Truck Accidents
Every year, everywhere in the United States, thousands are killed or injured in truck accidents. It is true that trucks play a major role in the American economy but when they do figure in an accident, the damage they cause to life and property is very severe, even catastrophic. In a collision between an 18-wheeler, a semi-trailer or a tractor-trailer, on one hand, and a sedan, or a station wagon, or a van or SUV on the other, it is almost always the driver and/or passengers of the smaller vehicle who get hurt or killed.
In Nevada, where many trucks come and go on a daily basis, accidents involving them are not uncommon. When faced with a truck accident in Las Vegas, the injured party should get in touch with a Personal Injury Lawyer who has specialized in the legal proceedings pertaining to these types of accidents. Accidents involving 18-wheelers in particular require that your lawyer has some deep familiarization with various local, state and federal laws and regulations governing the trucking industry.
Trucks are much harder to navigate than smaller vehicles. An 18-wheeler is at least 70 feet long and weighs at least 80,000 pounds. The time it takes them to stop is about 40% longer than that for cars. Semi-trailers and tractor-trailers on the other hand are prone to “jackknifing” and “fish-tailing” which are just as dangerous on a crowded road.
In Nevada, where many trucks come and go on a daily basis, accidents involving them are not uncommon. When faced with a truck accident in Las Vegas, the injured party should get in touch with a Personal Injury Lawyer who has specialized in the legal proceedings pertaining to these types of accidents. Accidents involving 18-wheelers in particular require that your lawyer has some deep familiarization with various local, state and federal laws and regulations governing the trucking industry.
Usual Causes of Truck Accidents
Truck drivers have more and bigger blind spots than drivers of smaller vehicles. This means that a vehicle moving within a blind spot cannot be seen by the truck driver. This often leads to collision and accidents. Most truck drivers also usually operate with judgment and senses that have been impaired by fatigue and lack of sleep. Some may also be driving under the influence of liquor or drugs.Trucks are much harder to navigate than smaller vehicles. An 18-wheeler is at least 70 feet long and weighs at least 80,000 pounds. The time it takes them to stop is about 40% longer than that for cars. Semi-trailers and tractor-trailers on the other hand are prone to “jackknifing” and “fish-tailing” which are just as dangerous on a crowded road.
Common Types of Truck Accidents in Nevada
In about one-quarter of accidents involving trucks, a truck hits the back end of a non-truck, or a non-truck hits the back of a truck, or one truck hits another truck from behind. Other common scenarios for large truck accidents in the Las Vegas area are categorized by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as:- Truck ran of road/ out of lane
- Sideswipes
- Rollovers
- Turning across path/into path
- Intersecting vehicles, straight paths
- Head-on collisions
- it object in road
- No impact (fire, jackknife, other)
- Backing into other vehicle