When accidents happen, the consequences can change life forever. But not all car accidents are the same. Truck accidents present very unique challenges and considerations that separate them from usual car crashes. If you or a loved one are recovering from a wreck, you might be looking for a truck accident attorney in Las Vegas to help.
The Scale of Damage is Different
Your average passenger vehicle could weigh about 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. A commercial truck, however, may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, if not more, when fully loaded. Needless to say, this size disparity results in severe damage in most accident cases. If you’ve seen photos or videos of accident sites, you’ve likely seen at least one badly mangled car or jackknifed trailer. The latter can be especially devastating when the trailer sits across multiple lanes and leads to a chain reaction pile-up of other vehicles.
Liability is More Complicated
Car crashes result when two drivers make an error on the road, but multi-level liability could exist with truck crashes. The driver may have made a mistake, but so could the trucking company, a manufacturer, or perhaps even an independent contractor who loaded the cargo. Determining who is liable requires knowledge of the FMCSA and the trucking industry in general.
Trucking companies have a staff of lawyers and insurance agents, and they work proactively to reduce their responsibility, which may put wreck victims at a disadvantage. This is where an attorney specializing in truck accidents comes into play. Working with a lawyer can help to level the playing field.
Trucking Regulations Play a Huge Role
Trucking accident claims are not your garden-variety motor vehicle crash case where your neighbor’s cousin who deals with divorces can handle your claim. Truck accidents require expertise, and an attorney with experience in this area will be able to retrieve the black box data for the truck, the vehicle operator’s log, the maintenance logs, and other data not only to show the driver’s negligence but also that the insurer may have violated regulations as well, which can all be factored into the dollar value of the case to ensure maximal compensation for your injuries and losses.
Most auto accidents are relatively simple in that the police come, take their statements and whatever information they need, and write a case report. Most trucking accidents, however, are nothing like this. They require a very detailed investigation, as evidence must be gathered from the vehicle’s electronic logging device (ELD), security cameras, as well as from the witness at the scene.
Insurance Companies Fight Harder in Truck Accident Cases
In some cases, accident reconstruction specialists must sample skid marks, damage to the vehicle, and other physical evidence of the accident. This investigation takes time and, if done properly, can establish negligence better than anything else.
The Investigation Process is More Intensive
Representing clients in a truck accident claim means having an advocate who knows how to work the legal system, knows how to argue for the greatest amount of rightful compensation given your injuries, and does not mind taking on the big trucking companies who are trying to push you around. Your attorney can negotiate a settlement or take your lawsuit to court, but having the right attorney with the experience to win can make a big difference in your case. You need someone who knows how to win cases and file lawsuits on behalf of their injured clients, and only a dedicated Las Vegas truck accident attorney is that person.
Why Legal Help is Essential
In the aftermath of a truck accident, you just need to get better. But with bills piling up, you are forced to deal with the insurance process that has turned into a fight. Even normal auto accidents are traumatizing. But dealing with a trucking company, and an insurance company with seemingly unlimited funds can feel impossible.
Trust someone to walk through the process with you, who knows the law, how the other side will try not to pay you, and who won’t let them get away with it. An attorney can make a big difference in what kind of offer you get for a settlement, or whether your case has to go to trial.
Of course, you may never feel “good” after a truck accident. But your life doesn’t have to be totally derailed.
