Truck accidents nearly always end catastrophically. Large commercial rigs, or semi-trailer trucks, haul cargo with such an immense weight that smaller cars hit by them are left mangled and destroyed. The sheer force that these trucks have is truly massive. In many cases, cars are thrown off the road, flipped over, pinned under the truck, or pushed into oncoming lanes of traffic. Drivers of trucks typically walk away, with minimal to no injury while the victims in the passenger automobiles suffer immense personal injury. Sadly, a large number of truck accidents cause the wrongful death of occupants of passenger cars. While the first thing a victim injured in a truck accident should do is seek the appropriate medical care, the next thing should be contacting an experienced Las Vegas truck accident attorney.
Data and Negligence
According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, the number of truck accidents rose 38.2% from 2001 (3,454) – 2003 (5,596). Many of these accidents stem from truckers making illegal turns, following too closely, failing to yield, driver fatigue, and speeding. Commercial trucks have larger blind spots than smaller cars, often causing the truck driver to simply not see a motorcycle or passenger car before they turn into them. All of these practices are considered negligent and can be grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death claim for the victims involved. A knowledgeable Las Vegas truck accident attorney will be able to evaluate your case and make a claim for compensation if negligence is found.
Insurance
After you experience an accident, you will be contacted by the insurance company backing the truck driver. It is in your best interest to politely deny any communication with these representatives without a Las Vegas truck accident attorney present. Insurance companies try to contact victims to offer quick, minimal payouts and to try and get further information. Although they may say they just want your side of the story, they’re really trying to gather information to use against you at a later date. These companies are in the business to make money, not to pay it out. Having the right Las Vegas truck accident attorney on your side can make a huge difference in the compensation you may be awarded.