle the case for a fair amount, we will file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. Our lawyers will stand beside you at every court hearing and fight to enforce your legal rights.
Call our office to schedule a free consultation with a truck accident attorney in Las Vegas today.
How Common Are Truck Accidents In Las Vegas
Nevada has a significant trucking industry. The proximity to the West Coast and access to several interstates means it operates as a popular thoroughfare for goods across the United States. Naturally, the number of trucks correlates to the frequency of truck accidents.
In 2021, there were 61 large truck fatalities across the state of Nevada. 72% of the deaths were to occupants of another vehicle that collided with the truck. This makes sense when considering the size and force of a large truck in comparison to the average car.
Furthermore, there is a lot of development happening in the Las Vegas area. This development brings large trucks off the highways and into the city, which in turn increases the likelihood of truck accidents in the area.
What Are the Most Common Types of Commercial Truck Accidents?
A few types of commercial truck accidents in Las Vegas occur especially often. These include the following:
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Rollover Accidents – When a large truck is traveling too fast or takes a turn improperly, severe damage and injuries can occur. These crashes also often involve multiple vehicles in addition to the truck itself.
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Blind Spot Accidents – Commercial trucks have much larger blind spots than cars and other similar-sized motor vehicles.
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Rear-End Accidents – This type of collision is relatively common because trucks can’t come to a stop as quickly as smaller vehicles can. Although rear-end crashes aren’t usually the most severe, they can be much more so when a truck is involved.
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Jackknife Accidents – A jackknife accident is when a truck towing a trailer folds such that it resembles a pocket knife. This type of collision often leads to life-changing injuries and damages.
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Tire Blowouts – Since commercial motor vehicles can weigh so much, extra strain is put on their tires. Without proper and consistent maintenance, a tire blowout can occur, possibly resulting in a crash with another motorist.
No matter the type of truck accident you’ve been involved in, you may be owed compensation. Contact our experienced Las Vegas truck accident attorneys for help today.
What Is My Las Vegas Truck Accident Case Worth?
Each truck accident case has a different value. Your case is worth the total of your damages.
Usually, people with life-altering or permanent injuries will have a higher case value than those with minor injuries. Similarly, wrongful death cases tend to be worth the most money.
When considering your case value, you should ask the following questions:
- Do I have permanent or disabling injuries?
- Were my injuries, or was my recovery period, physically painful?
- How expensive are my medical bills?
- Will I need ongoing treatment or rehabilitation in the future?
- Do my injuries affect my quality and overall enjoyment of life?
- Am I unable to work or earn the same level of income because of my injuries?
- Do I have emotional trauma or a mental illness caused by the accident?
- Is there property damage from the crash?
Ultimately, the overall impact of the accident and injury on your life will dictate your case value.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims?
At a minimum, truck accident victims can expect to recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are also known as actual financial losses. These include future expenses that are reasonably likely as well.
Economic damages may include:
- Emergency medical bills
- Cost of ongoing medical treatment
- Surgery costs
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Transportation to and from the doctor
- Property damage
- Lost wages (past and future)
- Lost earning capacity
On the other hand, non-economic damages are non-financial losses. These losses are not as easy to calculate.
Non-economic damages often include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Trauma associated with the crash
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Mental illness
- Permanent disfigurement
A lawyer can help you calculate your non-economic damages. There are different methods used by different courts. One of the most common methods is the multiplier method. This requires multiplying your economic damages by a number representing the accident’s severity and your injuries.
Punitive Damages
In rare cases, you may be entitled to punitive damages after a truck accident. You must prove this by clear and convincing evidence, which is a high bar.
Punitive damages are only available if you prove that the defendant acted:
- Maliciously
- Fraudulently, or
- With intent to injure the victim
A personal injury lawyer will assess if you are entitled to punitive damages in addition to the other types of damages.
How Can a Las Vegas Commercial Truck Accident Attorney Help Me?
When you hire a Las Vegas commercial truck accident lawyer, their main objective is to get as much compensation for you as they can. Because of the contingency fee payment structure, the more money you get, the more money your lawyer does as well. A few benefits of hiring an attorney include:
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Truck accident cases can be relatively complex, as you may be able to file a claim against the trucking company or its insurer. An experienced attorney can assist you in taking your best course of action.
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A lawyer can hire professional, expert help on your behalf to help strengthen or prove your case. For example, an accident reconstructionist can help pinpoint the cause of the crash and establish liability.
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An attorney can respond to accusations of contributory fault effectively. If these allegations succeed, you could end up with less compensation or even none at all under state law.
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You deserve to rest and focus on your medical recovery. In that time, your truck accident lawyer can handle every aspect of your legal claim.
For more information on how an attorney can help with your case, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Truck Accident In Nevada?
Yes. In most cases, you can recover compensation if you are getting blamed for causing a truck accident. However, you need to be 50% or less responsible. If you are 51% or more responsible, then you cannot recover any money.
If you are 50% or less responsible, you can recover money proportionate to the defendant’s share of responsibility. So, for example, if you are 30% responsible and the defendant is 70% responsible, you will get 70% of the damages.
This law is called comparative fault. While it is helpful for plaintiffs who are partially to blame, it is always best to avoid blame entirely. Hiring a lawyer soon after a truck crash is one of the best ways that you can protect yourself from misplaced blame.
What Are Common Injuries From Commercial Truck Accidents?
Our truck accident lawyers have seen it all. We will fight for you to recover compensation for any type of injury.
In our experience, some of the most common injuries are:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Crush injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Broken or fractured bones
- Whiplash
- Back and neck injuries
We can help you even if you have a complex or catastrophic injury. Our attorneys will meticulously review your medical records and consult with medical experts when necessary to fully understand your injury and prognosis.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas?
Many clients are surprised to learn that truck accident lawyers are affordable. Unlike other types of lawyers who charge by the hour, we charge a contingency fee.
A contingency fee is an arrangement where the lawyer takes a percentage of the final damages. The percentage is agreed upon at the beginning of representation. It will vary depending on the type of work that needs to be done on the case.
A contingency fee is great for clients who cannot afford to hire a lawyer out of pocket. The fee is always tied to the damages, so they don’t need to worry about being unable to pay at the end of the case. Furthermore, if they lose the case, they don’t need to pay the lawyer anything at all.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents?
Truck driver errors cause many truck accidents in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Some of the most common errors include:
- Blind spots
- Fatigued or drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Following too close
- Unsafe lane changes
- Sharp turns
- Improper loading
- Improper truck maintenance
Sometimes, truck crashes in Las Vegas are also caused by other factors, including a lack of visibility due to dust or obstructions in the road.
If you aren’t sure why the accident happened, we will investigate it on your behalf. This investigation may turn up evidence that will support your claim and help you recover full damages.
Truck Accidents FAQs
What Should I Do After Being Involved in a Truck Accident?
There are a few important “do’s and dont’s” to remember in the aftermath of a truck accident. These include:
- Call 911 and report the crash to the police and other personnel, such as emergency medical professionals. This step is required by Nevada law for many accidents, and a police report can help with your claim.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver (or drivers) involved in the crash. However, be careful not to apologize or accept any blame for the accident – doing so could hurt your claim.
- Receive medical treatment, whether or not you have a clear injury. Not all injuries will present symptoms immediately, and medical records can serve as crucial evidence.
- Collect evidence from the accident scene if it’s safe. For instance, you might take photos and videos of your damages, as well as getting information from any eyewitnesses.
From there, set up a free consultation with an attorney as soon as possible. During that meeting, you can receive some initial legal advice about your best next steps.
Who is at Fault in a Truck Accident?
It can be difficult to determine who is at fault for your accident involving a commercial truck. A truck accident attorney from J. Cogburn Law can assist you in mapping out your legal strategy moving forward against the negligent parties. These policies may include:
- Maintenance contractors. Liable for faulty equipment, service lapses, and unsatisfactory repairs.
- Truck drivers. Liable for careless, impaired, or negligent behavior.
- Trucking companies. Liable for lack of training, supervision, or safety standards for drivers.
Why is Choosing the Right Truck Accident Attorney important?
Most truck accident cases revolve around proving that a truck driver or a trucking company was negligent.
There are four elements to any negligence claim. Each element must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence. That means that it is more likely than not the case. If you fail to prove even one element, then you will lose your case.
Duty
You must show that the defendant owed you a duty of care. Everyone, including truck drivers and trucking companies, must protect the public from reasonably foreseeable risks.
This doesn’t mean that they can’t make a mistake. Rather, they must take precautions to ensure their behavior doesn’t endanger others.
For example, you might argue that a trucking company must regularly maintain their truck brakes so that they don’t fail and cause an accident.
Breach
A defendant breaches their duty when they fail to use reasonable care or act as an ordinary person would in the same situation.
For example, if the trucking company doesn’t properly maintain its truck brakes or never checks the brakes in the first place, this could be a breach.
Causation
You must also show that the breach caused your damages. For example, the accident was caused by the truck brakes failing.
Damages
Finally, you need to prove that you suffered from damages. This can include economic and non-economic damages. You must have evidence to support your request for damages.
What Is Considered A Large Truck?
Many different vehicles may be considered large trucks. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Big rigs, 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and other similar vehicles
- Delivery and mail trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Cement trucks and other similar construction-related vehicles
- Certain kinds of busses and vans
Broadly speaking, most trucks that are larger than passenger automobiles may fit under this category. If you’re not sure whether you have a valid truck accident claim, we encourage you to reach out to us for a free case review.
How Are Truck Accidents and Injuries Investigated?
Truck accidents usually require extensive investigatory work, as often multiple parties are involved in the matter. These parties may include the trucking company, the police, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), insurance companies, your lawyer, and more.
Some of the factors and items that may be assessed during the investigation include:
- The cause of the crash
- Surveillance camera footage, if available
- Who is at fault for the collision
- Data from the truck’s “black box”
- Road and weather conditions
- Eyewitness accounts
When our legal team investigates a truck crash, our primary objectives include establishing liability as well as evaluating all of the damages you’ve sustained.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Nevada?
In Nevada, you typically have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you fail to bring your truck accident case before the statute of limitations expires, you will be barred from recovering damages.
Contact Our Las Vegas Truck Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation
If you’re ready to learn more about your legal options after a truck accident, call our Las Vegas truck accident lawyers at J. Cogburn Law. We will schedule a free consultation where you can ask your questions and discuss the details of your Las Vegas, NV, case.