Massive commercial trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds share Nevada’s highways with passenger vehicles that weigh a fraction of that amount. When these trucks collide with smaller cars, the results are often catastrophic and frequently fatal. If you have experienced this devastating tragedy, you have the right to pursue legal action against the driver, their employer, and anyone else whose actions may have contributed to the collision. Consult with an experienced truck accident attorney in Las Vegas today.
Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents on Nevada Roads
Nevada’s extensive highway system, including major interstate corridors like I-15, sees heavy commercial truck traffic every day. Unfortunately, many factors contribute to deadly crashes involving these large vehicles:
- Driver fatigue from exceeding federally mandated hours-of-service limits
- Distracted driving, including texting or using mobile devices while operating
- Impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications
- Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Improper lane changes or failure to check blind spots
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance, including brake failures or tire blowouts
- Overloaded or improperly secured cargo that shifts during transport
- Poor weather conditions combined with failure to adjust driving behavior
- Inexperienced drivers or drivers without the right qualifications or training
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Truck Crash?
If you lost a loved one in a fatal trucking accident, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, their employer, or another party that may have caused the collision. However, Nevada law provides specific guidelines regarding who has the legal right to pursue a wrongful death claim.
The personal representative of the deceased person’s estate typically has the primary authority to file a wrongful death lawsuit. However, immediate family members also possess this right, including surviving spouses, domestic partners, and children. If no spouse or children survive, the deceased person’s parents can pursue the claim.
When no spouse, children, or parents remain, siblings may file the lawsuit. Finally, if none of these family members exist, the next closest family member has the right to seek justice through the courts.
Damages Available in Fatal Trucking Accident Cases
A wrongful death lawsuit can help address the various losses families experience after losing a loved one in a trucking accident. The type and extent of damages depend on who files the claim and the circumstances of the case.
When the estate’s personal representative files the claim, recoverable damages include reasonable funeral and burial expenses, medical costs from the deceased person’s final injury or illness, and any punitive damages the deceased could have recovered if they had survived.
Family members who file wrongful death lawsuits can seek compensation for:
- Lost wages and benefits the deceased would have earned throughout their lifetime
- The loss of companionship and emotional support
- The family’s grief and sorrow
- Any pain or suffering the deceased experienced before death
Trust The Janda Law Firm to Fight for Your Family
Losing a family member in a fatal truck accident creates overwhelming emotional and financial challenges that no family should face alone. The Vegas personal injury attorneys at The Janda Law Firm have years of experience handling wrongful death cases involving commercial vehicles. We will fight tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for your family.
Our firm will investigate every aspect of your case, from driver logs and maintenance records to federal trucking regulations and corporate policies, and build a compelling case in your favor. Contact us today at (702) 758-8888 for a free consultation about your wrongful death case and begin your journey to justice.