Tow trucks play an important role in keeping the roads free and clear of disabled and illegally parked vehicles. However, tow trucks can also contribute to serious traffic accidents, especially when the driver makes careless mistakes or the company is negligent. The size and weight of a tow truck can result in serious accidents with major injuries, bills and losses. If you find yourself in this situation in Las Vegas or anywhere in Clark County, contact Koch & Brim, LLP for legal advice and assistance. Our Las Vegas tow truck accident lawyers can help you make a strong case for financial compensation.
Why Clients Trust Koch & Brim, LLP
- We have real-world experience going up against trucking companies and powerful defendants and winning. Our truck accident lawyers have what it takes to bring wrongdoers to justice.
- We are known as the small firm with big results, where we limit our case intake to give each client quality time and attention. This allows us to maximize case outcomes.
- Our personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas have over 40 years of experience, and have collected millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for clients.
- You won’t have to pay your tow truck accident lawyer at Koch & Brim, LLP anything unless your case leads to financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
How a Lawyer Can Help After a Tow Truck Accident in Las Vegas
Pursuing fair financial compensation for a tow truck accident in Nevada can be difficult. These cases often involve unique challenges, such as federal safety regulations, unusual evidence, multiple liable parties and low settlement offers by insurance companies. Rather than facing these issues alone, you can hire a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer to be your representative and advocate during the legal process.
A tow truck accident attorney in Las Vegas can take care of tasks such as revisiting the scene of the collision, gathering evidence, speaking to eyewitnesses, hiring experts and taking over an insurance claim to pursue a positive case outcome for you. In the meantime, you will have the freedom and peace of mind to concentrate on your recovery.
Who Pays for a Tow Truck Accident in Las Vegas?
Nevada is a fault state, meaning that after a car or truck accident occurs, the party responsible for causing the crash is held liable (legally accountable). The at-fault individual or entity is expected to pay, typically through his or her insurance coverage. Before you can receive financial compensation from someone else’s insurance carrier in Las Vegas, you must determine fault. Any of the following parties could potentially be held liable for a Las Vegas tow truck accident, depending on the cause:
- The tow truck driver
- Another driver
- The towing company
- The truck owner/operator
- A maintenance or repair crew
- A part or equipment manufacturer
- The government
- A third party
Towing companies in Nevada are often held vicariously responsible for the actions and mistakes of their tow truck drivers. In addition, these companies can face direct liability for their own mistakes, such as poor driver training or the negligent failure to maintain their tow trucks.
Common Causes of Tow Truck Accidents
Tow truck and other commercial vehicle accidents are most often caused by negligence, which describes a lack of proper care. Negligence is decided based on what a reasonable and prudent party would have done in the same or similar circumstances. Tow truck companies and their drivers may engage in many acts of negligence that increase the odds of an accident in Las Vegas, including:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Violating traffic laws
- Breaking federal safety regulations
- Driver fatigue from violating hours-of-service rules
- Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign
- Ignoring blind spots and making unsafe lane changes
- Reversing without looking
- Failing to properly attach tow cables
- Inadequate driver training
- Overloaded tow truck
- Poor tow truck maintenance, leading to equipment failures
Tow trucks are classified as motor carriers under federal law. This means they must abide by special rules that only apply to commercial motor vehicles. Breaking or ignoring these rules vastly increases the odds of a tow truck accident in Nevada. Negligence by the driver or towing company in this regard can make them liable for a crash.
How to Prove Your Tow Truck Accident Case
Holding someone responsible for your Las Vegas truck accident typically takes proof of negligence. As the filing party or plaintiff of the case, you are responsible for providing compelling evidence demonstrating that the defendant was negligent or reckless and that this was the proximate or actual cause of your crash. Proving negligence takes evidence of a breach of the duty of care, such as the legal obligation that tow truck drivers have to reasonably prevent traffic accidents.
Evidence you may be able to use to support your claim is the truck’s black box, the truck driver’s daily logs and inspection reports, the tow truck company’s employment records, truck maintenance documentation, and cell phone records. General car accident evidence – such as a police report, witness statements, photos of the crash scene, surveillance video footage and your medical records – is also important to gather for a tow truck accident case in Las Vegas. Do your best to preserve and collect pertinent evidence in the aftermath of your crash.
How Much Is a Tow Truck Accident Case in Nevada Worth?
A tow truck accident can cause a massive amount of damage in a matter of seconds. Under Nevada’s car insurance and accident laws, you may be eligible for financial compensation to cover the following damages:
- Current and future medical bills
- Vehicle or property damage
- Lost wages and capacity to earn
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Wrongful death damages (after a fatal accident)
When dealing with a tow truck company or its insurance provider, it is important not to accept a quick settlement. Initial offers often undercut what a case is truly worth. Instead, consult with an accident attorney about the value of your claim.
Injured in a Las Vegas Tow Truck Accident? Contact Us for a Free Legal Consultation
At Koch & Brim, LLP, our truck accident attorneys have years of experience going up against companies, employers, manufacturers and other parties to seek justice for our clients. We firmly believe that when someone else’s negligence injures you, you should not be the one who pays. As your attorneys, we will look for commercial auto liability policies, help you prove your claim with clear evidence, and negotiate for maximum compensation in and out of the courtroom.
We will do what it takes to make sure you have everything you need to get through this difficult time. Speak directly with an experienced tow truck accident attorney in Las Vegas today for more information. Contact us online or call (702) 410-6034 for your free consultation.