Nevada is a top US state with favorable conditions for the trucking industry thanks to good salaries, attractive tax policies, ideal location, and infrastructure with some of the country’s best roads and bridges.
According to the Nevada Trucking Association, 98.3% of all freight transportation in Nevada is carried by trucks.
When big trucks, 18-wheel trucks, or tractor-trailers collide with a car and their passengers, motorcyclists, or pedestrians, the consequences are often severe for these vulnerable road users.
The aftermath of a truck accident in Las Vegas can be complex and confusing. If you’re injured in an accident with a truck, you’ll need extensive medical treatment and long-term care, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And even though the medical insurance will probably cover some of these costs, there may be some major expenses that you’ll have to cover out of pocket. Evidence is the key to collecting the compensation you deserve and need for expensive medical treatments and disabilities that can put you out of work for weeks, months, or even years.
While it is not always possible to gather evidence in the immediate moments after the crash, an experienced Las Vegas truck accident attorney can obtain a lot of valuable information in the days and weeks following the truck accident.
Evidence To Determine Liability And Prove Negligence In Las Vegas Truck Accident
When filing a compensation claim, it is necessary to provide an accurate and complete description of your injuries and any other damages that resulted from the accident. When determining fault and proving negligence, some of the evidence that the truck accident lawyers at Pacific West Injury Law will collect to help our clients prove negligence may include:
Truck Driver’s Information
Seeking information from the truck driver will help you hold the driver accountable for your injuries and damages and also allow us to contact their insurance company and employer. When exchanging information with a truck driver, you should aim to collect the driver’s name, phone number and email address, license plate number, name of Insurer/s, insurance policy number/s, employer’s name and business address, and supervisor’s name and contact information.
The Police Report
The police report is a vital piece of evidence in any accident case. The police report contains a lot of valuable information, including insurance information from the drivers, statements, an assessment of the damages, contributing factors, a diagram of the crash, and reports from witnesses.
Black Box Data
All large commercial trucks in the country come equipped with electronic monitoring devices. These devices, also known as black boxes, are similar to the ones found in airplanes. They record mechanical information regarding speed and RPM, use of brakes, seatbelts status, cruise control status, airbag status, maintenance alerts, and hours of service log.
This information can prove helpful when determining if the truck driver and trucking company violated any rules and regulations of The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Car Dash Cam And Surveillance Camera Footage
The footage from the dash cam and CCTV cameras can help determine if the truck driver failed to take any action/s to avoid the accident. It can give insights into whether the driver was distracted during the accident.
Photographs Of The Crash Site
Any pictures of the accident scene can be helpful when establishing liability and proving negligence. These pictures may include skid marks, damage to vehicles involved in the crash, and road debris. The more photographs you have of the impact, the easier it will be to determine who was responsible.
Repair, Maintenance, And Inspection Records
Many trucking companies cut corners to maximize profits when maintaining and repairing their fleet. If the trucking maintenance records show negligence in keeping the truck safely, we will use this to hold the trucking company liable.
Expert Witness Testimony
The trucking company and its insurer may try to shift the blame on you for the accident. When this occurs, we can use expert testimony to help establish negligence and prove who is truly to blame. Thanks to our substantial experience in Las Vegas accident cases, we have access to a network of experts which includes accident reconstruction experts, rules compliance/ safety experts, driver training (trucking school) experts, mechanics and engineers, experts from various areas of medicine, life care planners, and toxicology experts.
Other Types Of Evidence To Prove Liability
At Pacific West Injury Law, our Las Vegas truck accident lawyers will go the extra mile to compile and analyze evidence such as the truck driver’s toxicology test results, criminal and traffic background, if any, the trucking company’s logbook, other company records, and history of violating safety rules.
We leave no stone unturned when proving negligence and even gather evidence, such as toll booth receipts, food receipts, and cell phone records.
Pacific West Injury Law – We Go The Extra Mile To Make Our Clients Feel Valued
The Las Vegas truck accident lawyer you choose to represent your case significantly impacts its outcome.
Trucking companies are not required by law to maintain driver records indefinitely.
Some of this information is available only for a short time, after which it may be erased, which means that time is of the essence in gathering evidence after a truck accident. It is of utmost importance to act quickly.
Our Las Vegas personal injury law firm will send preservation letters requiring trucking companies to retain records of drivers and vehicles.
We will seek Court Orders to force trucking companies to provide and preserve any important evidence in the case.
Proving liability and determining parties in a truck accident case in Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas should be best left in the able hands of an experienced Las Vegas truck accident attorney.
To find out how we go above and beyond for victims of truck accidents, call an experienced truck accident lawyer at Pacific West Injury Law for a free case evaluation.