Numerous factors can cause 18-wheeler collisions. Finding the cause of the accident provides key insight into who is responsible for the resulting damages. A good, experienced Las Vegas truck accident attorney will diligently and relentlessly review and uncover evidence of causation that other attorneys might miss.
Having a positive impact on our community and the people we serve is important to us. We find inspiration in our clients and their stories. Their needs guide our practice of law. We make our clients’ priorities our priorities, and we tailor case strategies to maximize the client’s compensation. Scott has worked at big-ticket law firms that shuffle clients around. He’s seen firsthand how some law firms treat clients more like dollar figures than people. Scott founded Morris Injury Law to make a difference and to create much-needed change in serving the Las Vegas community’s legal needs.
At Morris Injury Law, our Las Vegas semi-truck accident lawyer puts people first. We don’t charge you a penny in upfront legal services to handle your personal injury case. If you don’t win your case, we don’t get paid. It’s that simple.
Distracted Or Fatigued Driving
According to federal regulations, truck drivers can be on the road for up to 11 hours during a consecutive 14-hour period. Before doing so, they need to have been off-duty for at least 10 hours.
However, with the pressure to deliver their cargo as soon as possible, some drivers may break the law and forego much-needed rest. Instead, they may choose to drink energy drinks or just push through the exhaustion. But the unfortunate reality is that fatigue can affect a driver in much the same way as drugs and alcohol—by impairing their decision-making abilities and slowing their reflexes. Exhaustion can take over, and 18-wheeler drivers may fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident.
Boredom may also kick in during those long, 11-hour stretches of driving. Truck drivers may talk on the phone, watch videos, eat food, or send texts or emails while driving. Many fail to realize that anytime a driver is not looking at the road or doesn’t have both hands ready and on the wheel, they are putting lives at risk.
Drunk Driving Or Driving While Under The Influence
Despite the national awareness campaigns and federal and state laws, drivers still selfishly decide to drink and drive. Drunk driving and driving while impaired by any substance remains one of the primary causes of traffic accidents.
Truck drivers who decide to drink or use drugs while on the road can cause catastrophic injuries or death. Driving a semi-truck is more complex than driving a passenger vehicle. Drivers need to be sober and alert to shift gears appropriately and on time and know when to stop. Drugs and alcohol impair decision-making, increase risk-taking, and reduce response time. This can spell disaster when it comes to 18-wheelers and others on or near the road.
Speeding
Truck drivers under mounting pressures to deliver loads on time or early may decide to speed to save time. Speeding increases the chance of a rollover, jackknife, or another type of potentially fatal accident. When a truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds is speeding and hits another vehicle or object, the consequences can be catastrophic. Likewise, a speeding passenger car that collides with a semi-truck can cause the truck to lose balance or cause its cargo to unhinge.
Reckless Or Aggressive Driving
Operating a vehicle in a careless, erratic, or reckless manner accounted for over 5,000 traffic deaths nationwide in 2019. Drivers may be rushing to get home after work or frustrated about another driver cutting them off. Out of spite, or because they are blinded by rage, they may drive erratically, cutting people off in traffic or swerving in and out of lanes. Regardless of the reason, the result can be serious injuries or death.
Inadequately Trained Or Unlicensed Drivers, Equipment Malfunction, Or Illegal Weight
Faulty brakes, inadequately trained drivers, and illegal truck weight pose serious risks for those on or near the road. Driving a tractor-trailer requires different knowledge and training than for passenger cars. Drivers must receive the requisite lessons and training to ensure they have the education and skill to operate these up to 80,000-pound vehicles properly.
Unfortunately, trucking companies looking to save money sometimes cut corners when it comes to hiring and training their drivers. Likewise, they may ignore red flags that come up during safety checks, forego regular maintenance entirely, or overload the vehicle. This might save the company money in the short term, but the cost may be paid instead by human lives.
We hold at-fault drivers and trucking companies accountable for their wrongful actions. We know what evidence to ask for, including driver logbooks and electronic control module data. It’s important to ask for these right away to preserve critical evidence. Trucking companies may routinely throw out this data (or, in some cases, do so intentionally to avoid liability). Las Vegas truck accident attorneys like Scott Morris help victims uncover this vital information before the trucking company destroys or loses it.
