After suffering a truck accident in the Silver State, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the trucking company. A Las Vegas truck accident lawyer from Battle Born Injury Lawyers can help you pursue those damages while you focus on recovery.
Truck accidents can happen for many reasons, including careless truck operation, lost loads, and equipment faults. While not the most common type of collision, sudden stop truck accidents in Las Vegas, Nevada, pose a significant risk to drivers due to the possibility of an underrun collision. If you’ve been injured, contact our Las Vegas sudden stop truck accident lawyers today at 702-297-7164 for a free consultation.
How Battle Born Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Sudden Stop Truck Accident in Las Vegas, NV
For over a decade, Battle Born Injury Lawyers has protected the rights of injured people throughout Las Vegas, NV, as they face at-fault parties and their insurers. We have over 85 years of combined legal experience and have successfully recovered over $100 million in injury compensation for our clients.
Some of the key services we provide to crash victims after a collision include:
- Assessing the details of your accident and discussing possible legal claims
- Preparing your case by gathering records and evidence
- Filing an insurance claim and negotiating for a fair settlement
- Taking the at-fault trucking company to court if the insurer refuses to pay your claim
Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Las Vegas truck accident attorney from our seasoned team to explore your options today.
Causes of Sudden Stop Truck Accidents in Las Vegas
Trucks may suddenly stop for many reasons. Importantly, many of these reasons may occur due to the trucking company’s carelessness. As a result, the company may be responsible for the crash victim’s injuries.
Common causes of sudden stop collisions include:
Careless Driving
Rear-end collisions often happen in Nevada when the trailing vehicle follows the leading vehicle too closely. The driver of the rear vehicle must follow at a safe distance. When they tailgate, they cannot stop in time to avoid a collision.
However, the driver of the front vehicle may be responsible if they cut off the rear vehicle, leaving it without enough space to stop safely. For example, suppose a truck driver overtakes a vehicle unsafely by changing lanes before it has created enough space. If the truck suddenly stops, the rear vehicle can crash into it, and the fault will likely lie with the truck driver.
Broken Brake Lights
In some cases, the rear driver might not be aware that the truck is slowing or stopping because of non-functional brake lights. For instance, a driver might not connect the trailer correctly, the bulbs might burn out, or the trailer may have a short circuit. In these circumstances, trucking companies may be liable because of improper safety inspections, maintenance, or repairs.
Because of their weight, tractor-trailers need much more braking distance than smaller, lighter automobiles. As a result, the trailer’s brake lights provide critical information to drivers behind the truck to start braking to avoid a rear-end crash.
Injuries From Sudden Stop Truck Crashes
Sudden stop truck accidents may result in serious or even fatal injuries. While the vehicles are traveling in the same direction, the mass of the tractor-trailer can make it seem like the car is slamming into a fixed object. This means the occupants may suffer whiplash and concussions as their bodies whip around during the collision.
Worse yet, a rear-end collision with a trailer can lead to an underrun. This collision happens when the car slips under the floor of the trailer, and the trailer may then tear into the windshield and shear off the automobile’s roof.
Liability for Las Vegas Sudden Stop Truck Collisions
The liability for truck accidents depends on negligence. The negligence leading to a truck collision may arise from the truck driver’s carelessness. For example, a driver might be speeding when a traffic light changes to yellow or red. The sudden stop by the truck may cause you to rear-end the trailer.
In this case, the trucking company may be vicariously liable for its employee’s actions. Specifically, employers are liable for acts performed by their employees in the course and scope of their job duties.
Additionally, trucking companies are liable for their own negligence. If a trailer has a broken underrun bar and the trucking company fails to exercise reasonable care in finding and fixing the broken equipment, it may be liable when a sudden truck stop causes an underrun collision.
Contact Our Las Vegas Sudden Stop Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Sudden stop truck crashes in Las Vegas can result in catastrophic injuries. If you’re facing mounting medical bills and lost wages after getting hurt in one of these crashes, contact Battle Born Injury Lawyers today to schedule a consultation with a Las Vegas sudden stop truck accident attorney.
