Reno Truck Accident Attorney
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recorded nearly 160,000 commercial truck accidents in the U.S. in 2023, which resulted in 75,000 injuries and 5,000 deaths.
Truck accidents can be devastating, often resulting in serious injuries, significant property damage, and emotional trauma. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident in Reno, finding the right legal representation is crucial.
A skilled Reno truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of personal injury law, ensure you receive fair compensation, and support you through every step of the legal process. If you’re looking for this kind of help after a trucking collision, contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation.
The Impact of Large Truck Crashes
Disabling injuries and fatalities are common when large truck accidents happen due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles.
When fully loaded, these trucks typically weigh about 80,000 pounds. While this is generally considered the maximum allowable weight for semi-trucks in the U.S., those with indivisible loads can weigh much more.
Trucks carrying housing units or heavy equipment sometimes weigh more than 250,000 pounds.
With such immense weight, trucks traveling at highway speeds deliver unimaginable force upon impact. Since smaller passenger vehicles weighing between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds on average are no match for these massive trucks, drivers and passengers of other vehicles are usually the ones who suffer the most.
Approximately 82% of those who die in truck accidents are either pedestrians or passengers of other vehicles.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Facts 2022 bulletin, 70% of vehicle occupants killed in crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle were occupants of the other automobile. Truck crashes took the lives of 5,936 people in the United States in 2022. Another 160,609 people were severely injured.
For victims who survived, reconstructive surgeries, physical rehabilitation, long-term medical treatment, and permanent disabilities became a way of life.
Trucker Negligence Is a Major Factor in Trucking Crashes in Washoe County
It takes special training, skill, and focus to operate large trucks safely on Nevada roadways.
Unfortunately, many truckers who maneuver their semis along I-80 and other highways in Reno have often been driving for long hours, are unfamiliar with the area, and may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
A 2018 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study outlined how 19% of commercial truck drivers reported binge drinking (more than four drinks in a short period), while 9.4% of the drivers admitted to consuming alcohol daily.
The truck driver shortage means many of these drivers are inexperienced or lack adequate training.
Other factors that our firm’s Reno truck accident lawyer often finds are contributing factors resulting in tractor-trailer crashes include:
Poor Decisions
Speeding, driving too fast for conditions, aggressive driving, operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or making illegal maneuvers were common culprits.
Lack of Focus
Internal and external driving distractions, lax surveillance, and just plain inattentive driving cause Reno truck wrecks. Since it takes about 525 feet for a fully loaded semi to stop after traveling 65 mph., even a few seconds of distraction or inattention can be deadly.
Performance Issues
Overcompensation, driver hesitation, and other skill-related issues account for many crashes as well. Some of these issues can be linked to poor training, inexperience, or drug or alcohol impairment.
Health and Wellness
Although hours of service regulations are designed to prevent drivers from staying behind the wheel past their limits, some truckers still violate these laws. Under current law, truckers may not drive more than 11 hours in a shift, must rest at least 10 hours between shifts, and cannot drive more than 60 hours in seven days.
Vehicle Condition
Defective parts, poorly maintained trucks, and malfunctioning equipment can contribute to trucking crashes. While trucking companies are typically responsible for maintaining their trucks, truckers who are owner-operators usually maintain their own vehicles. Truckers are also required to inspect their own tractor-trailers before they hit the road.
Whether you believe one of the factors above or something else played a role in causing the tractor-trailer crash that injured you, consider reaching out to our law firm to speak with our Reno truck accident attorney lawyer about causation and your rights in your own case. You can easily connect with us at the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp by using the contact form at the top of this page.
The Negligence of Other Drivers in Truck Crashes in Reno
Drivers of passenger vehicles contribute to a large portion of trucking accidents in Nevada. Common ways motorists play a role in 18-wheeler crashes include:
Driving in “No-Zones”
Truckers can’t see vehicles that are traveling in their blind spots. These “no-zones” are located directly behind and immediately in front of large trucks and on either side of these massive vehicles.
Rule of thumb: If you can’t see the trucker, they probably can’t see you either.
Stopping Too Quickly or Cutting Off a Large Truck
The massive size and weight of commercial trucks make it difficult to maneuver or stop quickly. In many cases, by the time a trucker has a chance to react, apply the brakes, and allow time for the vehicle to stop, it’s already too late.
Risking Involvement in Underride Crashes
When motorists follow trucks too closely or drive distracted, they put themselves and their passengers at risk of suffering serious injuries or death in underride crashes. These accidents are similar to rear-end crashes, except that semi-trucks are so much larger than passenger vehicles that the smaller cars, SUVs, and even smaller trucks can slide underneath the trailer.
Other Common Causes of Truck Accidents
Some other factors that have been linked to the large number of truck accidents in Nevada include:
- Unsafe weather or road conditions
- Unfamiliarity with the roadway
- Inadequate driver training
- Improper loading and securing of loads
- Malfunctioning traffic signals or missing signs
- Poorly designed or maintained roads and bridges
Is Accident Prevention Technology the Answer To Curbing Truck Wrecks?
Despite thousands of deadly crashes, large commercial trucks are not required to be equipped with the newest technology to prevent accidents.
Rear-end crash avoidance technology, lane departure warning systems, side blind-zone and lane change alerts, forward collision alerts, and pedestrian avoidance technology are all available. There are also a wide range of apps that do things like remind truckers about required maintenance, monitor trucker fatigue, and even alert drivers to their own dangerous behaviors.
The sad fact is that these tools are rarely used by commercial trucking fleets. If the trucking industry would equip their trucks with just some of the in-vehicle safety tools available, it could significantly reduce the number of commercial truck accidents that injure or kill people on our roads.
Unfortunately, these companies cannot be held liable when they don’t equip their trucks with technology that isn’t yet required.
As a result, advocates continue to plead for the implementation of lifesaving laws and regulations that impact technology use in the trucking industry.
Who Is Liable for Truck Accident Injuries in Nevada?
While the first step for a truck accident lawyer in Reno is to determine the cause of the crash, the next step is to decide who should take the blame. Determining liability after a big rig collision is often more complicated than deciding who is liable for any other type of wreck.
Since so many factors can result in truck accidents, liability for injuries may not always be obvious.
A Reno truck accident attorney will investigate every avenue of liability to ensure that every party responsible for your injuries or losses is held accountable.
Some entities who may have contributed to your crash include:
- Truck mechanics and contracted maintenance teams can be held liable for injuries when they fail to make safe repairs to large trucks. When brake failures, bald tires, and other improperly maintained truck parts can be traced back to the mechanic, he or his employer may be liable for negligence.
- Loaders and staff who improperly load a commercial truck can be held liable for your losses when they don’t properly balance loads, overload trucks, or don’t adequately secure loads on the trailer. Sometimes, loaders are the truckers themselves or employees of the trucking company. Other times, they may be employees of the product manufacturer or distribution center. Sometimes, they’re hired contractors.
- When trucking equipment is defectively designed or faulty, the manufacturer can be held liable if a crash occurs. Defective tires, brakes, and steering components have made headlines for the accidents they have caused in recent years.
- Truckers aren’t always at fault when truck crashes happen. Sometimes, it is another motorist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian who causes a crash. When another driver swerves in front of a truck, stops too fast, or disobeys traffic laws, and a crash occurs, you can file a claim against that party to recover compensation for your injuries. Likewise, when a distracted pedestrian moves into traffic, or a motorcyclist weaves between lanes, they can be held accountable for their actions.
- Government agencies and road crews can be held accountable when roads or bridges are in disrepair, traffic signals don’t work, road signs and guardrails are missing, or other dangerous road conditions exist.
In most truck accident cases, more than one party can be held liable for injuries and fatalities. This is why it can be helpful to have a truck injury attorney involved from the start of your case to ensure that all responsible parties are held financially accountable for their wrongdoing.
Steps To Take After a Trucking Accident
The actions you take directly after a commercial vehicle accident may be critical to your physical and financial recovery. If you are involved in a truck crash, do the following:
- Check for Injuries: Your health and the well-being of other people who were involved in the crash should always be a priority, so make sure everyone is safe. Even if you and the other crash victims feel fine, it’s important to get help on the way immediately. The shock of what just happened can cause your body’s fight or flight response to kick in, and the severity of your injuries may not be apparent. When the ambulance arrives, be sure to get checked over.
- Report the accident to the police: Once police arrive at the scene, they’re going to need to collect information from you if you are in the condition to be interviewed. You should provide the police with factual and accurate information but only disclose necessary information. Never apologize for a crash, exaggerate the details, or tell the officers what you think might have happened. The information you provide may be included in an accident report and can be held against you if your case goes to trial.
- Exchange driver information: You’ll also need to exchange information with the other parties who were involved in the crash. Collect insurance information for all drivers, the names and contact information of anyone involved, including witnesses, and the name of the trucking company. If your condition prevents you from obtaining this information, don’t worry; our accident attorney can retrieve it later when they obtain the police report.
- Collect evidence: Use your smartphone and dashcam to preserve as much of the scene in photos and video. Get images of damages, roads and intersections, and any relevant signage.
- Speak with insurance companies: Insurance company representatives and people from the trucking company will likely try to contact you soon after your accident. They may approach you at the scene, in the hospital, or at your home. They may call you or meet with you in person. They’re not on your side. In fact, your well-being and your financial recovery mean very little to these people. Their concern is the bottom line of the companies they work for, and they will stop at nothing to make sure that’s protected. In many cases, this means twisting the words of victims, hiding evidence, or minimizing injuries. Do not speak with these people until you have contacted a truck accident lawyer in Reno. You are not obligated to make any statements.
Let a Reno Truck Accident Lawyer Help You
Navigating the legal aftermath of a truck accident can be daunting without the guidance of a skilled attorney familiar with handling truck crash cases in Nevada. At the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, we can offer you invaluable support and representation, helping secure for you the rightful compensation you’re due.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Nevada, don’t hesitate to seek our help to fight with you for the justice and compensation you and your family deserve.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a Reno truck accident lawyer who cares and will fight until the bitter end for you.
