Las Vegas Truck Accident Lawyers – Peralta & Plank

Protecting Your Rights After a Serious Collision With a Commercial Vehicle

Collisions involving large commercial trucks, from box trucks and delivery vans to tractor-trailers, can have devastating consequences. Due to their immense size and weight, 18-wheelers especially can cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities when they collide with smaller passenger vehicles. At Peralta & Plank, we are dedicated to helping truck accident victims in Las Vegas and surrounding areas seek justice and fair compensation after these complex and catastrophic tragedies on the road.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents often occur due to negligence on the part of the truck driver, trucking company, or other parties such as freight shippers. Some of the leading causes of truck crashes include:

Driver Fatigue – Truckers often work long, grueling hours, and fatigue is a leading factor in truck crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established Hours of Service (HOS) regulations to limit driving hours, but these rules still allow for punishing schedules. Some drivers even violate these regulations, driving longer than permitted and increasing the risk of dangerous fatigue-related accidents.
Truck Driver Error – Truck drivers are prone to all the same mistakes other drivers make, but the stakes are higher and the consequences more severe. Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, following too close, unsafe lane changes and other reckless maneuvers can all lead to serious truck crashes.
Lack of Maintenance – Trucking companies and drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy. Brake failures, tire blowouts, and other mechanical failures can result in catastrophic crashes when trucks are not properly maintained. When safety agencies conduct annual roadside inspections, they routinely pull over 20% of trucks out of service due to serious safety concerns.
Negligent Cargo Loading – Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo can cause a truck to become unstable, leading to rollovers, jackknife accidents, or cargo spills that endanger other motorists.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?

Truck accident cases can be complex because multiple parties may be responsible, creating a complicated scenario for accident victims. Identifying the cause of the crash and the responsible party or parties is a crucial step to recovering compensation, and having an attorney with the experience, skills and resources to handle this process is key. Some of the parties potentially liable in a truck accident include:

The Truck Driver – If the driver was fatigued, distracted, impaired, or otherwise negligent, they can be held liable.
The Trucking Company – Employers may be responsible for inadequate training, negligent hiring, pushing drivers to exceed hours of service limits, or failing to maintain their fleet.
The Cargo Loading Company – If cargo was loaded improperly and contributed to the accident, a third-party loading company may be at fault.
Truck Manufacturers and Maintenance Providers – If a mechanical failure caused the accident due to defective parts or negligent maintenance, the manufacturer or service provider may be responsible.

FMCSA Hours of Service Regulations – Are They Enough?

The FMCSA has enacted Hours of Service (HOS) regulations to prevent driver fatigue, but these rules still allow for long, grueling shifts. Under federal law:

Truckers can drive up to 11 hours after taking 10 consecutive hours off-duty.
Drivers can work a total of 14 hours in a shift, including non-driving tasks such as loading and inspections.
Truckers can drive for eight hours straight before taking a 30-minute break.
A truck driver’s workweek can go for 60 hours over seven consecutive days or 70 hours over eight consecutive days until the driver must take 32 hours off before restarting.

Despite these regulations, the trucking industry pushes drivers to meet tight deadlines, and some truckers violate these limits to maximize earnings. Driving beyond legal limits (or even within them!) can lead to fatigue, delayed reaction times, and devastating accidents.

Types of Accidents Unique to Big Rigs

Due to their unique structure and size, large semi-trucks can be involved in specific types of crashes that do not typically occur with passenger vehicles. These include the following:

Override Accidents – When a truck runs over the rear of a smaller vehicle, often leading to fatal injuries.
Underride Accidents – When a smaller vehicle slides underneath the back or side of a truck, often causing catastrophic injuries or death.
Jackknife Accidents – When a truck’s trailer swings out at an acute angle, potentially sweeping across multiple lanes and causing multi-vehicle crashes.
Rollover Accidents – When a truck tips over due to speed, improper cargo loading, or loss of control, endangering everyone in its path.

Get the Legal Help You Need After a Truck Accident in Las Vegas

Truck accident cases require thorough investigation, aggressive legal representation, and a deep understanding of trucking regulations. At Peralta & Plank, we have the experience and dedication needed to hold negligent truck drivers and trucking companies accountable.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident in Las Vegas, Paradise, Henderson, or surrounding areas, contact us today for a free consultation. We will fight for your rights and work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve. Call now or fill out our online form to get started. No fee until we win your case.