In a collision with an 80,000 lb. 18-wheeler, passenger vehicle occupants are likely to suffer serious injuries or death. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a truck accident, contact The Janda Law Firm right away. Our Las Vegas truck accident attorney provides dedicated, personal legal counsel for truck accident victims.
The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks are one reason these accidents often have deadly consequences. While a fully-loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 lbs., the average passenger vehicle weighs only 4,000 lbs. Tractor-trailers are also considerably longer than passenger vehicles, need more room to maneuver, and are prone to jackknifing. They are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in underride accidents with smaller vehicles. Trucks have a longer stopping distance (20% to 40% farther), making it impossible to come to a sudden stop.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted the Large Truck Crash Causation Study to determine the causes of serious crashes involving large commercial trucks. In its Analysis Brief of that study, FMCSA reports that 55% of large trucks involved in crashes were assigned the critical reason for the crash. The top ten crash factors associated with large trucks and their drivers were:
Truck accidents are complex cases involving state and federal regulations and multiple potentially liable parties. If the truck driver caused the accident, and the driver was an employee, the trucking company may be liable for your injuries. Other parties who may be responsible include:
A collision with a large commercial truck can cause serious injuries with life-altering consequences. If you have been a victim of a truck accident, contact The Janda Law Firm in Las Vegas to speak with our truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. We can discuss your options under the law.
