Truck Accident Lawyer
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Reno Truck Accident Lawyer
Any automobile accident is dangerous, but the degree of risk increases dramatically when a truck is involved. An 18-wheeler can be anywhere from 20-30 times the size of a passenger vehicle. When you add in their large blind spots, slow braking time, and low maneuverability, the potential becomes deadly. Even if the accident causes no bodily harm, psychological and property damage are still very real possibilities. The time after a major accident is hectic, but a Reno truck accident Lawyer can help make it easier.
At Jensen Personal Injury Law, we know you have much on your mind. You may be dealing with severe injuries, high medical bills, lost wages, or tragic loss. You have suffered enough without worrying about filing paperwork or advanced legal proceedings. As a Member of the Academy of Trucking Accident Attorneys, we know your rights, and we will fight to win you the compensation you deserve.
There is NO FEE unless WE WIN!
Act Quickly After a Truck Accident
It is crucial to act quickly after you experience a truck accident because truck company lawyers often get started immediately. They may even go directly to the scene or your home to collect statements. These representatives may try to talk you out of hiring a lawyer, work to delay your claim, or convince you to reach a lowball settlement. After getting any medical treatment, your first course of action should be reaching out to a Reno truck accident lawyer.
Once you partner with a legal team, you will be free to recover without worrying about the stress of a legal battle. Our team will act quickly to preserve any electronic data logs from the truck before they are overwritten, and we will investigate what caused the accident. Acting quickly can mean the difference between winning and losing, so don’t delay.
Truck Accident Services
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Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accidents
A truck accident can be an overwhelming, life-changing event. When you’re facing severe injuries, medical bills, and lost income, finding clear answers and a path forward is the most important step. This section provides a quick, helpful guide to common questions about the legal process, your rights, and how we can help you find stability and justice.
Immediate Steps After a Truck Accident
The first priority is your safety and the safety of others. Move to a safe location if possible and call 911 immediately to report the crash and any injuries. Once safe, seek medical attention right away, even if your injuries seem minor, and avoid talking to any insurance adjusters or the trucking company.
Yes, you should always call the police or highway patrol after a truck crash. A police report is vital evidence, as it documents the accident scene, identifies the parties involved, and often includes the investigating officer’s initial determination of fault. The police report is an official record that insurance companies will rely on.
Yes. Many serious injuries, like concussions, whiplash, or internal bleeding, may not show immediate symptoms due to adrenaline. Seeing a doctor creates an official record of your injuries linked directly to the date of the accident, which is critical for any future claim. Without this documentation, the trucking company may argue that your injuries are unrelated.
If you are physically able, use your phone to take photos of the truck, the license plate, the accident scene, and other evidence from the truck accident. Write down the name, contact information, and insurance details of the truck driver and any witnesses. Critically, note the name and contact information of the trucking company displayed on the truck.
Yes, you should promptly notify your own auto insurance company that you were involved in an accident. However, only provide them with the basic facts: Who, what, where, and when. Do not give a detailed statement, sign any forms, or discuss fault until you have consulted with a truck accident lawyer.
Dealing With Insurance and the Trucking Company
No, you should politely decline to speak with them. Trucking companies and their insurers dispatch lawyers and adjusters immediately to protect their interests, not yours. Anything you say can be twisted and used against you to reduce or deny your claim, even an innocent “How are you?”
This is a common tactic. Trucking companies often try to shift the blame immediately, sometimes even before a full investigation is complete. Do not argue with them or admit any fault; instead, tell them that all communication must go through your attorney. Your lawyer will investigate the crash and fight back against baseless accusations.
You should almost never accept the first settlement offer. The initial offer is almost always a “lowball” attempt to resolve the case quickly and cheaply, before you understand the full extent of your injuries and long-term medical costs. Accepting it waives your right to seek any additional compensation later, even if your condition worsens.
Insurers use many tactics, including pressuring victims to sign releases quickly, suggesting you don’t need a lawyer, and delaying the claims process to make you desperate. Their goal is to find minor inconsistencies in your story or medical records to create doubt about the claim’s value.
If the insurance claim is denied, it does not mean your case is over. A denial is often just a tactic. Your truck accident lawyer will formally appeal the decision or, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties.
Generally, compensation received for physical injuries and medical expenses is not taxable under federal law. However, portions of a settlement for lost wages or punitive damages may be taxable. Your attorney and a tax professional can provide specific guidance based on the compensation you receive.
Do I Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Yes, hiring a lawyer is highly recommended because truck accident cases are significantly more complex than car accidents. Trucking companies have immediate, specialized legal teams working against you. A lawyer helps protect you from these interests and offers you a fair chance at full compensation.
A truck accident lawyer acts as your immediate, expert shield. They handle all communication with insurance and corporate lawyers, conduct a thorough investigation, secure critical evidence like “black box” data, determine all responsible parties, and fight to maximize your financial recovery so you can focus on healing.
At Jensen Personal Injury Law, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no upfront costs for our services. Our consultation is free, and we only charge a legal fee if and when we successfully secure compensation for you through a settlement or a verdict.
ecause we operate on a “No Fee Unless We Win” model, you can afford our services regardless of your current financial situation. We cover all the litigation costs and advanced legal fees ourselves, taking on all the risk so that your financial stability is protected during your recovery.
You should bring any documentation you have collected to your first meeting: the police report, photos from the scene, the truck company’s information, medical records or bills related to the crash, and any correspondence from the insurance company. If you do not have all of this, don’t worry—we can still get started.
Yes, in most cases, you have the right to switch lawyers if you feel your current representation is not meeting your needs or maximizing your compensation. Our firm prioritizes a client-centric approach, ensuring you feel heard and supported throughout the entire process.
Yes, our firm helps families file wrongful death claims when a truck accident results in a fatality. We approach these cases with deep compassion, helping surviving family members seek compensation for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and pain and suffering.
Determining Fault, Liability & Legal Responsibility
Multiple parties can be held legally responsible for a truck crash, which is what makes these cases complex. Liability can extend beyond the driver to include the trucking company, the owner of the truck, the company responsible for loading or maintaining the cargo, or even the manufacturer of a defective truck part.
Yes, it is very common for liability to be shared by multiple parties in a truck accident. For example, the driver may be fatigued, but the trucking company may have also pressured them to violate federal Hours of Service rules. We investigate all potential parties to maximize your recovery.
Fault is determined by investigating the cause of the crash through evidence like the police report, witness statements, driver logbooks, and the truck’s electronic data (“black box”). Our expert investigation focuses on proving negligence, such as reckless driving, mechanical failure, or violations of federal trucking regulations.
Yes. In Nevada, you can still file a claim and recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the crash. As long as your degree of fault is not greater than the combined fault of all other at-fault parties, you can recover compensation.
Even if the driver is classified as an independent contractor, the trucking company can often still be held liable. The law looks at the real-world relationship between the company and the driver, and many companies retain enough control over the driver’s work to be held legally responsible for their negligence.
Suing the trucking company is usually the primary goal because they have significantly larger insurance policies and deeper financial resources. While the driver is responsible for their negligence, the company is often liable for negligent hiring, maintenance, or pressuring the driver to break the law.
Commercial trucks are required to carry substantial insurance, but if the driver or company is underinsured, we will explore other avenues of compensation. This includes pursuing claims against all other liable parties, such as the cargo loader or manufacturer, and utilizing your own Underinsured Motorist coverage.
Compensation, Damages & Settlements
The value of your case depends entirely on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of fault, the strength of the evidence, and the available insurance coverage. We will conduct a thorough investigation and use our four decades of experience to provide a fair assessment of what your case is truly worth.
A settlement is calculated by totaling your specific economic losses (medical bills, lost wages, property damage) and adding compensation for non-economic damages, such as pain, suffering, and emotional trauma.
Truck settlements are often much larger because the injuries are typically catastrophic, and the commercial insurance policies involved carry far higher limits. Furthermore, the number of liable parties (driver, company, mechanic) and the need to prove violations of federal regulations make the legal investigation significantly more complex.
You can seek compensation for all past and future medical expenses, all income and benefits lost from missing work, and compensation for intangible losses. This includes non-economic damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and the negative impact on your quality of life.
es, you can seek compensation for emotional trauma, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by the crash. We recognize that the emotional and psychological toll of a severe accident is a real loss and will include it as a critical part of your claim for pain and suffering.
If you are permanently disabled, your case value increases substantially because you will need compensation for future medical care and loss of future earning capacity. We work with economic and medical experts to project these long-term costs to ensure you secure the financial stability you need for the rest of your life.
Lawsuit Process & Legal Timelines
Once the personal injury case process is underway and the lawsuit is filed, a legal discovery process begins where both sides exchange evidence, take depositions (formal question-and-answer sessions), and hire expert witnesses. During this time, your lawyer is continuously negotiating with the trucking company’s legal team, using the evidence gathered to strengthen your case value.
While our firm prepares every case with the expectation of going to trial, the vast majority of personal injury cases ultimately settle before a courtroom verdict.
The timeline varies greatly, depending on the severity of your injuries and the complexity of the facts. While a simpler case may settle in under a year, a catastrophic injury or multi-party lawsuit can take 18 months to 3 years to reach a settlement or verdict.
This is governed by the state’s statute of limitations, which sets a strict deadline for filing a lawsuit after an injury. This deadline can be as short as two years in some states, and the clock starts ticking the day of the accident. It is vital to consult a lawyer immediately to protect your right to file.
Trucking Laws, Regulations & Corporate Liability
Commercial truck drivers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These complex federal rules cover everything from required insurance minimums and vehicle maintenance to strict rules on drug and alcohol testing, driver qualifications, and how many hours a driver can be on the road.
Hours of Service rules dictate the maximum number of consecutive hours a commercial driver can operate before they must take a mandated rest break. Violations of HOS rules are a major factor in fatigue-related accidents and serve as strong evidence that the trucking company and driver acted negligently.
Yes, this is known as negligent hiring. A trucking company is legally required to check a driver’s background, licensing, and medical qualifications. If they failed to do so and hired an unqualified or known dangerous driver, they can be held directly liable for the resulting accident.
Yes, if the accident was caused by poor truck maintenance or improperly loaded cargo, you can sue the third-party company responsible for those actions. A proper investigation is crucial to identifying these often-overlooked parties, which can significantly increase the total compensation available to you.
Reno’s Trusted Personal Injury Lawyer
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