Types of Truck Accidents in Las Vegas

No truck accident is ever a good one. However, the extent of an individual’s injuries can vary significantly depending on the type of crash. If you’ve been hurt in a tractor-trailer collision, you need to speak to a lawyer right away.

According to statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Nevada saw a total of 536 crashes involving commercial vehicles in a recent year. Of those accidents, 29 people died and 245 were injured.

Wondering about your legal options after a truck accident in Nevada? Turn to the Las Vegas lawyers at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys. We have combined experience helping victims of truck accidents get the answers, compensation, and justice that they deserve.

Call or contact us for a free initial consultation today.

Common Types of Truck Accidents in Las Vegas

Some of the most frequent types of truck accidents in Las Vegas include:

Jackknife Accidents

A jackknife accident occurs when the back end of the truck’s trailer swings out of line from the cab. This motion causes the connecting point between the cab and trailer to fold at an angle like the blade of a pocket knife.

Jackknife accidents often occur on slippery road surfaces, such as following a rain, snow, or ice storm. Improper braking techniques by the driver or a mechanical failure of the truck’s braking system could also cause a jackknife crash.

These collisions can be particularly devastating because the truck and trailer could sweep across multiple lanes of traffic as the trailer folds in on the cab. Vehicles could also get crushed or pinned between the trailer and cab, causing serious injuries to the occupants.

Rear-End Crashes

In a rear-end crash, the front of a truck collides with the back of another vehicle. Rear-end collisions can cause whiplash, neck, and back injuries for the occupants of the leading vehicle. Rear-end collisions may occur because a truck driver is following too closely or a driver cuts in front of a truck into the truck driver’s front blind spot.

Underride Collisions

An underride collision happens when a vehicle collides and gets trapped under the truck’s trailer. These accidents may happen when a truck tries to change lanes already occupied by another vehicle or when a vehicle rear-ends the back of the trailer.

Many newer trucks are equipped with safety devices to prevent vehicles from getting stuck under trailers. Older trucks without these devices can lead to potentially fatal and brutal traumatic brain injuries.

Defective Equipment Accidents

Faulty trucks or parts sometimes cause truck crashes. Defective equipment accidents commonly arise due to flaws in the braking system, the steering system, the engine, or the throttle assembly. When a defect leads to a mechanical failure on the road, even the safest truck driver may lose control of their rig.

Cargo Spills or Shifts

Truck drivers and freight companies must ensure that cargo loads are properly balanced and secured. This means putting heavier cargo towards the bottom, ensuring that weight is evenly distributed, and securing the load from shifting when the truck is moving. An unbalanced cargo load or a one that shifts during travel can cause a truck accident, particularly when it’s traveling uphill, downhill, or turning corners.

Tire Blowouts

Truck tires take a lot of abuse during their service. Tire defects, inadequate inspections, and bad driving habits can cause tires to fail catastrophically on the road in a blowout or a tread separation. Tire blowouts can cause the driver to lose control of their vehicle and send debris flying in the direction of other motorists. Depending on what caused the blowout, the fault for a tire blowout accident may lie with the truck driver, the trucking company, or the tire manufacturer.

Rollover Accident

A rollover accident occurs when a truck tips over onto its side. In an especially forceful accident, a truck may even flip onto its roof or tumble. Rollover accidents may be caused by unbalanced or unsecured cargo loads, tire blowouts, brake failures, or improper and unsafe maneuvers. Rollover accidents can prove especially dangerous to vehicles in the adjacent lane.

Wide Turns

In narrow intersections, truck drivers must swing widely to complete a right turn without clipping the curb. This maneuver can catch other motorists by surprise, including drivers in the adjacent left lane that may not expect the truck to veer suddenly into their lane. Drivers in opposing lanes of traffic may be surprised to see the cab of a truck directly in front of them. Wide-turn accidents often happen when drivers fail to ensure that their path is clear of traffic before making the turn.

Head-on Collisions

A head-on collision is one of the deadliest types of truck accidents. Also called a front-end accident, these crashes can occur when a truck veers into an oncoming lane during a turn, when a driver fails to yield to opposing traffic, or when a truck driver travels the wrong way down a one-way street. Any of these maneuvers can result in catastrophic injuries and deaths.

T-bone Accidents

In a T-bone accident, the front of a truck cab collides with the side of another vehicle. At the point of impact, the two vehicles form a “T” shape, giving this type of collision its name. T-bone accidents frequently occur in intersections when a truck driver fails to yield to traffic while making a left turn or when a truck driver runs a red light or stop sign.

Side-impact Crashes

A side-impact accident, sometimes called a sideswipe, occurs when the side of a truck collides with the side of another vehicle. Side-impact accidents often occur when a truck driver changes lanes without signaling or checking their mirrors and blind spots. Sideswipes can also happen if a trucker drifts out of their lane due to distracted driving, drunk driving, or drowsy driving. These crashes are especially dangerous because not all vehicles are equipped with side airbags. With less metal to protect occupants from the force of impact, people sideswiped by trucks are susceptible to severe chest and head damage.

Poor Maintenance

Some mechanical failures are due to design and manufacturing defects, but many more can be attributed to the truck driver’s and trucking company’s failure to inspect and maintain the big rig properly. Trucks perform heavy-duty work and require frequent inspections and maintenance to ensure that the vehicle and its parts remain in good condition.

When trucking companies fail to maintain their vehicles, the risk of a mechanical failure on the road increases significantly.

How Can an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Help You?

If you’ve been injured in any type of commercial vehicle crash, a knowledgeable Las Vegas truck accident lawyer from THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys could help you seek compensation by:

• Conducting an independent investigation into the accident to gather the facts rather than rely on what police reports and insurance company reports may say
• Moving quickly to preserve important evidence like driver logs, load manifests, and maintenance records that can show what caused the accident and who might be legally responsible
• Identifying all potential sources of compensation from the insurance providers of every party involved in the crash
• Placing a full and fair value on your case
• Filing your claims for compensation with the applicable insurance company(s)
• Assisting you with issues that arise during your recovery, including helping you access to the medical treatment you need
• Negotiating fiercely for the maximum possible settlement in your case
• Taking your case trial if settlement negotiations break down

Most personal injury cases, including truck accident claims, resolve through settlements. No matter where your case takes you, you can rely on THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys to stand by your side every step of the way. We can guide you through every part of the legal process, always keeping the goal of securing maximum compensation as our priority. Reach out to us online today for a free, no-risk consultation.

We represent truck accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you’ll never pay anything out of pocket for our services. There’s no fee unless we obtain a recovery on your behalf, so there’s literally nothing to lose.

Ready to get started? Call or contact us now.