Large trucks such as tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers pose numerous risks to other motor vehicle operators in Las Vegas. One risk is the potential for underride accidents, where a smaller motor vehicle slides beneath the trailer of a large truck.
These accidents can be catastrophic, as they may result in severe head, neck or spine injuries for those in the car. Victims involved in underride truck accidents may be eligible for financial compensation.
What Are Underride Truck Accidents?
An underride truck accident describes a collision between a semi-truck and a standard passenger vehicle where the latter slides or gets wedged underneath the trailer of the truck. The height difference between the average car and a trailer can result in these accidents, especially in a crash such as a rear-end collision. Side underride accidents can also occur if a car collides with the side of the trailer.
Underride truck accidents are extremely dangerous, as they involve a small car in a highly vulnerable position. When a car goes beneath a truck’s trailer, the top of the car can get crushed or sheared off. This can lead to severe injuries to the vehicle’s occupants – especially to their heads, necks and upper bodies. Sadly, underride accidents are often fatal for those in the passenger cars.
Legal Challenges in Las Vegas Underride Accident Cases
In Nevada, the person responsible (liable) for paying for an automobile accident is the one most at fault for the collision. This is how Nevada’s fault-based insurance system works. It is up to the injured victim to prove fault using clear and convincing evidence. Unlike a typical car accident case, however, a truck accident can involve complex issues of liability.
Rather than only involving the other driver, a truck underride crash may point to the fault of a trucking company, cargo company, truck manufacturer, maintenance crew and various other parties. You may need an experienced truck accident attorney in Las Vegas to investigate your underride crash and determine who is at fault.
How a Specialized Underride Accident Attorney Can Help
If you get hurt in an underride truck accident in Las Vegas, an attorney with experience handling these cases can help you secure justice by thoroughly investigating the crash, searching for and preserving evidence, navigating state and federal trucking regulations, and negotiating a fair settlement with an insurance provider on your behalf. A lawyer will work for you – no one else. You can trust your attorney to advocate for your best interests while you focus on healing.
Compensation for Underride Accident Victims
If you qualify for financial compensation for an underride trucking accident in Las Vegas, you could receive payment for many past and future related losses. These include:
- Medical expenses, hospital bills and future care
- Lost income and earning capacity
- Property damage repairs or replacement
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- The wrongful death of a loved one, if applicable
Don’t accept an auto insurance settlement without first speaking to an attorney. A lawyer will give you an accurate determination of how much your underride accident case is worth.
Taking Action After an Underride Accident
If you get involved in an underride truck accident in Las Vegas, you don’t have to handle the legal process alone. You have the right to hire a truck accident lawyer to represent you during insurance settlement negotiations or a personal injury trial.
Start building your claim as soon as possible; ideally, while you’re still at the scene of the truck accident. Obtain a police report and take photos of the crash scene. Get medical care immediately and request copies of your medical records and bills.
Contact an attorney in Las Vegas as soon as possible for a consultation about your case. Nevada law gives you no more than two years to take legal action. Speaking to an attorney right away can protect your rights.