Great experience with valiente Mott. They were always there to answer any question whether I texted or called them they always responded right away and always made sure to update me throughout the whole process. I high recommend !!! You won't be disappointed !!!
Tim Mott and associates were always professional, kind, and caring law firm that always had my best interests at heart. They managed to settle my case 15 months later for the full amount and able to get the treatment I needed to get me back to where I was before the accident. I highly recommend this law firm to anyone who was involved in an accident as they are the best of the best.
Got rear ended 2 years ago where the driver hit me from behind at a stop causing me to move and hit another vehicle in front. The driver tried to run but was caught. I was offered a certain compensation by insurance however I did suffer some injuries. I knew I was getting ripped off so I decided to call Valiente Mott and they were very professional and responsive. They always kept me updated and made sure I saw care immediately. My back neck and spine were injured however after several months of therapy I was healed. They told me a certain amount they were trying to get from the insurance company and they kept fighting to get more as they saw it wasn't enough for what I had been through. 6 months later I was healthy again, got more than the amount I thought I was going to get because they kept fighting the insurance company for me, and they handled it all. Glad I made the call with these people and would gladly recommend them to anyone with car accidents. Thank you everyone for all your hardwork!
Any time multiple motor vehicles collide, serious injuries may result. When at least one of the vehicles is a large truck, though, the resulting injuries can be life-changing or even fatal. If you have been injured in a truck accident, call the personal injury lawyers at Valiente Mott today to arrange a cost-free case review with an experienced Reno truck accident lawyer. We can thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your crash, identify all potentially liable parties, and gather the hard evidence needed to support your claim for damages.
How Do These Truck Accidents Happen?
There are a number of potential causes of truck crashes. Some of the more common causes of these accidents are the following:
Speeding: Excessive speed is a common cause of truck accidents, as it reduces the driver’s ability to react to traffic changes and increases the severity of collisions.
Distracted driving: Truck drivers who are distracted by mobile devices, eating, or other activities while driving can cause accidents due to a lack of attention to the road and surrounding traffic.
Following too closely: Tailgating or inadequate following distances can lead to rear-end collisions, particularly dangerous for large trucks that require longer distances to stop.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Operating a truck while impaired by alcohol or drugs significantly increases the risk of accidents due to impaired judgment and reaction times.
Running a red light or stop sign: Disregarding traffic signals is a frequent cause of intersection accidents involving trucks, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
Unsafe merges: Trucks merging unsafely onto highways or changing lanes without proper caution can lead to collisions, especially given the vehicle’s large size and blind spots.
Dangerous lane changes: Abrupt or unsafe lane changes by truck drivers, without proper signaling or checking for other vehicles, can cause sideswipe accidents.
Adverse weather conditions: In Reno, conditions like rain, snow, or ice can make roads treacherous for trucks, increasing the likelihood of skidding or loss of control.
Poor road conditions: Potholes, uneven road surfaces, and lack of proper signage can contribute to truck accidents, especially if not navigated cautiously.
Blind spots: Trucks have larger blind spots than smaller vehicles, making it challenging for drivers to see other vehicles during turns or lane changes, leading to potential collisions.
A Reno truck accident attorney can be especially helpful after a serious collision. While you are dealing with injuries and trying to recover, trucking companies and their insurers may already be investigating the crash and considering how to protect their interests.
Your Life May Never Be The Same After A Truck Crash
Sadly, the injuries that these crashes cause can change your life – and the lives of your loved ones – forever. Here is a non-exhaustive list of injuries commonly associated with truck accidents:
Lacerations and cuts: These are common in truck accidents, often caused by shattered glass or metal debris. Such injuries can range from superficial to deep cuts requiring medical intervention.
Permanent scarring or disfigurement: More severe lacerations or burns from truck accidents can lead to permanent scarring or disfigurement, affecting not just the physical appearance but also the psychological well-being of the victim.
Ligament damage: The force of a truck collision can cause significant strain on the body, leading to torn or stretched ligaments, which often require lengthy recovery and rehabilitation.
Organ damage High-impact truck accidents can cause internal injuries, leading to organ damage. These injuries are particularly dangerous as they may not be immediately apparent but can be life-threatening.
Broken or fractured bones The immense force exerted in a truck accident can easily result in broken or fractured bones, which can be serious, requiring surgery and potentially causing long-term disability.
Back, spinal cord, and neck injuries: Injuries to the back, spinal cord, and neck are common in truck accidents. These injuries can range from whiplash and herniated discs to more severe spinal cord damage resulting in paralysis
Head injuries such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) TBIs are a grave concern in truck accidents, resulting from blows to the head or violent shaking. They can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage, with long-lasting effects
Amputations In severe cases, limbs may be crushed or severely injured in a truck accident, leading to surgical amputations.
Paralysis Spinal injuries in truck accidents can lead to partial or complete paralysis, significantly impacting the victim’s quality of life and independence.
Death: Unfortunately, due to the severity of truck accidents, fatalities are not uncommon. The death of a loved one in such accidents is a tragic outcome, leading to wrongful death claims.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, your immediate concerns should be getting to a safe place and receiving any necessary medical attention. You should also be cautious about discussing who was at fault with other drivers, trucking companies, or insurance representatives. In the aftermath of a collision, you may not have all the information needed to understand what happened, and an offhand statement could later be interpreted differently than you intended. Provide the information required by law enforcement, exchange appropriate contact and insurance information, and take photographs or other notes when it is safe to do so.
Keep track of your medical treatment and other effects of the accident as you recover. Documents such as medical records, bills, prescription information, rehabilitation records, and evidence of time missed from work can help establish the ways the collision has affected you financially and physically.
Before giving a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster or agreeing to a settlement, consider whether you fully understand your injuries and potential losses. Some truck accident injuries require weeks or months of treatment, and the costs associated with an accident may continue to grow long after the initial emergency care. Consulting a Reno truck collision lawyer before making significant decisions about your claim can give you a better understanding of your legal options.
This Is How You Can Help Maximize Your Financial Recovery
There often is not much you can do to prevent a large truck accident, but if you are emotionally and physically capable of doing so, you can significantly enhance the financial value of your claim by taking certain steps in the immediate aftermath of your crash. Here is what an experienced truck accident lawyer in Reno would recommend that you do:
Call the police and see to it that an accident report is filed
Seek medical attention no matter how you feel. The longer you wait between the crash and when you first seek medical attention, the more you run the risk of your claim diminishing in financial value. Keep in mind that some injuries will manifest themselves until hours after the accident once your adrenaline has waned. Others may not surface for several days.
Take pictures of all property damage, your injuries, the exact location of the accident, the road, the traffic conditions when the collision happened, the weather situation, and the area surrounding the scene of the crash.
Collect the contact information of all eyewitnesses to your accident.
Schedule a consultation with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Reno. Not only can this meeting with a Reno truck accident attorney inform you as to the strengths and weaknesses of your claim, but it will also provide an approximate financial value of your claim, enabling you to avoid accepting a lowball settlement offer from the insurance company that is dramatically below the fair value of your claim.
Assume at all times while your case is active that a private investigator is following you, and conduct your day-to-day activities accordingly. In other words, if you claim that your neck is so badly injured that you can never leave your house, being photographed around town dancing, running, or playing golf could significantly undermine the value of your claim.
Halt all social media activity, and if at all possible, delete all accounts. If you cannot delete your accounts, then do not let any updates, pictures, or videos that discuss your accident, your case, or your injuries be posted online by you or anyone else. Additionally, make sure that no one posts any updates, pictures, or videos that could affect your credibility with regard to the severity of your injuries.
Gathering Evidence After a Commercial Truck Crash
Preserving evidence can be critical following a commercial truck crash. Vehicles can be repaired, physical evidence at the scene can disappear, and roadway conditions can change. Commercial trucks may also generate records that are important to understanding what happened. Conducting an investigation as soon as possible can help preserve information that may otherwise become difficult to obtain.
Evidence in a truck accident case may include:
Photographs or videos of the accident scene
Statements from people who witnessed the collision
Police and accident reports
Medical records and treatment information
Photographs and documentation of vehicle damage
Records and information concerning the truck, driver, and trucking company
The location and nature of vehicle damage may provide clues about how the collision occurred. An examination of the roadway, traffic conditions, and surrounding area may also uncover circumstances that contributed to the accident. Depending on the facts of the case, accident reconstruction professionals or other qualified specialists may be needed to evaluate technical evidence.
A detailed investigation can become even more important when a trucking company or its insurance carrier challenges responsibility for the accident. The initial account of what happened may not tell the entire story. A truck crash attorney in Reno can review the available evidence, determine what additional information may be needed, and work to develop a claim based on the facts of the collision.
We Take The Fight To the Insurance Companies
Our partners at Valiente Mott – Mike Valiente and Tim Mott – are Las Vegas natives who’ve spent many years each defending large insurance companies and corporations, frequently witnessing the injustice that was done to innocent victims. We utilize that knowledge of the “other side” to help fight for justice on behalf of our clients, and will do everything possible to maximize our clients’ financial compensation, just like we would do if we were representing our own family members.
In addition to our rigorous approach in confronting insurance companies, understanding Reno’s truck insurance requirements is crucial in the context of accidents. In Nevada, commercial trucks are mandated to carry higher liability insurance coverage compared to regular vehicles, due to the potential for more significant damage and injuries in truck accidents. This insurance is intended to provide adequate compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering in the event of an accident. However, dealing with insurance claims involving commercial trucks can be complex, as these cases often involve substantial financial stakes and intricate policy details.
At Valiente Mott, we leverage our understanding of these insurance requirements and our experience in dealing with large insurance companies to advocate effectively for our clients. We navigate the complexities of truck insurance policies, ensuring that our clients receive the maximum compensation they are entitled to. Our commitment is to tirelessly fight for our clients’ rights, applying our insider knowledge of insurance company tactics to counteract any attempts to undervalue or deny legitimate claims.
Multiple Liable Parties Liable for a Truck Accident
Determining responsibility for a truck accident often requires looking beyond the truck driver. Depending on the circumstances, potential liability may extend to the trucking company, owner of the vehicle, maintenance company, cargo-loading company, or another party involved in the truck’s operation.
For example, if the driver worked for a trucking company, an investigation may examine the company’s hiring, training, supervision, scheduling, and other practices. If a mechanical defect or maintenance problem played a role in the crash, it may be necessary to determine who was responsible for inspecting and maintaining the vehicle. Similarly, if cargo was improperly loaded or secured, the individuals or companies responsible for loading that cargo may need to be investigated.
Determining all potentially responsible parties matters because a serious truck accident can lead to significant medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and other losses. Rather than focusing only on the most obvious source of responsibility, an investigation should consider what the evidence shows about everyone whose actions or omissions may have contributed to the collision.
An experienced Reno trucking accident attorney can examine the relationships between the driver, trucking company, insurers, maintenance providers, and other potentially responsible parties. An attorney can also take steps to preserve evidence that may be important to establishing liability and pursuing compensation.
Nevada Department of Transportation Regulations
The regulations set forth by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of truck operations. These NDOT regulations are particularly focused on aspects such as vehicle weight limits, the transportation of hazardous materials, and the issuance of special permits for oversized loads. Weight limits are enforced to prevent overburdening of roadways and bridges, reducing the risk of accidents due to infrastructure failure or loss of vehicle control. Stringent guidelines for transporting hazardous materials are crucial to prevent spills and accidents that could lead to significant public safety hazards. Oversized loads require special permits and often additional safety measures, like escort vehicles, to ensure they can be transported safely without posing a risk to other road users. Compliance with these NDOT regulations is a legal requirement and a fundamental aspect of risk management for trucking companies and drivers. In the event of a truck accident in Reno, a violation of these regulations can be a critical factor in determining liability and can significantly impact the legal proceedings following the accident.
How Valiente Mott Approaches Your Claim
At Valiente Mott, our attorneys’ approach to handling Reno truck accidents includes three key strategies:
Thorough Investigation and Identification of Liable Parties: We conduct comprehensive investigations to unravel the complexities of each truck accident, identifying all parties whose negligence may have contributed, from drivers to trucking companies.
Experienced Collaboration for Strong Case Building: Collaborating with specialists like accident reconstruction experts and medical professionals, we build a strong, evidence-backed case to accurately represent the accident’s impact on your life.
Dedicated Legal Representation and Client Support: We provide tailored legal representation, ensuring your unique needs are met. From negotiating with insurance companies to representing you in court if necessary, our focus is on securing the best possible outcome for you, while maintaining clear and supportive communication throughout your case.
Reach Out to a Reno Truck Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a truck accident, call Valiente Mott today to schedule a zero-obligation, complimentary consultation with a Reno truck accident lawyer. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, nothing will come out of your pocket unless you win your case.
We would like to hear from you so we can provide you with a free evaluation. It’s best to always consult with an attorney for any type of legal advice regarding your injuries.
Call us today and let us help you fight for the compensation you are rightfully owed. If you have a question or you are just not sure about putting together a case, let our law firm help with your concerns. No fee unless we win.
N/a